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Best Nintendo DS games of 2008

The 15 best Nintendo DS games released in 2008, ranked from 1,824 critic and player ratings.

The best Nintendo DS game of 2008 is Professor Layton and the Unwound Future, with a critic score of 93/100 — updated November 2026.

How this ranking is built
  • Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
  • A game only enters the ranking with at least 30 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
  • Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
  • Release window covered: 2008.
  • 15 games are listed on this page, carrying 1,824 ratings between them.
  • Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 14 November 2026.

Top 15

Played them? Give your tier with the + next to each game. No account needed to try — create one to keep your tiers.

01 Professor Layton and the Unwound Future Professor Layton and the Unwound Future 2008 · 100 ratings As with previous Professor Layton games, Unwound Future is an adventure game where the player solves puzzles offered by local citizens to progress the story forward, through dialogue and around 32 minutes of full motion video. The player moves about the game through still images of locations. The player can use the DS touchscreen to tap on non-player characters to start a dialog or to obtain a puzzle, and also can search anywhere on the background for hint coins, with some areas needing to be tapped several times to reveal a secret hint coin or puzzle. Puzzles are brainteasers of many varieties, including visual, math, and logic. There is no time limit to solve puzzles, and the player can get up to 3 hints at a cost of one hint coin each; a new feature in Unwound Future is a "super hint", costing 2 coins, that can only be bought after the other 3 hints have been revealed, but that nearly reveals the puzzle's solution. If the player is correct in solving the puzzle, they gain a number of "Picarats", a form of currency within the game. Guessing the incorrect answer will reduce the number of picarats the player can get on subsequent attempts. Players can visit certain areas in order to play undiscovered or unsolved puzzles that are left behind as the story progresses. 93 /100
02 GRID (2008) GRID (2008) 2008 · 531 ratings · finished by 6% 87 /100
03 Rhythm Heaven Rhythm Heaven 2008 · 70 ratings Rhythm Heaven puts the music in your hands and some rhythm in your life. Let the music move you as you tap and slide your stylus on the touch screen to the beat of more than 50 musical rhythm games. The controls are as natural as tapping your finger to music. 87 /100
04 Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia 2008 · 95 ratings In the absence of the Holy Whip, those who live in fear of Dracula seek a replacement, which takes the form of the Order of Ecclesia, an organization that holds the secret to manipulating Glyphs. Shanoa, a young woman possessed with a unique ability to channel Glyphs, is chosen as our protector. This is her destiny and the story of the sacred Order of Ecclesia. Use the brand new Glyph system with over 100 different attack combinations to battle Dracula and his minions throughout 20 explorable areas! Take part in side quests and collect items to power up! Experience a gripping storyline featuring new characters! 85 /100
05 Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon A Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon 2008 · 67 ratings · 1 Tier vote A reinvention of the original NES titles with revamped graphics and intuitive touch control, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon will finally introduce longtime fans to the stories that gave birth to the series nearly 20 years ago in Japan, while introducing the Fire Emblem franchise to a broader audience of strategy and chess fans. Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon also reveals the back story of Marth, the original lead character in the Fire Emblem series introduced and made popular in North America by the Super Smash Bros. series of fighting games. 83 /100
06 Advance Wars: Days of Ruin Advance Wars: Days of Ruin 2008 · 36 ratings Days of Ruin takes place in an entirely new world where a large-scale meteor shower triggered massive global destruction that eradicated 90 percent of the population. After the catastrophe, the survivors have formed together into militaristic bands that are warring over the last remaining scraps of civilization. You'll take control of Will, a young military cadet (whose hair is admittedly just a little spiky) who quickly becomes embroiled in the conflict at the outset of the game. 85 /100
07 Pokémon Platinum Version Pokémon Platinum Version 2008 · 431 ratings In Pokémon Platinum, another world has emerged in the Sinnoh Region, a world where space and time are altered! Catch, train, and battle your favorite Pokémon, and discover ancient, mythical Pokémon in this exciting adventure! The platinum version also has expanded online options with new experiences in the Wi-Fi Plaza and Battle Frontier! 79 /100
08 Kirby Super Star Ultra Kirby Super Star Ultra 2008 · 90 ratings Kirby Super Star Ultra for the Nintendo DS re-imagines one of the most beloved Kirby games of all time. The game features new graphics and fully rendered animated cut scenes. With so many adventures waiting to be unlocked, there will never be a dull moment as Kirby runs, floats, copies enemies and uses Helpers to fight King Dedede and Meta Knight. New modes like Revenge of the King and Meta Knight Ultra await, along with classics like The Great Cave Offensive and Milky Way Wishes. On top of the main modes, there are also three new touch-screen-controlled mini-games that can be played with up to three friends via DS Download Play. Not only that, but players can go on Kirby adventures with a friend via local wireless as well. 77 /100
09 Inazuma Eleven Inazuma Eleven 2008 · 49 ratings Mark Evans is a very talented goalkeeper and the grandson of one of the strongest goalkeepers in Japan, who supposedly died before Mark was born. Even though his skills and enthusiasm are incredible, his school lacks a real soccer club, as the six other members don't appear very interested even in training. One day, when a mysterious forward named Axel Blaze moves to Mark's town, the young goalkeeper sets out to find and recruit members for his soccer team. There are nearly 1000 playable characters with varying skills that will determine the success of the team. As you play through the story, Mark can recruit various characters on the team and help achieve his ultimate goal of competing! 93 /100
10 Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood 2008 · 35 ratings The game initially focuses on the events surrounding the kidnapping of Knuckles and the disappearance of the Chaos Emeralds after the defeat of Doctor Eggman, before moving on to follow the cast of characters across two dimensions as they encounter a new ally, Shade the Echidna, and seek to stop the invasion of their world by Ix, the leader of Shade's tribe, the Nocturnus. 74 /100
11 Chrono Trigger Chrono Trigger 2008 · 52 ratings 74 /100
12 Quantum of Solace Quantum of Solace 2008 · 133 ratings 67 /100
13 The Incredible Hulk A The Incredible Hulk 2008 · 42 ratings · 1 Tier vote 59 /100
14 Assassin's Creed Altaïr's Chronicles Assassin's Creed Altaïr's Chronicles 2008 · 38 ratings 58 /100
15 Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia 2008 · 55 ratings 50 /100
Browse all the best Nintendo DS games

Other years

Best Nintendo DS games of 2010Best Nintendo DS games of 2009Best Nintendo DS games of 2007Best Nintendo DS games of 2006Best Nintendo DS games of 2005

Same year, other platforms

Best PC games of 2008Best PlayStation 3 games of 2008Best Xbox 360 games of 2008Best PlayStation 2 games of 2008Best Mac games of 2008Best iOS games of 2008Best Linux games of 2008Best PSP games of 2008Best Wii games of 2008

Nearby rankings

Best Nintendo DS games of 2007Best Nintendo DS games of 2009

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Nintendo DS game of 2008?

Professor Layton and the Unwound Future currently tops the ranking with a score of 93/100 across 100 ratings. Ranking updated November 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.