The Nintendo DS took the handheld gaming world by storm when it released in 2004, featuring dual screens, touch screen capabilities, and wireless connectivity. Over its lifetime, the DS amassed a stellar game library across genres. But where the console particularly shined was with action games.
Combining the DS‘s innovative inputs with fast-paced, skill-based gameplay produced some of the most intense and exciting handheld experiences ever. As the second highest selling video game system of all time, there‘s an enormous catalog to dig through. Here, we‘ll countdown the definitive top 10 action games to grace the groundbreaking Nintendo DS.
What Defines a Nintendo DS Action Game?
Before diving into the rankings, let‘s clarify what constitutes an "action game," especially in the context of the Nintendo DS hardware:
Real-time gameplay: Action games feature non-stop gameplay that challenges a player‘s reflexes and hand-eye coordination in real-time, requiring quick reactions. Turn-based games don‘t apply.
Combat/fighting focus: While a degree of platforming or exploration may factor in, the core of action games revolves around combat, fighting enemies, or competing against other players.
Skill-based challenges: Fast reflexes and accuracy determine success. Memorizing patterns, analyzing enemy weaknesses, managing health, and mastering controls/movesets separate novices from experts.
Utilizes DS capabilities: To be considered one of the DS‘s "best," the action games must incorporate touch screen controls, dual screen displays, wireless local multiplayer, or other defining DS functionality into the experience.
With the criteria defined, let‘s get to ranking the cream of the crop when it comes to Nintendo DS action!
#10: Space Invaders Extreme
A re-imagined take on the classic arcade shooter brings the iconic franchise barreling into the 21st century.
Right from the start, Space Invaders Extreme propels an old formula into blistering new territory. The core left-to-right alien blasting remains, but so much else receives major overhauls, from the psychedelic backgrounds and thumping electronic soundtrack to the addition of intense bosses and power-up variety.
Stages attack the player with waves of bizarre space creatures beyond just the typical invaders, while a chain system that multiplies score and unlocks abilities provides satisfying risk-reward decisions that keep you pushing the limits. Bonus rounds, rankings, and unlockables supply ample incentive for repeated replays.
For long time fans or those just discovering this seminal shooter, Space Invaders Extreme delivers an addicting, dazzling action experience that feels uniquely matched to the DS hardware with touch controls and dual screen layouts tailored specifically to the frenetic, score-chasing gameplay.
"Space Invaders Extreme is a perfect update to a tried-and-true classic." 4.5/5 – GameSpot
#9: Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
The third DS Castlevania implements the signature gothic exploration formula with plenty of fresh ideas and challenging boss battles.
While following a similar 2D side-scrolling structure as previous entries, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia manages to distance itself with creative glyphs that produce around 100 attack combinations along with more open outdoor areas that break up the castle confines.
As heroine Shanoa, players utilize magical glyphs to bash enemies and discover secrets within the ominous locales. Each area culminates in intense clashes against imposing bosses that test your pattern recognition abilities.
Alongside the considerable single player campaign filled with formidable foes, Order of Ecclesia introduces co-op multiplayer to allow a second player to assist during specific sections. It provides a satisfying dose of teamwork to the typically solitary series.
For Castlevania fans hungry to sink their teeth into another metroidvania-style action-RPG on DS, Order of Ecclesia hits the mark with its expansive ability combos and daunting boss rush mode demanding your best vampire hunting skills.
"Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia may be the best Castlevania yet thanks to its combo system and seemingly endless replay value." 4.5/5 – GameZone
#8: Super Mario 64 DS
Mario‘s seminal 3D platformer gets revived with additional playable characters, touchscreen controls, and wireless multiplayer.
Bringing Mario into three dimensions remains one of gaming‘s landmark moments. And Super Mario 64 DS gives the genre classic a second life with enhancements like simultaneous multiplayer, touchscreen inputs, and the introduction of fan favorites like Yoshi who provide their own unique abilities.
The core platforming and exploration gameplay still shines as you tackle the castle grounds, shifting sand lands, and other colorful courses. New mini-games take advantage of the bottom screen for quick diversions too.
While the visuals haven‘t aged quite as gracefully, the addition of 3 playable counterparts to Mario freshens up subsequent playthroughs, as you employ Yoshi‘s flutter jump or Wario‘s strength to access new areas. The multiplayer modes also supply entertainment during breaks between snagging stars in the main adventure.
From those experiencing Mario‘s revolutionary first foray into 3D for the first time to veteran collectors craving some enhanced nostalgia, Super Mario 64 DS brings the mustachioed mascot‘s seminal outing to Nintendo‘s dual screen handheld with enticing features for both new and existing fans.
"The same amazing game that we all remember is back and better than ever." 4.5/5 – GameZone
#7: Metroid Prime Hunters
Samus Aran explores alien landscapes solving puzzles and unleashing an arsenal of high-tech weaponry in this standout FPS exclusive to DS.
Offering console quality first-person shooting on a handheld, Metroid Prime Hunters oufits bounty hunter Samus with numerous firearms like Wave Beams and Omega Cannons used to blast foes and interact with environments across intricately designed stages.
Beyond the enthralling campaign, Hunters also provides accessibility options to accommodate both veteran FPS gamers and newcomers getting familiar with dual analog controls. Plus, intense 4 player local wi-fi multiplayer with additional bounty hunter characters further cements Hunters as a breakthrough online handheld shooter.
With a solo adventure blending action, adventure, and exploration plus multiplayer modes that were unprecedented portable offerings at the time, Metroid Prime Hunters brought outstanding console-style FPS gameplay to Nintendo‘s innovative DS hardware and still impresses today thanks to fantastic visuals and a precise control scheme.
"Metroid Prime Hunters successfully translates Samus‘ world into the realm of handheld gaming remarkably well." 4.4/5 – GameZone
#6: Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
Vampire hunting duo Jonathan and Charlotte whip their way through monstrous bosses and ominous painterly worlds.
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin sticks to the acclaimed formula established by Symphony of the Night and prior DS entry Dawn of Sorrow. You‘ll still find all the expected gothic exploration, weapon variety, and RPG growth systems.
But this time you can swap between two playable protagonists on the fly, calling upon Jonathan‘s martial arts abilities and Charlotte‘s magical mastery to traverse enemy filled corridors or engage in side scrolling ax slashing and spell casting.
Additionally, taking down nightmarish horrors can be done cooperatively thanks to DS wireless functionality that was quite ahead of its time. Boss rushes and completing side quests also provide bonuses to increase replayability.
When it comes to 2D action on DS, Castlevania sets the bar, allowing players to venture through haunted realms solo or call upon a partner to unleash combo attacks that look fantastic on the dual screens thanks to fluid animations and vivid art direction.
"Portrait of Ruin is the best Castlevania yet. The gameplay is fun, the action is exciting, and the amount of replay value is absolutely huge." 5/5 – GameZone
#5: Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron
This portable Star Wars shooter captured authentic galactic warfare across films and console-quality campaigns tailored for on-the-go action.
At a time when online multiplayer was far less commonplace on handhelds, Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron arrived packing infrastructure for 16 player matches with gameplay modes like Hero Battles and Capture the Flag that lived up to their console counterparts.
For solo players, 11 unique story-driven operations spanning Episodes I-VI immersed gamers directly into iconic Star Wars battles, allowing them to create customized characters and pilot legendary vehicles like X-Wings, TIE Fighters, and AT-RT walkers across planets such as Hoth, Tatooine, and Endor.
It still holds up as one of the most content rich and polished multiplayer handheld shooters in the Star Wars universe thanks to smooth controls, magnificent audio design, and faithfully adapting the large scale warfare the Battlefront series is known for into the DS form factor.
"Elite Squadron proves that big budget console experiences can live comfortably on handhelds without making too many compromises." 4.5/5 – IGN
#4: Kirby Canvas Curse
Nintendo‘s cute pink puffball embarks on a unique side-scrolling adventure guided by touch screen drawing mechanics.
This innovative platformer strips away Kirby‘s ability to walk, instead forcing players to utilize the stylus to draw rainbow ropes for him to roll along while collecting items and bashing baddies.
Tapping Kirby launches him forward, where you can stun enemies then tap again to dash into them, granting unique "Wheel", "Fire", or "Stone" powers. Each area task you with reaching the exit door by exploiting the various drawing tools and enemy abilities.
With seven worlds and 21 stages, along with arcade-style time attack and obstacle courses, Kirby Canvas Curse leverages the DS touch screen remarkably well. Unlockable concept art and medals hidden within levels provide lasting incentives too.
The game keeps traditional side-scrolling action intact but fundamentally evolves Kirby‘s mobility via touch gestures, resulting in one of the most creative usage of Nintendo‘s hardware innovations on the system.
"Canvas Curse‘s surprising design and unique stylus-driven gameplay make this game an absolute must-buy." 9.1/10 – IGN
#3: Elite Beat Agents
Save the world from disaster by tapping along to a soundtrack of catchy pop, rock and hip hop bangers.
This unique music driven experience tasks players with tapping and sliding to the beat of licensed songs unfolding beside animations depicting people in need of motivational assistance. Better performances raise their mood while failure dampens spirits.
It‘s effectively DDR with your fingers, requiring rhythm mastery across 14 distinct stages spanning genres like disco to metal. Levels escalate in difficulty with more complex input patterns to memorize. Earned points unlock bonus songs and alternate game modes for extended replay.
Elite Beat Agents aptly flaunts DS capabilities via touch controls and dual screen choreography. Its charismatic art style and absurd premise paired with an incredibly catchy soundtrack make for an irresistibly quirky action experience.
"Elite Beat Agents is tremendously good fun, dripping with personality, and hugely entertaining." 9.1/10 – GameSpot
#2: New Super Mario Bros
Mario‘s 2D platforming debut on Nintendo DS offered a perfect blend of retro callbacks and modern additions like wall jumps and multiplayer.
Taking cues from Mario‘s NES and SNES heyday, New Super Mario Bros applied fresh visual flair and mechanics while retaining that impeccable level design and tight controls for traversing clever obstacle courses brimming with secrets.
Alongside Mario you have the option to play as Luigi with each brother boasting unique physics. And co-op lets both plumbers traverse side by side. Mini-games also take advantage of both screens.
With over 80 new courses across 8 worlds and dozens of enemies to squash, New Super Mario Bros executed the classic 2D platforming formula flawlessly while introducing just enough new ideas in both solo and multiplayer capacities right in time for the DS launch.
"The classic 2D platformer is back and better than ever with some nice additions to give it a modern feel…without taking away from what made those original Mario games so great." 5/5 – GameZone
#1: Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow
Continuing the metroidvania legacy, Dawn of Sorrow delivers a best-in-class portable action experience.
This successor to fan favorite Aria of Sorrow retains the same acclaimed formula. You‘ll acquire weapon upgrades, SDS abilities with touch screen quick time events, level up stats RPG-style and plunder ominous towers conquering dastardly beasts.
New to Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow is the tactical soul system, enabling you to absorb fallen foes‘ powers for exploitation in future fights. It bolsters your options tremendously when tackling precarious platforming sections or harrowing boss encounters that test combo mastery.
With fluid combat animations, splendidly Gothic vistas and an absolutely massive ability variety, Dawn of Sorrow stands at the peak of 2D action excellence on Nintendo‘s innovative handheld.
"Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow is one amazing game that has it all: level design, graphics, sound, replay value, and more." 10/10 – GameZone
Conclusion
The Nintendo DS cemented itself as one of gaming‘s greatest platforms thanks in large part to the sheer diversity and quality of action genres represented. From riveting sci-fi shooters to rhythmic music games, side-scrolling beat ‘em ups to 3D platformers, the innovative handheld received an outstanding breadth of fast-paced skill based experiences.
And the titles detailed above epitomize the technical capabilities developers managed to squeeze out of relatively limited hardware. The touch controls, dual screens, wi-fi multiplayer and creative new interfaces resulted in timeless classics that players return to year after year. Not just great portable action games but some of the best entries in long standing franchises.
So the next time you pick up your DS for some on-the-go gameplay, try out one of these action centric must-plays which still capture the magic of Nintendo‘s groundbreaking handheld over 15 years later!
Frequently Asked Questions
What were some of the best-selling Nintendo DS action games?
Some all-time top selling DS action games include New Super Mario Bros, Mario Kart DS, Pokemon Platinum Version, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars and Call of Duty: Black Ops.
Did any iconic action franchises originate on Nintendo DS?
While no major action franchises debuted on DS, several existing series like Metroid Prime Hunters, Kirby Canvas Curse and Elite Beat Agents received new innovative entries that took advantage of DS functionality.
What made the Nintendo DS good for action games?
The touchscreen added immersive control mechanics, clamshell design provided an optimal viewing angle, graphical processor enabled smooth 3D visuals, and local wireless multiplayer let friends face off anywhere.
Do Nintendo DS action games hold up today?
Absolutely! Modern TV connections allow DS games to be played on the big screen. And the pick-up-and-play appeal coupled with precise, tactile controls result in memorable gameplay experiences that remain quite enjoyable years later.
Which of these games aged the best visually?
Metroid Prime Hunters and Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron feature some of the most impressive graphics and visual effects that push the DS hardware to its limits. 3D environments are complex and animate smoothly in both shooters.
