The Nintendo DS is without a doubt, one of the greatest handheld gaming systems of all-time. It was portable, small enough to fit in your pocket, had unique dual-screen and stylus-based gameplay features, and holds an absolutely phenomenal library of titles available to play.

For many players, the DS defined their childhood, delivering some of the most iconic and memorable games of the era. Looking back, it can be difficult not to feel nostalgia when thinking about the titles that left the biggest impression at the time. Without further ado, here are the most nostalgic Nintendo DS games that defined the childhood of any DS kid.

Nintendogs (2005)

Nearly every child out there wants a pet dog. And for many, a Nintendog was the next best thing! Nintendogs was an adorable little game in which you adopt and take care of your very own pet dog. You could use the microphone on your DS to speak to your puppy, using commands to perform tricks such as ‘sit’ or ‘roll over’.

You also used the stylus to interact with your dog, such as petting and grooming them. The dogs themselves were like a Tamagotchi, with needs that required attention. Feeding your dog, providing water, and walking them were all important parts of keeping your Nintendog happy. It was a cute, kid-friendly game that warmed the hearts of children around the world, even letting friends have their Nintendogs interact via the DS local wireless features.

Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force (2008)

Look, it may not have been the most phenomenal video game on the DS console, but it most certainly is one of the most nostalgic for many young gamers who grew up with this system. The Club Penguin browser game was absolutely massive at the time, played by children worldwide. This variant gave fans of the Club Penguin world a story-driven experience as the role of a penguin spy (EPF Agent).

Players would solve puzzles and complete tasks by using the stylus and touch screen, and could encounter various mini games to play along the way. Players also get to pop into some familiar places from the browser games as they solve mysteries. On top of that, you could even connect your DS to the Club Penguin browser game to transfer coins earned in-game to your online profile, enabling you to unlock items.

Rhythm Heaven (2008)

Rhythm Heaven is one of the most iconic rhythm games of all time, and an absolute classic on the Nintendo DS. If you didn’t have this game growing up, then chances are someone you knew had this game – it was everywhere!

Rhythm Heaven was a simple game on the surface, primarily using tap and hold or flick controls with the stylus. However, gameplay is rather engaging despite being simplistic, and even gets surprisingly challenging at some points. The soundtrack is energetic and lively, which helps gameplay feel even more satisfying. All around, it was a great little game that many remember fondly all these years later.

Cooking Mama (2006)

Cooking Mama is…well, as the title suggests, a cooking game! Players utilize touch controls with the stylus to chop, stir, slice, and flip their dishes into existence, mimicking the process of cooking such dishes in real life. Gameplay was quite fast-paced, separating each step into its own challenge that required managing timing, precision, and speed. Players would then be rated based on timing, technique, and accuracy once they have completed a dish.

There is a wide variety of different dishes that players can craft, and it was a brilliant game for a younger audience to start out on. This is not only because it’s a great game to get someone new to gaming hooked on the DS, but also because it’s a perfect title to squeeze into shorter sessions but also because it’s a perfect title to squeeze into shorter sessions that made it easy for younger gamers to jump in, play for a bit, and have fun instantly.

Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, & Platinum (2007/2009)

This list would not be complete without a healthy dose of Pokemon. Nearly every Pokemon fan with a DS picked up Diamond/Pearl/Platinum along the way, enjoying the treasures that the Sinnoh Region had to offer. From choosing between Chimchar, Turtwig, and Piplup all the way to battling Champion Cynthia in the endgame, Pokemon D/P were truly memorable titles that marked the first Pokemon game for many young gamers, and an exciting breath of fresh air for previous fans of the franchise.

Platinum expanded on these already great titles with the Distortion World This area focused on inventive gravity-defying puzzles and surreal exploration, adding on to the narrative with a greater focus on Team Galactic and their leader, Cyrus, Looker, the International Police agent, and an expansion on the Sinnoh Pokedex. And of course, it improved upon the gameplay of Diamond and Pearl with quicker battle animations (particularly with the HP bars), resulting in a much smoother gameplay experience. and have fun instantly.

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (2009)

Kingdom Hearts 258/2 Days holds a strong sense of nostalgia for many players who grew up with the title on DS. Kingdom Hearts was one of the most popular childhood games on the PS2, so there’s little surprise that this DS title also gained notoriety.

In particular, Days is remembered fondly for the storytelling, involving an emotional narrative that hits even younger audiences. Players witness a narrative involving Organization XIII and key characters such as Roxas, Axel, and Xion. This story better fleshes out the characters and helps them to grow on fans of the Kingdom Hearts franchise, making it a memorable title. While the mission-based gameplay is a bit tedious for extended sessions, this actually works better for younger audiences to play in smaller bursts. Kingdom Hearts: Days is, without a doubt, a fond and memorable title for the Nintendo DS, and a very nostalgic game for many to look back on.

New Super Mario Bros (2006)

New Super Mario bros is a gem of a title for the Nintendo DS, and is a game in which players of all ages sink hours upon hours into. The game introduced new power-ups that felt fresh and exciting to use, adding new twists to the formula while keeping the core Mario mechanics at the center of gameplay.

The game also has a brilliant replayability factor to consider. Even if the main levels are growing tiresome, New Super Mario bros offers a variety of different minigames that can keep players entertained. Aside from that, there are collectables hidden throughout each level to keep completionists coming back for one more run. New Super Mario bros is definitely one of the best Mario games available on DS, and one of the most nostalgic titles for the system in general.

Animal Crossing: Wild World (2005)

Animal Crossing is a huge Nintendo franchise, and for good reason. These games seem to gel well with an incredibly wide audience of all ages, making them both a great game to start young kiddos on as well as a nice cozy series for elder gamer to unwind with. Animal Crossing: Wild World is the Nintendo DS franchise title, offering all of the cozy, village-building mechanics the franchise has long become known for.

From bug-catching to fishing, revamping your home, and befriending a bunch of lovable, quirky animal villagers, Wild World had all of the best, plus a handy real-world clock. This clock system determines in-game events, seasons, and time of day, giving even more immersion to players for their digital villages. As a result, Animal Crossing: Wild World has become a fond, nostalgic memory for those who grew up with the title.

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (2007)

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass was a unique entry in the series, fully utilizing the DS touch screen and stylus for nearly all aspects of gameplay – from movement to puzzle-solving. Sometimes, players could even use the DS microphone for certain moments of gameplay, such as defeating certain enemies or putting out fires. These controls made the game appealing, interactive, and easy to pick up for younger gamers and newcomers to the franchise.

One of the most memorable aspects is the Temple of the Ocean King, which is a recurring Dungeon that players will visit and navigate multiple times, each time being able to explore further. Aside from that, it also used a very lovable Zelda style, reminiscent of the one found in Wind Waker.

Mario Kart DS (2005)

Mario Kart DS is, without a doubt, the best racing game available on the Nintendo DS, and an absolute ‘must-play’ that many gamers of all ages enjoyed consistently at the time. It has a very decent selection of tracks, and an absolute banger of a soundtrack to enjoy as you’re drifting around corners, collecting items, and leaving opponent racers in the dust.

Players could also play online with friends or strangers via the DS wifi system, and the local multiplayer mode made it an absolute classic for friends who both had the system to play against one another. There was also near infinite replayability for Mario Kart DS, as even when you’ve raced the same tracks over and over in Mario Kart, it really does feel hard to get sick of them. Due to the sheer amount of time and hours players could put into Mario Kart DS, it has since become one of the library’s greats for the system, and an incredibly nostalgic game.

Pokemon Black & White + Black 2 & White 2 (2010 / 2012)

Pokemon Black & White, and the sequel games, Black 2 & White 2, are widely considered to be some of the greatest mainline Pokemon titles of all time, and most definitely some of the best DS games available. The games were set in a brand-new region (Unova) with many new monsters to discover, capture, raise, and evolve, as well as interesting and memorable new characters such as N, Ghetsis, Iris, and Hugh.

Animated Pokemon sprites breathed life into every battle, the story was genuinely fresh and interesting, and the sequel games felt like true sequels, adding on with new expansions rather than re-telling the same tale over again. The GTS (Global Trade System) was also a very memorable and nostalgic feature for Trainers at the time, enabling them to trade monsters with others around the world through DS wireless.

Professor Layton and the Curious Village (2009)

Professor Layton and the Curious Village offers a puzzle-adventure with strong narrative features. Players are able to progress through a narrative mystery, completing story-driven investigations by solving puzzles and brain teasers with stylus-based gameplay. Without a doubt, it is also one of the best child-friendly titles available, creating somewhat of an interactive storybook-like experience.

What makes this title so nostalgic to look back upon for many is the fact that there were over 100 different puzzles to complete throughout. The game also featured a hint system that offered help without completely giving answers away, enabling younger players to solve the problems without being handed the next step forward – making it a very satisfying game, and one of the best cozy DS titles available.

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time (2005)

Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time is a turn-based RPG with timing-based controls, offering a fun story and character dynamics. You’ve got to control four different characters – Mario, Luigi, Baby Mario, and Baby Luigi. Each character is assigned their own button on the DS controls, making gameplay feel satisfying and engaging.

Visuals were charming, bright, and playful, and the soundtrack enhanced the experience through atmospheric background tracks and chaotic, exciting battle tunes. Speaking of battles, they are part of what makes Partners in Time so memorable and nostalgic for gamers to look back on. Rather than rewarding high stats or leveling, they involved timing and strategy. This made battles on the handheld system feel fresh and distinct, resulting in a stand-out title for the Nintendo DS.

Scribblenauts (2009)

Scribblenauts is a puzzle game that lets players unleash their creativity, using words to create objects that they can then use to solve puzzles and challenges. You could use the stylus to type nearly any basic word you could think of to spawn these objects into the world. This also meant that there were multiple ways in which each puzzle could be solved, meaning each player could come up with an entirely different solution.

This kind of creative thinking is part of what made Scribblenauts so appealing to younger gamers at the time, as well as being unexpectedly fun and engaging for a slightly older audience to enjoy, too. The main character, Maxwell, has since become a fairly notable and recognisable character in the video game industry, with a couple more Scribblenauts titles popping up since the DS days. Still, there’s a special kind of nostalgia that comes from the magic of the DS original, back in 2009.

Kirby Super Star Ultra (2008)

Kirby is another classic Nintendo franchise in which many gamers have grown up with over the years, and the DS was home to its fair share of Kirby titles. Kirby Super Star Ultra is one of the best franchise titles available on the system, offering multiple game modes to keep even younger gamers entertained.

Kirby could copy enemy abilities and recruit allies throughout each adventure, with a fun mix of platforming and exploration to be found. Visuals and bright and engaging, with a nice soundtrack that adds to the mood. There’s several notable faces such as King Dedede and Meta Knight

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky (2009)

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky is perhaps the best Explorers title to date, and one of the best Pokemon game of all-time. Essentially, it enhances everything that made Explorers of Time & Darkness so special, as well as offering bonus content with more story for key characters, further expanding the narrative and lore.

The Explorers series are addictive dungeon-crawlers with roguelike elements, such as randomly-generated dungeons upon each visit. Players are able to take a personality test to determine which Pokemon they will become and who their partner will be, then build a team of explorers from hundreds of potential candidates that can be befriended during your adventures. The narrative, however, is where the game truly shines. Dusknoir and Grovyle are incredibly memorable characters who tell a powerful story about friendship, time, loss, and loyalty.

The narrative hits extremely hard, and yet is written in a way that can be digested even as a young gamer, the impact still fully sinking in. It was a truly memorable experience and definitely one of those games that fans wish they could play for the first time all over again. Keeping all of this in mind, there’s no surprise this is widely considered to be one of the best and most nostalgic titles available for the DS by fans of the system and the Pokemon community alike.

The World Ends With You (2007)

I couldn’t escape hearing about this game wherever I went following its release, and for good reason. The World Ends With You (TWEWY) is an action RPG with a distinctive visual style, set within a modern, urban environment. The game utilizes touchscreen input and rhythm-based elements to navigate dual-screen combat features.

Protagonist Neku has since become a notable video game figure, with TWEWY containing plenty of other unique and memorable character designs. The faces you meet along the way are quirky characters that make the world feel all the more lively. Combining that with the ‘pop’ of the 2D art style and the witty dialogue, this game felt full of personality, becoming one of the more stylish and ‘cool’ titles to reach popularity, particularly with a pre-teen and teenage audience. All of the elements combined to create an experience that was totally unique to the Nintendo DS, not only in gameplay, but also in setting and visual style.

Drawn to Life (2007)

Drawn to Life is one of the most inventive platformer titles available on Nintendo DS, enabling players to use the stylus and touch screen to draw almost every element of gameplay, from their own hero to platforms and objects that they’ll use to navigate the world. It offers a simple, charming story in which you restore a village, with doses of exploration and action along the way.

The idea of drawing your own weapons, hero, and vehicles (just to name a few aspects) in a video game was a fun and fresh concept that made Drawn to Life such a nostalgic memory down the line. The DS truly felt like the perfect system for such a title, and it was an appropriate entry point for new or young gamers, as a bonus. Lastly, there were also some fun spin-off games and sequels, including both the SpongeBob SquarePants edition and the sequel, The Next Chapter, to follow on the DS, which help make it memorable even all of these years later.

Sonic Rush & Sonic Rush Adventure (2005 / 2007)

Sonic Rush and the sequel, Sonic Rush Adventure, are fast-paced 2D platformers within the Sonic franchise that fully utilize the magic of the DS’ dual-screen. This made gameplay incredibly engaging, watching Sonic zoom around both the top screen and bottom screen as he flies over obstacles, grabs speed boosts, and jumps on enemies. The game also features Blaze the Cat, who has since become a fan-favorite Sonic character to feature in many spin-off titles.

Worlds were bright and striking, paired with a brilliant soundtrack that amplified those feelings of speed and momentum. Somehow, it was one of those games that managed to feel addictive and exciting both in shorter bursts of gameplay or extended sessions, which made it easy to become a go-to title for many who grew up with the DS. Looking back, I get highly nostalgic when I remember my time playing Sonic Rush, and still consider it to be one of the best franchise titles to date.

Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver (2009)

Last, but certainly not least, we have Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver rounding off the list. There were plenty of Pokemon titles on Nintendo DS, but HGSS was without a doubt right up there at the top alongside Diamond/Pearl/Platinum and Black/White/Black 2/White 2. These games are legendary – some of the best titles available on DS, some of the best Pokemon remakes of all-time, and in my honest opinion, at the top end of the best Pokemon games of all-time, as a whole.

Not only did these games bring Johto back to life with updated graphics, retelling the beloved tale of Gold/Silver/Crystal, but they also added updated mechanics. Players could have their Pokemon follow them around the world, and even created a Pokewalker accessory, letting people train their Pokemon outside of the game by walking around their real-life world – offering a Pokemon Trainer immersion like none other.

Players could explore and progress through both the Johto and Kanto Regions, battle against notable figures, and experience a remastered soundtrack featuring some of the best battle themes and location tracks. The game itself combines nostalgia as a remake of the Game Boy Color titles with what, at the time, were modern features and hardware, creating an unforgettable experience. Years later, HGSS is now the magic, nostalgic title that the GSC titles were in years prior.