# The 35 Best Nintendo DS JRPGs

> Two screens, one stylus, and a surprising number of 60-hour epics. Remakes of old classics sit next to oddities that only a handheld would have allowed.

*By YPB Team · Published October 21, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-35-best-nintendo-ds-jrpgs*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **The World Ends with You** — score 1000/1000
   A stylish 2007 Tokyo action-RPG using both DS screens and a pin-based battle system.
2. **Dragon Quest IX** — score 952/1000
   The 2009 DS entry with customisable heroes, cooperative play and a huge quest log.
3. **Chrono Trigger** — score 898/1000
   The 2008 DS port of the SNES time-travel classic with added content.
4. **Final Fantasy Tactics A2** — score 857/1000
   A 2008 DS tactics RPG about a boy and the Grimoire of the Rift.
5. **Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light** — score 857/1000
   A storybook-styled 2009 DS throwback to 8-bit Final Fantasy.
6. **Pokémon Black and White** — score 857/1000
   The 2010 Unova games that rebooted the roster with all-new Pokémon.
7. **Final Fantasy III** — score 800/1000
   A 2006 full-3D DS remake of the Famicom classic, the first release outside Japan.
8. **Knights in the Nightmare** — score 800/1000
   An unusual 2009 hybrid of bullet-hell and tactical RPG on DS.
9. **Radiant Historia** — score 735/1000
   A 2010 DS RPG about hopping between two timelines to rewrite history.
10. **Suikoden Tierkreis** — score 659/1000
   A 2008 Suikoden spin-off in a new world with Star of Destiny recruiting.
11. **Etrian Odyssey III** — score 659/1000
   A DS dungeon crawler adding sea travel and a deeper class roster.
12. **Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor** — score 571/1000
   A tactical RPG set in a locked-down Tokyo with a seven-day deadline.
13. **Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story** — score 571/1000
   A 2009 comedy RPG where the plumbers explore Bowser's body.
14. **Infinite Space** — score 571/1000
   A 2009 PlatinumGames space-fleet RPG with customisable ships.
15. **Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2** — score 467/1000
   A monster-collecting RPG that deepens the synthesis system of the first Joker.
16. **Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver** — score 467/1000
   The 2009 remakes of Gold and Silver, praised as among the best Pokémon games.
17. **Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky** — score 467/1000
   A roguelike take on Pokémon with a story about partners in a time-travel mystery.
18. **Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days** — score 467/1000
   A 2009 action-RPG centred on Roxas and Organization XIII.
19. **Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2** — score 467/1000
   A 2011 sequel that blends tactics, demon fusion and branching endings.
20. **Dragon Quest VI** — score 467/1000
   A DS remake of the dual-world adventure with a deep class system.
21. **Golden Sun: Dark Dawn** — score 467/1000
   A 2010 Camelot RPG continuing the Psynergy-and-Djinn series.
22. **Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon** — score 467/1000
   A 2008 DS remake of the first Fire Emblem with touch-controlled tactics.
23. **Pokémon Platinum** — score 467/1000
   An enhanced Sinnoh adventure with the Distortion World.
24. **Dragon Quest V** — score 343/1000
   The DS remake of the generational tale where your hero marries and raises a family.
25. **Dragon Quest IV** — score 343/1000
   A DS remake that tells its story in chapters before uniting the heroes.
26. **Final Fantasy IV** — score 343/1000
   A 2008 DS remake with 3D visuals, voice-free cutscenes and extra challenge.
27. **Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates** — score 343/1000
   A 2007 DS action-RPG with a story about twin heroes and co-op play.
28. **Etrian Odyssey** — score 343/1000
   A 2007 first-person dungeon crawler where you draw your own maps on the touch screen.
29. **Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume** — score 343/1000
   A 2008 tactical RPG with a pivotal-ending feel in the Norse-themed series.
30. **Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker** — score 343/1000
   A monster-taming DS spin-off where you scout and fuse creatures.
31. **Phantasy Star 0** — score 343/1000
   A 2008 DS entry in the series, focusing on action and co-op multiplayer.
32. **Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey** — score 0/1000
   A 2009 sci-fi dungeon RPG set in an Antarctic anomaly.
33. **Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time** — score 0/1000
   A 2005 timing-based RPG featuring baby Mario and Luigi.
34. **Avalon Code** — score 0/1000
   A 2009 Matrix Software RPG built around the Book of Prophecy.
35. **Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals** — score 0/1000
   A 2010 remake-style prequel to the classic Lufia series.

Tags: 2000s, games, nintendo, rpg, jrpg