5 Nintendo DS Games That Are 10/10 Masterpieces

Published Aug 29, 2026, 7:31 AM EDT

Bruno Yonezawa is a Gaming Senior Writer for Screen Rant. He's been practicing professional journalism for over 10 years, and is also a communications specialist. He's played games all his life and turned that passionate hobby into a passionate career, in an industry where he's worked as a writer, editor, analyst, and more.

The Nintendo DS housed some of the most iconic games of its generation, many of which are still some of the best ever created. The Nintendo DS is the most revolutionary console of all time, considering all of the features it presented that were ahead of their time. Interactivity was at the forefront of the console’s philosophy, and this was seen in how it used its dual-screen system, one of which was touch-sensitive, something that was still very new for the period. In addition to that, it had a microphone system that created new types of gameplay mechanics.

A lot of the games were revolutionary because the console itself was revolutionary. Take how Pokémon Ranger used the touch-screen as the foundation of its gameplay, for instance. The games that stood out during the period truly stood out in the industry, but there were also some very great yet underrated games on Nintendo DS, like Fossil Fighters and Elite Beat Agents. Even so, the best games on the Nintendo DS were also, actually, some of the most popular ones that everyone knew about.

Chrono Trigger

Chrono Trigger is the greatest Square Enix RPG, and arguably the best RPG ever made, and while it wasn’t originally created for the Nintendo DS, its port for the handheld Nintendo console in 2008 is considered the best version of the game. This version of Chrono Trigger contained the entire original experience from the SNES alongside the iconic animated cutscenes, first introduced with the PlayStation 1 port, which made it feel even more special and complete.

In addition to that, the Nintendo DS version of Chrono Trigger featured extra endgame content, as well as the Monster Arena. The best RPG of all time on Nintendo DS also fixed some of the UI issues from previous ports, now adapted to the console’s dual-screen system. The mobile port and the Steam versions of the game are based on the Nintendo DS port, showcasing just how good it was as a foundation.

Mario Kart DS

Another remarkable game on the console was Mario Kart DS, which was also one of the Nintendo DS games everyone had in the 2000s. The title, released back in 2005, was a huge accomplishment, mixing both online multiplayer and a load of single-player content into a single package. For example, there were 32 tracks in Mario Kart DS, plus a ton of missions and mini-games that were exclusive to this particular game.

The ability to customize karts also changed how racers tackled challenges, while significantly expanding the replayability. To this day, Mario Kart DS is the pinnacle of the series. One of the things that made it stand out at the time was the possibility of playing with both local connectivity and online play, which was the first time the franchise engaged in online multiplayer. The game had some limitations on the Nintendo DS, both in terms of graphics and controller-wise, and even with those limitations, it’s still what every other Mario Kart game dreams of achieving.

The Legend Of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is arguably one of the most underrated Zelda games of all time, but it was also one of the best titles for the Nintendo DS at the time. Released in 2007 for the handheld console, Phantom Hourglass used the Nintendo DS’ features as the core of its gameplay. You’d control Link using the stylus on the touch screen, giving the franchise a breath of fresh air when it came to mechanics.

Phantom Hourglass was a direct sequel to The Wind Waker, one of the most beloved entries in the series. While it did not match the quality of its predecessor, it retained the cel-shaded visuals and cozy vibes that Wind Waker brought to life, now on a handheld device. Not everyone got a chance to play The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, but it’s undisputably one of the best titles for the DS.

Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels Of The Starry Skies

Another fantastic game on the Nintendo DS is Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels of the Starry Skies. Released exclusively for the console in 2009, the ninth core entry in the classic JRPG series was a fairly surprising release, especially considering the hardware it was running on. The game was on par with most titles in the genre, offering over 40 hours of campaign to beat. However, after you concluded that, you could access the Grottoes mode, which was composed of randomly generated dungeons to explore.

This is without mentioning how good the game actually was. Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels of the Starry Skies featured a highly customizable experience with a great class system and skill trees, in addition to the unforgettable story. Dragon Quest 9 was a record-breaking RPG in terms of sales, and a lot of it was due to how good it was. On top of it all, the JRPG was also the first in the series to feature local cooperative multiplayer gameplay, bringing a new era for the franchise.

Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver

Game Freak

In 2009, Nintendo released Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver for the Nintendo DS, and this pair of Gen 2 remakes is considered by many to this day the very best Pokémon experience of all time. It is certainly one of the best remakes of all time, as it builds and expands upon what was already fantastic back in 1999. HeartGold and SoulSilver brought in new visuals, features, and a modernized take on the classics, offering hundreds of hours of gameplay.

The games are extremely polished, featuring two full regions, as the original Gen 2 titles did, in addition to following Pokémon, which was a long-requested addition. The dual screens also allowed for a fun new way of playing Pokémon, like in Diamond and Pearl. Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, together, are some of the very best games released for the Nintendo DS, and a lot of the reasons that make them good are precisely the platform they were launched on.