Nintendo DS games that still hold up

Pokémon SoulSilver Version 2009 i Why it still holds upBadges, hidden machines and new creatures to catch still give it a steady pull today, with enough freedom to explore.

Pokémon HeartGold Version 2009 i Why it still holds upTwo regions of badges, laid out with both freedom and direction, make it worth playing now.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story 2009 i Why it still holds upTwo linked layers of play, Bowser outside and the brothers inside, each affecting the other, are the reason to play it now.

Pokémon Black Version 2 2012 i Why it still holds upIf you come to it now, expect a tournament full of trainers from earlier games and a Key System for a harder replay, which give you plenty to do after the main story.

Gyakuten Kenji 2 2011 Also known as Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Prosecutor's Gambit i Why it still holds upCombining clues and pressing witnesses in turn makes each case a chain of deductions you work out yourself, which is still a pleasure.

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow 2005 i Why it still holds upEven now, souls you can swap and a castle that opens as you find items give you reasons to explore every room.

Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors 2009 i Why it still holds upDoors that open only for the right combination of people make each puzzle also a decision about who goes where, so replaying it still pays off.

Rhythm Heaven 2008 i Why it still holds upFifty short games that each ask you to copy one rhythm, with ranks that say whether you kept it, suit a short session today.

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey 2009 i Why it still holds upNegotiating with demons and fusing them into new ones make every battle also a way to build your party, which still keeps its draw.

Professor Layton and the Unwound Future 2008 i Why it still holds upYou still take each puzzle at your own pace, with no time limit and hints you pay for with coins you find.

Hotel Dusk: Room 215 2007 i Why it still holds upA quiet mystery is still tense, as questions that can anger a character make every conversation a careful one.

Pokémon Pearl Version 2006 i Why it still holds upEven now, battles that depend on each move's type and category reward planning a team on the climb to the Champion.

Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies 2009 i Why it still holds upYou still set your own pace, with side quests that can run in parallel and a hero you customize.

Pokémon White Version 2010 i Why it still holds upEven now, a party of six chosen from hundreds you have caught gives every team a different shape.

Professor Layton and the Curious Village 2007 i Why it still holds upEvery conversation is still a possible challenge, with puzzles given by the villagers and hidden in objects.

Pokémon White Version 2 2012 i Why it still holds upA steady loop of exploring and battling, with new places that hold new Pokémon, still gives it its pull.

Last Window: The Secret of Cape West 2010 i Why it still holds upQuestioning you can choose to skip, and a novel that fills in each chapter, still reward patience.

Pokémon Black Version 2010 i Why it still holds upCollecting a team and growing it battle by battle is a simple loop that works now as well as it did.

Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia 2008 i Why it still holds upYou still assemble your powers yourself, equipping and swapping glyphs.

Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2005 i Why it still holds upAfter a mission you get a letter grade from S to D. You can still cheer the characters on, tapping to the beat while a story plays above you.

Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride 2008 i Why it still holds upRecruiting monsters that ask to join still gives the long stretches of battles a goal.

Kirby Super Star Ultra 2008 i Why it still holds upThere are still plenty of ways to play, with many different games on one cartridge.

Radiant Historia 2010 i Why it still holds upPushing enemies together on the grid and rewinding to decisions in the timeline still give every chapter two kinds of planning.

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift 2007 i Why it still holds upYou can still set your own difficulty, with handicaps you choose for bigger rewards.

Age of Empires: Mythologies 2008 i Why it still holds upChoosing a god before each game makes each army different.

Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box 2007 Also known as Professor Layton and Pandora's Box i Why it still holds upEvery stop still has its own brainteaser, across puzzles spread along a train journey.

Advance Wars: Days of Ruin 2008 Also known as Advance Wars: Dark Conflict i Why it still holds upA campaign that teaches the rules one at a time is still an approachable way into a strategy game with a large set of units.

Meteos 2005 i Why it still holds upLining blocks up and launching them before the stack fills the screen still makes every round a test of speed and reflexes.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness 2007 i Why it still holds upHaving a test pick your Pokémon is a hook that works for new players today.

Tetris DS 2006 i Why it still holds upSix different ways to play Tetris give the block game plenty of variety now.

Jump Ultimate Stars 2006 i Why it still holds upBuilding a deck of manga panels is still a puzzle in itself.

Pokémon Diamond Version 2006 i Why it still holds upChoosing a first partner and growing a team is a long journey that is still open today.

Professor Layton and the Last Specter 2009 Also known as Professor Layton and the Spectre's Call i Why it still holds upPuzzles you can solve in any order, with hints that nudge without giving the answer, still carry the mystery.