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The Legend Of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

Pub: Nintendo

Is there another game that pushes the DS to its limit like Phantom Hourglass? Probably not, because otherwise it'd be tretching its legs in this roomy orange box instead of slumming it in one of those squishy little panels over there. But no, it gets the keys to the box, because here Nintendo outdid themselves by crafting a touching, beautiful adventure that's every bit the equal of the home console Zeldas. Every facet of the DS architecture is explored in full. Ingenious touch-screen controls make amusement of everything you do, from walking around to hurling pots to plotting a boomerang's flight path. Taxing puzzles require you to dislodge the stylus from your brow and use the second screen as an impromptu jotter pad. Even the DS microphone - normally the nemesis of fun - puts on its party hat by making you blow out candles and yell at a fortune teller. Chuck in ocean exploration, a cowardly sidekick and the convivial atmosphere of the Cube's Wind Waker, and you've got yourself an adventure you'll never forget.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

Pub: Rockstar

A 'living, breathing' Liberty City in your hands. Who knew drug-dealing could be so addictive? [Careful now... - Ed]

Advance Wars: Dark Conflict

Pub: Nintendo

Takey-turny strategy awesomeness. Think rock, paper, scissors with tanks. A bit emo, but purer than Dual Strike.

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

Pub: Nintendo

Link hits the railroads in a fine adventure that nearly knocks Phantom Hourglass off its perch.

Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies

Pub: Nintendo

After that long name, we barely have space to tell you that this RPG is fantast- [Snip! - Ed]

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

Pub: Nintendo

The plumbing lads find themselves inside Bowser's guts.

The World Ends With You

Pub: Square Enix

This ice-cool romp is a must for RPG fans seeking something a little different.

Infinite Space

Pub: Sega

Crams two explorable galaxies into a cartridge the size of a square of Galaxy chocolate.

Golden Sun: Dark Dawn

Pub: Nintendo

Deep battle systems and a lush, explorable world make this a life-muncher.

Jam With The Band

Pub: Nintendo

Whimsical music- maker that's best when jamming with mates wirelessly.

Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes

Pub: Ubisoft

This charming fantasy quest brings match-three puzzling to the battlefield.

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

Pub: Capcom

Time-fiddling adventure starring a smart ghost.

Animal Crossing

Pub: Nintendo

Learn about harsh realities of mortgages and crippling debt in this cuddly life-sim. A real time-sink.

New Super Mario Bros

Pub: Nintendo

Mario's block-boppery single-handedly revived 2D platformers.

Professor Layton And The Lost Future

Pub: Nintendo

All the Layton games are great, but this one squeaks it.

Pokémon Black/White

Pub: Nintendo

Monster-gathering RPG is refreshed with a new world and new beasts.

Okamiden

Pub: Capcom

Capcom squish their watercolour wolf down to pup-size in this adorable follow-up.

WarioWare D.I.Y.

Pub: Nintendo

Create your own microgames. Raining misfortune on your foes has never been so much fun.

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings

Pub: Square Enix

Every bit as high-quality and high-concept as the PS2 original.

WarioWare: Touched!

Pub: Nintendo

This manic minigame speedrun is twice as mad as a bag of Wigglers.

Chrono Trigger

Pub: Square Enix

Explore a continent via time-travel, from pre-history to the end of the world. Stands the test of time.

Henry Hatsworth In The Puzzling Adventure

Pub: EA

Platforming and match-threeing.

Mario Kart DS

Pub: Nintendo

This is a compact and gratifying Mario Kart with a strong and playable single-player structure.

Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol

Pub: Nintendo

The de-cluttering service bot breaks out his services at a derelict park.

Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness

Pub: Rising Star

This farmyard sim is perfect handheld fodder.

999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors

Pub: Aksys

All the nines equal a compelling adventure game.

Plants vs Zombies

Pub: Popcap

Vegetation rails against the undead in this addictive tower defence title.

Suikoden Tierkreis

Pub: Konami

Another stunning arrangement of hit points, magic and vast narratives.

Osu! Tatakae Ouendan 2

Pub: Nintendo

This rhythm actioner will get your styluses a-tapping with its infectious J-pop.

Space Invaders Extreme: Vol 2

Pub: Square Enix

Waves of powerups put paid to waves of enemies in waves of fireworks.

Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2

Pub: Nintendo

Capture beasts and coax them into fighting for you.

Bomberman II

Pub: Konami

No collection is complete without the gladiatorial presence of of the explosive Bomberman.

Zoo Keeper

Pub: Ignition

Restore order to an anarchic zoo by rounding the animals into groups of three. Hmm, familiar...

Viva Piñata: Pocket Paradise

Pub: THQ

Tempt papercraft animals into your garden by making it lush.

Glory of Heracles

Pub: Nintendo

This RPG distinguishes itself by wrapping up the story in real Greek mythology.

Lego Rock Band

Pub: EA

Another one of those block-rockin' beats! Mmm? Oh, forget it. Rock Band in your pocket, this.

Picross 3D

Pub: Nintendo

Picross: already one of the best things ever. But make it 3D and it gets even better. Minds = blown.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Rings Of Fate

Pub: Square Enix

Long-winded but entrancing RPG.

Kirby: Power Paintbrush

Pub: Nintendo

Long-forgotten launch platformer asks your stylus to show Kirby the way.

Tetris DS

Pub: Nintendo

The best Tetris since the original Game Boy hit, and some fabulous retro Nintendo skins. A DS necessity.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor

Pub: Atlus

Fight your way out of a nasty quarantined Tokyo.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

Pub: Capcom

Linear it may be, but nothing will make you laugh more on DS than this.

Super Scribblenauts

Pub: Warner Bros

Build a bridge over the tree 'tween you and the goal, or bulldoze it?

Mario Vs Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem

Pub: Nintendo

Lead clockwork Marios to the goal by drawing bridges.

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon

Pub: Nintendo

Advance Wars with one crucial difference; once a unit is dead, it stays DEAD.

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow

Pub: Konami

The original is still our fave. The bosses are gits, mind.

Puzzle Series Vol 5: Slitherlink

Pub: Hudson

A gripping cross between Sudoku and Minesweeper.

Sonic Rush

Pub: Sega

Forget false dawns - this dual-screen demon is the true re-embodiment of the 16-bit 'hog spirit.

Kirby Mass Attack

Pub: Nintendo

Command a herd of mini-Kirbys in this unconventional and brilliant strategy.

Bangai-O Spirits

Pub: D3 Publisher

A shooter with ridiculous amounts of variety - block-sliding puzzles, races and fruit-scoffing.