Best games
Best Arcade games on Nintendo DS
The 28 best Arcade games on Nintendo DS, ranked from 6,933 critic and player ratings.
The best Arcade game on Nintendo DS right now is New Super Mario Bros., with a critic score of 95/100 — updated August 2026.
01
New Super Mario Bros.
New Super Mario Bros. is a side-scrolling 2.5D action-adventure platformer game for the Nintendo DS, starring Mario and Luigi. The game features a solo story mode with Mario or Luigi, a two-player wireless game Mario Vs. Luigi, as well as a minigame mode for up to four players. The gameplay of New Super Mario Bros. is very much like that of the classic 2D platformers, mostly Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 3, and substantially builds upon them to create gameplay both classic and contemporary. As the game is on DS, the touch screen allows players to store an additional power-up and view the distance still to go in a level.
95
/100
02
Cut the Rope
93
/100
03
Rock Band 3
92
/100
New Super Mario Bros.
New Super Mario Bros. is a side-scrolling 2.5D action-adventure platformer game for the Nintendo DS, starring Mario and Luigi. The game features a solo story mode with Mario or Luigi, a two-player wireless game Mario Vs. Luigi, as well as a minigame mode for up to four players. The gameplay of New Super Mario Bros. is very much like that of the classic 2D platformers, mostly Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 3, and substantially builds upon them to create gameplay both classic and contemporary. As the game is on DS, the touch screen allows players to store an additional power-up and view the distance still to go in a level.
95
/100
02
Cut the Rope
93
/100
03
Rock Band 3
92
/100
04
Mario Kart DS
Mario Kart DS is the continuation of the long running racing game series that began on the Super Nintendo. It features 16 new tracks as well as 16 tracks from the previous 4 games, with each set split up into the Nitro and Retro Grand Prix respectively. Eight racers are initially available, each with two go-karts to choose from. A number of characters and additional karts are also available to unlock. New items have been added to the arsenal, including a Blooper squid that squirts ink onto the screens of other players and a Bullet Bill power up that transforms the player into a giant, fast-travelling bullet on autopilot.
90
/100
05
Colin McRae: DiRT 2
88
/100
06
Rayman
84
/100
07
Need for Speed: Underground 2
82
/100
08
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2
81
/100
09
LEGO Star Wars III - The Clone Wars
76
/100
10
Earthworm Jim
A crow is chasing a worm named Jim while in outer space Psy-Crow is chasing a renegade ship. The ship's captain has stolen an ultra-high-tech-indestructible-super-space-cyber-suit and Queen Slug-for-a-Butt has ordered Psy-Crow to get it, since it can make her more beautiful than Princess-What's-Her-Name. Psy-Crow blasts the captain and the suit falls to Planet Earth. Back on earth Jim wonders if he is finally safe when an ultra-high-tech-indestructible-super-space-cyber-suit lands on him. Luckily Jim rests in the neck ring of the suit. Then the space particles begin interacting with Jim, causing a light-speed evolution. Jim soon realizes he is in control of the suit. Jim overhears the Queen's plans for the suit and decides to meet this Princess...
76
/100
11
Madagascar
73
/100
12
Need for Speed: ProStreet
72
/100
13
Plants vs. Zombies
71
/100
14
Need for Speed: Carbon
70
/100
15
The Simpsons Game
70
/100
16
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
70
/100
17
Rayman Raving Rabbids 2
67
/100
18
Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights
67
/100
19
Need For Speed Undercover
65
/100
20
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
65
/100
21
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010
65
/100
22
Over the Hedge
65
/100
23
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows
64
/100
24
G-Force: The Video Game
61
/100
25
Spider-Man: Friend or Foe
60
/100
26
The Incredible Hulk
59
/100
27
Shrek the Third
58
/100
28
TRON: Evolution - The Video Game
57
/100
Mario Kart DS
Mario Kart DS is the continuation of the long running racing game series that began on the Super Nintendo. It features 16 new tracks as well as 16 tracks from the previous 4 games, with each set split up into the Nitro and Retro Grand Prix respectively. Eight racers are initially available, each with two go-karts to choose from. A number of characters and additional karts are also available to unlock. New items have been added to the arsenal, including a Blooper squid that squirts ink onto the screens of other players and a Bullet Bill power up that transforms the player into a giant, fast-travelling bullet on autopilot.
90
/100
05
Colin McRae: DiRT 2
88
/100
06
Rayman
84
/100
07
Need for Speed: Underground 2
82
/100
08
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2
81
/100
09
LEGO Star Wars III - The Clone Wars
76
/100
10
Earthworm Jim
A crow is chasing a worm named Jim while in outer space Psy-Crow is chasing a renegade ship. The ship's captain has stolen an ultra-high-tech-indestructible-super-space-cyber-suit and Queen Slug-for-a-Butt has ordered Psy-Crow to get it, since it can make her more beautiful than Princess-What's-Her-Name. Psy-Crow blasts the captain and the suit falls to Planet Earth. Back on earth Jim wonders if he is finally safe when an ultra-high-tech-indestructible-super-space-cyber-suit lands on him. Luckily Jim rests in the neck ring of the suit. Then the space particles begin interacting with Jim, causing a light-speed evolution. Jim soon realizes he is in control of the suit. Jim overhears the Queen's plans for the suit and decides to meet this Princess...
76
/100
11
Madagascar
73
/100
12
Need for Speed: ProStreet
72
/100
13
Plants vs. Zombies
71
/100
14
Need for Speed: Carbon
70
/100
15
The Simpsons Game
70
/100
16
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
70
/100
17
Rayman Raving Rabbids 2
67
/100
18
Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights
67
/100
19
Need For Speed Undercover
65
/100
20
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
65
/100
21
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010
65
/100
22
Over the Hedge
65
/100
23
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows
64
/100
24
G-Force: The Video Game
61
/100
25
Spider-Man: Friend or Foe
60
/100
26
The Incredible Hulk
59
/100
27
Shrek the Third
58
/100
28
TRON: Evolution - The Video Game
57
/100
FAQ
What is the best Arcade game on Nintendo DS?
New Super Mario Bros. currently tops the ranking with a score of 95/100 across 402 ratings. Ranking updated August 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.