Every Mario Game On The Nintendo DS, Ranked

Nearly every Mario game on the Nintendo DS is a must-buy for casual and hardcore gamers alike. Casual players appreciated the range of genres and difficulty the giant, media-defying franchise offered. On the other hand, more dedicated fans who spent hours in games loved the challenge its platformers and RPGs posed.

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There were 14 Mario games released on the Nintendo DS, excluding Japan-exclusives Yakuman DS and Itadaki Street DS and multi-franchise games Tetris DS and Game & Watch Collection 1 & 2. With the launch of Super Mario Bros. Wonder in 2023, it’s high time to open the old DS and play the best Mario titles on Nintendo’s iconic console. Here’s how every Mario release on the DS ranks up.

Updated on December 16, 2023, by Rie Takumi: Copies of the following DS Mario games can go up to hundreds of dollars. Rarity, DS card readability, and finding a working Nintendo DS itself tend to ramp up prices for DS games. Still, scouring eBay and other sites may be a completionist’s best bet for finding these titles. There is a chance of Nintendo remaking titles. After all, Super Mario 64 DS for the DS was a successful remake of the original game. With the deep replayability of some Nintendo DS Mario games, it’s not unreasonable to think Nintendo will pull some titles out of the vault in the future.

14 Mario Hoops: 3-on-3 (2006)

Metascore: 69

Mario Hoops: 3-on-3 never got a solo sports sequel like its other kin, but it gelled basketball and Mario Party and Kart mechanics effectively. Players could break ?-panels to get items and coins while also dunking and sinking shots from downtown. Multiplayer was possible and enhanced the multiple game modes it supported.

Final Fantasy characters were also available along with neat costume variations. However, while the game had its quirks, it ultimately passed on as one of many gimmicky Mario games.

13 Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (2008)

Metascore: 70

The DS version of Mario & Sonic substituted the Nintendo Wii’s motion controls with touchscreen flicks, taps, and drawing. Multiplayer was also present, though players were quick to point out that the DS traded portability for the Wii’s immersive gameplay.

Some reviewers and players felt the strict adherence to Olympic rules drained some fun out of it. Nevertheless, it was popular enough for a sequel. Moreover, Mario & Sonic, Mario + Rabbids, and Mario vs. Kong were proof that Mario can tangle with rival franchises.

12 Mario Party DS (2007)

Metascore: 72

Like the Mario Olympics games, Mario Party DS traded full-motion gameplay for portability. On the flip side, up to four players could use one game card via wireless mode. The mic, touch screen, and buttons were also fully utilized in single and dual-screen challenges.

At the same time, its story mode was surprisingly fun, which made it an enjoyable game even when flying solo. With more than 70 minigames, players had a ton of variety while playing through Party and Minigame Mode.

11 Yoshi Touch & Go (2005)

Metascore: 73

Yoshi Touch & Go had players carrying baby Mario to safety in this mini-game style auto-runner. Players had to skillfully tap to navigate obstacles, enemies, and tricky terrain.

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As it was originally a demo for the DS, it doesn’t have a story mode. Instead, it has four modes players can swap through. Its VS. mode also allowed two players to compete in various courses to see who could get to the end first.

10 Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (2009)

Metascore: 76

This Mario sports game improved on the formula to bring the winter games to the DS. Much like the first Olympics title, it was strict about rules and presentation as it was an official game of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

The stringent adherence to rules was offset by an Adventure Tour that featured multiple character stories from the Mario and Sonic franchise. Multiplayer mode also made a successful return to extend the shelf life of its mini-games.

It comes right below Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis because the latter had mechanics brought over to later titles. Letting players design their own levels became the main conceit of Super Mario Maker. Although the Mario & Sonic Olympic Games would have sequels, the Mario franchise released superior multiplayer games around the same time.

9 Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis (2006)

Metascore: 76

This sequel took the Mini-Marios from its GBA predecessor and made them the main puzzle component. Players used the touch screen to manipulate the Mini-Marios and their environment to lead as many of them to the exit. Barriers, gaps, and even other Marios stood in the way of the wind-ups.

March of the Minis rewarded slow and methodical puzzle solvers over speedy swipers. Its puzzles weren’t particularly advanced, but the bundled level designer allowed players to make their own challenges.

8 Super Princess Peach (2005)

Metascore: 75

Princess Peach will become the main character of a Mario game again in 2024, nearly two decades after her second title. For fans, the project is long overdue, and likely influenced by the success of the 2023 Super Mario Bros. movie.

The 2005 title featured Peach saving Mario, Luigi, and Toad from Bowser using the Vibe system. Players triggered Joy, Rage, Gloom, and Calm for abilities that helped Peach navigate puzzles and defeat enemies. Perry the talking umbrella also aided Peach by transforming into a useful mode of transportation.

7 Yoshi’s Island DS (2006)

Metascore: 81

Yoshi’s Island DS was an update of Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island for a new era. Multiple babies were rescuable aside from Baby Luigi, stages were displayed on both screens, and controls had two modes adapted for different playstyles.

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Yoshi shared gameplay and transformations, but the babies had unique abilities that made swapping babies at Stork Stops a must. Yoshi’s use of enemies as weapons, baby abilities that improved maneuverability, combos, and combat, as well as inventive environments put more strategy into this title.

While Yoshi’s Island scores higher than some titles later on this list, it’s a middle-of-the-pack Mario game. Although a great update of an old game, other titles on this list made better improvements as remakes. Others introduced mechanics unique to the DS or had refreshing gameplay the titles pioneered.

6 Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem (2010)

Metascore: 79

Part of this game’s success lies with Nintendo’s challenge mode. Players and wannabe game designers built levels around Nintendo’s announced themes using Mini-Land Mayhem’s Construction Zone. Nintendo picked a handful every time for other players to vote on online.

This acknowledgment, interactivity, and strong promotion of a construction mode were definitely the groundwork for Super Mario Maker 1 and 2’s success. Outside of this, the main game is an improved version of the previous Mini game, albeit more focused on constructing a safe path for the Mini-Marios.

5 Mario Kart DS (2005)

Metascore: 91

Portability in exchange for Wii controls works out in Mario Kart DS’s case. Becoming one of the first DS games to go online, it paved the way forward for online multiplayer in Mario Kart. DS Download Play also allowed players to face up to eight players instead of the Wi-Fi limit of four.

Players also had an incentive to replay the game thanks to Mission mode. Through this mode, players unlocked new levels and challenges on unique tracks and circumstances exclusive to it.

Mario Kart DS places lower than other entries simply because it was an inferior version of its console counterparts. Its AI also makes it difficult for every player save for those who sink serious hours into the game to casually go through its single-player mode. Online and LAN play were eventually abandoned, which removed a big part of why it was popular in the first place.

4 Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time (2005)

Metascore: 86

This turn-based RPG flipped the old Nintendo trope of releasing easier games in North America on its head. Enemies were harder to defeat in the North American release. Wiping out rooms is almost mandatory, inventory and item management is important, and paying attention to attack patterns is crucial.

Players also had to manage two sets of brothers in this action and turn-based RPG hybrid. The complexity, charming story, and split-screen exploration made it one of the most memorable Mario DS titles.

Partners in Time got the jump on Mario Kart DS simply because it can still be completely played without extensive workarounds. Save for finding a working copy online, players don’t have to download or use convoluted methods to access every playable part of Partners in Time, unlike Mario Kart DS. It also set the stage for future Mario & Luigi games and possible mechanics for true split-screen gaming.

3 Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story (2009)

Metascore: 90

Luigi’s timid personality and Mario’s heroics tend to give the impression that Mario’s always the one doing the saving between the siblings. Bowser’s Inside Story, among other titles, proved Luigi can save his brother too. It was also packed with difficult bosses that demanded focus.

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With Bowser as a playable character, players enjoyed variety in battle. Players even enjoyed kaiju-esque battles and other minigames. However, the main star of the game was the synergy of Mario, Luigi, and Bowser’s actions and their effects on the overworld and inside Bowser’s body.

Although it has a higher metascore than the last two entries, Super Mario 64 DS and New Super Mario Bros. represented two important stages in the series. Super Mario 64 DS was proof that Nintendo could successfully remake beloved titles for younger generations, similar to how they brought Super Mario RPG back. New Super Mario Bros. was a proper sequel to the original formula that many fans clamored for for years.

2 Super Mario 64 DS (2004)

Metascore: 85

Any ranking of the best Mario game on the Nintendo DS has Super Mario 64 DS because it upgrades the Nintendo 64’s timeless classic.

Yoshi, Luigi, and Wario were playable characters, quality-of-life improvements were mapped to each character’s unique movesets, and every classic course had new twists. What’s more, players could swap between standard/control pad, touch, and dual-hand modes for its controls anytime. It also had a built-in VS mode that added a fun Mario Party-like appeal to it.

1 New Super Mario Bros. (2006)

Metascore: 89

The tenth overall entry to the series was the first true sequel to the mainline series in a long while.

The wait was worth it, as the 2.5D platformer blended classic Mario controls with the exciting possibilities of touch controls. Top and bottom screens were also utilized for all stages without disrupting the classic feel of a side-scrolling Mario game. It also successfully introduced and reworked items and new bosses that felt like natural additions to the franchise.

New Super Mario Bros. was a successful return to form, and proof that the Mario formula was as popular as ever.

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