Best Mario Games On The Nintendo DS

Nearly every Mario game on the Nintendo DS is a must-buy for casual and hardcore gamers alike. Casual players appreciated the range of genres and difficulty the giant, media-defying franchise offered. On the other hand, more dedicated fans who spent hours in games loved the challenge its platformers and RPGs posed.

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It’s high time to open the old DS and play the best Mario titles on Nintendo’s iconic console if one hasn't already. Here's how every Mario release on the DS ranks up.

Updated August 20, 2024 by Rie Takumi: Every Mario game on the Nintendo DS has its fair share of fans. Most also have releases on other consoles, or received sequels and remakes that update the DS version. If not, fans found ways to play these games without shelling out thousands of dollars for copies and working DS's.

For one thing, the mainline Mario games have had dozens of entries since New Super Mario Bros. Spin-off games like Super Princess Peach received a sequel in Princess Peach: Showtime!, while Super Mario 64 was re-released again as part of Super Mario 3D All-Stars. With Nintendo releasing new versions of their greatest hits, it's not impossible to have more Nintendo DS Mario games come out of the vault in the future.

To make this list accessible, the table below lists all Mario Nintendo DS games covered by this list.

17 Itadaki Street DS (2007)

Japan-Exclusive Dragon Quest X Mario Monopoly Crossover

Itadaki Street ( or Fortune Street) combines beloved characters from Dragon Quest and Mario in a virtual board game. Borrowing elements from Monopoly, players can buy and sell stocks in property spaces to affect their value. The fun lies in manipulating this market while accumulating enough wealth to win the game upon returning to the bank.

Sadly, despite the popularity of both Super Mario and Dragon Quest, the title remains locked on the Nintendo DS exclusively in Japan. Fortunately for fans of either franchise, Itadaki Street has an English entry available on the Wii.

16 Dr. Mario Express (2009)

Classic Dr. Mario Tetris-Like Puzzle Gameplay

The last Dr. Mario game was released in 2019, a full decade after the DSi-exclusive Dr. Mario Express. Also known as A Little Bit of... Dr. Mario in Australia and Europe, Dr. Mario Express was the first Mario game for the Nintendo DS update. It was also one of two Dr. Mario games released for any DS console, the second being Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure in 2015 for the Nintendo 3DS.

Dr. Mario Express delivers classic Dr. Mario single-player action in touch format. Classic mode and Vs. CPU mode offers different difficulty and speed levels for veterans. Unfortunately, a lack of a multiplayer mode and ports to other consoles keeps this game from experiencing the popularity it deserves.

15 Mario Vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! (2009)

Outmaneuver Donkey Kong In Puzzle Programming Game

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! Adds miniature Princess Peach, Toad, and Donkey Kong into the Mini's rotation. The DSi title also makes it mandatory to acquire all end-of-level bonuses to proceed through a stage or floor. Donkey Kong waits at the end of each floor and must be defeated by shooting Minis at the ape.

For creative types, Minis March Again offers the Construction Zone. This level editor is definitely primitive compared to Mario Maker but offers enough depth and slots for 140 stages.

14 Mario Hoops: 3-On-3 (2006)

Fun Mascot DS Basketball Action

Mario Hoops: 3-on-3 never got a solo sports sequel like its other kin, but it gelled basketball and Mario Party and Kart mechanics effectively. Players could break?-panels to get items and coins while also dunking and sinking shots from downtown. Multiplayer was possible and enhanced the multiple game modes it supported.

Final Fantasy characters were also available along with neat costume variations. However, while the game had its quirks, it ultimately passed on as one of many gimmicky Mario games.

13 Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games (2008)

Enjoyable Party Game With Big Mascots

The DS version of Mario & Sonic substituted the Nintendo Wii’s motion controls with touchscreen flicks, taps, and drawing. Multiplayer was also present, though players were quick to point out that the DS traded portability for the Wii’s immersive gameplay.

Some reviewers and players felt the strict adherence to Olympic rules drained some fun out of it. Nevertheless, it was popular enough for a sequel. Moreover, Mario & Sonic, Mario + Rabbids, and Mario vs. Kong were proof that Mario can tangle with rival franchises.

12 Mario Party DS (2007)

Closest To Mario Party Mobile

Like the Mario Olympics games, Mario Party DS traded full-motion gameplay for portability. On the flip side, up to four players could use one game card via wireless mode. The mic, touch screen, and buttons were also fully utilized in single and dual-screen challenges.

At the same time, its story mode was surprisingly fun, which made it an enjoyable game even when flying solo. With more than 70 minigames, players had a ton of variety while playing through Party and Minigame Mode.

11 Yoshi Touch & Go (2005)

Fun Mario Game To Play With Kids

Yoshi Touch & Go had players carrying baby Mario to safety in this mini-game style auto-runner. Players had to skillfully tap to navigate obstacles, enemies, and tricky terrain.

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As it was originally a demo for the DS, it doesn’t have a story mode. Instead, it has four modes players can swap through. Its VS. Mode also allowed two players to compete in various courses to see who could get to the end first.

10 Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Winter Games (2009)

Iconic Mario Vs. Sonic Game Turn To Winter Sports

This Mario sports game improved on the formula to bring the winter games to the DS. Much like the first Olympics title, it was strict about rules and presentation as it was an official game of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

The stringent adherence to rules was offset by an Adventure Tour that featured multiple character stories from the Mario and Sonic franchise. Multiplayer mode also made a successful return to extend the shelf life of its mini-games.

It comes right below Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis because the latter had mechanics brought over to later titles. Letting players design their own levels became the main conceit of Super Mario Maker. Although the Mario & Sonic Olympic Games would have sequels, the Mario franchise released superior multiplayer games around the same time.

9 Mario Vs. Donkey Kong 2: March Of The Minis (2006)

Lemmings-Like Programming Puzzle Game

This sequel took the Mini-Marios from its GBA predecessor and made them the main puzzle component. Players used the touch screen to manipulate the Mini-Marios and their environment to lead as many of them to the exit. Barriers, gaps, and even other Marios stood in the way of the wind-ups.

March of the Minis rewarded slow and methodical puzzle solvers over speedy swipers. Its puzzles weren’t particularly advanced, but the bundled level designer allowed players to make their own challenges.

8 Super Princess Peach (2005)

Princess Peach: Showtime Found Its Roots Here

Princess Peach became the main character of a Mario game again in 2024, nearly two decades after her second title. For fans, the project is long overdue, and likely influenced by the success of the 2023 Super Mario Bros. Movie.

The 2005 title featured Peach saving Mario, Luigi, and Toad from Bowser using the Vibe system. Players triggered Joy, Rage, Gloom, and Calm for abilities that helped Peach navigate puzzles and defeat enemies. Perry the talking umbrella also aided Peach by transforming into a useful mode of transportation.