Several mainstream Pokemon titles for the Nintendo DS now retail for outrageously high prices due to being some of the best in the franchise. This phenomenon has angered both long-time and new fans of the series, given that it’s become impossible to find authentic copies of these coveted games for the Nintendo DS, surrendering many fans to playing these games on Pokemon Emulators. Here’s the definitive ranking of Pokemon titles for the console.
14 Pokemon Dash
Metascore: 46 User Score: 5. 3
Pokemon Dash is one of the more unremarkable releases for the Nintendo DS. It’s essentially a Pokemon-themed racing game, with players being able to race against their favorite Generation III Pokemon, such as Torchic, Treecko, and Mudkip.
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The graphics and sprites for the game are charming; however, it’s weighed down by its repetitive gameplay and the fact that players can only play as Pikachu.
13 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers Of Sky
Metascore: 54 User Score: 9. 0
Fans of the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon series may be shocked to see this beloved spin-off game ranking so low when it comes to critic reviews. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers Of Sky is a classic example of a game that didn’t receive the most love from critics, but has become a favorite for many fans in the community.
While critics argued that Explorers Of Sky didn’t include enough extra content in order to be made into a completely separate game, many argue otherwise. The game’s predecessor, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers Of Time & Darkness, didn’t include many features that players see in Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers Of Sky. These include several new playable creatures, playable special episodes, new items, exclusive dungeons, and minor tweaks to the tear-jerking story.
12 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers Of Darkness & Time
Metascore: 60 User Score: 8. 4
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Explorers Of Darkness & Time excelled slightly more in their critic review, as it was released before Explorers Of Sky. Fans and critics adored the enchanting story, unique sprites, lovable characters, and interesting gameplay. The Pokemon Mystery Dungeon series bases itself on the dungeon-crawler gameplay style, making for an intriguing addition to the Pokemon world.
Despite the pros of the gameplay, many critics found it a bit repetitive towards later points in the game. If players found themselves under-leveled or stuck, it would take massively repetitive grinding for them to catch up to where they needed to be.
11 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team
Metascore: 62 User Score: 80
The counterpart to Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team, which was released exclusively for the Game Boy Advance, Blue Rescue Team was released only for the Nintendo DS. The games are practically interchangeable as far as story and playable characters go, with the differences lying in certain creatures players can encounter and recruit in dungeons.
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Many critics and fans loved the dungeon-crawler style, as well as the idea of playing as a team of Pokemon that rescue others from inside the treacherous dungeons. However, the main story was too short, and left players under-leveled for the post-game.
10 Pokemon Ranger: Shadows Of Almia
Metascore: 68 User Score: 8. 1
Shadows Of Almia was the second game in the Pokemon Ranger series to be released. The game made several improvements to the story elements that felt missing from the first entry. This included setting the protagonist as a teenager studying to be a Pokemon Ranger, which many kids and young adults playing the game could relate to.
That said, despite the improvements, much of the gameplay style was kept the same. Many critics found it disappointing that there hadn’t been any improvements to the circle-drawing gameplay style that debuted in the first Pokemon Ranger.
9 Pokemon Ranger: Guardian Signs
Metascore: 68 User Score: 8. 1
The third installment to the Pokemon Ranger series was surprisingly not a critical improvement from the last. There were a few improvements to the gameplay style, such as adding ridable legendary creatures and a time-traveling mechanism that allowed for multiplayer gameplay.
That said, the feature in Shadows of Almia that allowed for players to change their partner Pokemon between a wide variety of obtainable creatures was taken away in this game. Many critics found this counterproductive.
8 Pokemon Ranger
Metascore: 69 User Score: 7. 3
The first installment in the Pokemon Ranger series is without a doubt the most critically successful. It introduced the concept of playing not as a trainer or another Pokemon, but as a Pokemon Ranger set on maintaining peace throughout the region and saving wild Pokemon that have been put in harm’s way.
There isn’t much flexibility in the partner Pokemon that players can have; players can only choose between a Plusle and Minun depending on which gender they choose for their protagonist. However, the circle-drawing gameplay style that allowed players to capture the friendship of wild Pokemon was revolutionary. This mechanic couldn’t have been done on the Game Boy Advance, as the Nintendo DS was the first console to introduce a touchscreen.
7 Pokemon Trozei!
Metascore: 74 User Score: 7. 3
Pokemon Trozei! is a Pokemon-themed puzzle game that is very similar to Tetris and Yoshi’s Cookie when it comes to gameplay. Blocks with the faces of different Pokemon will fall from the top of the screen, but only the last row can be moved and matched with the ones above it.
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It’s relaxing in its gameplay style, similar to Pokemon Pinball, allowing players who aren’t as fond of the mainstream series of games to enjoy a Pokemon-themed puzzle experience.
6 Pokemon Black 2 & White 2
Metascore: 80 User Score: 8. 0
The final mainstream games released for the Nintendo DS were Pokemon Black 2 & White 2. These games were the first time any mainstream Pokemon game received an official sequel.
Black 2 & White 2 offer a refreshingly new take on the Unova region. They continue the story from the previous games, as well as including new wild Pokemon from other generations and even different gym leaders for certain towns.
5 Pokemon Conquest
Metascore: 80 User Score: 8. 1
Pokemon Conquest was the first and only of its genre of Pokemon spin-off, introducing a unique storyline as well as a turn-based strategy battle system. Players moved different creatures across the battlefield, encountering enemies as well as harmful field hazards along the way.
Pokemon Conquest is an incredibly fleshed-out game, with the main story taking roughly thirteen and a half hours to beat. There’s also a plethora of post-game missions for players to beat.
4 Pokemon Platinum
Metascore: 83 User Score: 8. 9
Pokemon Platinum was the third mainstream game for Generation IV, released after the success of Diamond & Pearl. Unlike many “third versions,” Platinum received a lot of critical praise for not simply being a carbon copy of its predecessors.
Although the game’s storylines are relatively similar, Pokemon Platinum not only introduces new wild Pokemon, but also changes parts of the story. At the climax, players enter the Distortion World, face off against Cyrus, and catch Giratina.
3 Pokemon Diamond & Pearl
Metascore: 83 User Score: 8. 9
The first mainstream Pokemon games to release for the Nintendo DS were Diamond & Pearl. For many players, these games were their introduction to the franchise, giving the games deep sentimental value for all who played them in their childhood.
Generation IV was critically praised for its immersive story, smooth graphics, incredible soundtrack, and memorable characters that players met along their journey through the Sinnoh region.
2 Pokemon Black & White
Metascore: 87 User Score: 7. 8
Pokemon Black & White introduced several new concepts that have stayed consistent throughout the mainstream games that were released in its wake. They debatably introduced the most brand-new concepts since Generation II or III, including rotation battles, triple battles, multiple rivals, and fully animated sprites.
Although fans found a couple recurring characters to be annoying, it’s no secret that Black & White are renowned for their incredibly strong main storyline.
1 Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver
Metascore: 87 User Score: 9. 1
Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver are some of the most beloved games in the entire franchise. These remakes of the original Pokemon Gold & Silver for the Game Boy Color satisfied both critics and fans with the charming Generation IV graphics, updated storyline, the introduction of the Pokewalker, and Pokemon sprites that follow the player’s character.
These remakes have become so widely beloved that getting an authentic copy is almost impossible unless fans are willing to cough up some serious cash. Copies of both games now go for as high as $115.
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