It’s hard to say exactly why, but the Nintendo DS became a major platform for Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) throughout the early to late 2000s. Around that time, complex JRPGs weren’t as popular in the West, possibly because the DS offered a space for them away from competition with popular action games like Call of Duty. Whatever the reason, the DS hosted some of the best JRPGs of that generation.
Many fantastic Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) are stuck on the Nintendo DS because of its unique, closed system. Bringing them to modern consoles would be expensive â it would either require complex emulation to recreate the DSâs dual screens, or a complete remake of the game. Sadly, not all publishers are willing to invest that kind of money. Even some games that made it to the 3DS faced the same problem when that console was discontinued. The DS really holds onto its games tightly, making it difficult for them to be enjoyed on newer systems.
10. Infinite Space
Everyone Wants their Own Space Fleet
The Nintendo DS touchscreen really captured a futuristic feel, which was ideal for things like the radar display in Metroid Prime Hunters. And whatâs full of futuristic computer screens? Spaceships! Thatâs why Infinite Space, a role-playing game created by the team behind Steel Battalion and PlatinumGames (known for Bayonetta), felt right at home on the system.
In Infinite Space, you command a powerful fleet of spaceships as you travel across the galaxy, facing off against enemy fleets and pirates along the way. Battles happen in real-time, but you act as the commander, giving orders to your ships â telling them when to move, change formation, and fire their weapons. Success depends on understanding an affinity system similar to rock-paper-scissors, allowing you to exploit your enemiesâ weaknesses.
As you play, you’ll be able to unlock new ships by finding blueprints and combining parts, allowing you to create a fleet perfectly suited to how you like to play. This system was also a key feature of the game’s online multiplayer mode.
9. Radiant Historia
Time Shenanigans
During the Nintendo DS’s lifespan, Atlus created and released many different Japanese role-playing games, including titles in their popular series and completely original ones. One standout original was Radiant Historia, which benefited from the development expertise gained from both the Megami Tensei series and the JRPG Radiata Stories.
Radiant Historia revolves around the idea of manipulating time, both in its story and how you play the game. The story branches into different timelines, and you can jump between important moments to change things. Your choices matter â sometimes youâll hit a dead end and need to switch to another timeline, but you can bring items and knowledge with you. It’s similar to games like Zero Escape in that you might need information from one timeline to progress in another. Battles are turn-based, and characters move around on a grid. You can use skills to push enemies away, making them less dangerous and even changing the order in which everyone takes their turns.
Radiant Historia was updated and released for the 3DS in 2018 as Perfect Chronology. However, since the 3DS isn’t widely used anymore, this didn’t make the game much more accessible.
8. Golden Sun: Dark Dawn
This Series Canât Catch a Break
The Golden Sun series is a well-regarded JRPG, but it hasn’t broken into mainstream popularity. The original two games on the Game Boy Advance are fan favorites, though many gamers haven’t even heard of them. While the first two are now available on Nintendo Switch Online, the third game, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn, is still relatively obscure.
Dark Dawn builds on the gameplay of previous Golden Sun games, taking advantage of the DSâs improved features. It’s a classic JRPG where you follow the descendants of the original heroes as they journey across the world, battle enemies, explore dungeons, solve puzzles, and master powerful psychic abilities called Psynergy.
Dark Dawn lets you collect and raise Djinn, which are small elemental creatures that boost your characters’ abilities. It’s a really enjoyable game with lots to do, but it feels limited since it’s not currently available on the Switch Online service like some older games.
7. Contact
A Mysterious, Meta Adventure
The Nintendo DS was a really innovative console, with its dual screens and touch controls, so itâs no surprise it hosted some unusual games. One example is Contact, created by Grasshopper Manufacture, the studio behind unique titles like Killer7 and The Silver Case.
Contact is a unique game that blends action and JRPG elements. You don’t directly control the battles â your character, Terry, fights automatically â but you support him by changing his weapons and using special abilities. Unlike most JRPGs, you earn experience points with every hit you land, not just at the end of a fight, so you always make some progress. You can also personalize Terry by equipping different costumes and stickers, which boost his stats and give him new skills.
Contact has a unique and self-aware story. You play as Terry, searching for the wreckage of a mysterious Professorâs spaceship. The Professor appears on screen and talks directly to you, the player, with a strange request: don’t let Terry find out you exist. It shares a similar quirky feel with the classic game Earthbound.
6. Mega Man Battle Network 5 Double Team DS
The Best Version You Canât Play
You might be wondering, âDidnât Mega Man Battle Network 5 come out in the Battle Network collection in 2023?â And youâre partially right. The original Game Boy Advance versions of Battle Network 5 â Team Colonel and Team Protoman â are available. However, the version I grew up playing, the enhanced combined edition called Mega Man Battle Network 5: Double Team DS, is still difficult to find.
The Nintendo DS version of Battle Network 5 contains both the original Team Colonel and Team Protoman stories, plus a lot of new additions and improvements. These include new Battle Chips, extra battles to fight, online multiplayer, and many bug fixes and enhancements to make the game smoother. A cool feature is the ability to switch between playable NetNavis during normal battles â something that was previously only possible during special Liberation Missions.
The Nintendo DS version greatly improves the game’s presentation with voice acting taken from the Mega Man NT Warrior anime and enhanced music. I much prefer the DS version’s battle theme â the GBA version just doesn’t compare.
5. Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
Demons in the Antarctic
The Shin Megami Tensei series found a good niche on the Nintendo DS for a few years in the late 2000s and early 2010s. While the Devil Survivor games were popular spin-offs, Strange Journey came first and stayed closer to the classic Shin Megami Tensei style of gameplay.
Strange Journey presents a unique story in the MegaTen series, where a U.N. team investigates a mysterious anomaly in Antarctica that threatens to engulf the world. Players explore a strange realm, collecting demons to aid them on their mission, ultimately leading to a confrontation with a god. The game features first-person dungeon crawling with mapmaking similar to the Etrian Odyssey series. Battles don’t use the traditional Press Turn system; instead, hitting enemy weak points triggers automatic follow-up attacks from your demons.
Man, Strange Journey is a weird case. It originally came out on the DS, then briefly seemed like it might get wider release, but it ended up getting pulled back into obscurity. They did remake it for the 3DS as Strange Journey Redux, but even that version is super hard to find now. It’s a great game, but getting your hands on it feels impossible!
4. Mario & Luigi: Bowserâs Inside Story
One of the Best Mario RPGs
The Mario & Luigi RPG series began on the Game Boy Advance with Superstar Saga and then moved to the Nintendo DS, starting with Partners in Time. While Partners in Time was enjoyable, Mario & Luigi: Bowserâs Inside Story is considered the peak of the series and one of the greatest Mario role-playing games of all time.
Bowserâs Inside Story is a unique adventure with two main storylines. After accidentally being swallowed by Bowser, Mario and Luigi find themselves exploring his body while trying to escape. Meanwhile, Bowser is busy fighting off enemies who are trying to take over his territory. The game keeps things fresh with different turn-based battle systems for both the Mario Bros. inside Bowser and Bowser himself, and itâs all wrapped up in a funny story.
Similar to games like Radiant Historia and Strange Journey, Mario & Luigi: Bowserâs Inside Story did get a remake on the 3DS, titled Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey. However, there are a few issues with that version: the added content isn’t very engaging, I dislike the updated art style and music, and the 3DS console is no longer widely used.
3. Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
Only the Cutscenes Escaped
The Kingdom Hearts series is known for being a bit scattered, but it’s not just the storyline that’s fragmented. Games have been released on many different consoles, and while several of the handheld titles â like Chain of Memories, Birth by Sleep, and Dream Drop Distance â have been remastered for newer systems, one game is still stuck on its original platform. Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days remains exclusively available on the Nintendo DS.
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358/2 Days is a side story that takes place during the events of Kingdom Hearts, Chain of Memories, and Kingdom Hearts 2. It focuses on Roxas and his experiences joining Organization XIII, showing what he was doing while Sora was adventuring and later sleeping. The story follows Roxas as he hunts Heartless to gather hearts and learns about the other members of the Organization. Despite being a game for the Nintendo DS, 358/2 Days featured surprisingly good graphics and gameplay, reusing many of the worlds and characters from the main console games.
Although the full game is still unavailable, we’ve gotten a glimpse of it through the cutscenes. The collection Kingdom Hearts -HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX includes remastered cutscenes with all the original voice acting. It’s not a lot, but it’s a start.
2. Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies
The Missing Piece of the Mainline
Most Dragon Quest games have traditionally been released on home consoles like Nintendo and PlayStation. However, after the success of Dragon Quest VIII, Square Enix surprised fans by making Dragon Quest IX only available on the Nintendo DS.
Dragon Quest IX shares some design ideas with Dragon Quest III, centering the story around one character you create. Unlike previous games with pre-made characters, you build the rest of your team from the ground up, choosing their classes and abilities. It also introduced a new system where enemies appeared on the map instead of starting random battles â a significant upgrade that became a standard feature in future Dragon Quest games.
A key feature of Dragon Quest IX was its multiplayer mode, letting you team up with friends locally or online to gather items and level up. Even when you werenât actively playing, the game could receive gifts and messages from other players nearby â a clever system that later influenced the 3DSâs StreetPass feature.
1. Pokémon Black & White
Gen 5 Remake Any Day Now
Over time, Nintendo and the PokĂ©mon Company have realized something pretty obvious: players have a strong fondness for the classic PokĂ©mon games. That’s why we’ve seen a steady stream of remakes and re-releases of the older titles, slowly making their way onto newer consoles. Hopefully, this trend continues, because many fans, including myself, are still hoping to see PokĂ©mon Black and White remade.
Pokémon Black and White, the fifth main game and second on the Nintendo DS, really stood out to me. It added a lot of great features to the Pokémon formula, like fully animated sprites during battles and hidden abilities that added depth to strategy. Plus, the game had a dynamic seasonal cycle with changing weather. On top of all that, it told a compelling story and introduced N, a fantastic villain and the leader of Team Plasma, who quickly became a fan favorite.
Diamond and Pearl introduced PokĂ©mon to the DS, but Black and White truly showcased the franchiseâs potential with the DSâs more powerful hardware, and they remain memorable games. If remakes of those games ever arrive, letâs hope theyâre an improvement over Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.
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2026-03-12 22:12