Best Games on Nintendo DS: 50 Picks Worth Playing in 2026

The best games on Nintendo DS are Mario Kart DS, New Super Mario Bros., Chrono Trigger, Professor Layton and the Curious Village, and The World Ends with You. This list has 50 picks: 30 in detail, then 20 more. Each one shows its US release date, Metacritic score, and ESRB rating.

We also tell you how to play it today. New DS games are long gone, so there are three ways in: a used cart, an official Android version, or an emulator. Seven of the 50 have an official Android version on Google Play. We checked the facts on November 1, 2026.

In a hurry? Jump to: quick picks · how we picked · the top 30 · 20 more · critic scores · on Google Play · how to play today · touch and mic · two players · kids and adults · left out · FAQ

Quick picks: the best DS game for each need

You want	Play this	Why
Best overall	Mario Kart DS	Score 91. 23.6 million sold. Up to 8 players from one cart.
Best critic score	Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars	Score 93, Metacritic's top DS game. Rated Mature.
Best seller	New Super Mario Bros.	30.8 million sold, the most of any DS game.
Best story game	Chrono Trigger	Score 92. Official Android version.
Best puzzle game	Professor Layton and the Curious Village	Around 120 puzzles. Official Android version.
Best mystery	Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney or Ghost Trick	Both have official Android versions.
Best for young kids	Nintendogs or Animal Crossing: Wild World	Both rated E. Gentle and easy to start.
Best for adults	Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow or Ghost Trick	Both rated Teen. See the ESRB table below.
Best for two or more	Mario Kart DS	Download Play works with one cart.
Best in short bursts	WarioWare: Touched!	About 180 microgames, a few seconds each.
Best hidden gem	Radiant Historia	Score 85. The cart became rare.
Best on Android with no emulator	Layton: Curious Village in HD	$9.99 on Google Play.

How we picked these 50 (checked November 1, 2026)

• Real DS games only. Each game came out on the Nintendo DS in the US. Dates are US dates. Where two sources gave different days, we show only the month and year.
• Scores, dates, and ratings. Metacritic scores and ESRB ratings come from Metacritic's DS list. We cross-checked the top 30 against each game's Wikipedia page. Sales come from Wikipedia's best-selling DS games list or the game's own page. The dates behind those sales numbers differ by game.
• Android facts are live. Prices, ratings, and dates come from US Google Play listings we opened on November 1, 2026. Ratings change every day.
• We compared this list with the pages ranking for this search. That includes IGN, GameSpot, Cultured Vultures, Retro Dodo, Collider, and ENEBA. 19 of Metacritic's top 20 DS games are in our 50. The one left out is Flipnote Studio, an app. Most of those pages skip how to play each game today, and none of them gave ESRB ratings or a table of microphone games.
• A spread of types. Six groups, so a platformer fan and a puzzle fan both find something.
• We did not replay all 50 for this update. We do not claim to have. Scores are critics' scores, not ours.
• No ROM links. Emulators are legal. Game files are the line. See the legal note below.
• Photos. The Nintendo DS photo at the top and the Pokéwalker photo are public domain, by Evan-Amos, via Wikimedia Commons. The score chart is ours.

The numbering counts the games. It is not a strict ranking. Unless an entry says otherwise, we found no Google Play listing for the game (exact-title search, US store).

The DS sold 154.02 million systems worldwide by March 31, 2016. It launched in North America on November 21, 2004 at $149.99.

Nintendo's best (8 picks)

These are the games most people think of first. They are the safest buys for families.

1. Mario Kart DS

• Why it is great: The best kart racer on a handheld. It runs at 60 frames per second with full 3D tracks and characters.
• Facts: Released Nov 14, 2005 (US). Metacritic 91. ESRB: E. Sold: 23.6 million.
• Good to know: One cart can start a race for up to 8 players with limited courses. Players without a cart drive as Shy Guy.
• Play it today: A used cart on a DS or 3DS-family system. Online races ended on May 20, 2014, but local races still work.

2. New Super Mario Bros.

• Why it is great: The best-selling DS game of all time. Simple side-scrolling Mario that anyone can pick up in a minute.
• Facts: Released May 15, 2006 (US). Metacritic 89. ESRB: E. Sold: 30.8 million.
• Good to know: It also has a two-player Mario vs. Luigi mode with five stages.
• Play it today: A used cart on a DS or 3DS-family system.

3. Super Mario 64 DS

• Why it is great: The N64 classic, rebuilt for the DS launch. You can play as Yoshi, Mario, Luigi, or Wario, and there are 36 minigames.
• Facts: Released Nov 2004 (US). Metacritic 85. ESRB: E. Sold: 11.06 million.
• Needs: Move with the d-pad, or with the touch screen using the stylus or your thumb.
• Good to know: Download Play supports up to four players.
• Play it today: A used cart on a DS or 3DS-family system.

4. Yoshi's Island DS

• Why it is great: Five babies, five powers. Baby Mario dashes, Baby Peach floats, Baby DK swings on vines, Baby Wario uses a magnet, and Baby Bowser spits fire.
• Facts: Released Nov 13, 2006 (US). Metacritic 81. ESRB: E. Sold: 3.36 million.
• Needs: Basic play does not use the bottom screen. It handles level select and a few minigames.
• Play it today: A used cart on a DS or 3DS-family system.

5. Animal Crossing: Wild World

• Why it is great: A small town that runs on your DS clock. Time of day and the season change what happens, so it rewards a quick daily visit.
• Facts: Released Dec 5, 2005 (US). Metacritic 86. ESRB: E. Sold: 11.75 million.
• Play it today: A used cart on a DS or 3DS-family system. Visiting other towns online ended on May 20, 2014.

6. Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

• Why it is great: Bowser swallows Mario and Luigi, and you play both worlds at once. The best-selling Mario RPG.
• Facts: Released Sep 2009 (US). Metacritic 90. ESRB: E. Sold: 4.56 million.
• Needs: Two screens. Bowser walks the overworld on top. Mario and Luigi explore his insides on the bottom.
• Play it today: A used cart on a DS or 3DS-family system. A 3DS remake came out on Jan 11, 2019.

7. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

• Why it is great: Zelda played with the stylus alone. You steer Link by pointing, and you draw sea routes on the map.
• Facts: Released Oct 1, 2007 (US). Metacritic 90. ESRB: E. Sold: 4.76 million.
• Needs: Touch screen and microphone.
• Good to know: The Temple of the Ocean King resets each time you leave. A curse drains your life while you are inside.
• Play it today: A used cart on a DS or 3DS-family system.

8. The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

• Why it is great: Link drives a train, and Zelda helps as a spirit that can take over armored guards.
• Facts: Released Dec 7, 2009 (US). Metacritic 87. ESRB: E10+. Sold: 2.96 million.
• Needs: Stylus controls. You blow into the microphone to play Zelda's pan flute.
• Good to know: Its main dungeon is a tower you climb, so you do not retrace the same floors as in Phantom Hourglass.
• Play it today: A used cart on a DS or 3DS-family system.

Pokémon (2 picks)

Pokémon was a big part of the DS. These two have the best mix of story and score. Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum are in the quick picks below.

9. Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

• Why it is great: Two regions in one game, Johto and Kanto. The Pokémon at the front of your party walks behind you.
• Facts: Released Mar 14, 2010 (US). Metacritic 87. ESRB: E. Sold: 12.72 million.
• Good to know: Each box came with the Pokéwalker, a pedometer. You walk with a Pokémon and earn watts to spend in the game.
• Play it today: A used cart on a DS or 3DS-family system. Online features are gone.

10. Pokémon Black and White

• Why it is great: A fresh start. You only meet brand-new Pokémon until the postgame, 156 in all, in a region based on New York City.
• Facts: Released Mar 6, 2011 (US). Metacritic 87. ESRB: E. Sold: 15.64 million (both versions).
• Good to know: Seasons change every month, and wild Pokémon change with them. Black 2 and White 2 followed in 2012.
• Play it today: A used cart on a DS or 3DS-family system. Online services shut down in January 2014.

Big RPGs (5 picks)

Story-heavy games with a lot of battles and talking.

11. Chrono Trigger

• Why it is great: The SNES time-travel classic. The DS version adds an arena, two new areas, and a new ending that points to Chrono Cross.
• Facts: Released Nov 25, 2008 (US). Metacritic 92. ESRB: E10+.
• Play it today: Google Play sells CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) for $9.99. Wikipedia says the 2018 PC version kept most DS extras but dropped the arena, and the mobile update follows the PC version.

12. Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies

• Why it is great: You build your own hero and party. Up to three players can team up locally.
• Facts: Released Jul 11, 2010 (US). Metacritic 87. ESRB: E10+. Sold: 5.5 million.
• Good to know: Tag Mode swaps gifts and treasure maps with DS systems nearby.
• Play it today: A used cart on a DS or 3DS-family system. Online features ended in 2014, and we found no Android version.

13. The World Ends with You

• Why it is great: A stylish Tokyo action RPG. Neku fights on the bottom screen while his partner fights on the top, both at once.
• Facts: Released Apr 22, 2008 (US). Metacritic 88. ESRB: T. Sold: about 140,000 in North America by Sept 2008.
• Needs: Touch screen, microphone, and buttons. You attack with swipes or shouts, and the partner uses the face buttons.
• Play it today: A used cart, or the Switch version, The World Ends with You: Final Remix (Oct 12, 2018). The Android version, Solo Remix, came out in 2014 and was removed in July 2023.

14. Radiant Historia

• Why it is great: A time-travel RPG with two timelines. You change the past to fix the future.
• Facts: Released Feb 22, 2011 (US). Metacritic 85. ESRB: E10+.
• Play it today: A used cart. Wikipedia says the cart became rare, and Atlus reprinted it in 2012. A 3DS remake, Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology, came to North America on Feb 13, 2018.

15. Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride

• Why it is great: About thirty years of one hero's life, from kid to dad. After battles, monsters can ask to join your party.
• Facts: Released Feb 2009 (US). Metacritic 84. ESRB: E10+.
• Play it today: Google Play sells DRAGON QUEST V for $14.99, a Square Enix mobile version of the DS remake.

Puzzle and mystery games (5 picks)

You think more than you tap. These are good for short breaks.

16. Professor Layton and the Curious Village

• Why it is great: Around 120 puzzles hidden in a storybook village. The professor and his helper Luke hunt for a Golden Apple.
• Facts: Released Feb 10, 2008 (US). Metacritic 85. ESRB: E. Sold: 4.49 million.
• Play it today: Google Play sells Layton: Curious Village in HD for $9.99, with new cutscenes. The two sequels, Diabolical Box and Unwound Future, are on Play too.

17. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

• Why it is great: You are a rookie defense lawyer. Find the lie in each witness story and prove it in court.
• Facts: Released Oct 2005 (US). Metacritic 81. ESRB: T.
• Needs: Touch screen for checking evidence. Blowing into the microphone to find fingerprints is optional.
• Good to know: The DS version added a fifth case, Rise from the Ashes.
• Play it today: Google Play sells Ace Attorney Trilogy for $22.99, with the first three games and all 14 episodes.

18. Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

• Why it is great: You are a ghost. Possess objects, then rewind to four minutes before someone dies and change what happens. It comes from the creator of Ace Attorney.
• Facts: Released Jan 11, 2011 (US). Metacritic 83. ESRB: T.
• Play it today: Google Play sells GHOST TRICK for $29.99, a 2024 HD remaster of the DS game. A free demo is on Play too.

19. Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors

• Why it is great: Nine strangers, nine hours, and a sinking ship. Story scenes alternate with escape-room puzzles until you find door number 9.
• Facts: Released Nov 16, 2010 (US). Metacritic 82. ESRB: M.
• Play it today: A used cart, or the Zero Escape: The Nonary Games bundle on PS4, Vita, and Windows, with Xbox One added in 2022. We found no Android version.

20. Tetris DS

• Why it is great: Classic Tetris plus modes like Push, Touch, Puzzle, Catch, and Mission.
• Facts: Released Mar 20, 2006 (US). Metacritic 84. ESRB: E. Sold: 2.74 million.
• Good to know: Wikipedia says it supports up to ten players locally.
• Play it today: A used cart on a DS or 3DS-family system. Online play is shut down.

Action and strategy games (5 picks)

Fights and tactics. Read the controls notes first, since some of these lean on the stylus.

21. Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow

• Why it is great: You play Soma Cruz, one year after Aria of Sorrow. You absorb enemy souls to gain new powers while you explore Dracula's castle.
• Facts: Released Oct 4, 2005 (US). Metacritic 89. ESRB: T. Sold: over 164,000 in the US in its first three months.
• Needs: Touch screen. After a boss's health hits zero, you draw a pattern on it, called a Magic Seal, before time runs out.
• Play it today: A used cart on a DS or 3DS-family system.

22. Okamiden

• Why it is great: The sequel to Okami, starring a small wolf cub. Press a shoulder button, and the top screen drops down as paper to paint on.
• Facts: Released Mar 2011 (US). Metacritic 82. ESRB: E10+.
• Needs: Stylus. Slow strokes make bold lines, and fast strokes make faint ones.
• Play it today: A used cart on a DS or 3DS-family system.

23. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

• Why it is great: The top-scoring game on our list, and Metacritic's top-ranked DS game. A top-down crime story from Rockstar Leeds and Rockstar North.
• Facts: Released Mar 17, 2009 (US). Metacritic 93. ESRB: M.
• Needs: On DS, the touch screen runs the PDA and throws Molotov cocktails. The microphone can whistle for taxis.
• Play it today: Google Play lists GTA: Chinatown Wars with a free 30-minute trial, then a one-time in-app purchase for the full game. It is rated Mature 17+.

24. Advance Wars: Dual Strike

• Why it is great: Turn-based war on a grid. Some missions open a second front on the top screen, and units sent there cannot come back.
• Facts: Released Aug 22, 2005 (US). Metacritic 90. ESRB: E.
• Good to know: Combat mode is a real-time shooter for up to eight players, over local wireless only.
• Play it today: A used cart on a DS or 3DS-family system.

25. Metroid Prime Hunters

• Why it is great: A first-person shooter with Samus. You move with the d-pad and aim by dragging the stylus.
• Facts: Released Mar 20, 2006 (US). Metacritic 85. ESRB: T.
• Needs: Reviewers found the stylus aiming cramped. Try it before you commit.
• Play it today: A used cart on a DS or 3DS-family system.

Music, quick play, and family games (5 picks)

Easy to start and easy to put down.

26. Elite Beat Agents

• Why it is great: Tap, slide, and spin the stylus to pop and rock songs while a dancing squad cheers someone on. Songs include Queen, Avril Lavigne, and Village People covers.
• Facts: Released Nov 2006 (US). Metacritic 87. ESRB: E10+. Sold: about 179,000 in North America by Jan 2009.
• Needs: Stylus only.
• Play it today: A used cart on a DS or 3DS-family system.

27. Rhythm Heaven

• Why it is great: Fifty rhythm minigames, in ten sets of four, with a remix level after each set. It was called Rhythm Paradise in other regions.
• Facts: Released Apr 5, 2009 (US). Metacritic 83. ESRB: E. Sold: 3.04 million.
• Needs: You hold the DS upright and use the stylus to tap, hold, drag, and flick. The main game does not use buttons.
• Play it today: A used cart on a DS or 3DS-family system.

28. WarioWare: Touched!

• Why it is great: About 180 microgames that last a few seconds each. Poke, rub, drag, or blow into the microphone before time runs out.
• Facts: Released Feb 14, 2005 (US). Metacritic 81. ESRB: E. Sold: 2.47 million.
• Needs: Touch screen and microphone.
• Play it today: A used cart on a DS or 3DS-family system.

29. Nintendogs

• Why it is great: Raise a puppy. You pet it, walk it, groom it, and teach it tricks by voice.
• Facts: Released Aug 22, 2005 (US). Metacritic 83. ESRB: E. Sold: 23.96 million (all versions).
• Needs: Touch screen and microphone. You call your dog by name and say commands like “sit.”
• Good to know: The score is for Chihuahua & Friends. The other versions are also at 83. Bark Mode lets you meet a nearby player's dog.
• Play it today: A used cart on a DS or 3DS-family system. Pick a version, such as Lab & Friends or Dachshund & Friends.

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

• Why it is great: A daily set of quick math and word checks. You hold the DS sideways like a book.
• Facts: Released Apr 17, 2006 (US). Metacritic 77. ESRB: E. Sold: 19.01 million.
• Needs: You write answers on the touch screen or say them out loud. You can skip the speaking test.
• Good to know: Nintendo of America did not back its science claims. A 2016 review found mixed results and small effects. Treat it as a fun habit, not a medicine.
• Play it today: A used cart on a DS or 3DS-family system.

20 more great DS games

These came up on other top lists or scored well on Metacritic. Dates, scores, and ratings are from Metacritic. The one-line notes use the publishers' own descriptions.

Game, US release, score, ESRB	Why play it
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia Oct 21, 2008 · Metacritic 85 · T	You play Shanoa and use more than 100 glyph combinations to fight Dracula's forces.
Professor Layton and the Unwound Future Sep 12, 2010 · Metacritic 86 · E10+ · 3.02 million sold	Luke gets a letter from himself, ten years in the future. Google Play sells it in HD for $15.99.
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time Nov 28, 2005 · Metacritic 86 · E	The brothers travel back in time and team up with their baby selves to rescue Princess Peach.
Meteos Jun 28, 2005 · Metacritic 88 · E	A falling-block puzzle game from Rez creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi. You launch blocks into orbit.
Kirby: Canvas Curse Jun 13, 2005 · Metacritic 86 · E	You draw rainbow paths with the stylus to guide Kirby. Some regions called it Touch! Kirby's Magic Paintbrush.
Advance Wars: Days of Ruin Jan 21, 2008 · Metacritic 86 · E10+	A darker Advance Wars, set after a meteor strike wipes out 90% of people. The UK and Europe called it Dark Conflict.
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Apr 22, 2007 · Metacritic 85 · E · 17.67 million sold	The Sinnoh region, where you can play as a boy or a girl. It is the best-selling Pokémon pair on the DS.
Pokémon Platinum Mar 22, 2009 · Metacritic 83 · E · 7.60 million sold	An expanded Sinnoh story with the Distortion World and a Battle Frontier that has five facilities.
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin Dec 5, 2006 · Metacritic 85 · T	Two heroes, Jonathan and Charlotte, face Dracula's forces in a World War II setting.
Hotel Dusk: Room 215 Jan 22, 2007 · Metacritic 78 · T	A noir mystery set in 1979. You are ex-cop Kyle Hyde, hunting for a missing friend in a strange hotel.
Golden Sun: Dark Dawn Nov 29, 2010 · Metacritic 79 · E10+	A new Golden Sun RPG about the descendants of the earlier heroes.
Super Scribblenauts Oct 12, 2010 · Metacritic 81 · E10+	Write almost any object and it appears. You use the stylus and touch screen to help Maxwell reach each Starite.
Picross DS Jul 30, 2007 · Metacritic 83 · E	Number puzzles. You fill a grid with squares and crosses to reveal a picture.
Trauma Center: Under the Knife Oct 4, 2005 · Metacritic 81 · T	You play surgeon and use the stylus to operate on patients.
Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon Feb 16, 2009 · Metacritic 81 · E10+	A remake of an NES game that never came to America. It adds touch controls and tutorial chapters.
Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes Dec 1, 2009 · Metacritic 86 · E10+	A puzzle RPG from Ubisoft, set 40 years before Heroes V.
Final Fantasy IV Jul 21, 2008 · Metacritic 85 · E10+	A DS remake of the classic about the kingdom of Baron and four elemental crystals.
Sonic Rush Nov 15, 2005 · Metacritic 82 · E	Fast 2D Sonic action, with Blaze the Cat as a partner.
Contra 4 Nov 13, 2007 · Metacritic 83 · T	Classic 2D run-and-gun, set two years after Contra III: The Alien Wars.
Kirby Super Star Ultra Sep 22, 2008 · Metacritic 76 · E · 2.99 million sold	A remake of a SNES favorite, with 11 modes. Wikipedia lists about 3 million sold.

Which picks did critics score highest?

Fifteen of the 50 scored 87 or higher. Five games tie at 87.

• Sales and scores do not match. New Super Mario Bros. sold the most, at 30.8 million, but 6 of our picks scored higher.
• Brain Age scored 77 and sold 19.01 million.
• Metacritic's own #2 DS game is Flipnote Studio, a DSiWare animation app. We left it out because it is not a game you can play from a cart.

DS games you can buy on Google Play right now

This is the easy path for an Android reader. No emulator, no dump, no cables. These are the official versions we found on the US store on November 1, 2026.

DS game	Android version and price	Rating and notes
Professor Layton and the Curious Village	Layton: Curious Village in HD $9.99	4.34 stars from 755 ratings. HD remake with new cutscenes. Android release Sep 2018.
Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box (not in our 50)	Layton: Diabolical Box in HD $9.99	4.50 stars from 318 ratings. Updated Jul 31, 2026.
Professor Layton and the Unwound Future	Layton: Unwound Future in HD $15.99	4.83 stars from 148 ratings. Android release Jul 2020.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney	Ace Attorney Trilogy $22.99	4.13 stars from 800 ratings. First three games, 14 episodes. Android release May 2022.
Ghost Trick	GHOST TRICK $29.99	4.31 stars from 98 ratings. HD remaster, Mar 2024. Free demo available.
Dragon Quest V	DRAGON QUEST V $14.99	4.23 stars from 2,993 ratings. Android release Jan 2015. Updated Sep 9, 2026.
Dragon Quest VI (not in our 50)	DRAGON QUEST VI $14.99	4.61 stars from 5,739 ratings. A second DS remake on Android. Updated Sep 14, 2026.
Chrono Trigger	CHRONO TRIGGER (Upgrade Ver.) $9.99	3.78 stars from 20,222 ratings. 2018 mobile update, not the DS cart. Updated Dec 19, 2025.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars	GTA: Chinatown Wars Free trial, then one-time purchase	3.41 stars from 58,036 ratings. 30-minute trial. Mature 17+. Android release Dec 2014.
The World Ends with You	Solo Remix (removed) n/a	Android release 2014. Wikipedia says the Android and iOS versions were removed in July 2023.

• These are remakes or ports, so they are not always the exact DS game. Layton is HD. Ghost Trick is a 2024 remaster. Chrono Trigger follows the PC version.
• Prices and ratings move. Check the listing before you buy.
• Play also has DS emulators from other developers. We do not review them here. Our DS and 3DS emulator guide covers the ones we trust.

How to play DS games in 2026

Pick the way that fits you. Most people end up using two.

• Real hardware. A DS, DS Lite, or DSi plays DS carts. So does a 3DS-family system. Nintendo says all DS games are compatible with 3DS family systems, except a few that need the GBA slot. DS games do not show in 3D, and they do not use StreetPass or SpotPass.
• Which DS to buy. The DS Lite has a Game Boy Advance slot. The DSi and DSi XL have an SD card slot instead, so they cannot play GBA games. Pick a DS or DS Lite if you also want GBA games or slot-2 extras.
• Used carts. New DS games are gone. Buy used and look at sold prices, not asking prices. Rare carts like Radiant Historia cost more.
• Official Android versions. See the Google Play section above. This is the cleanest option for 7 of our 50.
• An emulator on your phone. Our best DS emulator for Android guide picks the app and shows setup. A gamepad helps. See our gamepad support list.

What is legal and what is not

• An emulator is legal. A game file you did not dump from your own cart is not.
• We do not link to ROM sites. We do not host game files.
• Nintendo has ended eShop purchases on Wii U and the 3DS family as of March 27, 2023 at 5:00 PM Pacific. You can still redownload what you bought.
• Nintendo shut down most Wi-Fi Connection functions on May 20, 2014. That service ran DS online play, so online modes in these games are gone.

Touch, mic, and two screens: check this first

The DS had two screens, a touch screen, and a microphone. Some games lean on them hard. This matters most if you play on a phone.

Games that use the microphone

Game	What the mic does
Zelda: Phantom Hourglass	Uses the touch screen and the microphone. Wikipedia does not say how.
Zelda: Spirit Tracks	You blow into the mic to play Zelda's pan flute.
The World Ends with You	Neku's attacks can use touch motions or shouting into the mic.
Nintendogs	You say your dog's name and teach tricks by voice.
Brain Age	You can say answers out loud. The speaking test can be skipped.
WarioWare: Touched!	Some microgames ask you to blow into the mic.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney	Blowing into the mic to find fingerprints is optional.
GTA: Chinatown Wars	The mic can whistle for a taxi.

Games built around the stylus

• Elite Beat Agents: stylus only.
• Rhythm Heaven: you hold the DS upright, and the main game does not use buttons.
• Okamiden: you paint with the stylus.
• Kirby: Canvas Curse: you draw rainbow paths for Kirby with the stylus.
• Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow: you draw a Magic Seal on the touch screen to finish a boss.
• Brain Age: you hold the DS sideways like a book.

Games that use both screens at once

• Advance Wars: Dual Strike: a second front on the top screen.
• Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story: two worlds, one on each screen.
• The World Ends with You: two fighters, one on each screen.

On an emulator: the melonDS for Android README does not mention the microphone. It lists local multiplayer under missing features. Test a mic game before you count on it. Our emulator guide explains the two-screen problem on a phone.

Best DS games for two or more players

Online play ended on May 20, 2014. Everything below is local, with DS systems in the same room.

Game	Players
Mario Kart DS	Up to 8 players from one cart, with limited courses.
Super Mario 64 DS	Up to 4 players in Download Play.
Tetris DS	Up to 10 players locally, per Wikipedia.
Advance Wars: Dual Strike	Combat mode for up to 8 players.
Dragon Quest IX	Up to 3 players locally.
New Super Mario Bros.	Two-player Mario vs. Luigi mode.
Nintendogs	Bark Mode, to meet a nearby player's dog.

Best DS games for kids, teens, and adults (by ESRB rating)

Parents ask for this a lot, and ranking pages rarely show it. These ratings are from Metacritic's DS list. Check the box too, since ratings can differ by version.

ESRB rating	Our picks
E (Everyone)	Mario Kart DS, New Super Mario Bros., Super Mario 64 DS, Yoshi's Island DS, Animal Crossing: Wild World, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, Pokémon Black and White, Professor Layton and the Curious Village, Tetris DS, Advance Wars: Dual Strike, Rhythm Heaven, WarioWare: Touched!, Nintendogs, Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day!, Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, Meteos, Kirby: Canvas Curse, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, Pokémon Platinum, Picross DS, Sonic Rush, Kirby Super Star Ultra
E10+ (Everyone 10+)	The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, Chrono Trigger, Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, Radiant Historia, Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride, Okamiden, Elite Beat Agents, Professor Layton and the Unwound Future, Advance Wars: Days of Ruin, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn, Super Scribblenauts, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon, Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes, Final Fantasy IV
T (Teen)	The World Ends with You, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, Metroid Prime Hunters, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, Hotel Dusk: Room 215, Trauma Center: Under the Knife, Contra 4
M (Mature 17+)	Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

• Good starts for young kids: Mario Kart DS, New Super Mario Bros., Yoshi's Island DS, Animal Crossing: Wild World, and Nintendogs. All are rated E.
• For adults: Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, Ghost Trick, The World Ends with You, and Phoenix Wright are rated Teen. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars and Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors are rated Mature.

Famous DS games we left out, and why

Readers will look for these. Here is what we did.

• Flipnote Studio. Metacritic ranks it #2, at 93. It is a DSiWare animation app, not a game on a cart.
• Pokémon Black 2 and White 2. They sold 8.52 million and scored 80. They are direct sequels to Black and White.
• Big sellers. Mario Party DS (9.31 million sold, score 72), Big Brain Academy (6.15 million, 74), and LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga (4.76 million, 80) sold well. Critics scored them lower than our picks.
• Final Fantasy Tactics A2 and Scribblenauts. Several lists name them. Scores are 80 and 79, so they missed our cut. Super Scribblenauts, at 81, made the quick picks.
• Pokémon Mystery Dungeon. A few lists name Explorers of Time, Darkness, and Sky. We did not check them for this update.

Bottom line: where to start

• Want one safe pick? Mario Kart DS.
• Want a story? Chrono Trigger, on Google Play today.
• Want puzzles on your phone? Layton: Curious Village in HD.
• Want something different? The World Ends with You, or Radiant Historia.

Do this next: pick one game from the quick-picks table, then choose how you will play it. If you want it on your phone, read our DS and 3DS emulator guide first. If you like retro handhelds, our best GBA games list is the next stop. For today's Nintendo hardware, see our best Nintendo Switch games.

Think we missed a great DS game? Tell us. We update this page when facts change.