Best games
Best Nintendo DS games of 2010
The 15 best Nintendo DS games released in 2010, ranked from 4,937 critic and player ratings.
The best Nintendo DS game of 2010 is Cut the Rope, with a critic score of 93/100 — updated September 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 80 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: 2010.
- 15 games are listed on this page, carrying 4,937 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 29 September 2026.
Top 15
01
Cut the Rope
Cut the Rope is a series of physics-based puzzle video games developed by ZeptoLab for several platforms and devices. The objective of the Cut the Rope games is to feed candy to a little green creature named Om Nom while collecting stars. In each level, the candy hangs by one or several of the titular ropes which the player must cut with a swipe of their finger using the device's touchscreen. Using various objects such as floating bubbles and bellows, the candy must also be manipulated around obstacles to get to Om Nom's mouth. Each level pack introduces new challenges. Levels are scored with a zero to three star rating, according to how many stars the player picked up, and a point score depending on the number of stars collected and the amount of time taken to complete the level. Game received multiple award, for example: Apple Design Award 2011, British Academy Video Games Awards 2011 and many others.
93
/100
02
Rock Band 3
Rock Band 3 adds 83 new songs to the Rock Band library and for the first time supports a keyboard/keytar peripheral.
92
/100
03
Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition
87
/100
Cut the Rope
Cut the Rope is a series of physics-based puzzle video games developed by ZeptoLab for several platforms and devices. The objective of the Cut the Rope games is to feed candy to a little green creature named Om Nom while collecting stars. In each level, the candy hangs by one or several of the titular ropes which the player must cut with a swipe of their finger using the device's touchscreen. Using various objects such as floating bubbles and bellows, the candy must also be manipulated around obstacles to get to Om Nom's mouth. Each level pack introduces new challenges. Levels are scored with a zero to three star rating, according to how many stars the player picked up, and a point score depending on the number of stars collected and the amount of time taken to complete the level. Game received multiple award, for example: Apple Design Award 2011, British Academy Video Games Awards 2011 and many others.
93
/100
02
Rock Band 3
Rock Band 3 adds 83 new songs to the Rock Band library and for the first time supports a keyboard/keytar peripheral.
92
/100
03
Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition
87
/100
04
Pokémon HeartGold, SoulSilver
Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version are paired Generation IV remakes of the Generation II games Pokémon Gold and Silver. Much like how Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen revisited the Generation I story of Kanto, HeartGold and SoulSilver retell the story of Johto, with the player's starting town being New Bark Town. While the games feature several expansions in key areas, the overall plot follows the same direction as the original Gold and Silver. Some aspects exclusive to Crystal are also included. Like how FireRed and LeafGreen could link up with Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald to complete the Pokédex by trading regionally exclusive Pokémon, HeartGold and SoulSilver can link up with Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum to obtain Pokémon unavailable in Johto and Kanto (such as the Sinnoh starters) and vice versa. Kris, despite being the female counterpart of Crystal's player character, is not included as the female player character, with a new character instead taking her place. Whether she is chosen to be the player character or not, this new character will still appear in the game. The unselected protagonist will take a pseudo-rival role similar to the unselected characters of Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. The games were released on September 12, 2009 in Japan, February 4, 2010 in Korea, March 14, 2010 in North America, March 25, 2010 in Australia and March 26, 2010 in Europe (this excludes the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of Belgium due to an in-game save error, with the patched copies later released on April 2, 2010).
87
/100
05
Bejeweled 3
Discover all-new ways to play the world’s #1 puzzle game. Find your perfect match with 8 breathtaking game modes that meet all your moods — ease into Classic Bejeweled for cascades of fun, journey through 40 challenging Quest puzzles, charge into the electrifying Lightning for non-stop action, and tailor your experience in Zen for a revolutionary new way to relax.
82
/100
06
S
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Call of Duty: Black Ops is the seventh main Call of Duty game and the sequel to Call of Duty: World at War. The game differs from most previous installments, which would involve a usual three-country campaign, while Call of Duty: Black Ops features two playable countries (Russia and the USA) but only has an American campaign. Several new features are also introduced, such as dive-to-prone and the available use of a flashlight on certain weapons. Furthermore, the campaign's playable characters now speak while being controlled by the player. Extra game included within: + Zork (Apple II)
81
/100
07
C
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
Experience the magic of Harry Potter's first 4 years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in an exciting new way. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 combines the first four Harry Potter books and films in an interactive fun-filled videogame. Players can build the adventure from Privet Drive to the Triwizard Tournament through new LEGO gameplay elements like magical building and spell-casting. Select from over 100 playable characters including Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Experience the wonder of Hogwarts: attend lessons, mix potions, fly on broomsticks, and complete tasks to collect LEGO studs and relive the adventures like never before with tongue-in-cheek humor and creative customization unique to LEGO videogames.
81
/100
08
Pokémon White Version
Pokémon White Version and Pokémon Black Version are the primary paired versions of Generation V. Black and White follow the trends set up by previous games in the series. Two player characters (one male and one female) travel a new region, Unova, on their Pokémon journeys. This region is inhabited by various Pokémon, and unlike before, none of those available prior to Generation V can be obtained before completing the main story by defeating Team Plasma. The games' names were revealed on the official Japanese Pokémon website on April 9, 2010, and scans from the subsequent issue of the magazine leaked the following day, April 10. Pokémon Black and White are followed in 2012 by two sequels, Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, which are set two years after the events of Black and White. Black 2 and White 2 are the second and final paired versions of Generation V.
80
/100
09
Transformers: War for Cybertron
Transformers: War for Cybertron is a third-person shooter video game based on the Transformers franchise. Set on the Transformers' home planet of Cybertron, prior to their arrival on Earth, the game depicts the deadly civil war between Autobots and Decepticons. Players may pick either faction, as each has its own separate campaign. The game was delisted at the end of 2017 and the online multiplayer servers were shutdown in April 2020.
75
/100
10
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions blends together the many alternate universes of the world-famous webslinger with four unique takes on Spider-Man's history in comics. In the game, Spider-Man attempts to retrieve a piece of a tablet that's been scattered across multiple parallel dimensions, and in doing so he crosses over to storylines famous to comic book aficionados as variant tellings (including The Amazing Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Spider-Man Noir & Ultimate Spider-Man) of the Spider-Man mythology.
73
/100
11
Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing
65
/100
12
STAR WARS: The Force Unleashed II
59
/100
13
TRON: Evolution - The Video Game
57
/100
14
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
50
/100
15
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
38
/100
Pokémon HeartGold, SoulSilver
Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version are paired Generation IV remakes of the Generation II games Pokémon Gold and Silver. Much like how Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen revisited the Generation I story of Kanto, HeartGold and SoulSilver retell the story of Johto, with the player's starting town being New Bark Town. While the games feature several expansions in key areas, the overall plot follows the same direction as the original Gold and Silver. Some aspects exclusive to Crystal are also included. Like how FireRed and LeafGreen could link up with Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald to complete the Pokédex by trading regionally exclusive Pokémon, HeartGold and SoulSilver can link up with Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum to obtain Pokémon unavailable in Johto and Kanto (such as the Sinnoh starters) and vice versa. Kris, despite being the female counterpart of Crystal's player character, is not included as the female player character, with a new character instead taking her place. Whether she is chosen to be the player character or not, this new character will still appear in the game. The unselected protagonist will take a pseudo-rival role similar to the unselected characters of Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum. The games were released on September 12, 2009 in Japan, February 4, 2010 in Korea, March 14, 2010 in North America, March 25, 2010 in Australia and March 26, 2010 in Europe (this excludes the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of Belgium due to an in-game save error, with the patched copies later released on April 2, 2010).
87
/100
05
Bejeweled 3
Discover all-new ways to play the world’s #1 puzzle game. Find your perfect match with 8 breathtaking game modes that meet all your moods — ease into Classic Bejeweled for cascades of fun, journey through 40 challenging Quest puzzles, charge into the electrifying Lightning for non-stop action, and tailor your experience in Zen for a revolutionary new way to relax.
82
/100
06
S
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Call of Duty: Black Ops is the seventh main Call of Duty game and the sequel to Call of Duty: World at War. The game differs from most previous installments, which would involve a usual three-country campaign, while Call of Duty: Black Ops features two playable countries (Russia and the USA) but only has an American campaign. Several new features are also introduced, such as dive-to-prone and the available use of a flashlight on certain weapons. Furthermore, the campaign's playable characters now speak while being controlled by the player. Extra game included within: + Zork (Apple II)
81
/100
07
C
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
Experience the magic of Harry Potter's first 4 years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in an exciting new way. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 combines the first four Harry Potter books and films in an interactive fun-filled videogame. Players can build the adventure from Privet Drive to the Triwizard Tournament through new LEGO gameplay elements like magical building and spell-casting. Select from over 100 playable characters including Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Experience the wonder of Hogwarts: attend lessons, mix potions, fly on broomsticks, and complete tasks to collect LEGO studs and relive the adventures like never before with tongue-in-cheek humor and creative customization unique to LEGO videogames.
81
/100
08
Pokémon White Version
Pokémon White Version and Pokémon Black Version are the primary paired versions of Generation V. Black and White follow the trends set up by previous games in the series. Two player characters (one male and one female) travel a new region, Unova, on their Pokémon journeys. This region is inhabited by various Pokémon, and unlike before, none of those available prior to Generation V can be obtained before completing the main story by defeating Team Plasma. The games' names were revealed on the official Japanese Pokémon website on April 9, 2010, and scans from the subsequent issue of the magazine leaked the following day, April 10. Pokémon Black and White are followed in 2012 by two sequels, Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, which are set two years after the events of Black and White. Black 2 and White 2 are the second and final paired versions of Generation V.
80
/100
09
Transformers: War for Cybertron
Transformers: War for Cybertron is a third-person shooter video game based on the Transformers franchise. Set on the Transformers' home planet of Cybertron, prior to their arrival on Earth, the game depicts the deadly civil war between Autobots and Decepticons. Players may pick either faction, as each has its own separate campaign. The game was delisted at the end of 2017 and the online multiplayer servers were shutdown in April 2020.
75
/100
10
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions blends together the many alternate universes of the world-famous webslinger with four unique takes on Spider-Man's history in comics. In the game, Spider-Man attempts to retrieve a piece of a tablet that's been scattered across multiple parallel dimensions, and in doing so he crosses over to storylines famous to comic book aficionados as variant tellings (including The Amazing Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Spider-Man Noir & Ultimate Spider-Man) of the Spider-Man mythology.
73
/100
11
Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing
65
/100
12
STAR WARS: The Force Unleashed II
59
/100
13
TRON: Evolution - The Video Game
57
/100
14
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
50
/100
15
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
38
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Nintendo DS game of 2010?
Cut the Rope currently tops the ranking with a score of 93/100 across 199 ratings. Ranking updated September 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.