Acclaimed Video Games

The top 1,400 most recommended games across 920 critic lists from 146 publications.

Updated: October 16, 2026

Most Acclaimed Nintendo DS Games of All Time

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Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

#1 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (2001) (#389)

Capcom | WIN, GBA, DS | Adventure / Visual Novel | ~18h | 12 lists

Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver

#2 Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver (2009) (#434)

Game Freak | DS | Role-Playing | ~36h | 12 lists

The World Ends With You

#3 The World Ends With You (2007) (#438)

Jupiter Corporation, Square Enix Product Development Division 1 | DS | Action RPG | ~24h | 9 lists

Elite Beat Agents

#4 Elite Beat Agents (2006) (#500)

iNiS | DS | Music | ~4h | 7 lists

Mario Kart DS

#5 Mario Kart DS (2005) (#572)

Nintendo EAD Software Development Group No.1 | DS | Kart Racing | ~5h | 8 lists

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords

#6 Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords (2007) (#707)

1st Playable Productions, Infinite Interactive, TransGaming Technologies, Vicious Cycle Software | WIN, PS2, PSP, DS, Wii, X360 | Role-Playing / Match-Three | ~33h | 5 lists

Animal Crossing: Wild World

#7 Animal Crossing: Wild World (2005) (#718)

Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development | DS | Life Simulation | ~68h | 7 lists

Advance Wars: Dual Strike

#8 Advance Wars: Dual Strike (2005) (#788)

Intelligent Systems | DS | Turn-Based Strategy | ~24h | 4 lists

Pokémon Black/White

#9 Pokémon Black/White (2010) (#821)

Game Freak | DS | Role-Playing | ~32h | 7 lists

Professor Layton and the Curious Village

#10 Professor Layton and the Curious Village (2007) (#827)

LEVEL-5 | DS | Adventure / Puzzle | ~12h | 6 lists

Meteos

#11 Meteos (2005) (#883)

Q Entertainment | DS | Puzzle | ~5h | 4 lists

Pokémon Diamond/Pearl

#12 Pokémon Diamond/Pearl (2006) (#955)

Game Freak | DS | Role-Playing | ~41h | 3 lists

Puyo Pop Fever

#13 Puyo Pop Fever (2003) (#1033)

Sonic Team | ARC, MAC, WIN, DC, PS2, PSP, 3, Xbox | Puzzle | ~1h | 3 lists

Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan

#14 Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan (2005) (#1075)

iNiS | DS | Music | ~4h | 2 lists

Pokémon Black 2/White 2

#15 Pokémon Black 2/White 2 (2012) (#1099)

Game Freak | DS | Role-Playing | ~34h | 4 lists

Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors

#16 Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors (2009) (#1111)

Chunsoft | DS | Adventure / Visual Novel | ~10h | 3 lists

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

#17 Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (2010) (#1125)

Capcom | DS | Adventure / Puzzle | ~12h | 3 lists

Tetris DS

#18 Tetris DS (2006) (#1130)

Nintendo SPD Production Group No. 2 | DS | Puzzle | ~10h | 4 lists

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

#19 Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (2009) (#1147)

Rockstar Leeds, Rockstar North | DS, PSP | Action-Adventure | ~9h | 5 lists

New Super Mario Bros.

#20 New Super Mario Bros. (2006) (#1202)

Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development | DS | Platform | ~7h | 4 lists

Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies

#21 Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies (2009) (#1283)

LEVEL-5, Square Enix Product Development Division 9 | DS | Role-Playing | ~47h | 3 lists

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow

#22 Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (2005) (#1290)

Konami | DS | Action RPG / Metroidvania | ~9h | 4 lists

Planet Puzzle League / Puzzle League DS

#23 Planet Puzzle League / Puzzle League DS (2007) (#1339)

Intelligent Systems | DS | Puzzle | ~5h | 3 lists

Puzzle Series Vol. 5: Slitherlink

#24 Puzzle Series Vol. 5: Slitherlink (2006) (#1347)

Hudson Soft | DS | 2 lists

Brain Age / Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training

#25 Brain Age / Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training (2005) (#1361)

Nintendo SPD Production Group No. 2 | DS | Educational / Puzzle | ~2h | 3 lists

Kirby: Canvas Curse

#26 Kirby: Canvas Curse (2005) (#1393)

HAL Laboratory | DS | Platform | ~4h | 2 lists

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