15 Best DS Games of All Time: Must-Play Classics for Every Gamer

The best DS games were extraordinary for the time, incorporating touch-screen inputs to deliver novel gameplay experiences. Nintendo’s DS remains its best-selling handheld for good reason. With 154 million units sold, it’s going to take a while for the Switch (or rumored Switch 2) to put its throne in danger.

If you’ve still got a DS or DS Lite collecting dust, you might want to get it running again to try our handpicked recommendations for the best Nintendo DS games of all time.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. 15 Best DS Games of All Time
3. The Bottom Line
4. FAQs

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. 15 Best DS Games of All Time
3. The Bottom Line
Show Full Guide
4. FAQs

15 Best DS Games of All Time

15. Tetris DS

Tetris DS sits among the best DS puzzle games thanks to how feature-packed it is. With six modes, including the striking Catch mode, where you shifted a central tile and destroyed Metroids, there were plenty of ways to rotate tiles and clear them off the board. It even had multiplayer, meaning you could use it against friends to set high scores and earn bragging rights.

If you’re on the lookout for a sweet puzzler tinged with nostalgia, you can’t go wrong with this one.

14. Nintendogs

Nintendo is still known for curious experiments that attempt to capture an audience that isn’t already invested in gaming. Nintendogs was one of their best efforts in this regard, with pet ownership giving newcomers a new reason to pick up a DS. From washing your pups and taking them on long walks, there are plenty of ways to spend time with your virtual pets.

While it might not be the most feature-packed simulation title, its adorable pet models more than made up for its simplicity.

13. WarioWare D.I.Y.

The DS stylus was a feature that allowed Nintendo’s handheld to unlock the creative minds of kids and adults in different ways. For example, WarioWare D.I.Y.’s approach to game creation was enhanced by an intuitive tool that helped players create their own art, music, and animations. You could even program some basic character behaviors inside the game.

Though it can take a while before you crank out a polished game, WarioWare D.I.Y. is a great time sink that will leave you curious about the inner workings of game development.

12. Kirby: Canvas Curse

Another game that used the stylus of the DS effectively was Kirby: Canvas Curse. Instead of moving Kirby directly, you could direct him through stages with the help of rainbow paths drawn by your stylus. Ink is a limited resource, so each section becomes a test of efficiency. In addition to creating paths, enemies are also dealt with via ink, so you’ll measure your ink usage constantly.

It’s among the more unique Kirby games on Nintendo’s systems and is well worth trying.

11. Metroid Prime Hunters

While the game came out a whole year after the demo bundled with the DS at launch, Metroid Prime Hunters remains one of the most memorable DS FPS games. Multiplayer matches with all sorts of bounty hunter abilities were chaotic bliss, and the fast-paced gunplay arrived intact from the GameCube version.

Clearing the story and securing 100% completion can take a while, but it’s time well spent.

10. Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story

With a unique premise that sends a Super Mario RPG game into Bowser himself, Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story is one of the best Mario DS games you can get your hands on. While the setting alone makes the game a compelling pick, being able to control Bowser makes the game’s set-up even more exciting. Foes that Bowser swallows are then faced by the classic duo with new combat abilities and mechanics.

It’s a shame that settings like these are a rarity now.

9. Advance Wars: Dual Strike

A turn-based tactics title that involves moving military units across wide maps, Advance Wars: Dual Strike is a great strategy game on the DS. With the option to bring two Commanding Officers into battle alongside new units like the Megatank, Dual Strike dials things up a notch from its predecessor. In addition to its intense story mode, you can also explore its Survival and Combat modes to test your mettle.

Also, if you’ve been looking for the best DS games that don’t use the touchscreen, Dual Strike is a good pick.

8. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

Phantom Hourglass is among the best Zelda DS games thanks to its stunning cel-shaded visuals and powerful new abilities that let you use the hourglass in unique ways to traverse its world. Unlike most other Zelda titles, this one has you exploring a massive dungeon in its entirety versus running through smaller ones. Its puzzles are a delight, too, with the DS’ dual-screen bringing new interactions to get Link to where he needs to be.

7. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Trials and Tribulations

While the original trilogy skyrocketed in popularity after being ported to the DS, the final entry of said trilogy is our game of choice if you haven’t dabbled with Phoenix Wright’s curious cases before. With a standout cast and unique cases to unravel, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Trials and Tribulations is an engrossing DS title that will have you pouring hours into solving its mysteries.

While most of today’s online discourse revolves around attorney Miles Edgeworth, few can deny the charm of Godot’s grudge against Phoenix Wright from Trials and Tribulations.

6. Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow

The Nintendo DS was blessed with three strong Castlevania titles: Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, and Order of Ecclesia. If we had to choose between them, we’d lean towards Dawn of Sorrow’s excellent Metroidvania design and customization options. Sure, it didn’t use the stylus much. But as a Castlevania DS game, Dawn of Sorrow stood on business with electric boss fights and labyrinths of foes to clear.

5. New Super Mario Bros.

As the best-selling DS game of all time, New Super Mario Bros. is a must-play on Nintendo’s handheld. From expertly designed levels to neat powerups like Mario’s mega mushroom and mini mushroom, there are a lot of antics you can get up to as the world’s favorite plumber. It’s a great choice if you’re looking to play one of the best retro platformers out there.

If you’re looking for one of the best DS sports games with a Mario flavor instead, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games would be right up your alley.

4. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

Built with the DS stylus and mobile touchscreens in mind, Chinatown Wars is a strong addition to any DS library. While we don’t know how Rockstar brought drug deals to a Nintendo handheld, the game’s core plot of retrieving a family sword gave us some incredible top-down missions. You could whistle into the mic to hail a cab and even use the stylus to break into vehicles.

The game ran surprisingly well and remains a beloved favorite on the DS.

3. Mario Kart DS

Easily one of the best multiplayer DS games you can use to bring friends into the Nintendo camp, Mario Kart is an excellent racing game packed with personality. From power slide boosts to stunning 3D cart models and tracks, the game brought a lot to the table.

It was also the first in the series to bring online play, cementing its legacy as one of the best DS racing games of its time. With 16 new tracks and 16 retro ones to tussle over with items like the Bullet Bill, this tight racer is still one of the DS’ strongest experiences.

2. Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver

If you’ve grown up with Game Freak’s adorable monsters, HeartGold & SoulSilver are great remakes and possibly the best Pokémon DS games you can buy. In addition to quality-of-life improvements like the Pokéwalker, sheer nostalgia will have you scouring the world to complete your Pokédex.

Head back to the Johto region for weakness-based fight sequences powered by the game’s turn-based combat that has aged reasonably well.

1. Chrono Trigger

Undisputed among the best DS RPG games, Chrono Trigger is a re-release that remains a compelling adventure. The JRPG brings quality-of-life boosts like a default run state and touch-screen options to the DS variant. While it isn’t as experimental gameplay-wise as Kirby’s Canvas Curse or WarioWare D.I.Y., few can resist the allure of a traditional adventure done right.

From fast-paced combat to seamless exploration, Chrono Trigger set the benchmark for JRPG games decades ago and remains a cultural touchstone worth experiencing.

The Bottom Line

The best DS games are timeless experiences that continue to highlight just how radical Nintendo’s dual-screen handheld was. Several games took advantage of its touch features and stylus to create gameplay scenarios that were closer to smartphones than traditional handhelds.

While the Game Boy Advance also had a strong library, these design choices helped the DS eclipse its sales to become Nintendo’s best-selling handheld of all time. Its accessible library of 2000+ games still has plenty of hidden games that should be on your radar, so give the DS a spin today.

FAQs