Pocket consoles had their best decade in the 2000s: cartridge classics, stylus experiments and PSP games with console-sized ambitions. Blockbusters sit beside cult favourites that only a few friends seemed to own.
1Pokémon Gold and SilverGame Boy Color sequels that added day-night cycles, breeding and a whole second region to explore.1000pts
2Mario Kart DSDS racer that introduced online play to Mario Kart and added a mission mode.909pts
3Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown WarsTop-down DS Grand Theft Auto praised for its drug-trading economy and touch-screen mini-games.731pts
4Professor Layton and the Curious VillagePuzzle adventure in which a gentleman archaeologist solves a village mystery one brain teaser at a time.694pts
5Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of SkyRoguelike spin-off whose emotional story made it a fan favourite on the DS.598pts
6PataponPSP rhythm-strategy game in which you command a tribe of eyeball warriors with drum beats.598pts
7Pokémon Diamond and PearlNintendo DS entries set in Sinnoh that brought online trading and battles to the series.598pts
8Brain AgeDr. Kawashima's daily brain-training puzzles that brought the DS to a new, older audience.598pts
9Super Mario 64 DSDS launch remake of Super Mario 64 adding Yoshi, Luigi and Wario as playable characters.555pts
10Tekken: Dark ResurrectionPSP version of Tekken 5 often called the best fighting game on a handheld of its time.508pts
11Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VIIPSP action RPG telling Zack Fair's story in the years before Final Fantasy VII.508pts
12Castlevania: Dawn of SorrowDS sequel to Aria of Sorrow that kept Soma Cruz's soul system and added touch-screen seals.508pts
13Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside StoryDS RPG that alternates between Bowser and the Mario brothers travelling inside his body.508pts
14Mario & Luigi: Superstar SagaComedic Game Boy Advance RPG in which the brothers fight side by side with timed button presses.508pts
15Castlevania: Aria of SorrowGame Boy Advance Castlevania whose soul-collecting system made it a high point of the series.508pts
16LocoRocoColourful PSP platformer in which you tilt the world to roll singing blobs.508pts
17Metroid: Zero MissionGame Boy Advance remake of the original Metroid with new areas and a stealth finale.454pts
18The Legend of Zelda: Phantom HourglassDS sequel to The Wind Waker controlled entirely with the stylus.454pts
19Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the LionsPSP remake of the tactics classic with a new translation and animated cutscenes.454pts
20Grand Theft Auto: Vice City StoriesPSP prequel set in 1984 Vice City with an empire-building mode.454pts
21Monster Hunter Freedom UnitePSP hunting game that became a cooperative phenomenon in Japan.394pts
22NintendogsDS pet simulator in which you train and pet puppies with the stylus and microphone.394pts
23The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of SeasonsGame Boy Color adventure built around changing the seasons, paired with Oracle of Ages.394pts
24LuminesTetsuya Mizuguchi's PSP launch puzzler that synced falling blocks to electronic music.394pts
25Metroid FusionTense Game Boy Advance Metroid in which Samus is hunted by a parasite that copies her.324pts
26Pokémon Ruby and SapphireThe Game Boy Advance debut of Pokémon, introducing the Hoenn region and double battles.324pts
27Animal Crossing: Wild WorldDS life sim that let players visit each other's villages over Wi-Fi.324pts
28Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City StoriesRockstar's first PSP Grand Theft Auto, a 3D return to Liberty City.324pts
29Dragon Quest IXDS entry with four-player local co-op that became one of Japan's best-selling games.324pts
30Elite Beat AgentsRhythm game in which a team of agents cheers people through crises by tapping to the beat.324pts
31Golden SunCamelot's Game Boy Advance RPG known for Psynergy puzzles and lavish battle effects.324pts
32The Legend of Zelda: The Minish CapCapcom-developed Game Boy Advance Zelda in which Link shrinks to explore a hidden miniature world.245pts
33DaxterPSP platformer starring Jak's ottsel sidekick working as a bug exterminator.245pts
34Metal Gear Solid: Portable OpsPSP Metal Gear in which Big Boss recruits enemy soldiers to build his own unit.245pts
35Fire EmblemThe first Fire Emblem released in the West, a Game Boy Advance tactics game with permanent death.245pts
36Final Fantasy Tactics AdvanceSquare's Game Boy Advance tactics RPG about children pulled into the world of Ivalice.245pts
37WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!Game Boy Advance collection of hundreds of frantic microgames lasting a few seconds each.245pts
38Kirby: Canvas CurseDS platformer in which you draw rainbow paths to guide a rolling Kirby.245pts
39New Super Mario Bros.2006 DS platformer that brought 2D Mario back and sold over 30 million copies.245pts
40God of War: Chains of OlympusReady at Dawn's PSP prequel that squeezed the console series' spectacle into a handheld.245pts
41Advance WarsTurn-based strategy game that made Intelligent Systems' war series a worldwide Game Boy Advance hit.245pts
42Mario Kart: Super CircuitGame Boy Advance Mario Kart that included every Super Mario Kart track as a bonus.245pts
43The World Ends with YouSquare Enix's stylish Shibuya-set action RPG that used both DS screens at once.151pts
44Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilverLavish DS remakes of Gold and Silver, complete with a Pokémon that follows you around.151pts
45Phoenix Wright: Ace AttorneyCourtroom adventure in which a rookie defence lawyer shouts 'Objection!' to expose lying witnesses.151pts
