5 Classic Nintendo DS Games That Still Hold Up Today

Launched in 2004, the Nintendo DS is one of the best handheld consoles of all time and became Nintendo's best-selling console until it was eventually surpassed by the Switch. While primarily known for its dual-screen display, including its touchscreen, the DS brought several innovations to the gaming industry. The DS was the first Nintendo console to feature a built-in wifi modem, allowing online multiplayer gameplay, and was significantly more powerful than Nintendo's preceding handheld, the Game Boy Advance. Many of Nintendo's biggest properties received DS titles, revamping what each of these franchises could be on the console.

With Nintendo moving to a touchscreen display for its home consoles too, starting with the Wii U, the DS was more revolutionary than many give it credit for. Moreover, many of the games released for the handheld console are still tremendously fun to play today, over 20 years after the console's launch. Those are the games that we're listing here — the ones we keep coming back to that still provide a thoroughly enjoyable time. Here are five classic Nintendo DS games that still hold up today, each showcasing what the handheld console was capable of.

Among the launch titles for the Nintendo DS was "Super Mario 64 DS," an enhanced remake of the best-selling N64 game of all time. More than just a one-to-one retelling of the 1996 adventure, the 2004 DS iteration added Luigi, Yoshi, and Wario as playable characters, each with their own unique handling and power-ups. Beyond just throwing new playable characters into the mix, the game also adds new levels and Power Stars to obtain. It also features unlockable minigames and competitive multiplayer, taking advantage of the DS' wifi capabilities.

"Super Mario 64 DS" serves as a showcase for what the Nintendo DS hardware could do, including running games from the N64 era on a handheld. The 3D platforming on the touchscreen handles surprisingly well, while the game's visual fidelity is largely maintained in the remake. The original "Super Mario 64" is already one of the best "Super Mario" video games, so the remake's adherence to that celebrated foundation was a wise move. Along with a considerable amount of additional bells and whistles, "Super Mario 64 DS" feels like an ambitiously realized update rather than a cheap port of a classic.

After numerous titles reveling in classical Gothic environments, "Dawn of Sorrow" moved things forward in the entire "Castlevania" timeline. The direct sequel to "Aria of Sorrow" on the Game Boy Advance, "Dawn of Sorrow" is set a year later, in 2036. Returning protagonist Soma Cruz, the reincarnation of Dracula who rejects his evil heritage, is targeted by a cult attempting to trigger Dracula's full resurrection. Like its predecessor, the game also features an unlockable mode where players can proceed as Julius Belmont, this time joined by Yoko Belnades and Alcuard, to defeat a corrupted Soma.

"Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow" refines the tactical soul system introduced in "Aria of Sorrow," which allowed Soma to absorb enemies' souls for his own use in combat. This, combined with an intuitive use of the dual-screen display, makes the game feel like an all-around improvement. The best action game on the DS, "Dawn of Sorrow" pulls off the tricky feat of feeling like a direct continuation of its predecessor but also a rewarding standalone experience. Easily ranked among the best "Castlevania" games, "Dawn of Sorrow" doesn't try to reinvent the wheel but perfect it, and on that score, it largely succeeds.

While it's overshadowed by its home console counterparts, "Mario Kart DS" is truly one of the best "Mario Kart" games ever made. Released in 2005, the game features a roster of 12 playable characters, each with three racing vehicles to choose from with their own attributes. The game also boasts 32 race tracks to traverse, with half of them fan-favorite tracks from previous "Mario Kart" titles. The game is also the first in the series to feature online multiplayer through the console's wireless servers.

More than just a selection of popular tracks, "Mario Kart DS" takes what worked from its predecessors to craft a memorable entry in the series. The game refines the kart racing gameplay and modes available to players while adding new features to the mix. In doing so, Nintendo created what was arguably the best installment in the series for several years. "Mario Kart" games tend to hold up well across the board, but "Mario Kart DS" goes the extra mile to truly endure.

A surprisingly prolific Nintendo franchise, given the company's usual family-friendly subject matter, is its "Wars" series. Dating back to 1988 on the Famicom, the series revolves around military units navigating grid-based maps in turn-based combat. The last title in the mainline series to date is 2008's "Advance Wars: Days of Ruin," a standalone entry in the wider franchise. The game's story is set in a post-apocalyptic world after Earth is devastated by meteorites, with rival factions battling for control of the wasteland.

While featuring a considerably darker and more serious tone than the cartoonish prior installments, "Advance Wars: Days of Ruin" improves the tactical gameplay the series is known for. The gameplay heightens its RPG elements, allowing units to level up rather than just commanding officers like previous games, not making them as readily expendable. The game also incorporates several quality of life improvements compared to its direct predecessor "Advance Wars: Dual Strike," while changing up the aesthetics to match its post-apocalyptic setting. While "Advance Wars" has remastered its Game Boy Advance-era titles, its DS era remains untouched and we'd love to see "Days of Ruin" re-released for modern platforms someday.

There were several Pokémon games released for the Nintendo DS, including some of the best Nintendo DS games of all time. The franchise title that we keep coming back to is "Pokémon Black & White," which was released in 2010. The pair of titles introduce the Unova Region, visibly inspired by New York City, with its own set of Pokémon to capture and train. In addition to proving that they are the very best Pokémon trainer in Unova, players confront the villainous Team Plasma who is trying to sever humanity's relationship with Pokémon.

"Pokémon Black & White" not only stands as one of the best-looking handheld games in the franchise, but also one of the most feature-rich. The game offers a seasonal cycle, in addition to a day-night cycle, along with different forms of triple battles as players deploy three Pokémon at once. The game was well-received enough to receive a direct sequel in 2012, adding even more content to the mix as it continued the story. But there's something about the original "Pokémon Black & White" that still keeps us excited over 15 years later.