Between 2004 and 2018, Nintendo added 34 Pokemon DS games to its ever-expanding IP, and some are much more obscure than others.
Pokemon has been a major gaming franchise since Red, Green, and Blue debuted in Japan in 1996 for the Nintendo Game Boy. The most recent mainline game was 2022’s Scarlet and Violet, and a new Legends game is just around the corner. In its almost 30 years of history, the Pokemon Company and Nintendo have sold 448 million copies with a significant amount of those being for the DS and 3DS.
Unfortunately, some games that were only available in the 3DS eShop are now inaccessible. Nintendo shut down the eShop in 2023, and online play was closed in April 2024. So for those who didn’t get the relevant Pokemon games before that, they’re out of luck.
From main games to Mystery Dungeons, here’s a complete guide to every Pokemon game made for the DS in release date order.
Japanese release: December 2, 2004
American release: March 14, 2005
Developer: Ambrella
Console: Nintendo DS
Pokemon Dash takes the honor of being the first Pokemon DS game. Players can use the DS stylus to race Pikachu against other Pokemon on the ground or in hot air balloons. Notably, the game wasn’t received very well and doesn’t seem to have improved with age.
Japanese release: October 20, 2005
American release: March 6, 2006
Developer: Genius Sonority
Console: Nintendo DS
Pokemon Trozei! is a matching puzzle game where players make combos with Pokemon blocks like Psyduck, Smoochum, and Ditto. Only by beating the Phobos generals in a game of Trozei can the player save the world from a Poke-powered secret weapon.
Japanese release: November 17, 2005
American release: September 18, 2006
Developer: Chunsoft
Console: Nintendo DS
Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team was released as a Pokemon DS game alongside Red Rescue Team, its Game Boy counterpart. Unlike other games, Mystery Dungeon allows the player to actually inhabit a Pokemon decided by either a personality quiz or choice. The player and a partner Pokemon then go through maps to rescue Pokemon and, eventually, work with Rayquaza to stop a meteor. All Pokemon in this first Mystery Dungeon game come from Generations I-III.
Japanese release: March 23, 2006
American release: October 30, 2006
Developer: HAL Laboratory; Creatures, Inc.
Console: Nintendo DS
Pokemon Ranger takes place in the previously unknown setting of Fiore and involves the player using a stylus to manually control the PC, a park ranger of sorts seeking to protect both nature and Pokemon. Rather than catching Pokemon, the ranger befriends them and enlists them in the quest to stop the Go-Rock Squad. The two partner Pokemon are Minun or Plusle, depending on the PC’s gender.
Pokemon Ranger also allows players to transfer eggs to Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum.
Japanese release: September 28, 2006
American release: April 22, 2007
Developer: Game Freak
Console: Nintendo DS
Generation IV marks the beginning of the run of mainline Pokemon DS games, introducing players to Piplup, Chimchar, and Turtwig. The PC must defeat all eight gym leaders and the Elite Four while also saving the world from the notorious Team Galactic. The main difference between the games is the main legendary Pokemon. Diamond features the temporal Pokemon Dialga, while Pearl has the spatial Palkia.
Japanese release: September 13, 2007
American release: April 20, 2008
Developer: Chunsoft
Console: Nintendo DS
Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness were released at the same time and are similar, with each having a few version-exclusive Pokemon. The player in the DS game is once again transported into a Pokemon body and now has to join the new Expedition Guild to figure out why time is stopping. Those who feel strongly about getting Celebi would fare better in Explorers of Time, while Mewtwo fans will want to spring for Explorers of Darkness.
Japanese release: March 20, 2008
American release: November 10, 2008
Developer: Creatures, Inc.
Console: Nintendo DS
In the second DS game in the Pokemon Ranger installments, players have graduated from Ranger school in Almia and are able to set off with their own partner Pokemon from a greatly expanded list. The mechanics once again revolve around stylus use and a lack of catching to mixed success among fans. As a team, the player and partner Pokemon must protect Almia and prevent Altru Inc. from launching their mega computer, the Gigaremo.
Japanese release: September 13, 2008
American release: March 22, 2009
Developer: Game Freak
Console: Nintendo DS
Pokemon Platinum is similar to Diamond and Pearl with a few additional areas and scenes, new Pokemon, and general quality-of-life fixes. The box legendary is Giratina, the anti-matter Pokemon. Other noteworthy changes include Shaymin’s sky form, new Rotom forms, the addition of the Distortion World at the story’s climax as well as more post-game locations.
Japanese release: April 18, 2009
American release: October 12, 2009
Developer: Chunsoft
Console: Nintendo DS
Explorers of Sky is the Pokemon Platinum to Explorers of Time and Darkness. The Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky DS game adds several exclusive maps through Spinda’s Juice Bar, more Pokemon to play as, five special episodes, and much more. Across Pokemon forums, Explorers of Sky is almost universally agreed to be the best Mystery Dungeon game.
Japanese release: September 12, 2009
American release: March 14, 2010
Developer: Game Freak
Console: Nintendo DS
HeartGold and SoulSilver are Pokemon DS remakes of the Generation II games, Gold and Silver, with extra Gen IV Pokemon. Overall, they seem to be relatively faithful remakes while adding exclusive features from Pokemon Crystal. Players can catch either Ho-Oh or Lugia depending on the version and even other legendary Pokemon from other games through special events.
Japanese release: March 6, 2010
American release: October 4, 2010
Developer: Creatures, Inc.
Console: Nintendo DS
The third game in the Ranger trilogy, rangers are responsible for stopping the Pokemon Pinchers, who seek to capture and control Pokemon. Most interestingly, Guardian Signs introduces a new multiplayer mode where up to four players can tackle missions together in Oblivia. Other major changes to the system include DLC content, a new Pokemon agitation meter, and the ability to resummon legendary birds and beasts.
Japanese release: September 18, 2010
American release: March 6, 2011
Developer: Game Freak
Console: Nintendo DS
Pokemon Black and White brings in Generation V and new starters Snivy, Oshawatt, and Tepig. The player must once again make their way through the gym leaders while being responsible for stopping Team Plasma from stealing all Pokemon. Black gives access to the Light Stone and legendary Reshiram, while White has the Dark Stone and Zekrom. Additionally, players won’t be able to access other generations of Pokemon until after completing the main game, at which point the Pokemon will occur in outbreaks.
Japanese release: August 11, 2011
American release: October 24, 2011
Developer: Ambrella
Console: Nintendo 3DS
Pokemon Rumble Blast is part of the Rumble series, originally debuting on WiiWare, and is also the first 3DS Pokemon game. Players use wind-up Pokemon Toys to compete in real-time battles and save all of the other toys. Boasting over 600 Pokemon to collect, Rumble Blast’s plot revolves around trying to find out where all the rust is coming from.
Japanese release: April 21, 2011
American release: N/A
Developer: Genius Sonority
Console: Nintendo DS
Typing Adventure is the only Pokemon DS game not to get a North American release, though it was playable in Europe and Australia. It came with a Nintendo wireless keyboard and rewarded players for typing Pokemon names quickly and correctly.
Japanese release: March 17, 2012
American release: June 18, 2012
Developer: Tecmo Koei
Console: Nintendo DS
Pokemon Conquest is a crossover with Nobunaga’s Ambition, a turn-based strategy game set in feudal Japan. The gameplay is more closely related to Nobunaga’s Ambition and keeps the setting, using Pokemon to battle different warriors and warlords.
Japanese release: June 23, 2012
American release: October 7, 2012
Developer: Game Freak
Console: Nintendo DS
Black 2 and White 2 were the last Pokemon DS game proper. A sequel to Black and White, it takes place in Unova two years after the first games. Some previous characters have gone on to become gym leaders, while past members of Team Plasma are lurking around and trying to force the legendary Pokemon Kyurem to destroy the world. After unlocking Kyurem, the PC can choose to fuse him with Reshiram or Zekrom to get White and Black Kyurem, respectively.
Japanese release: June 23, 2012
American release: October 7, 2012
Developer: Creatures, Inc.; Game Freak
Console: Nintendo 3DS (eShop only)
Dream Radar was a 3DS supplement to Black 2 and White 2. Players were a research assistant studying the Interdream Zone and used augmented reality to battle Pokemon and collect items. Anything gained in Dream Radar could be transferred directly to Black 2 and White 2.
Japanese release: November 23, 2012
American release: March 23, 2013
Developer: Spike Chunsoft
Console: Nintendo 3DS
In the switch to 3DS, Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity still maintains most of its core mechanics. The game removes the personality sorting test and furthermore uses more advanced 3D image generation. Plotwise, Gates to Infinity brings in Generation V Pokemon and even features Kyurem as the main antagonist.
Release: October 12, 2013
Developer: Game Freak
Console: Nintendo 3DS
Pokemon X and Y marks an important milestone. Nintendo decided to do localization at the same time as game development, so the Japanese and North American release dates converged for following mainline games. Oddly, Europe still had to wait an extra week until 2017.
In the 3DS game, players battle gyms and Team Flare, who first seem to want to sell Pokemon and then reveal that they want to wipe out humanity for a more beautiful world. The box legendaries are Xerneas and Yveltal, the former of which is of the newly introduced fairy type. X and Y also bring in Mega Evolutions for popular Pokemon.
Japanese release: March 12, 2014
American release: March 20, 2014
Developer: Genius Sonority
Console: Nintendo 3DS (eShop only)
Similar to Pokemon Trozei!, Pokemon Battle Trozei’s main addition was that wild Pokemon can be made into blocks for later play, a process known as “trozeizing.” Additionally, the game incorporated strengths and weaknesses from the main game and allowed for co-op play.
Japanese release: June 19, 2014
American release: October 24, 2014
Developer: Headstrong Games
Console: Nintendo 3DS
The Pokemon DS Game Pokemon Art Academy focuses on teaching fans how to draw different species in forty progressive lessons. Players can progress through different skill levels and even export content to the Miiverse. Because the game was designed for younger children, Pokemon Art Academy introduces digital art tools but does not rely on them too heavily.
Release: November 21, 2014
Developer: Game Freak
Console: Nintendo 3DS
Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are remakes of Ruby and Sapphire, Generation III Pokemon games. Rather than being a straight port, the games include newer developments like Mega Evolutions and fairy Pokemon along with new evolutions of old Pokemon. Omega Ruby has Team Magma which wants to expand the land and give humans more room to live using Groudon, whereas Team Aqua in Alpha Sapphire wants to do the opposite for Pokemon with Kyogre.
Release: February 18, 2015
Developer: Genius Sonority
Console: Nintendo 3DS (eShop only)
Another discontinued Pokemon 3DS game, Pokemon Shuffle worked comparably to Trozei! and Battle Trozei. Players “caught” wild Pokemon by matching them. Additionally, Pokemon Shuffle included Mega Evolutions and had a certain amount of player lives that reset over time.
Fortunately, committed fans can still play Shuffle on mobile.
Japanese release: June 19, 2014
American release: October 24, 2014
Developer: Spike Chunsoft
Console: Nintendo 3DS
The final installment in the Mystery Dungeon series, Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon focuses on sixth generation Pokemon and almost all Mega Evolutions. The DS game plot involves the player and their partner recruiting several legendary and mythical Pokemon, including Arceus and Xerneas, to save the Tree of Life.
Japanese release: September 17, 2015
American release: November 20, 2015
Developer: Ambrella
Console: Nintendo 3DS (eShop only)
Pokemon Rumble World was a “freemium” Nintendo game in the Rumble series. In this game, players could increase rank by catching species of Pokemon toy, which would then unlock more species. The king was the main place to get challenges to find more Pokemon.
Japanese release: December 2, 2015
American release: December 3, 2015
Developer: Jupiter Corporation
Console: Nintendo 3DS (eShop only)
This Pokemon puzzle game didn’t only rely on matching but also numbers. With over three hundred puzzles, Pokemon Picross gave numeric hints to complete images in a paint-by-number-type style, at which point the pictured Pokemon could be collected.
Japanese release: February 3, 2016
American release: March 23, 2018
Developer: Creatures, Inc.
Console: Nintendo 3DS
More in the style of the anime, Detective Pikachu is a narrative-based adventure game that features a talking investigative Pikachu. PC Tim meets Pikachu, and the two set off to discover the mystery of what happened to Tim’s father. As Tim, the player can walk around and look for clues for various cases.
The Detective Pikachu game was such a hit that it spawned a full-length movie of the same title, released in 2019. The movie confirmed that Pikachu is, in fact, furry.
Release: February 27, 2016
Developer: Game Freak
Console: Nintendo 3DS (eShop only)
Red and Green was one of the remasters that Nintendo made in honor of the twentieth anniversary of the original Pokemon game. First releasing on the Game Boy in 1996, Red and Green introduces players to the world of Pikachu and with theme colors after Mario and Luigi. Additionally, Green was initially only released in Japan.
On the DS game, Red and Green maintains the original 151 Pokemon and the infamous Team Rocket that were always blasting off again. The antagonists in this game have a more simplistic motive than some of the others, merely seeking to use Pokemon as tools rather than friends. But a less wrong doesn’t make it a right. The big difference between Red/Green is the version exclusive Pokemon, which must be traded to complete the Pokedex.
Release: February 27, 2016
Developer: Game Freak
Console: Nintendo 3DS (eShop only)
Pokemon: Blue is the American counterpart to Pokemon: Green and was originally released in the States along with Red. Many minor issues with Green were fixed in Blue, such as false weights for Nidoqueen and Geodude and a glitch that makes it impossible for the game to recognize that the player lost to Sabrina. Blue and the American Red also have a lower number of items in the Poke Shop alongside changed Pokemon designs.
Release: February 27, 2016
Developer: Game Freak
Console: Nintendo 3DS (eShop only)
Pokemon Yellow only has one starter Pokemon option in Pikachu. The gym leaders also have different teams than in Red, Blue, and Green, instead more closely reflecting those in the anime. In fact, its closer similarities to the Pokemon anime is why many fans have Pokemon Yellow at the top of their tier lists.
Release: November 18, 2016
Developer: Game Freak
Console: Nintendo 3DS
Pokemon Sun and Moon invites players into the tropical setting of Alola with new Generation VII Pokemon like Fenniken, Chespin, and Froakie. Notably, the PC is given a legendary right off the bat with the adorable space ball Cosmog who either evolves into Solageo or Lunala depending on the game version. Sun and Moon also brings in Ultra Beasts, which are sort of like alien Pokemon.
This is the only main game series without any gyms. Instead, players complete grand trials with different leaders in the Alolan island chain. Team Skull, the Sun and Moon enemies, are the ones who opened the Ultra Wormhole that let in the Ultra Beasts.
Release: September 22, 2017
Developer: Game Freak
Console: Nintendo 3DS (eShop only)
Gold and Silver was another ported Pokemon 3DS game, allowing new players to choose Chikorita, Totodile, or Cyndaquil. The PC once again must face off against Team Rocket and force them to re-disband. After this, they receive a Rainbow Wing or Silver Wing to encounter Ho-Oh or Lugia respectively. In the post-credit game, players can travel from Gen II’s Johto back to Gen I’s Kanto, fight all of the gym leaders, and then meet the PC from Red and Blue in Silver Cave.
Release: November 17, 2017
Developer: Game Freak
Console: Nintendo 3DS
Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are famous for introducing new Pokemon in the middle of a generation. Similar to Sun and Moon, the games add five more Ultra Beasts, new forms for the previously released Necrozma, and new mini-games. Storywise, Ultra Sun and Moon make more changes than other second-line games have typically received. Characters are changed, scenes are added, and important plot points are moved around. Many even consider Ultra Sun and Moon to be the most difficult game in the series.
Release: January 26, 2018
Developer: Game Freak
Console: Nintendo 3DS (eShop only)
The last Pokemon game for the 3DS before Nintendo made the full move to the Switch, Crystal was an adaptation of the original Generation II Game Boy game. It was released after Gold and Silver and has minor changes to the original gameplay, but nothing nearly as dramatic as seen in Ultra Sun and Moon. Crystal allows for the option of a girl PC and introduces the Clear Bell and Suicune, along with other small differences.
Still want to play the Pokemon DS games but don’t have the handheld anymore? Players can try getting their hands on a refurbished Nintendo DS, which can cost between $70 and $200 depending on the retailer and condition.
For hardcore fans, the price could be worth it to play their favorite Pokemon DS games.
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