The Nintendo DS is a beloved console for a reason. It has some of Nintendo’s greatest games on it, and it’s also an RPG powerhouse, offering up some of the best RPGs of all time. Naturally, that also includes turn-based RPGs. And if you’re looking for some turn-based RPGs that are perfect 10/10s on Nintendo DS, these five are still worth playing.

For this list, we tried to keep entries to a single franchise for variety’s sake. So, you won’t find multiple Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, or Pokémon games here, even though each of those series arguably has multiple 10/10 turn-based games on Nintendo DS. We also looked at impact on the genre, replay value, and how well these RPGs have aged in the years since they were first released. We also excluded action RPGs and ones that used the ATB system (sorry, Chrono Trigger).

5

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor

Atlus’ Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor is a great RPG, especially if you’re looking for a challenge and want a long adventure. Like any SMT game, this one can be extremely dark at times, so it’s not for everyone. If you’re patient, though, and stick with Devil Survivor, you’ll experience a sprawling story with memorable and complex characters.

Now that Persona has become a mainstream success, more eyes are on Shin Megami Tensei, and Devil Survivor is one worth checking out if you’ve never played it. This RPG flew under the radar when it first released on Nintendo DS, but for the folks who’ve played it, Devil Survivor is easily one of the 10/10 turn-based RPGs on the system.

4

Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light

Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light can be challenging, and it definitely feels and plays more like one of the older Final Fantasy games. If you played Final Fantasy 3 on DS and found its combat too hard or its story too thin, then give The 4 Heroes of Light a shot. The turn-based combat comes with a twist, and you’ll see the inspiration behind the systems found in Bravely Default and Octopath Traveler all those years later.

Speaking of, those games from Team Asano most likely wouldn’t exist without Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light, so fans of turn-based RPGs should definitely check this one out if you’ve never played it. The monster designs, combat, and story are all pretty great, making this a beloved Final Fantasy spin-off.

3

Radiant Historia

Anyone who’s played Radiant Historia already knows how excellent it is, but this turn-based RPG from Atlus easily deserves to be called a masterpiece. The characters alone will stick with you for a long time, and pretty much everything about its gameplay is perfect. And while all of those elements are great, Radiant Historia‘s story might be its best feature.

This is a war story that takes place across various timelines, tying characters and events together in a narrative that’s hard to forget. A remake with new content came to the 3DS almost a decade later, and while it’s good, we’ll always be nostalgic for the original. Radiant Historia isn’t just a 10/10 RPG on Nintendo DS; it’s a 10/10 RPG on any platform.

2

Dragon Quest 9

The Dragon Quest series saw a resurgence in English releases on Nintendo DS, and really, just about any of those games could fit on this list. Both Dragon Quest 4 and 5 are easily 10/10s, and the Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker series is beloved as well. However, Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels of the Starry Skies is the turn-based RPG that takes the cake.

Dragon Quest 9 has a great story, customizable characters, a party with an expansive job system, and enough post-game content to keep you busy for years. Sharing grotto maps was revolutionary at the time the game launched, later inspiring the 3DS’ StreetPass feature and earning DQ9 a Guinness World Record along the way. Sadly, this is the only Dragon Quest game to remain stuck on its original console, so we’ll hopefully get a remaster or remake on a modern system soon.

1

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

Game Freak

As with Dragon Quest, Pokémon has multiple entries on the Nintendo DS that could fit here. Pokémon Platinum and Black 2 & White 2 definitely deserve honorable mentions, but it’s the remakes of the Gen 2 games that takes the top spot in our hearts. All these years later, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver are still widely considered to be the best Pokémon remakes ever (although Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire give them a run for their money).

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver upgraded the Gen 2 titles in a major way, offering expanded areas, a ton of new content, and updated graphics. These are still some of the most expansive Pokémon games of all time, and they’re also some of the greatest turn-based RPGs to ever come along on the Nintendo DS.