Yesterday marked the tenth anniversary of the single best-selling video game platform of all time: the Nintendo DS. Last month, I asked the MyIGN community what they thought was their favorite Nintendo DS games of all time. A grand total of 83 different games were nominated, but only 10 could make it to the very top. Here are the top ten DS games of all time, as selected by the community. If you want to learn more about any of these games (including those that did not make the list), be sure to check out the nomination page here. But without further ado...
10. Pokémon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum
Developer: Game Freak
Publisher: Nintendo
Year: 2007
"As for why I went with Platinum, it's because I really liked the direction they took the series after Diamond and Pearl. They gave Cyrus, Team Galactic's head honcho, more of a personality and direct goal, which made him a great deal more compelling. And the Distortion World rocks as far as I'm concerned." - Bladefinger
"The new entry of the series on the DS. Graphical enhancements and new Pokémon. Also, these games still had Pokémon Super Contests, so I could dress them up and make poffins!!" - MissyMee283
9. Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Developer: AlphaDream
Publisher: Nintendo
Year: 2009
"Absolutely loved this game to pieces. It's one of the few handheld games that squeezes every once of fun out of the DS. Great battle system, sweet boss fights, tricky puzzles, and a hilarious story." - SAM31007
"I changed my mind. THIS game goes on top." - ZeldaFinalFantasyFan
8. Chrono Trigger DS
Developer: Tose
Publisher: Square Enix
Year: 2008
"It's Chrono Trigger, on the friggin' DS! What else do ya need?!" - cookiemonster426
"This isn't even the DS game I was referring to, but it's Chrono Trigger, so of course it's the best!" - cemishler
7. Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
Developer: Game Freak
Publisher: Nintendo
Year: 2010
"Pokemon Heartgold/Soulsilver is the ultimate Pokemon package, complete with sixteen badges to earn and two regions to explore. Your Pokemon follow you around to help cement the partnership fostering between you, and the postgame ensures you’ve got gym leaders to battle again and again and legendary Pokemon to catch. Even if those catch rates are choosy as balls." - Exelement
"Hands down my favorite Pokemon game. It added the best features out of them all, and gave a lot of fun quests to play. So much so that it transcends the whole "Enhanced Remake" stigma." - yomama99
6. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Publisher: Nintendo
Year: 2007
"Still one of my favorite Zeldas." - 1212thedoctor
5. The World Ends With You
Developer: Square Enix, Jupiter
Publisher: Square Enix
Year: 2008
"I don't think any game has really utilized the dual screen and touch screen features of the DS as well as The World Ends With You. Combine that with excellent characters, a great plot, funky art, and one of my favorite soundtracks in gaming period? Handheld gold." - yomama99
"The World Ends With You has everything I ever want from a game- rad music, an urban Japanese punk setting, likeable characters, entertaining fights, and stats you’re not quite sure what to do with- like Bravery. Every pin and every shop oozes personality, and the story is filled with all the twists you could hope for. The battle system is ridiculous, and mastering it’s demanding multitasking is incredibly satisfying." - Exelement
"This game pretty much uses all of the DS' hardware inputs to the max, and the plethora of unique game mechanics and its engrossing characters and story is why I consider it the best DS game." - cookiemonster426
"I first played the game when I was the same age and dealing with the same problems as the main characters and it really helped me connect with them. Unfortunately as time goes on, my ties with the story and characters weaken until I wont care about it anymore. But forever I will remember the amazing J-Pop soundtrack and incredibly unique and hectic gameplay." - Dplayer97
"This game tops a lot of favs lists, I personally don't like the gameplay very much. It's just too imprecise for what the combat demands. The story, dialog, and characters are absolutely fantastic, though. As well as the music. Those elements carried me through the experience." - SAM31007
4. Pokémon Black and White
Developer: Game Freak
Publisher: Nintendo
Year: 2011
"Pokemon Black/White approached the new generation with the genius idea of featuring only new Pokemon for the duration of the story, which meant every step through the tall grass or grimy caves could end in a complete surprise. No anticlimactic Zubats or Geodudes, no Pokemon you’ve seen a hundred times before, only excitement around every corner. Couple that with an annoying antagonist you want to smack sense into at all opportunities and you’ve got all the motivation you need to explore the Unova region." - Exelement
"What I felt the series was lacking in narrative was wholly made up in the BW games. For once, there's an actual plot and character development in the series." - cookiemonster426
3. The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Publisher: Nintendo
Year: 2009
"A bit on the easy side (except for the post-storyline missions...yikes), but it's super fun." - 1212thedoctor
"Excellent soundtrack, and a ton of fun new mechanics, including Zelda herself." - Amaltheaelenor
2. New Super Mario Bros.
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Publisher: Nintendo
Year: 2009
"Nifty little Mario game. Lots of secrets and whatnot. I also really liked the shell power-up." - SAM31007
"It's the game that made me love games." - bluefox2000
1. Mario Kart DS
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Publisher: Nintendo
Year: 2005
"Didn't think they could pull off a portable version but they showed me!" - Robmatth
"Mario Kart DS was the first entry to go online, has the most variety of single player content in the series and features arguably the most competitive gameplay in the series (snaking). The track design is excellent, music is great (Waluigi Pinball, anyone?), and local multiplayer made band camp bus rides better than the actual football game." - ZeldaRacer
"It was the first Mario Kart game I ever played, and one of the games that hooked me on Nintendo." - 1212thedoctor
"Everything to be loved about the series, with retro gaming and online mode" - Amaltheaelanor
"Mario Kart DS is one of the greatest handheld games ever made. Many bus rides were spent racing with friends and setting up our own little tournaments here and there. It was everything I could have ever wanted from a Mario Kart game, and it paved way for some of the most memorable gaming experiences that I had as a young teenager." - Battlestriker123
Thank you to everyone who participated! Happy birthday, Nintendo DS!
