The best DS games 2025

Nintendo loves to experiment, and some of the best DS games really show off the company's innovative approach to handheld consoles. The Nintendo DS's seven-year lifespan is packed with some of the best titles from franchises like Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Pokémon, all while exploring what games are capable of when you have two screens to play with.

Our list of the best Nintendo DS games is jam-packed with titles from every genre, from perfect platformers to radiant RPGs, and simulation games that shaped our very childhoods. So what if the Nintendo DS came out in 2004? It's never a bad time to crack open that clamshell and jump into a retro adventure.

The best DS games are:

1. New Super Mario Bros.

Arriving early in the DS's lifetime in 2006, New Super Mario Bros. is a triumphant return to the Super Mario subseries, bringing the Italian plumber's 2D platforming history to a whole new audience. It's the handheld's best-selling title at over 30 million units sold worldwide, which is over seven million more than the next best-performing game. It was my first encounter with a Mario title, and it's still the mental benchmark I use today when trying out new 2D platformers.

New Super Mario Bros. sees you run, jump, and Goomba-stomp your way through eight gorgeous, themed worlds to save Princess Peach from Bowser Jr.'s clutches. The platforming is clean, the soundtrack is full of bops, and the choice of power-ups is fantastic. I have particularly fond memories of smashing through levels using a Mega Mushroom.

Thanks to its combination of platforming gameplay and phenomenal minigames, New Super Mario Bros. lets you get acquainted with tons of Mario characters, preparing you for a future filled with adventures alongside the titular brothers.

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2. Mario Kart DS

You can't go wrong with a bit of Mario Kart, and Mario Kart DS is arguably one of the best in the series, let alone on a handheld device. It combines all the best parts of its predecessors with a bunch of new features, including retro courses, mission mode, and the ability to play Battle and VS in single player mode.

Plus, it's the birthplace of some of the greatest Mario Kart tracks of all time, including Delphino Square, Waluigi Pinball, and Peach Gardens. The handheld joy of Mario Kart World and MK 8 Deluxe wouldn't be as good as it is today without this iconic entry. The numbers back it up, too, as it's the third-best-selling Nintendo DS game of all time.

Not all Mario Kart games are created equal, and Adam Randall has a lot to say about which of the Nintendo Switch 2's offerings you should choose from in his Mario Kart World vs Mario Kart 8 Deluxe comparison. Both of these games feature some of the DS's best tracks and characters, so they're well worth picking up if you're missing the karting action.

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3. Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies

Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies was my first ever experience with a JRPG outside of Pokémon, and I know I'm not the only one. It was one of the first Dragon Quest games to really make a splash in the West, and its innovative character customization, job-swapping mechanics, and well-written story have cemented it in the DS game Hall of Fame.

Not only did it hit all the expectations for an RPG on the DS, but it did so with 3D graphics, which were a rarity in the genre on the handheld. Sure, they haven't aged particularly well, but they're a wonderful example of developers pushing the limits of Nintendo's hardware. Dragon Quest IX also had incredibly robust multiplayer modes, leading to Pokémon Go-esque meet-ups around the world.

It seems that Dragon Quest games are seeing a revival these days, with the HD-2D remake of Dragon Quest III reaching one million sales on the Nintendo Switch, and Square Enix dropping the news of Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined during September's Nintendo Direct. I really hope that Dragon Quest IX gets the same treatment.

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4. Nintendogs

Everyone and their mom owned a copy of Nintendogs, and not just because you could get it bundled with the Nintendo DS. This pet-raising simulator is a perfect example of Nintendo's ability to cater to all audiences, all while showing off innovative ways to interact with videogames. Nintendogs let you adopt adorable puppies of various breeds, train them using the microphone, and pet them via the touchscreen. This no doubt sparked many conversations between parents and children about getting a real-life furry friend.

As well as your average, day-to-day dog-rearing activities like feeding, cleaning, and walking your pet, Nintendogs introduced a generation of young people to dog competitions. Through well-timed verbal commands and regular training, you could help your puppy achieve victory in various contests, all while two very sassy commentators made it feel like a real event.

After a rerelease under Nintendogs: Best Friends, and a sequel for the 3DS called Nintendogs + Cats, we're desperate for a Nintendogs Switch port. The hybrid console is perfect for the title, especially with the Switch 2's camera and microphone additions, so we hope it shows up in a future Nintendo Direct.

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5. Animal Crossing: Wild World

As well as being my introduction to the series that would go on to help me get through some really tough times, Animal Crossing: Wild World transitioned the previously home console-based cozy game into the handheld world, where it now finds its permanent home. Wild World expanded on the wholesome village life of its GameCube predecessor and went on to become one of the DS's defining titles.

One of the reasons for Wild World's success is that it seamlessly integrated the Nintendo DS's gimmicks into its gameplay. The touch screen is an integral part of the experience, letting you control your character, interact with your inventory, write notice board messages, and crucially, draw detailed custom clothing patterns. It was also the second DS title to make use of the DS's online multiplayer functionality, leading to hours of fun in my family, visiting each other's villages to trade fruit and make new friends.

Wild World is just one part of Animal Crossing's history in the Nintendo gaming family, albeit one with particular nostalgia for me and many others. Its sequels for the 3DS and Nintendo Switch have only improved on the formula, and the entire series has inspired hundreds of cozy games across all platforms.

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6. Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day!

Better known as Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain? in PAL regions, Brain Age is another one of those handheld-defining titles that everyone and their mom has heard of. Both Brain Age and its sequel, Brain Age 2 (my personal favorite), sit in the top ten best-selling DS games of all time thanks to their universal appeal, wide variety of brain training minigames, and pop-science vibe that tricks you into thinking you're doing something healthy while playing videogames all day.

Another reason why Brain Age is such a memorable title on the DS is that, like Nintendogs, it makes full use of the handheld's features. The entire game focuses on the touch screen, using the upper display mostly to show off Dr. Kawashima's floating head. Some minigames make use of vocal inputs to mimic Stroop tests, and, most interestingly, you play the entire game with your DS held vertically.

Unfortunately, Brain Age's Nintendo Switch entry doesn't quite hit as hard as the original DS titles, but there are still plenty of fantastic educational games on the hybrid console to carry on Dr. Kawashima's legacy. Who knows, maybe the icon of my childhood will make a triumphant return for the Nintendo Switch 2, or even mobile?

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7. Pokémon Black 2 and Pokémon White 2

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 came at an interesting point in the DS's lifetime, meaning many people, including myself, missed out on them when they initially released in 2012. However, these direct sequels to the first gen five games in the series are now heralded as some of the best storytelling in the nearly 30-year history.

As well as actually providing a continuation of the first Unovan games' story, bringing back N, Team Plasma, and even minor dragon-type trainer NPC, Iris, who's now the region's champion, Black 2 and White 2 have some of the most robust postgame content that Pokémon has ever made. Pokémon fans love to complain that the series is too easy now, so these games are the perfect recommendation for those looking for a challenge, and they combine the peak of Game Freak's sprite-based aesthetics with gorgeous 3D backgrounds.

If somehow you're still not sold, check out our list of the best gen 5 Pokémon. Unova's regional dex introduced some of my favorite evolution lines, including Chandelure, Reuniclus, and Zoroark, so it's well worth jumping into just to see their beautiful sprites.

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8. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

Serving as a direct sequel to 2002's Wind Waker, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is the greatest Zelda game on the Nintendo DS, selling nearly five million copies in its lifetime and earning the Metacritic Must Play award thanks to its critic score of 90. The 3D cel-shaded graphics balance style and quality with the handheld's limited capabilities, and the gameplay creates a happy medium between casual and hardcore Zelda enjoyers.

As the first Zelda game on a touchscreen device, Phantom Hourglass controls significantly differently from other entries in the series, and this was on purpose. According to Eiji Aonuma, speaking to Nintendo Online Magazine in 2007, "The stylus held more possibilities than the conventional control method" when it came to making a new Zelda title for the handheld. Instead of including the DS's touch screen as a throwaway gimmick, the team built the entire game around it, leading to one of the series' most innovative control schemes.

So, if you're considering playing through all of the Zelda games in order, we highly recommend not skipping the DS era. While Spirit Tracks isn't quite as well-received as Phantom Hourglass, both games provide a unique experience when compared to the series' beginnings, or even the most recent Switch titles.

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9. Cooking Mama

Cooking Mama deserves a place on this list, not because of any particularly phenomenal commercial success or chart-topping review scores, but because of the impact it had on the gaming landscape. This game, alongside some notable others like Nintendogs, is what got many of the girls in my childhood into videogames, and made them feel welcome in the gaming space in a way that they never had before. I'm sure it also made plenty of boys feel comfortable engaging with cooking, too.

The cooking simulation game was a staple in many people's DS game library, thanks to its broad appeal and affordable price tag, and it didn't disappoint. Cooking Mama is filled with engaging minigames that expertly use the Nintendo DS's stylus and touchscreen to emulate chopping veggies, peeling potatoes, and stirring stew from the comfort of your sofa. Its positive reception led to five total main series Cooking Mama titles, as well as spin-offs focusing on baking, crafting, gardening, and babysitting, for the DS, 3DS, and Wii.

In my opinion, Cooking Mama had to walk before many of our favorite cooking games like Good Pizza, Great Pizza and Magical Delicacy could run. I also think that Cooking Mama's influence on my childhood is why I demand so much from cooking minigames in other titles, regardless of the genre.

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10. Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days

The Kingdom Hearts games typically follow the adventures of Sora, Riku, and Kairi, but Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days gives us a chance to experience life from the perspective of Organization XIII. Specifically, this story significantly fleshes out the characters of Roxas, Axel, and Xion, deepening the series' lore and adding more value to the events between the first two main games.

Despite the DS's lack of buttons in comparison to a PlayStation controller, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days is praised for its innovative gameplay as the first game from the series to jump to a Nintendo console. When it first launched, the general public wasn't too sold on the game's story, but over time, and as the game was condensed into a cutscene movie for the remastered collections, Kingdom Hearts fans have grown to love this story that runs parallel to Chain of Memories.

Kingdom Hearts' Axel, the red-haired bad boy, is definitely the highlight of Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days - can you tell he's our favorite? While watching a cutscene movie might be easier, we really do recommend playing through the DS game at least once if you can get your hands on it.

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11. Scribblenauts

I think that Scribblenauts would have been a success on any handheld platform, but it just so happened to launch on the Nintendo DS. 5th Cell's puzzle action game carries the slogan, "Write Anything, Solve Everything," and never has a videogame had such an accurate summary. Scribblenauts sold over one million copies on the Nintendo DS without relying on an existing IP or a big-name developer, and went on to earn itself five sequels, including a tie-in game with DC Comics.

In Scribblenauts, you play as a young boy named Maxwell. You're tasked with solving problems and completing puzzles using your magic notebook and pen to summon objects and characters into the world. The Nintendo DS's touchscreen and stylus made typing in your requests much simpler, and there were very few words that you couldn't use. This level of creative freedom led to tons of different playstyles, from stealth and extraction methods to solving every single problem by typing 'gun'.

Although we have Scribblenauts Showdown on the Nintendo Switch, the party game doesn't hold up compared to the original title on the DS, and, ironically, faced criticism for its lack of imagination. I hope that one day we'll get a new Scribblenauts title for the Switch that actually involves 5th Cell and returns to the series' puzzling roots.

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12. Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop

Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop isn't one of the bestselling DS games, nor is it particularly highly rated, but for Tamagotchi-obsessed kids in the mid-2000s, it is an absolute gem of a game. This series of quirky minigames set in the wild world of Tamagotchis did so well in its niche market that it spawned two global direct sequels in the span of two years, and even more in Japan.

This game truly makes the most of the Nintendo DS's hardware, with the vast majority of gameplay using just the touchscreen and stylus. You play as Mametchi, Memetchi, and Kuchipachi, running various stores in their respective towns in an attempt to impress the King. You take on dental work, cake decorating, takoyaki store management, and more, serving the needs of many familiar faces from the virtual pet toys.

After its incredibly quick rise to success and then fall from grace during the DS era, the formula has made its way back to the Nintendo Switch. Tamagotchi Plaza's nostalgic revival of the series in full 3D made me cry tears of joy, and I highly recommend it for any fans of the original releases.

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While Nintendo hasn't commissioned a new DS game in years, you can still look forward to more from your favorites with our guide to the most exciting upcoming Switch games. Who knows, maybe we'll finally get a Pokémon Black and Black 2 remaster?

That's the end of our best DS games guide. If you'd prefer some nostalgia from a slightly older generation, our list of the best GBA games is filled with 16-bit magic, or you can find many sequels to these DS classics in our best 3DS games list. Many of the best Switch games and best mobile games on our lists are follow-ups to these games, too, so be sure to take a look for yourself. Did we miss your favorite? Let us know by joining the official Pocket Tactics Discord server.