Can someone recommend DS or 3DS games to play?

[HornheaDD]

Ive only in the last few months gotten a 3DS again. I had one ages ago when Link Between Worlds came out, then sold it to a MILF who wanted a christmas present for her kid.

I've got it hacked so I can play older DS games I missed like Ni No Kuni with it's English patch and all. I've tried just googlin' random 'best ds/3ds games to play' and most of those top 10 or top 25 lists have like 9 or 24 versions of Pokemon and that Lawyer game in them. Just not a pokemon fan and not a visual novel fan so Ace Freeley Attourney At Law or whatever isn't my thing either.

I've got plenty of on-the-go SNES/NES/PCE/Genny games if I want em. But I'm looking for DS/3DS titles that were good, didn't necessarily rely on *JUST* the stylus, and aren't fuckin' pokemon.

I've got stuff like Dragon Ball Fusions, Bravely Default, etc but those are more RPG style, which are great. But I'm also looking for pick up and play stuff too. Any suggestions?

 

[titchgamer]

I really loved March of the minis but most of the mario games are good to be fair.

Donkey Kong and Zelda of course.

I would normally say the Phoenix Wright series but you already ruled them out.

The Prof laytons can be fun to.

 

[ggallegos1]

My favorites so far

3DS
Dragon Quest VII and VIII - best versions of those games by far
Metroid: Samus Returns
Link Between Worlds
both Zeldas
Fire Emblem Awakening
Radiant Historia
Starfox 3D
Super Mario 3D Land
Resident Evil Revelations

DS
999
Castlevania (each are fine)
Dragon Quest IV-VI and IX
Final Fantasy Tactics A2
Mario and Luigi Bowser's Inside Story
Metal Slug 7
Contra 4
Valkyrie Profile
The World Ends With You

Technically, I see any of these games as pick up and play as you can put the system on standby and go from there. They're all a blast

 

[RAZO]

DS

MegaMan's
Castlevania's
Contra 4
Metal Slug 7
Ridge Racer DS
Kirby Canvas Curse
Resident Evil Deadly silence
New Super Mario Bros
Sonic Rush Adventure
Zelda Phantom Hour Glass
Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword
Arkanoid DS
Kirby Super Star Ultra
Spider Man Web of Shadows
Tecmo Bowl Kick off
Zelda Spirit Tracks
Ketsui

 

[city41]

At the risk of sounding over the top, I think SM3DL is the best Mario ever made. When you unlock the second half it's just fucking brilliant. Nice and hard and in a good, satisfying way.

 

[Jarofmayo]

3DS:
Both of the River City Ransom games. Pretty fun beat'em up.
Devil Survivor Overclocked is an interesting turned based RPG with tactics RPG elements.
Ever Oasis is a fun zelda like game.
The Yoshi's Island is a fun and challenging platformer if you're going for 100%

DS
The World Ends With You is a fun action RPG. Combat's interesting since you're controlling 2 characters at once. Takes some getting used to though.
Starfox Command is blast and has multiple endings/routes you can go through.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time is another fun action RPG. Better if you're playing with a friend though.
Mario Kart DS is really great. Sucks that ROB is only unlockable in the japanese version of the game though.
The Mario Party game was also pretty fun.

 

[Ralfakick]

I was talking to Gusmoney about Retro Game Challenge for the DS the other day so I’ll throw that out there.

 

[ChopstickSamurai]

I was talking to Gusmoney about Retro Game Challenge for the DS the other day so I’ll through that out there.

The sequel is also very good and has a brilliant fan translation available.

 

[pixeljunkie]

The sequel is also very good and has a brilliant fan translation available.

I did not know this! Time to bust out the DS and flashcart - the first game was amazing

 

[GohanX]

Theaterhythm Curtain Call. Get on it.

 

[awbacon]

Ghost Trick : Phantom Detective. To me it’s one of those “special” games, on the level of a Grim Fandango. Really stuck with me long after I played it. Highly recommend

If you like visual novels 999 is awesome too. First game in the trilogy is on DS, sequels on 3DS

Also Contact on the DS. RPG that feels a lot like Earthbound. Really quirky and fun

That’s what comes to mind that isn’t going to be on any “top ten” lists

 

[HornheaDD]

Thanks for all the suggestions! Ill get crackin'

Whats funny is I originally bought an old school DS when they came out. Loved it, and had Mario Kart DS. Sold the system at some point, but had lost MKDS. It wasn't until sometime last year that I found the damn cart at the bottom shelf on a bookshelf, all the way against the wall behind a book. What the fuck is that about. Now I gotta find it again, lol.

 

[HDRchampion]

For DS

Advance Wars 1&2
Contra 4
Age of Empire

I forget which Sudoku game but i had a lot of fun with that.

 

[Dr Shroom]

Mario Kart DS is really great. Sucks that ROB is only unlockable in the japanese version of the game though.

100% sure I got him on my european version.

 

[HornheaDD]

I found my MKDS cart ha. Nice!

 

[opt2not]

Metroid Prime Pinball (DS) is pretty good. If you’re into pinball games.
I especially recommend getting a rumble pack for it too.

 

[NeoSneth]

The DS library is massive. You're gonna get overwhelmed if you look too long.

Henry Hatsworth - the only downside is the boss battles can be a bit long.

 

[ginoscope]

One DS game I would recommend if you care for Metroidvania type games is Alien Infestation. I recently got into this game and I have been really impressed with it. It is made by Wayforward and has great pixel art.

 

[Jarofmayo]

100% sure I got him on my european version.

Looking it up, I guess he is unlockable in all versions? I remember back when the games came out every cheat site or walkthrough I found mentioned he was only in the japanese version.

Going have to bust it out again and try and unlock him now.

 

[Cousin_Itt]

Disgaea DS is good for the prinny commentary. Personally, if you’re wanting to play ds games, just get a ds lite/xl. I always found the cropped top screen jarring.

 

[RAZO]

Disgaea DS is good for the prinny commentary. Personally, if you’re wanting to play ds games, just get a ds lite/xl. I always found the cropped top screen jarring.

I always thought when playing DS games on a 3ds that the picture quality was inferior to the DSlite/XL. Maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me but I felt the picture was much sharper on the DSlite/XL.

 

[snes_collector]

A couple of my favorites not yet mentioned:

Fantasy Life
Shantae And The Pirates Curse
Animal Crossing New Leaf
Fire Emblem Fates
Shovel Knight
Smash Bros 3DS
Clubhouse Games
Cooking Mama
Giana Sisters DS
Meteos
Micro Machines V4
Polarium

 

[Dr Shroom]

Looking it up, I guess he is unlockable in all versions? I remember back when the games came out every cheat site or walkthrough I found mentioned he was only in the japanese version.

Going have to bust it out again and try and unlock him now.

He only has his western color scheme though, no red/white, maybe it's that?

 

[fake]

Here's what I've played and recommend:

3DS
Bravely Default
Yoshi's Wooly World
Dragon Quest VII (Haven't actually played this one, since it's so huge)

DS
Bangai-O Spirits
Chrono Trigger
Contact
Dragon Quest IV-VI
Game Center CX 1 & 2 (2 honestly doesn't need a translation except for the text adventure part which is like 10 minutes. Dunno why people wasted time created an English patch)
Kirby Canvas Curse
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan!
Professor Layton 1-4

 

[heihachi]

I see most of the best games already mentioned, but Picross DS and Picross 3D are both great.