| JP DS | 7th Dragon | 2009 | Turn-Based | Imageepoch | Slay some dragons in a traditional turn-based style! |
| DS | Advance Wars: Days of Ruin | 2008 | Strategy | Intelligent Systems | A more post-apocalyptic setting than pervious entries, individual units can level up in combat (though the effect only lasts for one map) |
| DS | Advance Wars: Dual Strike | 2005 | Strategy | Intelligent Systems | Incorporates leveling of commanding officers to the army tactics game |
| DS | Atelier Annie: Alchemists of Sera Island | 2009 | Strategy | Gust | The first traditional Atelier game to come to the States - lots of crafting and time management as expected |
| DS | Avalon Code | 2009 | Action | Matrix Software | Offbeat ARPG focusing on changing the properties of items to solve puzzles |
| DS | Away: Shuffle Dungeon | 2008 | Action | Artoon/Mistwalker | Unique spin on the mystery dungeon rogue-like format: each of the two screens is randomized and will shuffle after a time |
| DS | A Witch's Tale | 2009 | Turn-Based | Hit Maker/Nippon Ichi | Bland gameplay with a twisted Halloween aesthetic and public domain characters |
| DS | Bleach: The 3rd Phantom | 2009 | Strategy | Tom Create | An SRPG with relationship-building elements, spinoff story written by Tite Kubo himself |
| JP DS | Blood of Bahamut | 2009 | Action | Think & Feel | Giant monster-slaying ARPG with mission-based structure |
| DS | Blue Dragon: Awakened Shadow | 2010 | Action | Tri-Crescendo | ARPG with a customizable protagonist, Shu and the gang are AI-controlled party members |
| DS | Blue Dragon Plus | 2009 | Strategy | Brownie Brown/feelplus | RTSRPG sequel to Blue Dragon, adorable spritework |
| DS | Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow | 2005 | Action-Platform | Konami | Metroidvania direct sequel to Aria of Sorrow with a more anime design aesthetic, requires the stylus to draw symbols |
| DS | Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia | 2008 | Action-Platform | Konami | Last of the DS Metroidvanias, featuring a glyph combination system to customize movement and combat abilities |
| DS | Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin | 2006 | Action-Platform | Konami | Metroidvania with highly varied level design and two switchable playable protagonists - CHARLOTTEJONATHANCHARLOTTE |
| DS | Cave Story (DSiWare) | 2010 | Action-Platform | Studio Pixel/Nicalis | A platforming-heavy metroidvania created by a one-man development team; taking damage loses XP for weapons |
| DS | Children of Mana | 2006 | Action | Nex Entertainment | Beautiful graphics, but otherwise a repetitive randomized dungeon-crawling ARPG |
| DS | Chrono Trigger | 2008 | Turn-Based | Square Enix/Tose | If you must play a version of this game (and you must), this one is a good choice- it has extra cut content! |
| DS | Contact | 2006 | Action | Grasshopper Manufacture | A fourth-wall breaking ARPG with a costume-based skill system and stats gained in real-time by taking specific actions |
| DS | Custom Robo Arena | 2007 | Action | Noise Inc. | Go to school, build your robot, and battle using it in arena-styled ARPG combat! |
| DS | Deep Labyrinth | 2006 | Action | Interactive Brains | A first-person dungeon crawler ARPG with heavy use of the stylus for attacking and drawing runes for spellcasting |
| JP DS | Digimon Story: Lost Evolution | 2010 | Turn-Based | BEC | Third game in the Digimon Story sub-series, where you can choose your character's gender for the first time, and work to restore Digivolution via archaeology |
| DS | Digimon World Championship | 2008 | Monster Collecting | Epics | All the perils of raising monsters without any of the storyline or ability to control them in combat (which happens via AI)! |
| DS | Digimon World Dawn/Dusk | 2007 | Turn-Based | BEC | Sequels to Digimon World DS, play similarly, exclusive Digimon to each version (as is tradition) |
| DS | Digimon World DS | 2006 | Monster Collecting | BEC | Technically the first game in the Digimon Story series rather than a Digimon World game, very Pokemon-esque in gameplay |
| DS | Dinosaur King | 2008 | Monster Collecting | Climax Entertainment | It's Pokemon, but with dinosaurs instead! Combat is literally in a rock-paper-scissors format |
| DS | Disgaea DS | 2008 | Strategy | Nippon Ichi | Port of the PSP version of the classic SRPG with a few additional characters |
| DS | Dokapon Journey | 2009 | Board Game | Suzak | Hybrid JRPG/board game, super duper cute! |
| DS | Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans | 2009 | Turn-Based | Monolith Soft | An actual traditional turn-based Dragon Ball Z JRPG? I never thought I would see the day! |
| DS | Dragon Ball Z: Harukanaru Densetsu | 2007 | Card-Based | BEC | Taking it all the way back to card-based combat, encounters take a long time but you gain experience between them |
| DS | Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime | 2006 | Action | Tose | Part Zelda-like adventure starring a slime (with increasable health), part tank warfare as only Dragon Quest can provide (the stats of the tank itself can also be upgraded) |
| DS | Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen | 2008 | Turn-Based | ArtePiazza | Classic JRPG gameplay broken up into chapters following specific protagonists, has one more chapter than the NES version |
| DS | Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies | 2010 | Turn-Based | Level-5 | Intended to be a multiplayer JRPG, all party members are customizable |
| DS | Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker | 2007 | Monster Collecting | Tose | More Dragon Quest-themed monster collection and synthesis! Also features a DQ VIII- like skill system |
| DS | Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 | 2011 | Monster Collecting | Tose | Not a direct sequel to Joker, adds monsters of varying sizes but otherwise plays the same |
| DS | Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride | 2009 | Turn-Based | ArtePiazza | First release of DQV in North America, featuring monster taming and a multi-generational story |
| DS | Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation | 2011 | Turn-Based | ArtePiazza | First appearance of DQVI in the west, same turn-based gameplay, plot revolving around two separate worlds |
| DS | Drone Tactics | 2008 | Strategy | Success | A robo-bug-based SRPG, skews in a simplistic/childlike direction, especially story-wise |
| DS | Dungeon Explorer: Warriors of Ancient Arts | 2008 | Dungeon Crawler | Hudson Soft | Isometric ARPG dungeon crawler, has a materia-like system of weapon/armor augmentation |
| DS | Etrian Odyssey | 2007 | Turn-Based | Atlus/Lancarse | Classic-styled first-person dungeon crawler with punishing difficulty, requires dungeon mapping via the stylus |
| DS | Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard | 2008 | Turn-Based | Atlus/Lancarse | Very similar to the first game, just as blisteringly hard, more mapping symbols available for use |
| DS | Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City | 2010 | Turn-Based | Atlus | Plays like the two before it; adds 12 new classes, subclassing, weapon forging, and seafaring |
| DS | Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light | 2010 | Turn-Based | Matrix Software/Square Enix | A return to classic form for the series with a job-like system; the predecessor to Bravely Default |
| DS | Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time | 2008 | Action | Square Enix | Isometric ARPG dungeon crawl with character creation, can link to other DS or Wii copies of the game for multiplayer |
| DS | Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates | 2009 | Action | Square Enix | The multiplayer ARPG returns with changes to the playable classes and visible equipment |
| DS | Final Fantasy III | 2006 | Turn-Based | Matrix Software/Square Enix | First appearance of the job-heavy game in the west |
| DS | Final Fantasy IV | 2008 | Turn-Based | Matrix Software | A drastic change in graphics from 2D to 3D, added FMV cutscenes, significantly expanded plot from previous versions |
| DS | Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift | 2008 | Strategy | Square Enix | Class- and clan-based SRPG, similar to its predecessor in lighthearted tone, but far less strict laws in play |
| DS | Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings | 2007 | Strategy | Think & Feel/Square Enix | Sequel to FFXII, in RTSRPG form! Strong focus on Esper summoning, US version is more difficult than JP |
| DS | Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon | 2009 | Strategy | Intelligent Systems | Remake of the first Fire Emblem game (and the first time Marth's story was told in the west) adding a lot of QoL features |
| JP DS | Fire Emblem: Shin Monshou no Nazo - Hikari to Kage no Eiyuu | 2010 | Strategy | Intelligent Systems | Unlocalized updated version of book 2 of Mystery of the Emblem, adds an avatar character, hard as ever |
| DS | Fossil Fighters | 2009 | Monster Collecting | RED Entertainment/M2/Artdink/Nintendo | Dig up fossils, combine them, revive them, and pit them against each other in Pokemon-like combat! |
| DS | Fossil Fighters Champions | 2011 | Monster Collecting | RED Entertainment/M2/Artdink/Nintendo | More dinosaur-like creatures to unearth, train, and fight! |
| DS | Fossil League: Dino Tournament Championship | 2007 | Monster Collecting | MTO | Another dinosaur-themed Pokemon clone, but uses actual dinosaurs rather than made-up creatures |
| DS | Foto Showdown (DSi and up only) | 2010 | Monster Collecting | Alpha-Unit | Another monster collector/battler where you gain creatures to fight by taking pictures with your DSi/3DS camera |
| DS | From the Abyss | 2008 | Dungeon Crawler | Sonic Powered | Randomized dungeon crawler ARPG |
| DS | Front Mission | 2007 | Strategy | Square Enix | First appearance of the game on western shores, with all the walking tanks you can handle |
| DS | G.G Series: The Last Knight (DSiWare) | 2015 | Action | Genterprise/Suzak | Bland budget top-down dungeon crawler with repetitive environments and music |
| DS | Glory of Heracles | 2010 | Turn-Based | Paon/Studio Saizensen | The first Glory of Heracles game to reach the west (and sixth overall), semi-sluggish turn-based combat and overall average |
| DS | Golden Sun: Dark Dawn | 2010 | Turn-Based | Camelot | Set 30 years after the initial duology, plays similarly, updates the graphics to 3D, battles are almost too easy |
| DS | GO Series: Picdun (DSiWare, delisted) | 2011 | Dungeon Crawler | Intense | A first-person dungeon crawl where your path through each floor makes a picture on the map, timing-based combat |
| DS | Harvest Moon: The Tale of Two Towns | 2010 | Simulation | Marvelous | You're now both a farmer and ambassador! |
| DS | Harvest Moon DS | 2006 | Simulation | Tose | Classic farming gameplay, lots of harvest spirtes to rescue- and crops themselves level up! |
| DS | Harvest Moon DS: Cute | 2008 | Simulation | Marvelous | An alternative version of Harvest Moon DS that makes some QoL changes and allows you to play as a female protagonist |
| DS | Harvest Moon DS: Grand Bazaar | 2010 | Simulation | Marvelous | Still farming, but done under the pretense of pure capitalism by selling your goods at a weekly marketplace |
| DS | Harvest Moon DS: Island of Happiness | 2007 | Simulation | Tose | Same farming, but now on a deserted island! Limited to touchscreen controls |
| DS | Harvest Moon DS: Sunshine Islands | 2008 | Simulation | Marvelous | Resembles Island of Happiness, but reliance on the touchsreen is removed |
| DS | Hero's Saga Laevatein Tactics | 2009 | Strategy | GungHo | SRPG; combat between individual map units takes place over 3 rounds with a full squad of troops |
| DS | Heroes of Mana | 2007 | Strategy | Brownie Brown | RTS where better equipment is the key to raising stats; pretty but lacking in substance |
| DS | Hoshigami: Ruining Blue Earth Remix | 2007 | Strategy | Barnhouse Effect | Remake of the PSX SRPG with a new localization and endings |
| DS | Inazuma Eleven (PAL only) | 2011 | Sports | Level-5 | It's a soccer RPG- with hundreds of players to potentially scout and dramatic duels on the field! |
| DS | Inazuma Eleven 2: Blizzard/Firestorm (PAL only) | 2012 | Sports | Level-5 | Play soccer to save the world from being destroyed by aliens! |
| DS | Infinite Space | 2010 | Strategy | PlatinumGames/Nude Maker | Space opera with customizable ships and a branching narrative |
| DS | Inuyasha: Secret of the Divine Jewel | 2007 | Turn-Based | Art Co./Frontier Groove | Run-of-the-mill turn-based JRPG with an original story featuring the characters and setting of the anime/manga |
| DS | Izuna 2: The Unemployed Ninja Returns | 2008 | Dungeon Crawler | Ninja Studio | Plays like the first with similar tone, but adds a tag system for exploring dungeons; lots of grinding is necessary to complete |
| DS | Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja | 2007 | Dungeon Crawler | Ninja Studio | Roguelike dungeon crawler with a quirky protagonist, decent difficulty curve |
| DS | Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days | 2009 | Action | h.a.n.d. Inc./Square Enix | Stars Organization XIII, takes place parallel to Chain of Memories; mission-like structure with the same ARPG gameplay |
| DS | Kingdom Hearts Re:coded | 2011 | Action | h.a.n.d. Inc./Square Enix | Remake of a mobile-only game, has more puzzles involved than a standard KH game |
| DS | Knights in the Nightmare | 2009 | Strategy | Sting | Fourth episode of the Dept. Heaven game series; SRPG/bullet hell hybrid that should be played to be believed |
| DS | Legacy of Ys: Books I & II | 2009 | Action | Dreams/Falcom | Combined enhanced remake of Ys I and II with 3D and potential multiplayer |
| DS | Lost in Blue | 2005 | Survival | Konami | Successor to the Survival Kids series with more RPG elements; tools can be upgraded to make your experience easier |
| DS | Lost in Blue 2 | 2007 | Survival | Matrix Software | Survive on a deserted island with your partner (and be sure to improve your living conditions as well)! |
| DS | Lost in Blue 3 | 2008 | Survival | Matrix Software | More castaways to assist with touchscreen mechanics |
| DS | LostMagic | 2006 | Strategy | Taito | RTSRPG that revolves around drawing various runes to use powerful magic and monster capturing |
| DS | Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals | 2010 | Action | Neverland | Remake of Lufia II, with 3D graphics and ARPG gameplay instead of the series' traditional turn-based style |
| DS | Luminous Arc | 2007 | Strategy | Imageepoch | SRPG; relationship-building between characters takes place between battles |
| DS | Luminous Arc 2 | 2008 | Strategy | Imageepoch | Not terribly different from the first, can be quite difficult, endings are determined by pre-battle dialouge choices |
| JP DS | Luminous Arc 3: Eyes | 2009 | Strategy | Imageepoch | Shenanigans at a magic school with both SRPG gameplay and dating sim elements |
| DS | Lunar: Dragon Song | 2005 | Turn-Based | Japan Art Media | Nice sprite work and music is the only thing this game has going for it. Garbage story, garbage characters, garbage game design. |
| DS | Lunar Knights | 2007 | Action | Kojima Productions | ARPG; part of the Boktai series, and can even use the previous game's cartriges as solar sensors to confer extra bonuses |
| DS | Magical Starsign | 2006 | Turn-Based | Brownie Brown | Cute turn-based JRPG with food-named characters and a focus on elemental and planetary alignment in combat |
| DS | Magician's Quest: Mysterious Times | 2009 | Simulation | Aquria | If Animal Crossing went to Hogwarts, this would be the adorable result |
| DS | Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story | 2005 | Timed Turn-Based | AlphaDream | More fun with the Mario Bros., as well as exploration of Bowser's innards! |
| DS | Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time | 2009 | Timed Turn-Based | AlphaDream | Related to Superstar Saga by time travel, still turn-based with timing elements; introduces baby Mario and Luigi as playable |
| DS | Master of the Monster Lair | 2007 | Dungeon Crawler | Global A Entertainment | Want to slay monsters? Just dig a whole dungeon for them so you have them all corralled in one place! |
| DS | Mega Man Battle Network 5: Double Team DS | 2005 | Strategy | Capcom | Has content from both versions of MMBN 5 as well as additional content |
| DS | Mega Man Star Force 2: Zerker X Ninja/Zerker X Saurian | 2008 | Strategy | Capcom | See above, but with a few more transformations |
| DS | Mega Man Star Force 3: Black Ace/Red Joker | 2009 | Strategy | Capcom | See above, with version-specific transformations, more customizable commands, and the ability to become Mega Man at any time |
| DS | Mega Man Star Force: Dragon/Leo/Pegasus | 2007 | Strategy | Capcom | Separate from but plays in a similar manner to the MMBN series, except with a vertical grid and more limited dodging |
| JP DS | Metal Max 2: Reloaded | 2011 | Turn-Based | Crea-Tech | Takes gameplay improvements from later entries and applies them to the second game- with an optional female protagonist and free-roaming |
| JP DS | Metal Max 3 | 2010 | Turn-Based | Cattle Call | Return to the wasteland with tanks in tow; non-linear story progression |
| DS | Monster Racers | 2010 | Sports | Koei | A peculiar monster-collecting game where you battle via racing |
| DS | Monster Rancher DS | 2010 | Simulation | Cing | Monster raising and battling, now on two screens! Utilizes the microphone and touch screen to create monsters |
| JP DS | Mugen no Frontier EXCEED: Super Robot Taisen OG Saga | 2010 | Turn-Based | Monolith Soft | Sequel to SRTOGS: Endless Frontier, plays in the same way, with crossover elements |
| DS | Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer | 2008 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft | Roguelike dungeon crawl where food management is critical and death is expected |
| DS | My World, My Way | 2009 | Turn-Based | Global A Entertainment | The main character is a spoiled princess who can literally pout her way into changing the difficulty of battles and the terrain itself |
| DS | Naruto: Path of the Ninja | 2007 | Turn-Based | Tose | Follows the manga/anime through the Chunin Exams arc, with some touch controls integrated |
| DS | Naruto: Path of the Ninja 2 | 2008 | Turn-Based | Tose | Plays like the first game, but is more of an original filler story than directly following the source material |
| JP DS | Ni no Kuni: Shikkoku no Madoushi | 2010 | Turn-Based | Level-5 | Same general story as Wrath of the White Witch, but vastly different gameplay - a literal spellbook is a necessity to draw the required runes |
| JP DS | Nora to Toki no Koubou: Kiri no Mori no Majo | 2011 | Turn-Based | Atlus | Atlus' attempt at an Atelier-styled game, with anticipatedly adorable results |
| DS | Nostalgia | 2009 | Turn-Based | Matrix Software/RED Entertainment | Turn-based combat, airship battles, real-world locations, and a magical steampunk aesthetic |
| JP DS | Ore ga Omae o Mamoru | 2009 | Action-Platform | Vingt-et-un Systems/Idea Factory | A Metroidvania made to entice women to play, but quite difficult in practice; no XP to speak of but stats can be increased through equipment and story events |
| DS | Phantasy Star 0 | 2009 | Action | Sonic Team | Think Phantasy Star Online, but with crunchier graphics and a full-fledged story mode |
| DS | Pokemon Black/White | 2011 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | Incredible animated spritework and perhaps the best storyline in the franchise |
| DS | Pokemon Black 2/White 2 | 2012 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | Regarded by many as the peak of the franchise; a continuation of Gen 5's story |
| DS | Pokemon Conquest | 2012 | Strategy | Koei | Pokemon meets Nobunaga's Ambition - a fun SRPG with levels gained through bonding with your trainer |
| DS | Pokemon Diamond/Pearl | 2007 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | Less water than Gen 3 Pokemon games, but with an obnoxious mountain to frequently travel through |
| DS | Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver | 2010 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | Remakes of the Gen 2 Pokemon games, with the storyline from Crystal attached, can also make use of the Pokewalker accessory |
| DS | Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team | 2005 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft | Companion to the GBA's Red Rescue Team, with Pokemon exploring randomized labyrinths in classic Mystery Dungeon style |
| DS | Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness/Time | 2008 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft | More mystery dungeon delving with the famous pocket monsters, with the addition of Gen 4 Pokemon |
| DS | Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky | 2009 | Dungeon Crawler | Chunsoft | The "third version" of Explorers of Darkness/Time, adds more storyline elements |
| DS | Pokemon Platinum | 2009 | Monster Collecting | Game Freak | Last of the "combined third versions" of Pokemon games, this one the arguably ultimate version of Gen 4 |
| DS | Pokemon Ranger | 2006 | Action | HAL Laboratory | More of an ARPG than regular Pokemon games that uses the stylus to help temporarily capture Pokemon, who assist in completing missions |
| DS | Pokemon Ranger: Guardian Signs | 2010 | Action | Creatures Inc. | Very like the first two, but now you can also draw symbols to summon legendary 'mons to help you out |
| DS | Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia | 2008 | Action | Creatures Inc. | Still no Pokemon battling here and still touchscreen-heavy, but with more possible partner Pokemon and tools for capturing |
| DS | Radiant Historia | 2011 | Turn-Based | Atlus/Headlock | Turn-based grid combat, lots of time travel and utilizing branching timelines to affect the future |
| DS | Ragnarok DS | 2010 | Action | GungHo | As the title implies, it's Ragnarok Online, except on the DS; only a max of 3 can play together, but there is a storyline to follow |
| DS | Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure | 2008 | Strategy | Nippon Ichi | Changes the SRPG combat to 2D turn-based fighting, no English song vocals |
| DS | River King: Mystic Valley | 2008 | Fishing | Marvelous | It's a River King game, yes, but the fishing lacks the charm it once had in earlier games |
| JP DS | Rockman.EXE: Operate Shooting Star | 2009 | Action | Capcom | A port of Mega Man Battle Network with some additional Star Force content thrown in |
| DS | Rondo of Swords | 2008 | Strategy | Success | An SRPG where you have to run a route through enemies to engage them in combat |
| DS | Rune Factory 2: A Fantasy Harvest Moon | 2008 | Simulation | Neverland | Grow your farm and level up, and befriend monsters to hire them as farmhands! |
| DS | Rune Factory 3: A Fantasy Harvest Moon | 2010 | Simulation | Neverland | Like the others, but villagers now have a dynamic AI schedule and the ability to delve into dungeons with the player |
| DS | Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon | 2007 | Simulation | Neverland | Now you get to raise crops and slay monsters! |
| JP DS | SaGa 2: Hihou Densetsu - Goddess of Destiny | 2009 | Turn-Based | Racjin/Square Enix | A ground-up remake of Final Fantasy Legend II, with more sidequests and the removal of random battles |
| JP DS | SaGa 3: Jikuu no Hasha - Shadow or Light | 2011 | Turn-Based | Racjin/Square Enix | Given the same treatment as its predecessor from Final Fantasy Legend III |
| DS | Sands of Destruction | 2010 | Turn-Based | Imageepoch | Timing/combo based combat system that the enemies have no trouble abusing you with |
| DS | Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor | 2009 | Strategy | Atlus | SRPG with branching narrative choices and squads of units rather than individuals, plus demons of course |
| DS | Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 | 2012 | Strategy | Atlus | Plays largely the same as the first, but adds a social system to influence the ending |
| DS | Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey | 2010 | Dungeon Crawler | Atlus/Lancarse | First-person dungeon crawler with demon battling, negotiation, and fusion - all in Antarctica! |
| DS | Solatorobo: Red the Hunter | 2011 | Action | CyberConnect2 | Spiritual sequel to Tail Concerto (PSX), with steampunk robot combat and tons of anthropomorphic creatures |
| JP DS | Soma Bringer | 2008 | Action | Monolith Soft | Top-down ARPG, widely acclaimed; lots of text to read and lots of character customization to do |
| DS | Spectral Force Genesis | 2007 | Strategy | Idea Factory | An extremely detailed war sim RTSRPG, with multiple nations to play as and features like taxation and diplomacy |
| DS | Spectrobes | 2007 | Action | Jupiter | An original Disney Interactive Studios IP with slippery-looking controls; a Pokemon clone with ARPG combat |
| DS | Spectrobes: Beyond the Portals | 2008 | Action | Jupiter | Many more Spectrobes to collect and a general improvement overall from the first game |
| DS | Suikoden Tierkreis | 2009 | Turn-Based | Konami | Not part of the main series storyline (no returning characters), but similar 108-star recuitment and turn-based gameplay |
| DS | Summon Night: Twin Age | 2008 | Action | Flight-Plan | Touch control-only ARPG with 2 AI party members and the ability to summon monsters |
| DS | Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier | 2009 | Turn-Based | Monolith Soft | Spinoff of the Original Generation series of Super Robot Wars, with turn-based combo combat rather than the regular SRPG format |
| JP DS | Super Robot Wars W | 2007 | Turn-Based | Banpresto | Generally speaking same gameplay as always, splits the story into 2 timelines (not all storylines are present in both) |
| JP DS | Tales of Innocence | 2007 | Action | Alfa System | You know what to expect here at this point - in addition, doing sidequests for guilds levels them up |
| JP DS | Tales of the Tempest | 2006 | Action | Dimps/Namco Tales Studio | A short spinoff title from the mainline series, but plays as you've come to expect; a very polarizing game |
| DS | Tao's Adventure: Curse of the Demon Seal | 2006 | Turn-Based | Konami | Sequel to Azure Dreams (PSX/GBC), with similar tower climbing/dungeon crawling mchanics, with the addition of touchscreen runes |
| DS | The Dark Spire | 2009 | Dungeon Crawler | Success | A heavily stylized first-person dungeon crawler with an emphasis on an alignment system |
| DS | The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road | 2009 | Turn-Based | Media Vision | Dorothy and friends go out to hunt some witches, with a cumbersome trackball guiding movement and a slot-based combat system |
| DS | The World Ends With You | 2008 | Action | Jupiter/Square Enix | A fashionable, frantic ARPG that utilizes badges of sorts to determine attack abilities |
| DS | Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume | 2009 | Strategy | Tri-Ace | Prequel to the first Valkyrie Profile; an SRPG where permakilling party members voluntarily can greatly aid in battle |
| DS | Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Spirit Caller | 2007 | Card-Based | Konami | Mostly follows season 1 of the anime from Jaden's perspective, leveling as a duelist is a requirement for story progression |
| DS | Yu-Gi-Oh! Nightmare Troubadour | 2005 | Card-Based | Konami | It's the Battle City Tournament and the Virtual World arc, but with spiffy 3D monster summoning animations for particular cards and a distinct lack of Tristan |
| JP DS | Zoids Saga DS: Legend of Arcadia | 2005 | Turn-Based | Tomy | Retells the story of the first Zoids Saga game, with updates to gameplay from throughout the series and incorporation of the 2nd/3rd games' protagonists |
