Brimming with cute, adorable, and powerful creatures, Pokémon is hands down, one of the best animes ever created. But the Pokémon franchise is not just about animes. It has also been adapted into countless games. And if you ask us which console has some of the best “Pokémon” games released throughout history, it has to be the Nintendo DS.
So, in this list, we are ranking these “Pokémon” games on Nintendo DS, from the best to the not-so-good. Prepare for a nostalgic journey. Let’s begin.
The Winner: ‘Pokémon HeartGold And SoulSilver’
The best of the best: “Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver,” and you will understand why.
“Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver” are actually 2009 remakes of the Game Boy Color role-playing “Pokémon” video games from 1999. Pretty interesting, isn’t it? This video game was developed by Game Freak, and published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Nintendo DS.
This game takes place in the Johto and Kanto regions – yes, your favorite places from the Pokémon universe. As usual, the goal is for the gamers to become the best Pokémon trainers in both those regions. Reaching the goal is to raise and catalog Pokémon, and defeat other trainers.
Let’s find out the rest in this ranking.
The Rest In This Ranking
Rank 2: ‘Pokémon Black And White’
Starting with “Pokémon Black and White.” From the development and publication of the same companies that did it for the previous game on this list, “Pokémon Black and White” are the first installments in the fifth generation of Pokémon’s video game series.
Just like the previous installments, these games follow the journey of a young Pokémon trainer through the region called Unova as they train Pokémons, compete against other trainers, and stop the evil whereabouts of not the Team Rocket but the Team Plasma criminal organization.
The game also introduced more than a hundred new Pokémons to the franchise, five more than what were presented in “Pokémon Red and Blue.” There were also new features like rotation battles, completely animated Pokémon sprites, and so much more.
Rank 3: ‘Pokémon Diamond And Pearl’
Familiar? Well, you should be, especially if you belong to the generation when this game became popular. “Pokémon Diamond and Pearl” are the first mainstream “Pokémon” games to be released for Nintendo DS.
Like some of the other Pokémon games, “Diamond and Pearl” chronicle the adventures of a young trainer as they train and battle with their Pokémons while thwarting the evil schemes of the Team Galatic criminal group this time.
New features in “Pokémon Diamond and Pearl” include Internet play over the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection (which was quite a big deal during that time), Pokémon Contests, and 107 new Pokémons, among many others.
Rank 4: ‘Pokémon Platinum’
Ranking in at number four is “Pokémon Platinum,” released two years after “Diamond and Pearl.” It is part of the fourth generation of the “Pokémon” video game series.
But this game breaks the ice. Players control either Dawn or Lucas as they begin with one of the three Pokémons bestowed upon them by Professor Rowan. Giratina, the mascot Pokémon, plays a crucial role in the gameplay.
It only had a single form in “Diamond and Pearl,” but in “Platinum,” it is given a new alternate form called “Origin Forme,” together with a new area, the Distortion World. This new area features altered physics from Sinnoh, the base land where the game takes place.
Rank 5: ‘Pokémon Conquest’
“Pokémon Conquest” offers a breath of fresh air. No wonder it is ranked high. Believe it or not, it is categorized as a tactical role-playing video game that’s published by Tecmo Koei this time.
The game is actually a crossover between “Pokémon” and the turn-based grand strategy role-playing simulation video game, “Nobunaga’s Ambition.”
Here, Eeevee accompanies the player as they travel throughout the Ransei Region, befriending other Pokémons and battling Warriors and Warlords in the hopes of conquering and uniting the region.
Rank 6: ‘Pokémon Black 2 And White 2’
Meanwhile, “Pokémon Black 2 and White 2” are relatively more recent than those Pokémon games discussed earlier. Developed by Game Freak, these games are actually direct sequels to “Pokémon Black and White,” which you learned about earlier.
The game has players portraying the role of a Pokémon trainer, hoping to become the Pokémon Champion of Unova two years after the events of “Pokémon Black and White.”
Following the prequel events, this trainer must defeat the same criminal organization in “Black and White,” which has rebranded itself as Neo Team Plasma, and stop them from ruling the planet. New features were also introduced, such as Hidden Grottoes and new cities, among others.
Rank 7: ‘Pokémon Trozei!’
Now here’s another unique Pokémon game that will get you playing for hours. “Pokémon Trozei!” is a Pokémon game released for Nintendo DS categorized as a puzzle game.
Like playing “Tetris,” “Yoshi’s Cookie,” or “Candy Crush Saga” for the more modern gamer, the game involves blocks or symbols that take the shapes and faces of Pokémons. Now the player has to move those blocks to create matches, and once they do, they will earn scores.
The name “Trozei” is a Romanization of the Japanese word “Torōze,” which means “Let’s get/take (Pokémon).”
Bubbling Up: Ranks 8 To 14
Ranking in at numbers eight to 14 are:
- “Pokémon Ranger”
- “Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs”
- “Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia”
- “Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team”
- “Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness/Time”
- “Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky”
- “Pokémon Dash”
Those are all “Pokémon” games launched for Nintendo DS, ranked according to, well, how great it is to play them. Nintendo DS is a handheld game console released worldwide from 2004 to 2005.
