10 Best DS Games You’ve Probably Never Played

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I may have invested more hours into my 3DS, but my affection lies with the Nintendo DS system. Granted, not all games maximized the potential of the stylus, but there were certainly some exceptional ones that made spending time on them worthwhile.

It turns out that there are quite a few DS adventure games that many people aren’t familiar with or haven’t played. Some of these games, which I still remember fondly, were genuinely outstanding.

If you’re seeking a thrilling FPS horror adventure, a captivating turn-based role-playing game, chaotic run-and-gun action featuring Little Red Riding Hood, or simply a good time with the Kirby gang, there’s something extraordinary to discover in this collection of uncommon DS games.

If you haven’t got these games yet, make sure to grab them for your collection in the near future! We’ll be happy to take credit when you enjoy them!

10.
Scurge: Hive

Parallel World Metroid

For quite some time, I’ve been an avid admirer of the Metroidvania gaming style. A title that I believe deserves more recognition in this genre is “Scurge: Hive“.

The game bears a strong resemblance to the Metroid series, as it allows players to command a character called Jenosa Arma who serves as a bounty hunter.

In contrast, what sets this story apart is the fact that the main character gets infected by the title entity called Scurge at an early stage. Overcoming this infection becomes crucial and forms the foundation of the thrilling adventure that follows.

As a gamer, I found this game standing out with its vibrant, top-down, isometric design and eye-catching graphics. Despite being a quick playthrough, it was remarkably tough yet rewarding, offering a genuinely difficult final boss fight that left a lasting impression on me.

In another possible world, it might be that Samus has been overlooked while Jenosa gained fame as an iconic hero. Regrettably, our reality doesn’t match up to that scenario, but there’s no shortage of fantastic games on the DS in this universe!

9.
Dementium II

Where Reality and Nightmare Blur

Although many people may not consider the DS to be the most visually stunning system, the team at Renegade Kid managed to extract exceptional performance from it in their Dementium series.

Besides being two first-person shooter games playable with a stylus, they also boasted impressive visuals, considering the constraints they operated under. To top it off, these games were particularly chilling, offering a level of fear that resonated deeply with this particular gamer.

To put it another way, “Dementium II” stood out as the clear winner among adventures due to its unique blend of reality and nightmares. The protagonist’s questionable sanity and the continuous blur between what was real and a nightmare created an exciting and twisted journey.

In this game, the controls functioned smoothly, a crucial aspect considering the formidable enemies it presented. Ranging from menacing Chestmaws to seemingly invincible Lost Souls, and terrifying Wailers, the game offered an unsettling array of adversaries.

In my gaming experience, the game truly shone during those intense, heart-pounding encounters with terrifying bosses, particularly the relentless Wendigo Witch. It was an exhilarating and unexpected horror journey, all unfolding on a compact Nintendo device.

8.
Radiant Historia

Time is a Battlefield

Among the publishers that won my affection during the DS era, one that stood out was Atlus. They consistently released outstanding games one after another. However, among their titles, I found myself particularly drawn to “Radiant Historia”.

Time travel might be unpopular in most fiction, but here it was well implemented.

With the mighty White Chronicle in hand, you have the ability to travel through time, altering occurrences and uncovering various conclusions based on your decisions.

Stocke might be a regular soldier at first, but throughout the game, he becomes a powerhouse.

As an ardent enthusiast, I’ll skillfully employ a grid in combat scenarios, maneuvering adversaries, switching turn order on the fly, and facing down formidable opponents with ease.

Frankly, the aspect I found most appealing yet slightly unsatisfied with the game was its apparent potential for a deeper narrative. Lucky for us, additional layers of story are precisely what you’ll discover in Perfect Chronology.

7.
Pokémon Conquest

Fiercely Feudal

Among the DS games I’d love to see remade for the Nintendo Switch or its successor, Pokémon Conquest is the one that holds a special place in my heart.

The unexpected blend of elements from “Samurai Warriors” and “Pokémon”, coupled with a grid-style tactical setup, turned out to be such an odd combination that it surprisingly fit well together.

In the game, although your beastly comrades can only perform a single attack, they can be granted extraordinary abilities during each fight, making them even more formidable.

The game also had a lot of replayability and a variety of colorful characters to play as.

Despite being a more compact game compared to the main Pokémon series, Pokémon Conquest offers an enjoyable experience that encourages repeated playthroughs as you experiment with various alliances.

6.
Kirby Mass Attack

Kirby Flash Mob

Since my childhood, I’ve proudly admired Kirby, and to this day, I firmly believe that this adorable pink character holds his own against gaming legends like Mario, Samus, and Link.

That said, I was pleasantly surprised by how they mixed things up for him in Kirby Mass Attack.

Following a harebrained scheme by the antagonist that divides Kirby into ten identical replicas, it falls on the player’s shoulders to manage and corral this unruly mob.

Although not all DS games effectively utilized the stylus, this one does so flawlessly. You can easily flick Kirbies towards enemies, or even summon them to create a fearsome swarm of fluffiness.

As a puzzle enthusiast, I found the quantity of these elements crucial for crafting some intricate brainteasers and, let’s not forget, during those thrilling boss fights!

What’s particularly great about this game is it had medals that were difficult to obtain yet incredibly rewarding, as they opened up an abundance of extra content. Without a doubt, it was an exceptional and underappreciated Kirby journey.

5.
Little Red Riding Hood’s Zombie BBQ

What Big Teeth You Have!

I’m just gonna say it—everything about Little Red Riding Hood’s Zombie BBQ was absurd.

In this story, there was an extravagant, warped version of a classic fairy tale where you portrayed a young girl armed with guns, battling nightmarish alterations of familiar tales.

This tale had an exaggerated, dark reinterpretation of a traditional fairy story, in which you starred as a gun-carrying little girl who fought against creepy adaptations of popular narratives.

I clearly recall purchasing a game from a nearby GameStop store without realizing its scarcity and value as a coveted collector’s item at that moment in time.

Despite finding it enjoyable, it’s important to note that this game is compatible solely with the Nintendo DS system. To navigate Red on the lower screen, you’ll need to use the stylus, while avoiding the various disturbances that are launched from the upper screen.

In this game, it won’t be a walk in the park; you’ll have to not just get the hang of enemy attack patterns, but also nail down Red’s evasive moves to perfection.

If you’re on the hunt for a video game that offers an unusual and distinctive experience, “Little Red Riding Hood’s Zombie BBQ” on the DS might just be what you’re after, despite not being hailed as the greatest ever made.

4.
Okamiden

Legacy of a Goddess

After the broad success of Okami, it shouldn’t surprise any of us that there was a sequel.

The game titled Okamiden was a delightful, endearing small-scale adventure, but it fell short in some areas due to its run on a less potent graphics platform.

This scenario features Amaterasu’s offspring, humorously called Little Terasu, along with the kids of several other well-known characters from the initial game.

In combat situations, you’ll leverage the strength of Guidance to guide your allies and strategically influence their actions. Additionally, you’ll harness this power to manage the Celestial Brush effectively.

In the game, the smartest aspect was utilizing the stylus on the lower screen for painting strokes, a feature that the initial version might have also found beneficial.

We’re nearly at the end, and I saved some incredible and rare DS games for last!

3.
Solatorobo: Red the Hunter

Steampunk Fantasy Awaits

In the realm of steampunk stories, you’ll find numerous thrilling tales, but not all that many delve into a universe inhabited by cat-like beings known as Felineko, or canine inhabitants referred to as Caninu, alongside advanced steam-powered technology.

In the game “Solatorobo: Red the Hunter,” you get to command the main character, a canine-human hybrid (Red), as well as his formidable mechanical exosuit.

In the game, you’ll switch among defeating enemies, moving your mech’s limbs, and stepping out to utilize Red’s stun gun, all while tackling a variety of challenges.

As you progress through the game, you’ll stumble upon some astounding truths hidden within its universe. Additionally, you’ll find extra features like the thrilling racing mode titled Air Robo GP.

While it may seem appealing, purchasing a copy of Solatorobo: Red the Hunter these days could cost you quite a bit of money.

Acquiring Solatorobo: Red the Hunter these days might be an attractive option, but it will require a significant financial investment.

2.
Retro Game Challenge

Who Needs WarioWare?

Once upon a time, there existed a second-hand gaming haven called FuncoLand that I seldom had the pleasure of frequenting. It was quite an uncommon find, and my visits were more like rare lunar occurrences.

On the verge of its permanent closure, I stumbled upon a Nintendo DS game titled “Retro Game Challenge”.

Just as I found myself pleasantly surprised by the scarcity of “Little Red Riding Hood’s Zombie BBQ”, so too did I stumble upon the enjoyable and absurd nature of “Retro Game Challenge”.

In this game, you find yourself ensnared within a simulation devised by Arino. To escape, you’ll need to conquer a series of tasks in each individual game.

The variety of games spans across multiple genres, including platformers reminiscent of Ninja Gaiden, shoot ’em ups, and traditional role-playing game experiences set in an old-school world. Additionally, you’ll come across helpful tips hidden within a fictional gaming magazine.

It was quite unusual, yet entertaining beyond belief, much like the game “Retro Game Challenge“.

1.
Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier

Haken and Kaguya’s Wild Adventure

Platform Nintendo DS
Publisher BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment, Atlus
Genre ARPG, TRPG, beat ’em up
Release Date May 29, 2008

By all rights, I should have never even known about Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier.

I hadn’t dabbled in any “Super Robot Wars” video games, but I was a frequent visitor to IGN, where I discovered intriguing details about this captivating role-playing game adventure.

At first, what captivated me was the artwork. Upon starting the game, however, I discovered that I was equally enamored with its fast-paced, strategic battles and the side-splitting dialogue exchanged among the characters.

Currently, fanservice often receives criticism, yet when executed skillfully, it can result in delightful, engaging journeys – and this instance demonstrates just that.

Despite never receiving a follow-up, the game Exceed, North America’s fan-favorite characters Haken Browning and Kaguya Nanbu appeared in different titles by Bandai Namco, including Project X Zone.

You might not have come across it yet, but “Super Robot Wars OG Saga: Endless Frontier” offers an amazingly fun and absurdly amusing journey, even for those unacquainted with DS games.

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2025-06-03 18:44