Over the span of a decade, the Nintendo DS amassed an incredible library of games. Regardless of a person's preferred genre, the handheld system offers at least a few dozen worthwhile options, and JRPGs are no exception. With the combined might of the PSP and Nintendo DS, the late 2000s were practically a golden era for JRPGs, at least on portable consoles.
Which games helped make the DS a must-own system? Which ones are still worth playing in 2020? Be it established franchises or new IPs, the DS has plenty of titles with engrossing storylines, charming art styles, and effective combat systems. What are the best JRPGs on the Nintendo DS?
Updated April 28, 2023 by Jacob Whaling: As more and more golden-age DS games are being remade for modern consoles, gamers may be curious about the original versions of these games. We've updated this list with a few new entries of some of the best JRPGs on the DS.
16 Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire Of The Rift
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift is a fine RPG that exists in a franchise known for its excellence. The DS sequel does not quite manage to reach the same heights as Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, let alone the PS1 original, but Grimoire of the Rift does a respectable job of expanding the combat. In fact, it could be argued that Grimoire of the Rift has the best battle system out of any of the Tactics titles.
The DS game is hurt by a lackluster storyline that does not even try to replicate the brilliance of its predecessors. Permitting someone can look past the generic narrative, Grimoire of the Rift is an enjoyable tactical RPG.
15 Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger is one of the most popular and revered JRPGs of all time. Singing its praises to any JRPG fan feels akin to preaching to the choir. For anyone who's heard of the classic game, but has yet to try it out, it's worth noting that the Nintendo DS port is considered the definitive version.
This port is not only an improved version of the original, with streamlined menus and cleaned-up translation from Japanese to English, it also has fantastic new content added in. Yes, they essentially did a DLC update to this game that was 13 years old at the time that this port was released, and it fits into the base game like a glove. It's a crime that more ports don't get this kind of royal treatment.
14 Rune Factory 3: A Fantasy Harvest Moon
Rune Factory takes something like Harvest Moon and adds a touch of good old-fashioned dungeon crawling. Farming sims focus on the day-to-day struggle to turn a profit, and they are equally as likely to be relaxing or panic-inducing. Rune Factory 3 allows you the freedom to plan out your own schedule, which can be a bit overwhelming considering the wealth of skills and features available in the game.
Farming serves as the core of the experience and it is incredibly solid. When you tire of the fields, there is always the option to head to a dungeon and engage in some simplistic but still engaging monster-bashing.
13 Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes Of Light
Like every genre, JRPGs have changed a lot over the last few decades. While Final Fantasy has persisted as a cornerstone of the genre, the most recent mainline entries have moved away from many of the conventions that defined the license's earliest titles. In some cases, spin-offs are a better bet for a classic Final Fantasy experience.
With a cute art style and a refreshingly challenging difficulty level, Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light is a throwback to JRPGs of yesteryear, specifically those from the SNES era. It is by no means perfect and might be a bit too anachronistic for some people, but certain fans should enjoy the game's deep customization system and grind-heavy nature.
12 Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
As a general rule, any DS game with Shin Megami Tensei on the front cover is going to deliver a good time. While the Devil Survivor games take the series in a tactical RPG direction, Strange Journey provides something closer to a traditional Shin Megami Tensei experience.
The story moves away from Japan and ranks among the franchise's better offerings, while a relatively straightforward turn-based combat system is elevated by Strange Journey's demon recruiting mechanic. The dungeon-crawling exploration is also rewarding.
11 Pokemon Black And White (And Their Sequels)
For the most part, Pokemon enjoyed a successful spell on the DS, although the franchise's refusal to deviate too greatly from the beaten path meant it started to grow stale with long-time fans.
Released in 2010 and 2012 respectively, Pokemon Black & White and their sequels serve as welcoming entry points into not only Game Freak's series but also JRPGs in general. Although they do feature some minor changes to the formula, like the introduction of Rotation Battles and animated sprites, the Black & White games are still Pokemon true and true.
10 Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor
As mentioned above, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor is a tactical RPG spin-off of the SMT series. Like most other games in the series, the protagonist and his allies live in modern-day Tokyo, but their daily high school life is interrupted by the need to capture and battle demons.
Devil Survivor takes many queues from the Persona series, featuring Tokyo-exploration segments and a clock-based story progression system, where certain actions will advance time forward to the next story segment. Devil Survivor is a great tactical spin-off for fans of Shin Megami Tensei, and even has an updated version for the 3DS.
9 Final Fantasy III (3D)
The 3D remake of Final Fantasy 3 is one of the best updated releases of a Final Fantasy game. Its prime addition is the development of the game's main cast, giving each character a unique name, personality, and background that helps to flesh out the story of the game.
New abilities were also added to various Jobs in an effort to re-balance them from the game's original release. With these changes, Final Fantasy 3 for the DS is probably the best way to play this classic game.
8 Etrian Odyssey 2: Heroes Of Lagaard
All three Etrian Odyssey games on the Nintendo DS are great RPGs, with the second and third entries being especially good. Reminiscent of series like Dungeon Master and Legend of Grimrock, the Etrian Odyssey games are first-person dungeon crawler RPGs that are back-breakingly difficult, but extremely satisfying.
Taking place in a magic tree that is basically a labyrinth and featuring no automatic map system, Etrian Odyssey II offers a robust selection of character classes and customization options, allowing for the creation of very diverse parties. The story, while minimalistic, is also effective. As good as Etrian Odyssey II is, its 3DS remake, Etrian Odyssey Untold II: The Fafnir Knight, blows it completely out of the water.
7 Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
The Mario & Luigi series served as the spiritual successor to 1996's Super Mario RPG, and the Nintendo DS is home to the two best entries in the franchise. While you cannot go wrong with Partners in Time, Bowser's Inside Story is just a step above its predecessor. The story, which sees Mario and Luigi take a trip into Bowser's body, marks a comedic high point for Nintendo in general.
Exploration is split between an overworld and 2D side-scrolling sections, both of which are entertaining while offering something different. Bowser is also a playable character in the exploration sections and battles.
6 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers Of Sky
The Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games are one of the most popular Pokemon spin-off series, featuring immersive dungeon-crawling gameplay where you play as a Pokemon. Explorers of Sky is the definitive version of the second Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games, featuring expanded starter choices and endgame content, as well as a bevy of new features.
Even considering newer releases in the Mystery Dungeon series, like Super Mystery Dungeon and the Rescue Team remake, Explorers of Sky is still one of the best Mystery Dungeon games, and one of the best Pokemon games in general. If you've ever found the story of the mainline games lacking, you will not be disappointed with the story in Explorers of Sky, or any Pokemon Mystery Dungeon game, for that matter.
5 Radiant Historia
Radiant Historia is a prime example of a JRPG that expertly walks the line between the familiar and the new. Set in a realm torn by conflict and on the brink of destruction due to the Sand Plague, Stock, the protagonist, goes on a time-traveling quest to lead his world to salvation.
The choices made by Stock are meaningful and will lead to different endings, greatly enhancing Radiant Historia's replayability factor. While turn-based, combat places emphasis on positioning and tactics through a grid-based system. It makes for a familiar but still unique experience.
4 Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels Of The Starry Skies
Dragon Quest is the quintessential traditional JRPG series, and the DS is home to quite a few of its releases. Most are updated versions of classics, with Dragon Quest 5 being the pick of the bunch, but Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels of the Starry Skies stands out as not only was it created specifically for the Nintendo DS but it also adds a multiplayer twist to the series.
Whether played with three other friends or solo, Dragon Quest 9 is a charming epic that tells the comforting tale of good overcoming evil. Very little about this adventure will surprise veterans of the JRPG genre, but Dragon Quest 9 does the basics about as well as any other game.
3 Golden Sun: Dark Dawn
Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is the third game in the Golden Sun series, launching late in the DS's lifespan, in 2010. Set 30 years after the events of the first two games, Dark Dawn follows the children of the first two games on their quest to save the world.
Dark Dawn stays true to the first two games, with a similar traditional turn-based battle system. The game utilizes both of the DS's screens for battle and exploration, and will feel like an expanded but still familiar experience for fans of the original game.
2 Pokemon Conquest
Pokemon Conquest is a hidden gem. Rare for there to be a hidden gem in a franchise as renowned and ubiquitously popular as this, but Pokemon Conquest did somehow fly under the radar for DS JRPGs upon its release. It's a shame because the ideas present here, from the gameplay to the lore and storytelling, are extremely unique to the world of Pokemon and it would have been nice to see it further fleshed out.
The game is best described as a blend of Pokemon and Fire Emblem. So it's still turn-based, but with more of a strategic angle that adds the battlefield as an important component to Pokemon battles.
1 The World Ends With You
Square Enix created something special with 2007's The World Ends With You, a game that has been ported to other systems but remains at its best on the Nintendo DS. Boasting an untouchable soundtrack and an art style that oozes personality from its Shibuya environments and likable characters, The World Ends With You follows Neku, a loner who finds himself having to compete in a life-or-death game.
The World Ends With You's combat system takes some getting used to but makes fantastic use of the DS's dual screens and, more importantly, complements the story's themes. If there is one DS JRPG that should be deemed a must-have, this is it.