The Nintendo DS is the second best-selling video game console of all time. It sits just behind the record set by the PlayStation 2, with an estimated 154 million units sold worldwide. The DS comes from the time when Nintendo was at their peak of commercial success, with both their handheld and home console dominating the market. Along with having some amazing Nintendo games, the DS' large base led to lots of third party , as well as allowing many obscure video game franchises (like Phoenix Wright) to leave Japan for the first time.
We are here today to rank the best games on one of the greatest video game consoles of all time. There will only be one entry per franchise allowed, to prevent a deluge of Pokémon titles from dominating the rankings. Each franchise will have to put its best foot forward to make it onto this list.
Here are the 20 Best Games On The Nintendo DS, Ranked!
20. Super Mario 64 DS
Super Mario 64 was one of the greatest launch titles of all time. It brought the Mario games into the 3rd dimension and did so with one of the best platform games ever made. This was the game that put the Nintendo 64 on the map and convinced the gaming world that 3D graphics was the way forward.
When the Nintendo DS was first released, an updated version of Super Mario 64 was one of the first games on the system. Super Mario 64 DS managed to improve on the original, by giving you access to three new characters. You could now play the game as Yoshi, Wario and Luigi. Each of these characters had their own strengths and weaknesses, which added a new layer of gameplay to this classic title.
Honourable mention - New Super Mario Bros. was an excellent game that brought the series back to its 2D roots. The only problem was that the game was incredibly short. It's possible to complete New Super Mario Bros. in under five hours, which includes clearing out all the levels in each world.
19. Professor Layton And The Curious Village
Professor Layton and the Curious Village has a very unusual concept. You play as Professor Hershel Layton, as he journeys to the village of St. Mystere with his young apprentice, Luke Triton. The residents of the town are all obsessed with puzzles, and Layton can't even go the toilet without some British stereotype asking him to solve a brain teaser.
The town of St. Mystere is an enigma filled with puzzles. Professor Layton has to discover the secret of the Golden Apple, whilst constantly needing to solve the smaller puzzles that make up the bulk of the game. If you love mysteries, then this is the game for you.
Honourable mention - There were three more Professor Layton games released on the Nintendo DS after Curious Village. The first game had a reason behind its unusual setting and characters. The later games just got lazy with their explanations and made everyone in the world obsessed with puzzles. They are still really good games, but the Professor Layton formula seemed to be diluted with each following instalment.
18. Elite Beat Agents
The Guitar Hero series created a massive interest in rhythm games. To play those titles, however, you needed to buy expensive peripherals. Elite Beat Agents for the Nintendo DS required no such fancy hardware. To play the game, all you needed was the Nintendo DS, a stylus, and your ears.
Elite Beat Agents stars a team of suit-clad cheerleaders, who travel the world helping people in need. The gameplay involves tapping the screen in time with the music, as well as following other directions (like following a track or spinning a wheel). The game had an amazing soundtrack, made up of pop and rock songs. Elite Beat Agents featured songs like "Let's Dance" (by David Bowie), "ABC" (by The Jackson Five) and "I Was Born To Love You" (by Queen).
If you thought "Through the Fire and Flames" was difficult, then you need to try "Jumpin' Jack Flash" on the hardest mode in Elite Beat Agents.
Honourable mention - Rhythm Heaven is a title that is composed of numerous sound based minigames. While the tunes in this game can be catchy, they lack the replay value of the mainstream songs in Elite Beat Agents.
17. Castlevania: Portrait Of Ruin
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin adds a unique twist to the formula established by previous games in the series. The plot of the game involves a vampire named Brauner, who has taken over Dracula's castle. It is the job of the player to once more lay siege to the castle and kill the vampire within. The difference is that you are not playing alone. This game stars Jonathan Morris, who uses the fighting style of the Belmonts, yet lacks the bloodline needed to control their weapons. You also get to play as Charlotte Aulin, a powerful witch who is still in training.
In Portrait of Ruin, you can switch between the two characters at the push of a button, or summon the other as an A.I. controlled helper. You need to use both Jonathan's physical prowess and Charlotte's spells to survive within the castle.
Honourable mention - There were two other Castlevania games on the Nintendo DS. The first one was Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow. While it is a decent enough game, it has some poorly implemented touch screen sections. The other was Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia. While this was an excellent game in its own right, it was also brutally difficult.
16. Kingdom Hearts Re:coded
The Nintendo DS could not handle 3D graphics as well as its competitor, the PlayStation Portable. This did not stop several developers from trying to create 3D games on the system. Square Enix managed to do this on several occasions, most notably with Kingdom Hearts Re:coded.
Kingdom Hearts Re:coded involves Sora entering the digital world within Jiminy Cricket's journal, in order to defeat the bugs that have corrupted it. Re:coded lacks a lot of the overly complex plot of the other games, and offers an awesome action RPG, that manages to blend a Final Fantasy X-style sphere grid into the gameplay. While Birth By Sleep might have better graphics, it lacks the accessibility of Re:coded.
Honourable mention - Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days was also released on the Nintendo DS. The is also a really good game, but unlike Re:coded, you need to have played the other games in the series to know what the hell is going on. Re:coded is more of a side adventure, that doesn't rely on prior knowledge of the Kingdom Hearts series.
15. Contra 4
The Contra series provided some of best action games of the 8 and 16-bit eras. For some reason, the series lost its way in the 32-bit era. The games became overly complex and started to introduce intricate storylines and deep character motivations.
Contra 4 returned the series to its roots in a big way. The 2D run and gun action returned, with Bill and Lance doing battle with the alien invaders once more. The arcade action from the earlier games in the series is back, only this time, you have two screens worth of enemies to contend with. The game won't hesitate to add flying enemies to the top screen, in order to ruin your day.
Honourable mention - Metroid Prime Hunters was a fun first-person shooter for the system. While it was a good game, it was held back by its control scheme. The Nintendo DS only had a single D-pad, which made it a terrible system for first-person games. You had to use a mixture of the D-pad, shoulder buttons and touch screen for both movement and firing.
14. Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
The original Final Fantasy Tactics is one of the best tactical RPGS of all time. While Final Fantasy Tactics appeared on the original PlayStation, the game wouldn't see any direct sequels, instead, it had spinoffs that were released on Nintendo systems.
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift is the second Tactics game to appear on a Nintendo console. Like its predecessor, the game follows a boy from our world, who is teleported to the mystical land of Ivalice. You play as Luso, who becomes the leader of a prominent guild of adventurers. The game features hundreds of hours of content, with numerous battles and quests that need solving. Tactics A2 also features an unprecedented level of party customisation, with a huge range of player races and classes at your disposal.
Honourable mention - Final Fantasy 3 finally receive an official English release on the Nintendo DS. While the game did feature an updated job system, it still had a lot of the extreme difficulty of the NES version. Final Fantasy 4 also received an updated port, which included a new "Augment" feature. The problem was, you needed a guide to learn how to get the best Augments, as some of them were hidden a little too well.
13. Mario Kart DS
Mario Kart DS offered fans their first portable 3D Mario Kart experience. It also gave fans the chance to play the game online, through the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Mario Kart DS also offered you a rare chance at being rude in an online Nintendo game, as you could design the emblem on the front of your kart. The Mario Kart league was suddenly adorned with crudely drawn penises and sketches of Adolf Hitler.
Despite the Nintendo DS' issues with displaying 3D graphics, Mario Kart DS offered crisp gameplay without slowdown or other technical issues. It offered the true Mario Kart experience on the go.
Honourable mention - Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing received a port on the Nintendo DS. This is actually a decent game, with its own recognisable characters and fun gameplay. Like all other kart-racing games, however, it is still just running in Mario Kart's shadow.
12. Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride is a remake of Dragon Quest V for the Super Nintendo. While the previous games in the series offered straight up stories about heroes defeating villains, Dragon Quest V did something a lot closer to home.
What makes Dragon Quest V such an improvement over the other entries in the series is its story. You start out as a young boy on an adventure with his father. By the end of the game, you are now the father, who is adventuring with his wife and children. Dragon Quest V offers an amazing story, with twists that we will not spoil for you here. That is to say nothing of the usual tried and true Dragon Quest JRPG gameplay.
Honourable mention - There were three other Dragon Quest titles on the Nintendo DS, and they are all well worth your time. Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen is slightly less interesting in the story department than V. Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation has a disted story, which takes a while to pay off. Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies is a game that is best played with a strategy guide, as a lot of the side quests are either extremely difficult or poorly explained.
11. Puzzle Quest: Challenge Of The Warlords
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords has been released on numerous consoles since its debut. When the Nintendo DS port of the game came out, it was the only iteration of the game that offered touch screen , making it the superior version.
If you have things to do in life, then do not buy this game! Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is the video game equivalent of heroin. Puzzle Quest takes the matching blocks gameplay of Bejeweled and wraps it in a fantasy RPG, where you can level up, train monsters and take over the world.
Honourable mention - Sid Meier's Civilization: Revolution may be just as addictive as Puzzle Quest. This portable version of the classic strategy game offers hundreds of hours of gameplay, with almost limitless replayability. The only real issue the game has is its shoddy visuals. The Nintendo DS was capable of so much more.