Best Nintendo DS Games to Collect in Canada
The Nintendo DS is one of the best handheld systems to collect because it has something for everyone: Pokémon, Mario, Zelda, RPGs, hidden gems, family games, touch-screen experiments, and a huge library that still matters years later.
Summary
The Nintendo DS is one of the strongest handheld systems to collect in Canada because the library is massive, recognizable, and full of different collecting paths. You can collect Pokémon, Mario, Zelda, RPGs, first-party Nintendo titles, hidden gems, complete-in-box games, or affordable player copies.
The most important DS games to watch include Pokémon DS games, Mario Kart DS, New Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks, Chrono Trigger, Dragon Quest titles, The World Ends With You, Radiant Historia, Ghost Trick, 999, Hotel Dusk, Castlevania DS games, and other harder-to-find collector titles.
For collectors, condition, authenticity, completeness, and whether the game is loose or complete in box can make a major difference.
The Nintendo DS is one of the most important handheld systems ever released.
It was everywhere. Kids had them. Adults had them. Families had them. Pokémon fans had them. Casual players had them. RPG fans had them. The DS library became massive because the system reached so many different types of players.
That is exactly why the DS is such a strong collecting system now.
There are common games that are still fun to own. There are expensive Pokémon titles. There are RPGs with serious collector demand. There are weird touch-screen experiments that could only exist on the DS. There are first-party Nintendo staples. There are hidden gems that people missed the first time around.
This guide breaks down the best Nintendo DS games to collect in Canada, what categories are worth watching, and what buyers should check before spending money on used DS games.
The short version: The Nintendo DS is one of the best systems to collect because the library is huge, but not every DS game is worth chasing. Focus on demand, condition, completeness, authenticity, and whether the game actually fits your collection.
Why Nintendo DS Games Are So Collectible
The DS is collectible because it had a massive audience and a massive library.
Nintendo’s own sales data lists the Nintendo DS family at 154.02 million hardware units and 948.76 million software units worldwide. That kind of reach means millions of people have nostalgia for the system, and many are now returning to the library as adults, parents, collectors, or gift buyers.
The DS also has a library that is unusually broad. It was not just a Pokémon machine. It had Mario, Zelda, Kirby, Animal Crossing, Brain Age, Nintendogs, RPGs, adventure games, strategy games, puzzle games, weird touch-screen games, and plenty of titles that still feel unique.
That range gives collectors lots of ways to build a DS collection.
Pokémon DS Games: The Heavy Hitters
For many collectors, Pokémon DS games are the heart of the Nintendo DS library.
These games are popular, recognizable, valuable, and heavily collected. They are also some of the most important DS games to buy carefully because fake copies are common.
Mainline Pokémon DS Games
- Pokémon Diamond
- Pokémon Pearl
- Pokémon Platinum
- Pokémon HeartGold
- Pokémon SoulSilver
- Pokémon Black
- Pokémon White
- Pokémon Black Version 2
- Pokémon White Version 2
Diamond and Pearl are important because they started the DS Pokémon era. Platinum is usually more desirable because enhanced versions often attract stronger collector interest. HeartGold and SoulSilver are major collector titles because they are beloved remakes with strong nostalgia. Black 2 and White 2 are especially worth watching because they were later DS releases with strong demand.
Pokémon Spin-Offs Worth Watching
- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team
- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time
- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness
- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky
- Pokémon Ranger
- Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia
- Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs
- Pokémon Conquest
Pokémon spin-offs can be easy to overlook, but some have strong fan followings. Explorers of Sky and Pokémon Conquest are especially worth watching from a collector perspective.
Pokémon buyer warning: Fake Nintendo DS Pokémon games are common. A game that boots up is not automatically authentic. Be careful with suspiciously low prices, stock photos, reproduction wording, and sellers who cannot clearly answer authenticity questions.
Mario, Zelda, Kirby, and First-Party Nintendo Games
First-party Nintendo games are usually a strong place to start with DS collecting. They are recognizable, easy to recommend, and often have long-term demand.
Mario and Related Nintendo Games
- New Super Mario Bros.
- Mario Kart DS
- Super Mario 64 DS
- Mario Party DS
- Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
- Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story
- Yoshi’s Island DS
- WarioWare: Touched!
New Super Mario Bros. and Mario Kart DS were huge sellers and remain easy games to recommend. Super Mario 64 DS is important because it brought a Nintendo 64 classic to handheld. The Mario & Luigi RPGs are also worth watching because RPG entries tend to have stronger collector appeal over time.
Zelda DS Games
- The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
- The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks are important because they are the main Zelda entries on DS. They use the DS touch-screen features heavily, which makes them feel tied to the hardware in a way that some collectors appreciate.
Kirby DS Games
- Kirby: Squeak Squad
- Kirby Super Star Ultra
- Kirby Mass Attack
- Kirby Canvas Curse
Kirby games are often strong Nintendo collector titles because they are approachable, colourful, and tied to a beloved franchise. Kirby Super Star Ultra and Canvas Curse are especially worth watching.
Best Nintendo DS RPGs to Watch
The DS is an excellent RPG system. Some of its RPGs are easy to find, while others have become much more desirable.
RPG collectors should pay attention to condition and completeness because many DS RPGs are more desirable complete with original case and cover art.
Important DS RPGs
- Chrono Trigger
- Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen
- Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
- Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation
- Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies
- The World Ends With You
- Radiant Historia
- Final Fantasy III
- Final Fantasy IV
- Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
- Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
- Etrian Odyssey
- Etrian Odyssey II
- Etrian Odyssey III
- Golden Sun: Dark Dawn
Chrono Trigger DS is one of the biggest RPG names on the system. The Dragon Quest DS games are also very important collector titles. Radiant Historia, The World Ends With You, Strange Journey, and the Etrian Odyssey games all appeal to RPG collectors who want more than the obvious first-party hits.
Weird, Niche, and Hidden-Gem DS Games
The DS was one of the best systems for weird games.
The dual screens, touch controls, microphone, and huge install base allowed publishers to take chances. Some of those games were ignored at the time but became much more interesting later.
Hidden Gems and Collector-Favourite DS Games
- Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
- Hotel Dusk: Room 215
- 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors
- Contra 4
- Aliens: Infestation
- Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
- Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
- Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
- Advance Wars: Dual Strike
- Advance Wars: Days of Ruin
- Trauma Center: Under the Knife
- Elite Beat Agents
- Rhythm Heaven
- Solatorobo: Red the Hunter
- Professor Layton titles
- Ace Attorney titles
These are the kinds of games that make DS collecting fun. They are not all the same price or rarity level, but they show how deep and unusual the DS library can be.
Common DS Games That Are Still Worth Owning
Not every good DS game has to be rare or expensive.
Some of the most common DS games are still worth owning because they are fun, important, easy to recommend, or good for families.
- New Super Mario Bros.
- Mario Kart DS
- Animal Crossing: Wild World
- Nintendogs
- Brain Age
- Mario Party DS
- Super Mario 64 DS
- Professor Layton games
- Cooking Mama
Collectors sometimes overlook common games because they are not expensive, but a good collection does not need to be built only around high-value titles. Sometimes the most recognizable games are the ones people actually want to play.
Most Important Nintendo DS Games to Watch
If you are not trying to collect everything, these are some of the DS games we would pay extra attention to:
| Game or Series | Category | Why Collectors Watch It |
|---|---|---|
| Pokémon Platinum | Pokémon | Enhanced Sinnoh version with strong collector demand and fake-game risk. |
| Pokémon HeartGold / SoulSilver | Pokémon | Beloved Johto remakes, especially desirable complete with Pokéwalker packaging. |
| Pokémon Black 2 / White 2 | Pokémon | Late DS releases with strong demand and collector interest. |
| Chrono Trigger | RPG | Major RPG name with strong long-term appeal. |
| Dragon Quest IV / V / VI | RPG | Important RPG remakes that collectors often watch closely. |
| Castlevania DS games | Action / Collector | Highly respected DS action titles with strong collector appeal. |
| Ghost Trick / 999 / Hotel Dusk | Adventure / Hidden Gem | Unique DS-era games with loyal fan bases. |
| Zelda: Phantom Hourglass / Spirit Tracks | Nintendo First-Party | Main Zelda entries on DS with hardware-specific touch controls. |
Loose vs Complete-in-Box DS Games
Nintendo DS collecting can be very different depending on whether you buy loose cartridges or complete copies.
Loose DS cartridges are easy to store, easier to ship, and often more affordable. For players, a loose authentic cartridge may be perfectly fine.
Collectors often prefer complete copies with the original case, cover art, manual or inserts when applicable, and clean condition. A complete copy usually displays better and may have stronger collector appeal.
At Power Up Gaming, product photos, titles, and descriptions should show what is actually included, especially if a game is complete, loose, missing inserts, using printed cover art, or otherwise different from a standard complete copy.
Fake DS Games and Buyer Risk
Fake DS games are a real concern, especially with expensive Pokémon titles.
A fake DS game may boot up. It may even play for a while. That does not mean it is authentic, reliable, or collectible.
Buyers should be careful with suspicious prices, stock photos, sellers who have many copies of expensive Pokémon games, vague authenticity answers, reproduction wording, and listings that seem too good to be true.
If you are buying an expensive DS game privately, especially a Pokémon game, authenticity matters.
Important: A working cartridge is not automatically an authentic cartridge. For collector-value DS games, authenticity and condition both matter.
What to Check Before Buying Nintendo DS Games
Before buying DS games, think about whether you are buying to play, collect, gift, or resell later. Your priorities may change depending on your goal.
DS Game Buying Checklist
- Is the cartridge authentic?
- Is the game loose or complete?
- Are the photos of the actual item?
- Is the label clean and readable?
- Is the cartridge damaged, dirty, or worn?
- Does the game include the original case and cover art?
- Are manuals or inserts included when expected?
- Is the price realistic compared with demand and condition?
- Is the game commonly faked?
- Does the seller stand behind authenticity?
Should You Collect Every Nintendo DS Game?
You can, but the DS library is enormous. A full DS collection is a serious project.
For most collectors, it makes more sense to choose a focus:
- Pokémon DS games
- First-party Nintendo games
- RPGs
- Hidden gems
- Complete-in-box games
- Loose player copies
- Games from your childhood
- One favourite genre or franchise
There is no wrong way to collect, but having a focus helps you avoid spending money on games you do not actually care about.
A Retro Game Store Owner’s Perspective
The DS Library Is Huge, But Trust Still Matters
At Power Up Gaming, the Nintendo DS is one of those systems where customers can go in many different directions. Some want Pokémon. Some want Mario and Zelda. Some want RPGs. Some want cheap games for kids. Some want complete collector copies.
The important thing is knowing what you are buying. A loose copy, complete copy, fake copy, damaged copy, and clean collector copy are not the same thing.
That is why buying from a store that checks games, describes condition clearly, and stands behind authenticity can matter, especially with high-demand DS games.
Our Take
The Nintendo DS is absolutely worth collecting in Canada.
It has one of the deepest handheld libraries ever, and there are collecting paths for almost every type of gamer. Pokémon collectors, Nintendo fans, RPG players, hidden-gem hunters, and casual players can all find something worth owning.
If you want the biggest collector titles, watch Pokémon Platinum, HeartGold, SoulSilver, Black 2, White 2, Chrono Trigger, the Dragon Quest games, Castlevania DS games, Ghost Trick, 999, Hotel Dusk, and other harder-to-find DS favourites.
If you want fun player copies, do not ignore common titles like Mario Kart DS, New Super Mario Bros., Animal Crossing: Wild World, Super Mario 64 DS, and first-party Nintendo games.
The best DS collection is not necessarily the most expensive one. It is the one that fits your nostalgia, budget, favourite genres, and collecting goals.
Looking for Nintendo DS Games?
Browse Power Up Gaming for Nintendo DS games, Pokémon titles, Nintendo handheld favourites, RPGs, and complete-in-box games.
Shop Nintendo DS Games Shop DS Pokémon Games Shop Nintendo 3DS Games Shop Complete In Box Trade In Your GamesFAQ
Are Nintendo DS games worth collecting?
Yes. Nintendo DS games are worth collecting because the system has a huge library, strong nostalgia, major Pokémon titles, excellent RPGs, first-party Nintendo games, and many hidden gems.
What are the best Nintendo DS games to collect?
Some of the best DS games to watch include Pokémon Platinum, HeartGold, SoulSilver, Black 2, White 2, Chrono Trigger, Dragon Quest IV/V/VI, The World Ends With You, Radiant Historia, Ghost Trick, 999, Hotel Dusk, Castlevania DS games, and Zelda DS titles.
Are Pokémon DS games collectible?
Yes. Pokémon DS games are among the most collectible games on the system. Platinum, HeartGold, SoulSilver, Black 2, and White 2 are especially important collector titles.
Are fake Nintendo DS games common?
Fake DS games exist, especially for expensive Pokémon titles. Buyers should be careful with suspicious prices, stock photos, reproduction wording, and sellers who cannot confirm authenticity.
Should I buy loose or complete Nintendo DS games?
If you mainly want to play, loose cartridges can be fine. If you are collecting, complete copies with original case, cover art, manuals, inserts, and strong condition are usually more desirable.
What DS RPGs are worth collecting?
Chrono Trigger, Dragon Quest IV, Dragon Quest V, Dragon Quest VI, Dragon Quest IX, The World Ends With You, Radiant Historia, Final Fantasy III, Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy Tactics A2, Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey, Etrian Odyssey, and Golden Sun: Dark Dawn are all worth watching.
Are common DS games still worth owning?
Yes. Common games like New Super Mario Bros., Mario Kart DS, Super Mario 64 DS, Animal Crossing: Wild World, Nintendogs, and Brain Age can still be worth owning because they are fun, recognizable, and important to the DS library.
What should I check before buying DS games?
Check authenticity, condition, label quality, cartridge damage, whether the game is loose or complete, whether photos show the actual item, and whether the seller stands behind authenticity.
Is the Nintendo DS better to collect than the 3DS?
Both are worth collecting. The DS has a larger retro feel and a huge library, while the 3DS is newer but already collectible. Many collectors eventually collect both because the libraries connect naturally.
Where can I buy Nintendo DS games in Canada?
You can buy Nintendo DS games from private sellers, online marketplaces, or trusted retro game stores. Buying from a store can reduce risk because the games are checked, described, and supported more clearly.
Source note: This article is a collector guide from Power Up Gaming based on our experience selling Nintendo DS games, Pokémon games, handheld games, retro games, and complete-in-box titles in Canada. Nintendo’s official investor data lists the Nintendo DS family at 154.02 million hardware units and 948.76 million software units worldwide, and Nintendo’s official DS top-selling software list shows how important first-party DS titles were to the platform.
