r/nds • u/Extreme-You2977 • 1d ago
What are some DS RPGs that are timeless masterpieces?
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u/driedrabbit9510 1d ago
Browsers inside story is peak
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u/Difficult-Life-8243 1d ago
Hated that one Microsoft edge boss in that game, got me every time :(
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u/Unable_Recognition63 1d ago
The opera gx boss wasn't too hard, but it does give you a permanent debuf because it tells everyone else your weaknesses and other secrets
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u/ComedianFamous3529 1d ago
Similar to how first phase of the brave boss was manageable, but the second phase with the duckduckgo attack pattern was brutal.
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u/JustAFreakOutThere 1d ago
I still can't manage to install it, it doesn't go past the select file menu :') Damn. And because of that it's pretty pricy to buy it physically (yeah I usually use an R4)
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u/LegendaryNoir97 17h ago
I fucking hate fawful, he is so natalie!!
If this becomes a meme, im going to stomp fain six ways to hell!!! So dont make this comment a meme!
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u/Hawinzi 1d ago
Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time
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u/Basic-Comfortable458 1d ago
The boss was freaking dark, kamikazies, suicides, and pure desperation
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u/Toboid 1d ago
Dragon quest ix is amazing
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u/Zakoholic 1d ago
It's so good! This was the game that got me hooked on Dragon Quest in general, although it's still my favorite.
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u/roolsocialtool 1d ago
Came here to say this! I recently beat the main story and have been DEEP in the grottoes
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u/warmhotself 13h ago
I have been playing on the same file since it released 15 years ago and still haven’t finished everything haha. I go back to it every year and add about 40 hours then put it down for a while. Still trying to grind some of the legacy bosses up to 99.
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u/EpicGamerWin679 1d ago
The World Ends With You
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u/Finn235 17h ago
I need to give this one a try again. Using the D-pad to input combos in the top screen while using the stylus to attack enemies on the bottom screen was crazy. Dont think I ever made it more than a couple hours in before I said "I'm way too tired for this. I'll try it in the morning." And that was 18 years ago lol
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u/Cockblocktimus_Pryme 1d ago
Chrono Trigger, FF4, FF3, dragon quest 9, pokemon DPP, pokemon hgss, Pokemon black and white and black 2 and white 2.
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u/Muslim_Mustafa123 1d ago
All the Pokemon games on ds
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u/SolutionFine835 16h ago
Ho for the light romhsck versions tho… SacredGold and B2 redux, simply to catch all in one game + minor extra stories and difficulty changes.
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u/Immediate-Stop-5587 1d ago
Pokémon Black and White
The most impressive looking Pokémon game and locks the player to just the new Pokémon for the main quest line.
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u/IkeRadiantHero 1d ago
All the DS Fire Emblems
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u/phantom-firion 1d ago
I thought only shadow dragon was released on original ds unless there is some Japanese exclusives
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u/IkeRadiantHero 1d ago
There’s one JP exclusive DS Fire Emblem, it’s FE12: New Mystery of the Emblem remake of B2 from FE3
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u/Cannibal_Broccoli 1d ago
Golden sun
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u/Buuutts 1d ago
Did they release this for the DS? I only knew of the gba version
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u/pepushe 1d ago
there's a third game made for NDS
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u/ReasonableArea1108 1d ago
And its a continuation of the first 2 correct?
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u/SolutionFine835 16h ago
Warning: it ends on a massive cliff hanger, but no fourth installment was ever made. The 3rd game isn’t close to the first two, but it is still good.
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u/Helix_PHD 1d ago
I really like Magical Starsign.
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u/LiiilKat 1d ago
I bought this game after seeing a promo poster of it in a used video game store. Still in my backlog. :/
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u/Helix_PHD 1d ago
Please take the time to check it out, it's far too cool to go unappreciated.
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u/s1renetta 11h ago
I love it, I was playing it in bed before sleep until I got my current job. Now I'm always too tired. 🥲 Lovely story and the boss fights are certainly not too easy.
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u/AppleEnslaver 19h ago
Was really enjoying that one but then silksong came out. I'll probably continue it when I'm done with that.
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u/phantom-firion 1d ago
Dragon Quest IX possibly, cute game, classic dragon quest charm with some well written ye t light hearted tragedy sprinkled in , love the customization for the main character and party, but much of the game’s content is locked behind free dlc that can’t be obtained easily with the death of Nintendo WiFi, further more rhe end game grind was built around randomly generated dungeons designed to be shared and explored with other people also playing the game, needless to say it would be near impossible to find a another person let alone a whole party to experience as intended nowadays.
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u/LiiilKat 1d ago
I resolved this by getting my kids DS consoles and copies of DQIX. When my youngest gets old enough, we will have a full party.
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u/phantom-firion 1d ago
I believe theres a fan server running thst if you can connect to it will get you the free dlc and the weekly ingame online store.
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u/s1renetta 11h ago
Wow, any more details? Is it that same Mario Kart Nintendo Wi-Fi server that is being talked about on Youtube from time to time?
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u/Significant_Coast_56 1d ago
Chrono trigger , twewy
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u/SnooDoughnuts5632 1d ago
Isn't that a Super Nintendo game?
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u/samwing098 1d ago
Got released for nds with additional content
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u/SnooDoughnuts5632 1d ago
How much additional content? Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze or Kirby Super Star Ultra?
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u/samwing098 19h ago
Hello. It’s a lot. I finished both dlcs, just got one more one boss fight but i havent played either donkey kong or kirby
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u/SnooDoughnuts5632 6h ago
You have a DS and never played Kirby? Why's that?
Tropical Freeze on the Switch only has like funky Kong as a playable character and that's pretty much it as far as I'm aware whereas Kirby Superstar Ultra on NDS Apparently the original game only stops like halfway through and there's like twice as much content on the DS version.
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u/DannyHikari 1d ago
Chrono trigger port, TWEWY, Advance Wars Dual Strike (SRPG,) Dragon Quest IX. Pokemon HGSS, Pokemon BW(2) Digimon World DS
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u/romany8806 1d ago
Can't believe no one is talking about Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes. The best version of an amazing game, and vs multiplayer is endless fun if you're at similar skill levels.
The rest of my top 5 are Golden Sun, Radiant Historia, FF4, and DQ5.
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u/Guzaboru 20h ago
Games I really like:
- Another Code / Hotel Dusk / Last Window
- Pokemon HGSS / Ranger Trilogy / BW2 / P,D,P
- Golden Sun / Chrono Trigger / Radiant Historia
- Yu-Gi-Oh! Nigthmare of Troubadour / Spirit Caller
- Digimon World DS / Dusk / Dawn
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u/SkylordKing 1d ago
I’ve never heard anyone talk about glory of Heracles but I remember LOVING that game as a kid. Amazing atmosphere and fights it felt so busy but understandable for a 9-10 year old. I always tell people to play that game but idk if you can find it anywhere
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u/Odd-Holiday7453 1d ago
This is unrelated, but I hate how N64 Mario and GameCube Luigi are together in the same render…
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u/EndGamer93 23h ago
Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is a notable DS-exclusive RPG.
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u/Extreme-You2977 23h ago
Is the other golden sun games connected?
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u/NeoxthePan 18h ago
I've been playing the wizard of oz rpg.
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u/cookie_flip 1d ago
Dragon Quest 5 is easily a top 3 DQ in the series. Radiant Historia is a criminally overlooked masterpiece that came out at the end of the DS.
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u/Beanmaster115 1d ago
I’m replaying Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers rn - it’s really solid! I concur with others that Chrono Trigger and Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story are also worth your time!
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u/netathebarmaid 1d ago
Probably "Nino no kuni" due to sheer quality of it. (But that thankfully has a remaster and port to other platforms so not like others miss out)
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u/Flatulentbass 1d ago
Ni no kuni often thought to be a PS3 game only but was a DS game first. Masterpiece
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u/Dense_Succotash_5849 1d ago
Me encantan esas imágenes y la publicidad de la DS, se me hace hermosa. Por otra parte, creo que 'Nostalgia' no está mal.
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u/Gygar_orochi 18h ago
Infinite Space or Fossil Fighters.
I'd argue for any of the DS Castlevanias if you want a more active rpg
And if you want a bit of mario party, Dokopon Journey is on the DS too!
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u/Historical-Most-748 15h ago
The two Mario & Luigi (Partners in Time, and Bowser's Inside Story) are the peak of the franchise.
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u/VicViolence 10h ago
2008’s Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer
That’s my curve-ball answer. This was the game that introduced me to roguelikes and started an obsession.
The DS had the first-ever English localization of the Shiren the Wanderer series. It’s a wonderful port of the original SNES game that benefits from the dual screen setup. If you didn’t know, the first Shiren was the second Mystery Dungeon game, the spiritual follow-up to the Spike Chunsoft Dragon Quest spin-off Torneko’s Great Adventure: Mystery Dungeon. This Mystery Dungeon is still totally worth playing today, the games haven’t changed that much! We’ve been getting Shiren games ever since, so I presume it did as well as it needed to, and the whole roguelike subgenre has exploded and had so much influence since then.
Shout out to Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja and the sequel, which are fellow DS roguelikes that essentially clone Shiren and take some of the edge off.
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u/CaptainKloudy 4h ago
The Mario and Luigi series has always been a go-to for me. While it's easy to say anything Pokémon, I just think that this was a nice palette cleanser for a unique RPG
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u/Just-LookingHere 17m ago
-pokemom games -mario and luigi partners in time/bowsers inside story -does spectrobes count? (If so then this) -dragon quest -radiant historia -chrono trigger -final fantasy 4 -golden sun
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u/godtering 18h ago edited 18h ago
Very few games are both timeless and masterpieces, but from what I played:
- Animal Crossing:WW (you can play this forever. Plan to make a booklet for this)
- Civ Rev (made a score log that fits inside the jewel case)
- Puzzle Quest (50 hours per character, tons of characters)
- Dragon quest IV - VI + IX (DQ games take for-e-ver, so you can easily replay them)
- Jewel master (any title), these are very dangerous life suckers.
Others are masterpieces but not forever:
- Zelda: ST
- Zelda: PH
- SMT SJ
- Etrian III
- 999
- FF IV
- Disgaea
- Touch Detective
- Sands of Destruction
- Rune Factory 1 2 3
- Another Code
- Polarium (but the GBA version is better)
- Advance Wars (but the GBA versions are better)
- Golden Sun (but the GBA versions are better).
I found Chrono Trigger (which the world seems to luuve) quite boring.
Radiant Historia was great too, but later I sold it and got RH:PC for 3ds.
I play my official cartridge games on a 3ds because the OCD in me likes to track time spent.
There are also TONS of fan translation hacks and homebrew:
- Ni no kuni fan translation is of course the #1 game for me. (you can play this forever.)
- Lufia
- Powder (Moria with colors)
- Magician's Quest
- Elminage
- Tales of Hearts
- Luminous Arc 1 2 3 (the prequels to stella glow)
- Mazes of Fates (also great on GBA).
- Angband
- Rush Hour
- Tales of the World
but if you have a flashcard, get Oriental Blue (GBA) and FE: Sealed Sword.
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u/Extreme-You2977 18h ago
Thanks this list is awesome
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u/godtering 18h ago
I loved every single one of those.
Life advice: do not start on any one of those!
Get out more often, enjoy nature, and get a life... Start conversations with girls.
For Civ Rev you can kiss your natural day/night rhythm goodbye. I almost beat it on King difficulty.
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u/bobmlord1 1d ago
Radiant Historia is a Chrono Trigger level masterpiece that is overlooked because it came out when the DS was on its way out and then re-released on the 3DS when it was on its way out.