Ranking by platform

The best games on Nintendo DS.

107 games compete in this selection. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney tops it with 1,881 points: the ranking comes from player votes alone, and moves with every duel settled.

  1. 1 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney 2005 · Visual novel 1,881
  2. 2 Pokémon SoulSilver Version 2009 · JRPG 1,865
  3. 3 Pokémon HeartGold Version 2009 · JRPG 1,800
  4. 4 Pokémon Platinum Version 2008 · JRPG 1,797
  5. 5 Pokémon Black Version 2010 · JRPG 1,794
  6. 6 Kirby Super Star Ultra 2008 · Platformer 1,785
  7. 7 Professor Layton and the Curious Village 2007 · Puzzle 1,720
  8. 8 New Super Mario Bros. 2006 · Platformer 1,708
  9. 9 Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars 2009 · Action-adventure 1,681
  10. 10 The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks 2009 · Action-adventure 1,680
  11. 11 Pokémon Diamond Version 2006 · JRPG 1,678
  12. 12 Pokémon Pearl Version 2006 · JRPG 1,678
  13. 13 Pokémon White Version 2 2012 · JRPG 1,665
  14. 14 Super Mario 64 DS 2004 · Platformer 1,665
  15. 15 Mario Kart DS 2005 · Racing 1,642
  16. 16 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations 2007 · Visual novel 1,615
  17. 17 Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow 2005 · Metroidvania 1,600
  18. 18 Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia 2008 · Metroidvania 1,599
  19. 19 Animal Crossing: Wild World 2005 · Simulation 1,593
  20. 20 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Justice for All 2006 · Visual novel 1,590
  21. 21 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness 2007 · Strategy 1,588
  22. 22 The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass 2007 · Action-adventure 1,578
  23. 23 Pokémon Black Version 2 2012 · JRPG 1,574
  24. 24 Pokémon White Version 2010 · JRPG 1,561
  25. 25 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team 2005 · Roguelite 1,560
  26. 26 Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story 2009 · JRPG 1,558
  27. 27 Elite Beat Agents 2006 · Rhythm 1,557
  28. 28 Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time 2005 · RPG 1,554
  29. 29 WarioWare: Touched! 2004 · Arcade 1,551
  30. 30 Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective 2010 · Point-and-click 1,545
  31. 31 Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth 2009 · Visual novel 1,543
  32. 32 Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs 2010 · Action RPG 1,541
  33. 33 Final Fantasy III 2006 · JRPG 1,534
  34. 34 Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings 2007 · JRPG 1,534
  35. 35 Yoshi's Island DS 2006 · Platformer 1,532
  36. 36 Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney 2007 · Visual novel 1,530
  37. 37 Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen 2007 · JRPG 1,527
  38. 38 Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia 2008 · Action RPG 1,517
  39. 39 Sonic Rush 2005 · Platformer 1,514
  40. 40 Mario Hoops 3-on-3 2006 · Sports 1,513
  41. 41 Doodle Jump 2009 · Platformer 1,512
  42. 42 Mega Man ZX 2006 · Metroidvania 1,510
  43. 43 Pokémon Ranger 2006 · Action RPG 1,507
  44. 44 Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey 2009 · JRPG 1,506
  45. 45 Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood 2008 · Action RPG 1,505
  46. 46 Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box 2007 · Puzzle 1,502
  47. 47 Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies 2009 · JRPG 1,501
  48. 48 Professor Layton and the Unwound Future 2008 · Puzzle 1,497
  49. 49 Hotel Dusk: Room 215 2007 · Visual novel 1,497
  50. 50 Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation 2010 · JRPG 1,491
  51. 51 Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords 2007 · Puzzle 1,490
  52. 52 Scribblenauts 2009 · Puzzle 1,490
  53. 53 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky 2009 · Roguelite 1,489
  54. 54 Chrono Trigger 2008 · JRPG 1,488
  55. 55 Fire Emblem: Shin Monshou no Nazo - Hikari to Kage no Eiyuu 2010 · JRPG 1,487
  56. 56 Advance Wars: Days of Ruin 2008 · Strategy 1,487
  57. 57 Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2009 · Visual novel 1,486
  58. 58 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time 2007 · Strategy 1,484
  59. 59 Kirby Mass Attack 2011 · Platformer 1,484
  60. 60 Tetris DS 2006 · Strategy 1,482
  61. 61 Kingdom Hearts Re:coded 2010 · RPG 1,478
  62. 62 Metroid Prime Hunters 2006 · Metroidvania 1,477
  63. 63 Mega Man ZX Advent 2007 · Metroidvania 1,477
  64. 64 Inazuma Eleven 2008 · Sports 1,477
  65. 65 Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift 2007 · JRPG 1,474
  66. 66 Sonic Rush Adventure 2007 · Platformer 1,474
  67. 67 The Incredible Hulk 2008 · Action-adventure 1,474
  68. 68 Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days 2009 · JRPG 1,472
  69. 69 Rhythm Heaven 2008 · Rhythm 1,468
  70. 70 Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon 2008 · Strategy 1,468
  71. 71 Secret Files: Tunguska 2006 · Point-and-click 1,467
  72. 72 Advance Wars: Dual Strike 2005 · Strategy 1,466
  73. 73 Kirby: Canvas Curse 2005 · Platformer 1,465
  74. 74 Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin 2006 · Metroidvania 1,463
  75. 75 Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors 2009 · Visual novel 1,460
  76. 76 Zuma's Revenge! 2009 · Puzzle 1,457
  77. 77 Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day! 2005 · Puzzle 1,451
  78. 78 Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride 2008 · JRPG 1,450
  79. 79 Anno 1701 2006 · Strategy 1,450
  80. 80 Band Hero 2009 · Rhythm 1,449
  81. 81 N+ 2008 · Platformer 1,448
  82. 82 Final Fantasy IV 2007 · JRPG 1,445
  83. 83 Pokémon Conquest 2012 · JRPG 1,442
  84. 84 Mini Ninjas 2009 · Action-adventure 1,436
  85. 85 Kirby: Squeak Squad 2006 · Platformer 1,434
  86. 86 The Lord of the Rings: Conquest 2009 · Beat 'em up 1,431
  87. 87 Pokémon Dash 2004 · Racing 1,430
  88. 88 Golden Sun: Dark Dawn 2010 · JRPG 1,423
  89. 89 The World Ends with You 2007 · Action RPG 1,422
  90. 90 Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Republic Heroes 2009 · TPS 1,418
  91. 91 Metal Slug 7 2008 · Platformer 1,413
  92. 92 Mario Party DS 2007 · Card & Board 1,412
  93. 93 Professor Layton and the Last Specter 2009 · Puzzle 1,409
  94. 94 Nintendogs: Labrador & Friends 2005 · Simulation 1,409
  95. 95 Gyakuten Kenji 2 2011 · Visual novel 1,392
  96. 96 James Bond 007: Blood Stone 2010 · TPS 1,380
  97. 97 Super Scribblenauts 2010 · Puzzle 1,375
  98. 98 Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes 2009 · Puzzle 1,372
  99. 99 Cooking Mama 2006 · Simulation 1,358
  100. 100 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen 2009 · TPS 1,347

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

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney leads this selection with 1,881 ELO points, ahead of Pokémon SoulSilver Version and Pokémon HeartGold Version. The 107 games competing in it have played 14,298 duels.

This selection in figures
Games competing in this selection 107
Duels played by those games 14,298
Game in the lead Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (2005)
Score of the leading game, in ELO points 1,881
Point gap between 1st and 10th 201
Best represented genre JRPG
Last reading November 3, 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
Visual novel 9 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney 1,881 273
JRPG 24 Pokémon SoulSilver Version 1,865 406
Platformer 14 Kirby Super Star Ultra 1,785 123
Puzzle 10 Professor Layton and the Curious Village 1,720 232
Action-adventure 5 Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars 1,681 167
Metroidvania 6 Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow 1,600 193
Strategy 8 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness 1,588 97
Action RPG 5 Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs 1,541 103

What moved this week

The ranking changes with every duel settled. Over the past seven days, the score of 95 games in this selection moved.

What moved this week
Game Points gained in 7 days ELO score
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story +51 1,558
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin +49 1,463
Band Hero +41 1,449

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 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations 5 60%
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Professor Layton and the Last Specter 5 100%
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 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, with 1,881 ELO points in the world ranking. It stands ahead of Pokémon SoulSilver Version and Pokémon HeartGold 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 14,298 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?

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story is the strongest climb in this selection over the past seven days, with 51 ELO points gained. Over the same period, the score of 95 games in the selection moved.

Vote on a duel