4 Reasons why you absolutely need a Nintendo DS in 2023

3. Every Game Franchise is Covered

When the Nintendo DS hit the ground running, every major gaming company wanted to put their franchise on it. Assassin’s Creed, Prince of Persia, 007, Spider-Man, Bleach, Star Wars, Naruto, Dynasty Warriors, Mega Man, Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger (much cheaper than other versions), and so much more. Nintendo made their system a vacuum for the greatest franchises in the early 2000s. The DS has one of the most impressive collections of Marvel games. I suppose you will want to check out the Pokémon and Mario franchises (it is Nintendo, after all). Pokémon, Donkey Kong, Kirby, and Mario thrived on the system creating some of its best offerings.

My favorite part of the DS library is that the games come in bite-sized chunks. I can get the fun of a franchise without worrying about throwing 60 hours at it (unless it is a JRPG). The DS version of a popular triple A title is usually cheaper and more experimental in gameplay, leading to some mixed results. The DS was not a powerhouse compared to Sony’s PSP, but it knew how to provide hours of entertainment.

4. The Golden Age of Gaming

The era between the Gameboy Advance and Nintendo DS was a golden age of gaming. Each system boasted over 1000 titles each, creating some of the most innovative RPGs, fighting games, FPS’s and platformers. The Nintendo DS is able to capture both of those worlds. The touch screen mechanics created some very eccentric and fun titles, while the Gameboy Advance captured the heart of the 16-bit era.

Perhaps, the gaming snob with the latest console will see no value in owning a handheld that produces Nintendo 64 and Super Nintendo games. I definitely don’t think you should sell your Switch for this. But I can’t deny that there is a goldmine of portable fun at an affordable price.