Summary
The selection of classic games available throughNintendo SwitchOnline has expanded significantly over the years, but one system that still hasn’t made its debut is the Nintendo DS. As the successor to the Game Boy Advance in the handheld market, the DS cultivated a great library with some particularly standout options. Unfortunately, a lot of the best DS games have never made it to any more modern platforms.
Porting DS games can come with inherent challenges, considering the unique dual-screen array and the involvement of features like touch controls or even mic input. All the same, there are plenty that could come to Switch without much trouble, as the number of titles that actually rely on the touchscreen input is fairly small. The best DS candidates for Nintendo Switch Online are games that don’t have great replacements on modern platforms and would make the transition to the platform well, offering experiences that can’t be found anywhere else.
15 Must-Play Classic Games On Nintendo Switch Online
10Rhythm Heaven Delivers Memorable Mayhem
The offbeat rhythm gameRhythm Heavenis one game that might seem like it would be challenging to bring over to Switch, as the DS title made use of stylus flicks for some of its frantic gameplay. The 3DS greatest hits titleRhythm Heaven Megamixalready set a standard for replacing flicks with simple button presses, however, so a Switch Online version ofRhythm Heavencould do the same thing without too much trouble.
Despite a passionate following and a unique place in the rhythm market,noRhythm Heavengame has yet made an appearance on the Switch, leaving a gaping hole for the DS entry to fill.Rhythm Heaven Feverwould also be a great fit for the platform, but anything would be more than welcome at this point.
9Pokémon Black 2 & White 2 Reach Franchise Heights
Pokémon Black 2 and White 2are some of the most beloved titles in thePokémonfranchise, but they can be difficult to play today.DS copies have shot up to painful prices in the aftermarket, and the titles haven’t yet received remakes like thePokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pearlupdates for earlier DS entries.All the DS games seem like obviouscandidates for eventual updates, but sticking them on Switch Online would be a lot better than nothing.
How Pokémon Black & White Remakes Can Avoid BDSP’s Biggest Mistake
Future remakes of Pokémon Black and White should learn from the mistakes made by Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl to truly do the games justice.
The originalPokémon Black and Whitereleases stood out thanks to strong stories, fast-paced battles, and an interesting world, giving the series the kind of electricity it’s been struggling to recapture in recent years.Black 2and White 2are direct sequels that add more Pokémon into the mix, making them potentially even more appealing entries. Either option would ultimately be great on the Switch, and getting both would be the dream.
8Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow Deserves To Return
TheCastlevaniaseries comprises some of the greatest games of all time, but it’s unfortunately been largely dormant in recent years aside from crossovers with other games. Many of the classic titles have been re-released, however, including the three that debuted on the Game Boy Advance. The DS entries haven’t been as lucky, which is a huge shame considering their high bar of quality.
As the first of the DS games,Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrowwould make a great addition to Nintendo Switch Online.It’s also one of the more manageableCastlevaniagames in terms of difficulty, making for a great entry point to the series. The gameplay follows theexploration-focused Metroidvania stylerather than the original linear approach, and considering how popular this model has become, there’s no better time to return to a definitive game in the genre.
7The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Is Best On DS
Four Swordsrecently made its way to Nintendo Switch Online through the originalThe Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Four Swordsas part of the Game Boy Advance library. It’s most well-known as one of the few multiplayer-focusedZeldaexperiences, which have cropped up only occasionally over the years. The DSiWare versionFour Swords Anniversary Edition, however, would still be a meaningful addition of its own.
Nintendo Added The Worst Version Of NSO’s Latest Zelda Game
Nintendo recently added a new Legend of Zelda game to Nintendo Switch Online, but the version they chose to port has caused some complaints.
Anniversary Additionadds a single-player mode to the cooperative adventure, which makes it a lot easier to pick up and play the game. The four Links of multiplayer are cut down to two, which can be paired, separated, and swapped between at leisure. It may not be the most significant single-playerZeldaexperience, but considering the closure of the DSi Shop, it would be nice to have any way to play it today.
6Animal Crossing: Wild World Has Unique Charms
Animal Crossingisn’t suffering the same lack of representation on Nintendo Switch as some other franchises, andAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsis the biggest sales success the series has ever seen. That doesn’t necessarily make it the definitiveAnimal Crossinggame, however, and there’s good reason why the DS entryAnimal Crossing: Wild Worldwould be a meaningful addition to the Switch Online library.
WhileNew Horizonshas more options than ever for management features like terraforming and a plethora of quality-of-life tweaks, it also leaves behind some unique aspects of the atmosphere and writing in olderAnimal Crossinggames.Wild World’s music and mood are hard to beat, and the social simulation might be the best that the series has ever offered, with diverse villager personalities that feel like they’ve been flattened in the years since.
5Dragon Quest 9 Is An Expansive RPG
TheDragon Questseries is flourishing on the Nintendo Switch, withDragon Quest 11 Sgarnering rave reviews and upcoming “HD-2D"remakes ofDragon Quest 1, 2,and3.Things aren’t as golden for the intervening titles, however, and one notable missing entry isDragon Quest 9.This DS title follows a character of an angelic race on a journey across the mortal realm, making for an interesting twist on the franchise formula.
Despite being released for a handheld platform,Dragon Quest 9is a major RPG through-and-through, even paving the way for StreetPass features with its record-setting passive data transfer options. Grabbing an original copy can be pricey today, and unlike the 3DS ports ofDragon Quest 7and8, it hasn’t yet reappeared on any other platforms.
4Super Mario 64 DS Adds Some Features
LikeFour Swords,Super Mario 64is already covered in its basic capacity on the Nintendo Switch, in this case through the limited-timeSuper Mario 3D All-Starspackage of severalMariohits. Once again, the limitation comes through the fact that this version simply isn’t the be-all and end-all of theSuper Mario 64experience.
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Super Mario 64 DShas often been criticized for the struggle of D-pad controls, butit adds a lot to the original game with new stars to collect, characters to play as, and more. Getting to experience that with a proper analog stick on Joy-Cons or a Switch Pro controller would be excellent. AddingSuper Mario 64 DSto Switch Online would also be a good way to makeSuper Mario 64playable for those without3D All-Starswhile maintaining some form of the exclusivity that Nintendo seems to have prioritized with that release.
3Professor Layton And The Curious Village Is Iconic
TheProfessor Laytonseries of puzzling games is set to return to the Nintendo Switch withProfessor Layton and the New World of Steam, and addingProfessor Layton and the Curious Villageto Nintendo Switch Online would be the perfect way to complement the new release. As the DS title that started it all,Professor Layton and the Curious Villagedives into the strange world of St. Mystere to tell a twisty tale of disappearances and conundrums.
Professor Layton and the Curious Villagestill serves as the best introduction to the series today, setting up the key characters and elements that still define the games in a memorable and efficient way. Few puzzle games come close to offering the rich atmosphere and fantastic variety of challenges that theProfessor Laytonseries does, and the original classic definitely deserves to come back on Nintendo Switch Online.
2Chrono Trigger Is At Its Best On DS
Chrono Triggeris often considered one of the greatest RPGs of all time, but it doesn’t always get the treatment that this status deserves. Various ports of the games have had their share of problems, and although the modern PC version has been significantly improved since its launch, it’s still far from perfect.
The DS version, on the other hand, remains a fantastic way to playChrono Trigger.Efficient load times, a strong translation, and a helping of optional additional content make it a contender for the best versionof the game, and DS copies remain especially desirable. Any version ofChrono Triggeron Switch would be nice to get, but adding the DS version to Nintendo Switch Online would be an especially good approach.
1Mario Kart DS Is Kart Racing Perfection
The best-selling Nintendo Switch game of all time isMario Kart 8 Deluxe, so adding another great entry in the series to the platform would make for a surefire hit.Mario Kart DSstill stands out as the best handheldMario Kartgame, withtight mechanics, great courses, and well-balanced items that make it a sheer joy to play.
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What would really makeMario Kart DSa worthwhile addition to Nintendo Switch Online is its unique Mission Mode, which offers a more compelling single-player experience than anythingMario Kart 8 Deluxehas to offer. Getting a top score on all the unique challenges can be tough, but mastering each objective is incredibly rewarding. Not everyMario Kartgame has aged wonderfully, butMario Kart DScould easily earn a rightful spot on theNintendo Switch.
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is the successor to 2012’s Wii U console. The Nintendo Switch allows gamers to easily switch between playing on a TV to a handheld console. The first model was released in 2017, followed by the Nintendo Switch Lite, which is strictly a handheld console. In October 2021, Nintendo released an upgraded Switch console with an OLED screen.
