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When Nintendo offered up its "third pillar" handheld system, it became one of the industry's most successful video game devices of all time. The Nintendo DS even managed to kick its little brother, the Game Boy, to the curb, in favor of its dual-screen, touch-screen experience that has no equal.
In those six years there have been several hundred games produced and released for the Nintendo DS portable, and it's time, once again, to dig through the stack to find what we all believe to be the best the system has to offer.
The Selection Comittee
When the Nintendo DS first hit the scene I wasn't sure that the system had what it took to survive, not just alongside the super popular Game Boy Advance but also when put next to the Sony PSP. After a rocky first few months Nintendo made me a believer in the product and it's a system that's always with me, fully charged, with a game at the ready.
I cover mobile gaming for IGN, specializing on the iPhone and iPad, but that doesn't mean I don't play games on other consoles. Nintendo has been a major part of my personal gaming experience over the years, starting with the first time I played Donkey Kong in an arcade. In fact, my first gig in this industry was writing for Nintendo Power. Even before the iPhone became its rival, I was hooked on the Nintendo DS thanks to its evolutionary nudge and incredible game library.
I'm IGN's Senior Editor, managing the day-to-day duties of our pool of Editors (it's easy, I just make sure they have plenty of bananas). But once upon a time I was a member of the IGN Nintendo Team and have spent the past couple years following the platform. I consider all 25 of these picks to be must-plays for any DS gamer.
I love handheld games. While many of my friends view them as experiences best saved for the commute or for travel, I enjoy playing them during every waking hour. Can you believe I actually choose to play Phoenix Wright over Halo when I'm at home sometimes? Crazy. It's inexplicable, but there's something strangely charming about portable gaming experiences – even if you're partaking of them in the comfort of your own bed.
The Nintendo DS defines my experience at IGN. I was hired as a freelancer for the DS Channel in the early days of the portable, and have since reviewed well over 100 titles on the thing. Granted, 96 of them have been total crap. I don't go anywhere without my DS, and most of the time, I have two on me (there's always some cool RPG that gets a permanent spot in a DS until I beat it).
The DS has built an impressive library over the past several...