100 Best DS Games of All Time

The Nintendo DS (or simply DS or NDS) is a very unique gaming handheld with its Dual Screen (hence, the DS name) and touchscreen capability.

Because of its unique features, there are many multi-platform games that are simply can be enjoyed differently when played on the DS.

For those of you who played this unique gaming device in the past, I bet you want to know the best DS games of all time.

Some of you will probably remember (or even still own) some of the games mentioned on this list.

And in this post, you will get:

• A highly curated and filtered list on the current best DS games
• Developer, publisher, and release date information
• Genre of the games
• Links where you can buy the games online

See also: Best Wii Games of All Time

So here you go.

Disclosure: We earn some money from affiliate links, thank you.

#100. Kirby Super Star Ultra

#99. Big Bang Mini

#98. Age of Empires: Mythologies

#97. Knights in the Nightmare

#96. Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day

#95. Lock’s Quest

#94. Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings

#93. Age of Empires: The Age of Kings

#92. Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen

#91. Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2

#90. Retro Game Challenge

#89. Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation

#88. Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem

#87. Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City

#86. Sonic Rush Adventure

#85. Metroid Prime Pinball

#84. Trauma Center: Under the Knife

#83. Worms: Open Warfare 2

#82. Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey

#81. Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2

#80. Pokemon White Version 2

#79. Golden Sun: Dark Dawn

#78. Plants vs. Zombies

#77. Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon

#76. Bangai-O Spirits

#75. Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift

#74. Bleach: Dark Souls

#73. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Trials and Tribulations

#72. Yoshi’s Island DS

#71. Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution

#70. Pokemon Black Version 2

#69. Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords

#68. Ninjatown

#67. Okamiden

#66. WarioWare: Touched!

#65. Pokemon Conquest

#64. Lunar Knights

#63. Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime

#62. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

#61. Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure

#60. GRID

#59. Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise

#58. Super Scribblenauts

#57. Disgaea DS

#56. Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword

#55. Space Invaders Extreme 2

#54. Clubhouse Games

#53. Picross DS

#52. Sonic Rush

#51. Pokemon Platinum Version

#50. Rhythm Heaven

#49. Bleach: The Blade of Fate

#48. Professor Layton and the Last Specter

#47. Metroid Prime: Hunters

#46. Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor

#45. Picross 3D

#44. Contra 4

#43. Kirby: Mass Attack

#42. Tony Hawk’s American Sk8land

#41. Space Invaders Extreme

#40. WarioWare D.I.Y.

#39. Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride

#38. Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

#37. Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin

#36. Final Fantasy IV

#35. Nintendogs: Chihuahua & Friends

#34. Nintendogs: Dachshund & Friends

#33. Nintendogs: Lab & Friends

#32. Pokemon Diamond Version

#31. Pokemon Pearl Version

#30. Radiant Historia

#29. Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time

#28. Advance Wars: Days of Ruin

#27. Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box

#26. Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia

#25. Pokemon Black Version

#24. Professor Layton and the Curious Village

#23. Animal Crossing: Wild World

#22. Super Mario 64 DS

#21. Planet Puzzle League

#20. The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

#19. Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes

#18. Tetris DS

#17. Pokemon White Version

#16. Professor Layton and the Unwound Future

#15. Kirby: Canvas Curse

#14. Pokemon HeartGold Version

#13. Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies

#12. The World Ends with You

#11. Pokemon SoulSilver Version

#10. Meteos

 

An evil planet named Meteo is sending storms of world-ending meteors across the galaxy, and only your puzzle skills can stop them.

As blocks drop down on the lower screen, you must use the DS’s stylus to match up blocks of the same color.

Once you have enough blocks connected, they’ll shoot back into the sky to form planets on the upper screen.

#9. Elite Beat Agents

 

The public knows of government agencies like the FBI and CIA, but little is known of this super-secret agency.

Code-named -Elite Beat Agents,- these men in black are heroes- heroes and the coolest group of guys this world has ever known.

Of course, according to official records, they do not exist.

#8. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

 

Many months have passed since the events of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and Link, Tetra and Tetra’s band of pirates have set sail in search of new lands.

Tetra falls into danger when she explores an abandoned ship alone, and Link falls into the ocean when he attempts to rescue her.

When he washes up unconscious on the shores of a mysterious island, he is awakened by a fairy who agrees to help him as he sets off to find Tetra – and his way back to the seas he once knew.

#7. New Super Mario Bros.

 

Jump into an all-new Mario adventure!

#6. Advance Wars: Dual Strike

 

Advance Wars: Dual Strike, the latest game in the award-winning turn-based strategy series, unleashes the power of the Nintendo DS!

Direct new Commanding Officers and familiar forces into battle against the nefarious Black Hole Army.

Dual-screen battles rage on two fronts while your troops rally behind two COs at the same time!

With Touch Screen control and wireless multiplayer gameplay, war has never been more fun!

Command powerful new COs and units, including shadowy stealth fighters and hulking megatanks.

#5. Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow

 

The team that developed Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow returns to bring the sequel, CastleVania: Dawn of Sorrow, to the Nintendo DS.

This time, you must infiltrate a castle belonging to a cult that is planning to resurrect Lord Dracula.

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow lets you defeat evil spirits using the “Magic Seal” system which utilizes the Nintendo DS touch screen.

You can trade captured souls with other players using the wireless system as well.

#4. Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story

 

In his evil plot to take over the Mushroom Kingdom, Fawful tricks Bowser into eating a magic mushroom.

The mushroom causes Bowser to begin inhaling everything around him, including Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach!

Do the Mario Bros. have the guts to rescue Peach and escape?

Players are in control of two separate storylines.

One features Bowser and his efforts to stop an arch-villain from taking over his castle.

Meanwhile, inside Bowser, the microbe-sized Mario & Luigi must muscle their way through challenges and keep their nerve if they want to find a way out.

They take action to control Bowser from the inside – but without his knowledge.

Players can switch between storylines at will.

What happens inside Bowser affects what he’s doing on the outside.

Sometimes Mario & Luigi must solve puzzles and challenges behind the scenes to help Bowser overcome various obstacles and advance the plot.

Players must make well-timed button presses to enhance their performance during battles and challenges.

In some battles, Bowser grows so large that players must turn their Nintendo DS or Nintendo DSi system sideways, blow into the microphone or tap on the touch screen with the stylus to keep up with the action.

The game features the same hilarious dialogue that has been the hallmark of the Mario & Luigi series.

#3. Mario Kart DS

 

Now you can play Mario Kart against opponents all over the world with Mario Kart DS.

Mario Kart DS includes new tracks, as well as retro tracks selected from all the previous Mario Kart versions.

In addition to a handful of single-player modes, you can play with up to eight players locally or with four players over the Internet.

Your records are stored in your cartridge, and a unique friend code lets you keep track of friends online.

#2. Chrono Trigger

 

When a newly developed teleportation device malfunctions at the Millennial Fair, young Crono must travel through time to rescue his misfortunate companion from an intricate web of past and present perils.

The swashbuckling adventure that ensues soon unveils an evil force set to destroy the world, triggering Crono’s race against time to change the course of history and bring about a brighter future.

#1. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

 

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is an entirely original entry into the critically acclaimed Grand Theft Auto series, and brings a new level of interactivity to its sprawling open environments.

With the use of the DS touch screen, players navigate their way through the streets as they uncover the truth behind an epic tale of crime and corruption within the Triad crime syndicate, delivering the unprecedented amount of depth that has become a true trademark of the franchise.

Are Your Favorite Games On The List? Leave A Comment Below!

If you think there are games that should OR shouldn’t be on this list, let us know by leaving a comment below.

Determining which DS game is the best is a never ending topic, but it’s exciting!