5 Classic Nintendo DS Games That Are Unplayable Today

While the Nintendo DS is one of the best handheld gaming consoles of all time, its library of games is in desperate need of re-releases. Many of Nintendo’s biggest properties had games released for the DS, taking advantage of its signature dual-screen display and touchscreen inputs to great success. But whereas Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, and even Virtual Boy titles have been re-released through Nintendo Switch Online, the DS era has not. Simply put, as longtime Nintendo fans, there are scores of DS games that we’d love to play again through an official re-release on modern platforms.

To clarify, we’re aware that many of the games we’re listing here were re-released for the Wii U’s digital game library. But since Nintendo shut down online services, including its digital storefront, for the Wii U in 2023, these titles remain unavailable once again. Similarly, we’re also not counting unauthorized emulations that may be available for these games, and we’re sticking to legal means to play these fan-favorites. 

Here are five classic Nintendo DS games that are unplayable today outside those prior releases.

Mario Kart DS

One of the best “Mario Kart” games is also among those in the series not available to play on modern consoles. 2005’s “Mario Kart DS” was the first in the series to feature online multiplayer modes thanks to the handheld console’s built-in wifi modem. The game also boasted the most tracks in a single game in the series at that time, with 32 tracks, including 16 from past “Mario Kart” titles. The 2005 title also allows players to choose from different vehicles, each with their own attributes on the track.

“Mario Kart DS” subtly laid the foundation for the series that would be followed up on with subsequent titles. The mix of classic and new elements along with a wider emphasis on customization was deepened and refined on. Later “Mario Kart” games would incorporate direct elements from the DS title in their own builds, such as its more popular tracks. But “Mario Kart DS” itself remains unavailable for the past several years on modern hardware and a crucial piece of Nintendo history with it.

Advance Wars: Dual Strike

Another one of the best Nintendo DS games currently unavailable on modern platforms is “Advance Wars: Dual Strike.” The first entry in Nintendo’s “Wars” series released for the DS, “Dual Strike” feels tailormade for the platform dividing grid-based battlefield and combat. A sequel to its predecessors on the Game Boy Advance, the game revolves around the turn-based tactical gameplay that endeared the franchise to fans worldwide. The 2005 game was followed up by a standalone sequel on the DS in 2008, “Advance Wars: Days of Ruin.”

Whereas the Game Boy Advance titles in the “Wars” series have received a remaster for the Switch, the series’ DS titles have not. “Dual Strike,” in particular, showcases the franchise at its best, emphasizing the different command abilities of its colorful cast. The game itself doesn’t reinvent the gameplay wheel introduced by its predecessors, nor does it try to. Instead, “Advance Wars: Dual Strike” leans into what made its predecessors great, refines the gameplay, and brings in multiplayer modes to create the ultimate “Wars” title.

Metroid Prime Hunters

After starting out as a side-scrolling action series, Nintendo’s “Metroid” franchise repositioned itself as a first-person shooter experience with the “Metroid Prime” titles for the GameCube. After “Metroid Prime 2: Echoes” introduced multiplayer modes to the series for the first time, this became the focal point of “Metroid Prime Hunters.” Released in 2006, the game has returning protagonist Samus Aran confront a group of rival bounty hunters while responding to a strange telepathic message. Taking advantage of the game’s premise, the title also features a variety of multiplayer modes, with each of the bounty hunters possessing their own weapons and abilities.

“Metroid Prime Hunters” is a fun spin-off from the mainline series, letting fans take the usual thrills on the go. The arena-style FPS combat is a highlight while the game is among the best-looking titles released for the DS. Elements of the game were brought back for the Nintendo 3DS title “Metroid Prime: Federation Force,” but its DS predecessor stages them better. Frenetic in all of the best ways, “Metroid Prime Hunters” is the most fast-paced and overtly action-packed that the franchise has been.

Star Fox Command

The “Star Fox” franchise was thriving in the mid 2000s, with a pair of successful titles released for the GameCube. The series’ winning streak continued onto the DS with “Star Fox Command,” which was released in 2006. The title emphasized the different branching paths that players could choose from, affecting the missions that can be played and what endings can be unlocked. The game alternates between turn-based strategy gameplay and the real-time vehicle-based combat that the series is known for.

To date, “Star Fox Command” is the last game in the franchise’s timeline that began with “Star Fox 64,” with the narrative having since been rebooted twice. Given how different its various endings are, this may be for the best, leaving the fate of these iterations of the characters open to interpretation. What isn’t ambiguous is that this game hasn’t been re-released through Nintendo Switch Online or other means since the Wii U era. An ambitious reimagining of what the franchise could be in its first handheld title, “Star Fox Command” is an underrated gem.

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

While it may not rank highly among the mainline “Zelda” games, “The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass” has its own merits. The 2007 game serves as a direct sequel to “Wind Waker,” as Link leaps back into action to save his friend Tetra from a new supernatural enemy. To embark on his latest quest, Link teams up with treasure hunter Captain Linebeck, sailing on his ship in pursuit of this ghostly adversary. The game even boasts a competitive multiplayer mode, pitting Link against an opposing player controlling the Phantom Guardians.

Compared to other entries on this list, “Phantom Hourglass” heavily revolves around the DS’ touchscreen capabilities for its inputs. This translates to a more accessible experience overall by being a bit less difficult than other “The Legend of Zelda” titles in favor of more combat and sailing. Unfortunately, neither “Phantom Hourglass” nor its standalone sequel “The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks” have received a re-release on the Switch. This leaves an entire era for the iconic franchise seemingly lost to history for the foreseeable future.