Greatest Pokemon DS Video games

Which Pokemon console period was one of the best? For a lot of, the reply is predicated on private publicity and nostalgia, with their first journey to Catch ‘Em All being their favourite. For others, the Sport Boy and GBA eras symbolize the franchise’s peak, an comprehensible argument contemplating these titles wrote the blueprint defining the idea of a Pokemon sport, data Sport Freak nonetheless makes use of roughly three a long time later. Nevertheless, when it comes to each amount and high quality, the Pokemon DS video games are arguably untouchable.

Even ignoring the spin-offs and pairing collectively the twin releases, the franchise produced 5 video games which are comfortably among the many Nintendo DS’s greatest RPGs. Whereas not reinventing the wheel to the identical extent because the 3DS or Swap eras, this console era perfected the method cemented by Gold and Silver and Ruby and Sapphire. The greatest Pokemon Nintendo DS video games symbolize the IP at its peak; that mentioned, not all the pieces launched for the hand-held console was nice.

Up to date November 1, 2025 by Mark Sammut: As there aren’t any extra Pokemon DS video games to go over, we added advice sections on the finish of every entry.

Each Pokemon Nintendo DS Sport (Launched In North America)

The Nintendo DS has arguably top-of-the-line lineups of Pokemon video games ever, providing amount, high quality, and even selection. Admittedly, not each launch was successful story, notably in regards to the spin-offs; nevertheless, the franchise at the least tried to shake issues up by dipping its toes into different genres like technique and racing. A type of was even fairly profitable. The Generation 4 main games are all highly-regarded too.

The next desk consists of each Pokemon Nintendo DS sport launched in North America. Solely two tasks (Be taught with Pokemon: Typing Journey and Pokemon Card Sport: How To Play DS) weren’t localized, they usually have been disregarded of this dialogue since they can’t be analyzed of their pure kinds. That mentioned, they’re the definition of area of interest.

Click on on the sport to leap to its rating.

14

Pokemon Sprint

A Horrible Racing Sport That Has Poor Contact-Display screen Implementation. Simply An Underwhelming Use Of The Pokemon License.

Pokemon Sprint is among the extra unremarkable releases for the Nintendo DS, at the least in idea. It is primarily a Pokemon-themed racing sport, with gamers with the ability to race in opposition to their favourite Technology 3 creatures corresponding to Torchic, Treecko, and Mudkip.

The graphics and sprites for the sport are charming; nevertheless, it is weighed down by its repetitive gameplay and the truth that gamers can solely play as Pikachu. The sport can also be designed across the Nintendo DS’s stylus, with gamers primarily guiding Pikachu round a monitor fairly than controlling it, akin to a kart racer.

Is Pokemon Sprint Price Enjoying These days?

Sadly, Pokemon Sprint is sort of unattainable to advocate on almost any degree. The gameplay is simply too simplistic to be fascinating past a couple of minutes, and the remainder of the package deal provides little or no to make up for its weak core loop.

13

Pokemon Thriller Dungeon: Blue Rescue Group

At This Level, Extra Of A Historic Piece Slightly Than A Should-Play Title. Nonetheless, This Was A Wonderful First Try At A Dungeon-Crawler

The counterpart to Pokemon Thriller Dungeon: Purple Rescue Group, which was launched completely for the Sport Boy Advance, Blue Rescue Group was launched just for the Nintendo DS. The video games are virtually interchangeable so far as story and playable characters go, with the variations mendacity in sure creatures gamers can encounter and recruit in dungeons.

On the time of Purple & Blue Rescue Group‘s debuts, Thriller Dungeon was nonetheless a reasonably distinctive entity for Pokemon followers, particularly Western audiences who may need by no means heard of Shiren the Wanderer or Chocobo’s Dungeon. As such, Blue Rescue Group benefited from being the franchise’s first journey into this aspect world, even when the sport was surpassed by its sequels in some ways.

Is Pokemon Thriller Dungeon: Blue Rescue Group Price Enjoying These days?

Though respectable for its period, Blue Rescue Group is arguably the worst entry in Pokemon Thriller Dungeon, and all the opposite Nintendo DS video games are higher. If you wish to expertise this story, and you’ve got a Nintendo Swap, I like to recommend selecting up Pokemon Thriller Dungeon: Rescue Group DX.

12

Pokemon Thriller Dungeon: Explorers Of Darkness & Time

A Serviceable Sport With A Good Story However Little In The Means Of Innovation. At This Level, This Sequence Was Beginning To Run Out Of Steam.

Pokemon Thriller Dungeon: Explorers Of Darkness & Time has a fascinating story, distinctive sprites, lovable characters, and fascinating gameplay. Thriller Dungeon is constructed upon dungeon-crawler gameplay, and the franchise is way extra expansive than simply Pokemon. These spin-offs are among the many license’s most well-known releases, they usually do provide a pleasant change of tempo from the usual Pokemon undertaking.

Regardless of the professionals of the gameplay, these titles are nonetheless fairly repetitive, notably throughout later factors within the marketing campaign. If gamers discovered themselves under-leveled or caught, it will take massively repetitive grinding for them to catch as much as the place they wanted to be. In the end, Explorers of Darkness & Time doesn’t do sufficient to distinguish itself from different Thriller Dungeon video games, leading to an expertise that’s laborious to advocate when there are merely higher choices obtainable.

Are Pokemon Thriller Dungeon: Explorers Of Darkness & Time Price Enjoying These days?

It is a tough one to reply, because the video games are largely tremendous. Like, if somebody enjoys the later entries within the collection, they are going to doubtless have a good time with both of those two tasks; nevertheless, they could wrestle to recollect a lot about them.

11

Pokemon Ranger: Guardian Indicators

The Worst Pokemon Ranger Sport Is Nonetheless A First rate Time, However It Feels Like A Backward Step Slightly Than An Thrilling Leap Ahead.

The third Pokemon Ranger installment noticed the spin-off collection stagnate to an extent. That mentioned, the entry launched a number of enhancements to the gameplay fashion, corresponding to including ridable legendary creatures and a time-traveling mechanism that allowed for multiplayer. Nevertheless, its story is pretty weak, and the legendary Pokemon don’t add a lot to the expertise.

The characteristic in Shadows of Almia that allowed gamers to alter their accomplice Pokemon between all kinds of obtainable creatures was taken away on this sequel. It was an pointless backward step in a subseries that didn’t have a lot ahead momentum. In comparison with earlier console generations, Pokemon arguably sat on its laurels a bit too usually through the Nintendo DS period, and this was most obvious within the spin-offs that appeared to barely deliver something new to the plate.

Is Pokemon Ranger: Guardian Indicators Price Enjoying These days?

If you will solely play one Pokemon Ranger sport, Guardian Indicators shouldn’t be it. In case you are seeking to full the collection, the third entry is pleasant sufficient.

10

Pokemon Ranger

An Fascinating Try To Deviate From The Commonplace Pokemon Formulation That Made Good Use Of The DS’s Stylus

The primary installment within the Pokemon Ranger collection is probably the most critically profitable, at the least based on Metacritic. Nevertheless, it isn’t essentially one of the best general package deal within the collection. Nonetheless, it launched the idea of taking part in not as a coach or one other Pokemon, however as a Ranger set on sustaining peace all through the area and saving wild Pokemon which have been put in hurt’s means.

There is not a lot flexibility within the accomplice Pokemon that gamers can have; they will solely select between a Plusle and Minun, relying on which gender they select for his or her protagonist. Nevertheless, the circle-drawing gameplay fashion that allowed gamers to seize the friendship of untamed Pokemon was revolutionary for the franchise. This mechanic could not have been accomplished on the Sport Boy Advance, because the Nintendo DS was the primary console to introduce a touchscreen.

Is Pokemon Ranger Price Enjoying These days?

For probably the most half, the primary Pokemon Ranger bought the method proper instantly, even when the sequels enhance on some components. Consequently, the sport remains to be fairly enjoyable to revisit, and the gameplay nonetheless feels pretty contemporary and novel as a result of collection not persevering with after the DS period.

9

Pokemon Thriller Dungeon: Explorers Of Sky

The Greatest Pokemon Thriller Dungeon Sport On The Nintendo DS

The Pokemon Mystery Dungeon series is simply typically not well-regarded by critics, with a lot of the entries getting middling critiques at greatest. Nevertheless, they clearly have their followers, and if somebody likes one entry, they are going to most likely get pleasure from a lot of the others. Pokemon Thriller Dungeon: Explorers of Sky is a traditional instance of a sport that did not obtain probably the most love from critics, however has change into a favourite for a lot of followers in the neighborhood.

The improved model of Explorers of Darkness & Time introduced sufficient new concepts to the plate to justify its existence, and newcomers ought to decide this sport above its predecessors. The additions embody a number of new playable creatures, playable particular episodes, new gadgets, unique dungeons, and minor tweaks to the tear-jerking story. Talking concerning the latter, this entry has one of the best story within the collection. Whereas that may not look like that huge of a deal for the franchise, the Thriller Dungeon video games are extra story-driven than the principle collection, and Explorers of Sky is among the few Pokemon video games that’s primarily price taking part in for its narrative.

Is Pokemon Thriller Dungeon: Explorers Of Sky Price Enjoying These days?

In case you are seeking to play a Thriller Dungeon sport from this period, Explorers of Sky needs to be your first decide.

8

Pokemon Trozei!

Though Nothing Superb, Trozei Is A Enjoyable Distraction That Caters To Each Pokemon And Puzzle Followers (Though, Principally The Former)

Pokemon Trozei! is a puzzle sport that’s similar to Tetris and Yoshi’s Cookie relating to gameplay. Blocks with the faces of various Pokemon will fall from the highest of the display screen, however solely the final row could be moved and matched with those above it.

It’s a stress-free expertise, much like Pokemon Pinball. Trozei is a tremendous possibility for gamers who aren’t that keen on the mainstream collection of video games or simply need one thing to play in between extra time-consuming tasks. Whereas completely taking part in, the spin-off is unlikely to enchantment to anybody in addition to die-hard Pokemon followers.

Is Pokemon Trozei! Price Enjoying These days?

Positively. Trozei is a stable puzzle sport and one of many higher Pokemon spin-offs. That mentioned, I might advocate Pokemon Battle Trozei on the 3DS above its predecessor, if you wish to solely strive one.

7

Pokemon Ranger: Shadows Of Almia

The Greatest Pokemon Ranger Sport, Interval

Shadows of Almia is the second sport within the Pokemon Ranger series. The title made a number of enhancements to its predecessor’s story, which was a bit missing on this regard. This included setting the protagonist as a young person learning to be a Pokemon Ranger, which many children and younger adults taking part in the sport might relate to.

Regardless of the enhancements, Shadows of Almia saved the gameplay largely the identical, albeit with the vital addition of with the ability to swap out accomplice Pokemon. Nonetheless, the dearth of innovation was disappointing because it appeared like a missed alternative. Whereas followers of the unique launch ought to test this out, Shadows of Almia will not impress anybody who didn’t take care of the primary sport.

Is Pokemon Ranger: Shadows Of Almia Price Enjoying These days?

Sure, Shadows of Almia is one of the best Pokemon Ranger sport on the market. The collection as an entire by no means fairly reached the heights of the mainline entries, however the video games are enjoyable distractions. Truthfully, Pokemon Ranger ought to nonetheless be a factor.

6

Pokemon Conquest

A Very Respectable Tactical RPG That Proved Pokemon Is A Good Match For The Style. Sadly, It Is One Of A Variety.

Pokemon Conquest was the primary and solely try by Sport Freak’s franchise to strive its hand on the technique style, with the spin-off introducing a novel storyline in addition to a contemporary turn-based battle system. Gamers moved completely different creatures throughout the battlefield, encountering enemies in addition to dangerous area hazards alongside the way in which. Pokemon Conquest is an extremely fleshed-out sport, with the principle story taking roughly 15 hours to beat. There’s additionally a plethora of post-game missions for gamers to beat.

Though not all the pieces about this peculiar diversion hits the mark, Pokemon Conquest was an excellent first effort to push the franchise in a tactical RPG course much like one thing like Disgaea. Together with being a enjoyable decide for die-hard followers, the sport works nicely as an entry-level possibility attributable to its comparatively low problem and considerably goofy nature, making it a very good decide for younger Pokemon followers who’re considering attempting a ways undertaking.

Is Pokemon Conquest Price Enjoying?

Sure, notably for youthful gamers who’re taking their first steps into ways video games. Pokemon Conquest is accessible whereas additionally providing sufficient depth to maintain style veterans entertained past the novelty of utilizing Pokemon.

5

Pokemon Diamond & Pearl

A Assured Introduction To A New Style

The primary mainstream Nintendo DS Pokemon video games have been Diamond & Pearl. For a lot of gamers, these entries have been their introduction to the franchise, giving them deep sentimental worth for all who performed them of their childhood. They introduced fairly a number of new issues to the plate, corresponding to Wi-Fi help, transfer courses, expanded evolutions, a bounce to 3D, and the Poketch. The core loop remained largely the identical, however Diamond & Pearl provided greater than only a contemporary coat of paint.

Technology 4 was critically praised for its immersive story, easy graphics, unimaginable soundtrack, and memorable characters that gamers met alongside their journey via the Sinnoh area. These video games have developed a considerably bizarre fame over time, being well-regarded however not extraordinarily extremely rated. As the primary mainline DS entries, Diamond & Pearl have been unsurprisingly huge, they usually saved the Pokemon prepare rolling by delivering stable, if unspectacular, adventures. By this level, the franchise had change into a supply of consolation for many individuals, and these entries helped introduce that facet to a brand new era.

Nevertheless, Diamond & Pearl simply appear sluggish in comparison with each earlier and subsequent video games. So many issues really feel like they take a second longer than they need to, and the story is structured in a means that makes it really feel repetitive.

Are Pokemon Diamond & Pearl Price Enjoying These days?

I imply, Diamon & Pearl are from an period the place the franchise’s core releases seldom missed the mark. The video games added loads of QOL changes that make them simpler to revisit than their predecessors, they usually do not come throughout as excessively dated. Not like among the earlier generations, Diamon & Pearl‘s trendy remakes should not particularly nice, at the least to not the purpose of rendering their ancestors out of date.

That mentioned, they aren’t one of the best ways to expertise this era.