Ranking by platform

The best games on Nintendo DS.

107 games compete in this selection. Pokémon Platinum Version tops it with 1,929 points: the ranking comes from player votes alone, and moves with every duel settled.

  1. 1 Pokémon Platinum Version 2008 · JRPG 1,929
  2. 2 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney 2005 · Visual novel 1,889
  3. 3 Pokémon SoulSilver Version 2009 · JRPG 1,856
  4. 4 Pokémon HeartGold Version 2009 · JRPG 1,809
  5. 5 Pokémon Black Version 2010 · JRPG 1,772
  6. 6 New Super Mario Bros. 2006 · Platformer 1,752
  7. 7 Pokémon White Version 2010 · JRPG 1,740
  8. 8 Pokémon Diamond Version 2006 · JRPG 1,711
  9. 9 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations 2007 · Visual novel 1,694
  10. 10 Pokémon White Version 2 2012 · JRPG 1,683
  11. 11 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Justice for All 2006 · Visual novel 1,678
  12. 12 The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass 2007 · Action-adventure 1,647
  13. 13 Kirby Super Star Ultra 2008 · Platformer 1,647
  14. 14 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team 2005 · Roguelite 1,645
  15. 15 Professor Layton and the Curious Village 2007 · Puzzle 1,643
  16. 16 Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time 2005 · RPG 1,643
  17. 17 Mario Kart DS 2005 · Racing 1,635
  18. 18 Super Mario 64 DS 2004 · Platformer 1,628
  19. 19 Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars 2009 · Action-adventure 1,610
  20. 20 Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box 2007 · Puzzle 1,608
  21. 21 Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey 2009 · JRPG 1,598
  22. 22 Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney 2007 · Visual novel 1,595
  23. 23 Animal Crossing: Wild World 2005 · Simulation 1,587
  24. 24 Pokémon Pearl Version 2006 · JRPG 1,584
  25. 25 WarioWare: Touched! 2004 · Arcade 1,564
  26. 26 Scribblenauts 2009 · Puzzle 1,562
  27. 27 The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks 2009 · Action-adventure 1,561
  28. 28 The Lord of the Rings: Conquest 2009 · Beat 'em up 1,561
  29. 29 Mario Hoops 3-on-3 2006 · Sports 1,561
  30. 30 Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective 2010 · Point-and-click 1,560
  31. 31 Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia 2008 · Metroidvania 1,554
  32. 32 Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days 2009 · JRPG 1,550
  33. 33 Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story 2009 · JRPG 1,536
  34. 34 Hotel Dusk: Room 215 2007 · Visual novel 1,528
  35. 35 Pokémon Ranger 2006 · Action RPG 1,523
  36. 36 Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood 2008 · Action RPG 1,520
  37. 37 Tetris DS 2006 · Strategy 1,516
  38. 38 Final Fantasy III 2006 · JRPG 1,514
  39. 39 Pokémon Black Version 2 2012 · JRPG 1,513
  40. 40 Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs 2010 · Action RPG 1,511
  41. 41 Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings 2007 · JRPG 1,508
  42. 42 Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow 2005 · Metroidvania 1,500
  43. 43 Inazuma Eleven 2008 · Sports 1,499
  44. 44 Elite Beat Agents 2006 · Rhythm 1,498
  45. 45 Kingdom Hearts Re:coded 2010 · RPG 1,494
  46. 46 Golden Sun: Dark Dawn 2010 · JRPG 1,491
  47. 47 N+ 2008 · Platformer 1,491
  48. 48 Metal Slug 7 2008 · Platformer 1,491
  49. 49 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time 2007 · Strategy 1,488
  50. 50 Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin 2006 · Metroidvania 1,486
  51. 51 Anno 1701 2006 · Strategy 1,485
  52. 52 Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies 2009 · JRPG 1,484
  53. 53 Fire Emblem: Shin Monshou no Nazo - Hikari to Kage no Eiyuu 2010 · JRPG 1,484
  54. 54 Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors 2009 · Visual novel 1,483
  55. 55 Yoshi's Island DS 2006 · Platformer 1,483
  56. 56 Chrono Trigger 2008 · JRPG 1,482
  57. 57 Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon 2008 · Strategy 1,479
  58. 58 Sonic Rush 2005 · Platformer 1,477
  59. 59 Rhythm Heaven 2008 · Rhythm 1,476
  60. 60 Final Fantasy IV 2007 · JRPG 1,475
  61. 61 Mega Man ZX Advent 2007 · Metroidvania 1,475
  62. 62 Zuma's Revenge! 2009 · Puzzle 1,473
  63. 63 Sonic Rush Adventure 2007 · Platformer 1,472
  64. 64 Gyakuten Kenji 2 2011 · Visual novel 1,472
  65. 65 Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth 2009 · Visual novel 1,471
  66. 66 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky 2009 · Roguelite 1,469
  67. 67 Kirby: Squeak Squad 2006 · Platformer 1,469
  68. 68 Metroid Prime Hunters 2006 · Metroidvania 1,466
  69. 69 Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen 2007 · JRPG 1,466
  70. 70 Doodle Jump 2009 · Platformer 1,465
  71. 71 Professor Layton and the Unwound Future 2008 · Puzzle 1,463
  72. 72 Super Scribblenauts 2010 · Puzzle 1,461
  73. 73 Kirby: Canvas Curse 2005 · Platformer 1,456
  74. 74 Kirby Mass Attack 2011 · Platformer 1,454
  75. 75 The Incredible Hulk 2008 · Action-adventure 1,451
  76. 76 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness 2007 · Strategy 1,450
  77. 77 Mario Party DS 2007 · Card & Board 1,449
  78. 78 Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift 2007 · JRPG 1,448
  79. 79 Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride 2008 · JRPG 1,447
  80. 80 James Bond 007: Blood Stone 2010 · TPS 1,446
  81. 81 Mega Man ZX 2006 · Metroidvania 1,442
  82. 82 Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day! 2005 · Puzzle 1,441
  83. 83 Mini Ninjas 2009 · Action-adventure 1,438
  84. 84 Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2009 · Visual novel 1,438
  85. 85 Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia 2008 · Action RPG 1,437
  86. 86 Advance Wars: Dual Strike 2005 · Strategy 1,424
  87. 87 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen 2009 · TPS 1,421
  88. 88 Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords 2007 · Puzzle 1,420
  89. 89 Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Republic Heroes 2009 · TPS 1,419
  90. 90 Advance Wars: Days of Ruin 2008 · Strategy 1,419
  91. 91 Pokémon Dash 2004 · Racing 1,419
  92. 92 Professor Layton and the Last Specter 2009 · Puzzle 1,417
  93. 93 Cooking Mama 2006 · Simulation 1,416
  94. 94 Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation 2010 · JRPG 1,414
  95. 95 Secret Files: Tunguska 2006 · Point-and-click 1,399
  96. 96 Band Hero 2009 · Rhythm 1,397
  97. 97 Runaway 2: The Dream of the Turtle 2006 · Point-and-click 1,396
  98. 98 The World Ends with You 2007 · Action RPG 1,388
  99. 99 Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes 2009 · Puzzle 1,377
  100. 100 Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors 2 2005 · Fighting 1,360

Filter, combine and travel back in time in the full ranking

Other rankings

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In detail

The best games on Nintendo DS, what this ranking says

Pokémon Platinum Version leads this selection with 1,929 ELO points, ahead of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney and Pokémon SoulSilver Version. The 107 games competing in it have played 11,302 duels.

This selection in figures
Games competing in this selection 107
Duels played by those games 11,302
Game in the lead Pokémon Platinum Version (2008)
Score of the leading game, in ELO points 1,929
Point gap between 1st and 10th 246
Best represented genre JRPG
Last reading September 18, 2026

The best game of every genre on Nintendo DS

A selection is not read in one block: here is what leads each of its brackets.

The best game of every genre on Nintendo DS
Genre Games competing In the lead ELO score Duels played
JRPG 24 Pokémon Platinum Version 1,929 316
Visual novel 9 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney 1,889 243
Platformer 14 New Super Mario Bros. 1,752 260
Action-adventure 5 The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass 1,647 157
Puzzle 10 Professor Layton and the Curious Village 1,643 187
Metroidvania 6 Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia 1,554 151
Action RPG 5 Pokémon Ranger 1,523 91
Strategy 8 Tetris DS 1,516 52

What moved this week

The ranking changes with every duel settled. Over the past seven days, the score of 99 games in this selection moved.

What moved this week
Game Points gained in 7 days ELO score
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time +48 1,488
Hotel Dusk: Room 215 +45 1,528
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey +42 1,598

The most contested match-ups

These pairs of games have faced each other more than any others in this selection.

The most contested match-ups
Wins Against Duels played Win rate
Pokémon SoulSilver Version Pokémon HeartGold Version 5 80%
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Professor Layton and the Last Specter 5 100%
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Hotel Dusk: Room 215 4 100%
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Justice for All Professor Layton and the Unwound Future 4 100%
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney 4 75%

How this ranking is established

No jury, no press score, no sales figures: two games face off, players vote, and every vote updates an ELO score. This page is a view of the world ranking, never a standing kept apart.

Understand the method in detail →

FAQ

What players ask

What is the best game on Nintendo DS?

According to community votes, the best game on Nintendo DS is Pokémon Platinum Version, with 1,929 ELO points in the world ranking. It stands ahead of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney and Pokémon SoulSilver Version, and its place is replayed with every duel.

How many games on Nintendo DS are ranked?

107 games of this selection take part in the duels, and they have played 11,302 of them so far. The full site catalogue is much wider: only games kept for their fame enter the running.

Which game on Nintendo DS is climbing right now?

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time is the strongest climb in this selection over the past seven days, with 48 ELO points gained. Over the same period, the score of 99 games in the selection moved.

Vote on a duel