The CAG List of the Best Games on Nintendo DS! Nominate games for July voting!!

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In order to keep this list relevant and up-to-date, we need people to weigh in with their opinion on games during each voting period. Voting will take place the first fifteen days of each calendar quarter (Next: July 1-15).

I'll keep track of nominations when voting is not active. When it's time to vote, I'll change the title of the thread to reflect the voting period and list the nominations in this post. They will have the fifteen-day voting period to garner either the support necessary to be added to the list or be removed and need to be renominated again later. The support necessary will be defined as two more votes "for" than "against." For example 2-0 or 3-1, etc.

We are taking nominations for July voting!

We need input on the following games:

These have been approved and are now on the list!
January 2010

Knights in the Nightmare, nominated by botticus
Votes for: fart_bubble, Kaoz

Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes, nominated by botticus
Votes for: fart_bubble, johnnypark


October 2009

Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box, nominated by Alastor
Votes for: fart_bubble, mickeyp, Josef

Legacy of Ys, nominated by johnnypark
Votes for: fart_bubble, Josef

Phoenix Wright 2, nominated by KingBroly
Votes for: StarKnightX, botticus, mickeyp, Josef

Phoenix Wright 3, nominated by KingBroly
Votes for: StarKnightX, botticus, mickeyp, Josef

Older

GTA: Chinatown Wars, nominated by johnnypark
Votes for: bmachine, homerun17, fart_bubble, foo228, rothgar24

Retro Games Challenge, nominated by neschamp
Votes for: foltzie, fart_bubble, mickeyp, Josef

Dragon Quest V, nominated by Alastor
Votes for: cochesecochese, detectiveconan16, rothgar24, Dead of Knight, Josef

Henry Hatsworth, nominated by johnnypark
Votes for: bmachine, mickeyp

Peggle DS, nominated by bmachine
Votes for: foo228, rothgar24
Ninjatown by dembesum
Votes for: ihadFG, Cpt Hooks

Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia by johnnypark
Votes for: UltimoRey, Josef

Chrono Trigger, "nominated" by Z_meista on 11/24/2008
Votes for: johnnypark, alastor

Soul Bubbles, re-nominated by carpwrist on 11/11/2008
Vote for: mickeyp, bmachine, donssword

Final Fantasy IV, nominated by Alastor on 7/27
Votes for: ihadFG, josef

Summon Night Twin Age, nominated by rainking187 on 8/26
Votes for: botticus, gamegirl79

Luminous Arc, nominated by LeafPanda on 6/23
Votes for: Baccano, rainking187

Tony Hawk: American Sk8land, nominated by UltimoRey on 6/21
Votes for: option.iv, Mr. 420

Final Fantasy Tactics A2, nominated by StinkyCheese on 6/29
Votes for: Alastor, LeafPanda

The World Ends with You, nominated by alastor on 5/7
Votes for: option.iv, StinkyCheese, mickeyp, Rockamix

Prince of Tennis Crystal Drive, nominated by option.iv on 4/22/08
Votes for: Moxio, LeafPanda

Space Invaders Extreme, nominated by lilboo on 6/20
Votes for: Regian, 'stacheboo, rainking187

Anno 1701, nominated by fart_bubble on 3/17/08
Votes for: donssword, TheYellowDart

These were nominated but didn't garner enough support to make the list

The following games were nominated for January 2010 voting:

Dawn Of Discovery, nominated by fart_bubble
Votes for:

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, nominated by botticus
Votes for: fart_bubble

Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, nominated by bmachine
Votes for:

Docomodake Boing!, nominated by mickeyp
Votes for: fart_bubble

Broken Sword, nominated by mickeyp
Votes for: fart_bubble

Time Hollow, nominated by mickeyp
Votes for:

Scribblenauts, nominated by mickeyp
Votes for:

The following games were nominated for October 2009 voting:

Docomodake Boing!, nominated by mickeyp
Votes for: fart_bubble

Broken Sword, nominated by mickeyp
Votes for: fart_bubble

Time Hollow, nominated by mickeyp
Votes for: StarKnightX

Rhythm Heaven, nominated by mickeyp
Votes for:

Scribblenauts, nominated by mickeyp
Votes for: super_dawn

Super Robot Wars OG Saga: Endless Frontier, nominated by fart_bubble
Votes for:

Devil Survivor and Knights in the Nightmare, nominated by botticus
Votes for: rothgar24

Viva Pinata Pocket Paradise, nominated by donssword
Votes for:

Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, nominated by Alastor
Votes for: Josef

The following games were nominated for July voting:

Sonic Rush Adventure, nominated by johnnypark
Votes for:

Lunar Knights, nominated by depascal22
Votes for:

Book of Ys I and II, nominated by fart_bubble
Votes for:
The following games are nominated for April voting:

Big Bang Mini by dcswirl
Votes for:

Metal Slug by Filler2001
Votes for:

Peggle: Dual Shot by Foo228
Votes for:

GTA: Chinatown Wars by jeremiahkd
Votes for: dembesum

GTA: Chinatown Wars
Votes for:

Henry Hatsworth by mickyp
Votes for: bmachine

Robocalypse by mickyp
Votes for:
These games were nominated before quarterly voting:
Rune Factory 2, nominated by dcswirl on 12/5/2008
Votes for:

Metal Slug 7, nominated by SL4IN on 11/23/2008
Votes for:

Disgaea DS, nominated by Koggit on 11/23/2008
Votes for: SL4IN,

Dementium, re-nominated by foltzie on 11/11/2008
Votes for: SL4IN,

Lunar Knights, re-nominated by SL4IN on 11/11/2008
Votes for:

Soul Bubbles, nominated by mickeyp on 8/19
Votes for: bmachine,

Lunar Knights, nominated by Baccano on 7/18
Votes for: rainking187,

WordJong, nominated by bmachine on 7/30
Votes for: mickeyp,

Touchmaster, nominated by mickeyp on 9/9
Votes for:

Brothers in Arms DS, nominated by Rockamix on 6/29
Votes for:

Nanostray 2, nominated by option.iv on 4/22/08
Votes for: Josef

True Swing Golf, nominated by StarKnightX on 4/23/08
Votes for: Josef

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2008, nominated by StarKnightX on 4/23/08
Votes for: slfc

Ninja Gaiden, nominated by crystalklear64 on 4/22/08
Votes for: mickeyp, Josef

Flash Focus, nominated by KSHLove on 2/13/08
Votes for:

Final Fantasy XII Revenant Wings, nominated by sleepkyng on 2/22/08
Votes for:

Professor Layton and the Curious Village, nominated by Josef on 2/23/08
Votes for: keithp

Phoenix Wright 2+3, nominated by mickeyp on 2/24/08
Votes for:

 
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Due to popular request and the ever-popular new threads titled "what games should I buy for DS?" I will be maintaining this list of consensus must-have games for Nintendo DS.


Old sales:
B2G1F on all games at TRU from Oct 11 - Oct 17

Buy 2 Get 1 Free on ALL DS games at Best Buy from 7/5 - 7/11

Dementium for $7.99, free shipping:

TRU Clearance: Advance Wars: Days of Ruin $9.98 as of 4/13 if you can find one in a B&M.

Gamestop Game Days Sale: FF3 $15, FFTA2 $20, Sonic Rush Adventure $15, Chrono Trigger $30

FYE deal, a lot of DS games 50% off after rebate: Disgaea DS $15, Chrono Trigger $20, Dragon Quest IV $15, FFIV $15, Hotel Dusk $10, many more


B2G1F DS games at TOYS R US 6/22 - 6/28
Don't miss this deal, folks! This is the one people are always waiting for, and everyone who misses it is always asking when the next one will be (November).

6/27 - Amazon Gold Box deals has Zelda Phantom Hourglass for $22.99, New Super Mario Brothers for $22.99, Mario Kart DS for $22.99, and Mario Party for $19.99, and Pokemon Diamond for 22.99.

Play-Asia: Ouendan 2 $29.90, Nodame Cantabile $14.90 2/11 - 2/29

Circuit City: All NDS games 20% OFF 2/3 - 2/9
Frys: Contra 4 for $19.99 ($10 off MSRP) no known expiration
Best Buy: Jam Session for $19.99 12/30/07 - 1/05/08
ALL GAMES ARE BUY 2 GET 1 FREE AT TOYS R US FROM 10/14 - 10/20
Drawn to Life $19.99 ($10 off) at Best Buy 10/21-10/27
Free accessory kit with DS Lite at Circuit City 10/21-10/27
Phoenix Wright: Justice for All $14.99 at Amazon (unknown exp) Amazon currently OOS

Brain Age 2 $13.99 at Circuit City 10/28 - 11/4
Current sales:
Microcenter: Purchase a new DS Lite & get any 2 DS games free! 11/12 - 12/2
Best Buy: $10 off any game $29.99 or more

Action:

  • Contra 4
  • GTA: Chinatown Wars
  • Ninja Gaiden
  • Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble
Adventure:

  • Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
  • Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
  • Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
  • Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime
  • Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Adventure (text):

  • Hotel Dusk: Room 215
  • Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
  • Phoenix Wright: Justice for All
  • Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations
Fighting:
  • Bleach: The Blade of Fate
  • Jump Ultimate Stars*
Music:
  • Daigasso Band Brothers*
  • Electroplankton**
  • Elite Beat Agents
  • Jam Sessions**
  • Nodame Cantabile*
  • Ouendan*/Ouendan 2*
  • Taiko no Tatsujin DS*
Pinball:
  • Metroid Prime Pinball
Platformer:
  • Drawn to Life+
  • New Super Mario Brothers+
  • Sonic Rush
  • Super Mario 64 DS
  • Super Princess Peach+
  • Yoshi's Island DS+
Puzzle:
  • Meteos
  • Henry Hatsworth
  • Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes (PRPG)
  • Peggle DS
  • Picross DS
  • Planet Puzzle League
  • Professor Layton and the Curious Village
  • Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box
  • Puzzle Quest (PRPG)
  • Tetris DS
RPG:

  • Chrono Trigger
  • Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker
  • Dragon Quest V
  • Etrian Odyssey
  • Final Fantasy III
  • Final Fantasy IV
  • Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time
  • Pokemon Diamond/Pearl
  • Summon Night: Twin Age
  • The World Ends with You
Shooter:
  • Geometry Wars: Galaxies
  • Metroid Prime: Hunters
  • Space Invaders Extreme
Sports/Racing:
  • Diddy Kong Racing DS
  • Mario Kart DS+
  • Prince of Tennis: Crystal Drive
  • Tony Hawk: American Sk8land
Strategy:
  • Advance Wars: Days of Ruin
  • Advance Wars: Dual Strike
  • Anno 1701
  • Final Fantasy Tactics A2 (SRPG)
  • Front Mission
  • Knights in the Nightmare (SRPG)
  • Luminous Arc (SRPG)
  • Ninjatown
Most Creative/Fun/Intuitive use of Stylus/DS:
  • Kirby: Canvas Curse
  • Soul Bubbles
  • Trauma Center: Under the Knife
  • WarioWare: Touched!
Misc.:
  • Animal Crossing: Wild World+
  • Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day
  • Brain Age 2: More Brain Training
  • Big Brain Academy
  • Clubhouse Games
  • Cooking Mama
  • Retro Games Challenge
  • Nintendogs+**
Love them or hate them:
  • Age of Empires (Strategy)
  • Children of Mana (Action)
  • Contact (RPG)
  • Heroes of Mana (Strategy)
  • Legacy of Ys
  • Nanostray (Schmup)
  • Pokemon Mystery Dungeon (RPG)
  • Resident Evil DS (Action)
  • Rune Factory (RPG)
If you're a fan of the series...

  • Bomberman
  • Mario Party
*import games
**it's not a game!!
+also suggested for younger audiences

credit to crystalklear64 for compiling the initial list.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
It would be more work, but a common question that follows the "which games should I get" is "where can I get them on the cheap". So, if theres any particularly good deals going on for a certain game, it could be a decent idea to include a link under the game name with a price. Up to you though obviously.
 
I'd suggest adding Taiko no Tatsujin DS (import) to the music section. Great game. I'd also suggest Nodame Cantabile, as it's rather cheap at Playasia and basically a dumbed down version of Ouendan with classical music. Very fun, IMO.

I'd also recommend Electroplankton, as it's a very fun toy once you realize it is just that, a toy, and not a true game.

Edit: Cooking Mama is great also, in short spurts.
 
okay added rocko's suggestions.

crystalklear's suggestion is also very good. so any good deals on the games on the list are considered pertinent to the list as well. i added the TRU B2G1F sale at the top, since i consider that one of the best deals yearly.
 
You might also want to include a section of games that are good choices for kids, as we seem to be getting a lot of questions about that as well. I'd suggest games like Mario Kart, Nintendogs, Drawn to Life, ACWW, Yoshi's Island, Super Princess Peach, NSMB, etc.
 
zelda bleh : )

personally i dont see what people are ranting about this game, i dont think its the best game on the ds system hell i dont even see what ground this game breaks. its just another zelda game

be nice if zelda went to a PURE rpg game with Hp not the stupid hearts hell if you get killed 20 times in one dungon in a normal rpg game at least your gaining hps with zelda your gaining nothing but a headache.

the last zelda game i loved was LINK to the past for the snes .

also if your touch screen is $#$#$#$ up your going to have one hell of a hard time playing this (in fact you cant play it since the entire game is played though the touch screen)
 
Well, if you haven't liked Zelda in years, you're weren't going to like it.

And it definitely shouldn't change to a pure RPG. People that don't like Zelda games should just have the sense to stop buying them and buy RPGs if that's wha they want.
 
[quote name='slidecage']also if your touch screen is $#$#$#$ up your going to have one hell of a hard time playing this (in fact you cant play it since the entire game is played though the touch screen)[/quote]
So if your touch screen is "$#$#$#$ up", as you put it, then any other touch screen-oriented game will be fine? But Zelda will be terrible?

Zelda is a good game.

Are you the kind of guy that runs around saying "Oh, yeah, that was a good band before they sold out and went mainstream."?
 
[quote name='hootie']I'd just like to note that's it's "Advance" Wars, not "Advanced" Wars. ;)[/quote]

[quote name='Rocko']Zelda is a good game. [/quote]

agreed

and a nod to Kirby: Canvas Curse, my personal favorite DS game
 
I fixed/added/removed "advanced" wars, games for kids, Super Princess Peach, Brain Age 2, Contra 4. Thanks for the suggestions.
 
[quote name='Rocko']So if your touch screen is "$#$#$#$ up", as you put it, then any other touch screen-oriented game will be fine? But Zelda will be terrible?

Zelda is a good game.

Are you the kind of guy that runs around saying "Oh, yeah, that was a good band before they sold out and went mainstream."?[/QUOTE]


if there is parts of the screen that you dont need to touch on those other games then yes they games would work bettter. I got a few Dead spots on my Ds screen no matter how hard you push on it the lines wont draw.
 
So you're criticizing a game based on your own hardware problems that only a small portion of users experience, that is not a fault of the game?

Hell, it isn't even the hardware's fault, it's probably your own misuse.
 
You should definitely add Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time to the RPG section and Super Mario 64 to the platformer section.
 
[quote name='ihadFG']You should add Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time to the RPG section and Super Mario 64 to the platformer section.[/quote]added!
 
Nice list, OP. Since you've got a ** for "not a game" already, you might as well use it on Jam Sessions**.
 
well thanx to this list I jus got Viewtiful Joe DS for $9.99 after shipping off ebay!!

brands new/sealed too!

but I didnt do any research so I am not sure if I got a good deal or not...
 
Yeah, I wouldn't say either Rune Factory or Contact are good enough to make a best games list.

Decent games, but they're far too love/hate for this kind of list.
 
Contact- The perfect example of something that would be awesome if it didn't have all the awful gameplay surrounding the awesome story/graphics/everything else.

Age of Empires DS is a great, great game. Nearly as good as Advance Wars and a nice alternative to that game in the strategy genre.

The Star Wars Episode 3 game is a great classic beat-em-up type game as well, there aren't a lot of those on DS, but it's really good, for that type of genre.
 
Age of Empires DS is a great, great game. Nearly as good as Advance Wars and a nice alternative to that game in the strategy genre.

The Star Wars Episode 3 game is a great classic beat-em-up type game as well, there aren't a lot of those on DS, but it's really good, for that type of genre.
 
Age of Empires I'd hesitate to put up due to all the bugs including the possibility of bricking the cart.

To be more objective on the list, maybe you should use some threshold at gamerankings? Maybe everything above 85% gets put on?

There's always going to be people who like most every game, but for a reccomendation list we should try to keep it to games that are pretty much "sure fire hits" for anyone who's a fan of the given genre.
 
I propose a sleeper hit/niche section for the Contacts and Rune Factories of the world, IE games that many people here do love but many also have issues with, maybe a runner up category? Children/Heroes of Mana probably fall into that category, and Age of Empires definitely has the love/hate thing going.

Particularly ones that can be obtained cheaply! I loved Nanostray, short as it was, but it was less than $10. Maybe a budget section?

And I nominate Resident Evil DS for the action section (unless there's another genre it would fit better into), it's an excellent port and has an optional mode with DS-specific stuff in it. I've heard a few people voice complaints about it, but I couldn't put it down from start to finish.
 
I can't believe somebody suggested that Zelda be turned into a "pure RPG". What a horrid idea. There are plenty of "pure RPGs" out there. I wish there were more games like Zelda.

I recently tried getting into "pure RPG"s by playing the oft ballyhoed Final Fantasy X on PS2 and when my used copy proved to have a game ending scratch at about the 5:30 mark several days ago, I was pretty much just glad to be off the hook (though annoyed that I couldn't now resell it, at least not with good conscience). Obviously this is a matter of taste, but there are plenty of "pure RPG" games out there if that's what you want. Making Zelda be like those games would be a travesty.
 
[quote name='johnnypark']Particularly ones that can be obtained cheaply! I loved Nanostray, short as it was, but it was less than $10. Maybe a budget section?[/quote]

The shortness of Nanostray can't be emphasized enough. I'm not even good at shooters and I finshed the game in a few days. Perhaps it would best belong in a "Good Rentals" category. Nanostray is fun, but a rental-only title IMHO.
 
Lunar Knights needs to be added. It got good reviews and everyone seems to like it.

Also Worms Open Warfare 2 should be in the love/hate section. It has an 81 average on metacritic.

And while I'm at it, Custom Robo and Feel the Magic would be good choices to add.
 
I hope this thread stays up--I know daroga's old thread was stickied for a while, then got unstuck and eventually forgotten due to a lack of posts. This really does seem like a useful resource, though.
 
i'll do my best to keep this thread up to date.

Circuit City has several DS games for $13.99 this week:

Brain Age 2 DS
Hanana Montana DS (not sure if this is the "music jam" game, but if it is, it's a good deal: see this thread about the game)
Namco Museum DS
Lego Star Wars II DS
 
[quote name='Sofa King Kool']There's a severe lack of Dementium on this list...[/quote]anyone want to agree/disagree with dementium as a must-have/best game on DS?
 
from http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159062

some games getting clearanced at TRU starting tomorrow:

9.98
GBA
American Dragon
Codename Kids Next Door
Harvest Moon(sku203146) don't know if its Friends or More Friends of Mineral Town
Monster Truck/ATV Quad combo
Phil of the Future
Princess Natasha Gift Pack
Shrek/Shark Tale combo
Shrek 2/Madagascar combo(sku580958)
Veggie Tales Larry Boy and the Bad Apple
X-Men Official Movie Game

DS
American Dragon
Guilty Gear
Ice Age 2
Monster Truck DS
Princess Natasha
Shrek Superslam

19.98
GBA
Final Fantasy V
Shrek/Shrek 2 GBA Video
Shrek 2/Madagascar combo(sku595893)

DS
Brain Boost Gamma
Children of Mana
Elite Beat Agents
Magical Starsign
 
bread's done
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