PixlBit

Honorable Mentions: 

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

New Super Mario Bros

That these are the honorable mentions should give an indication to how good the DS library really is. A Zelda featuring excellent puzzles and dungeons, a creative point and click adventure, and a 2D Mario game. So what could top these? Well...

10. The World Ends With You

As a whole, I don't get Square Enix. I think most of their classic games aren't as good as everyone touts them to be while their new games are uninspired and bland. There are exceptions, but The World Ends With You stands out even from them. It took the DS' features and implemented them each in a creative way. Fighting as two characters at once with each different control input, a creatively bleak story, and characters who I initially hated, yet all grew on me. Best thing they made 7th gen.

9. Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword

One of those DS games that really couldn't exist anywhere else except maybe the Wii U. But even that would mean you don't even use the TV. Despite the touch controls, Ninja Gaiden will instantly feel like its console bretheren through and through. The stylus allows all kinds of different attacks, giving a different feel from any action game out there. If you want a great portable action game, look no further.

8. Meteos

Match three puzzle games are everywhere these days, but Meteos was the one which I felt really did something different and unique with the formula. Rather than line up three blocks of the same color to make them go away, doing so will turn them into rockets, sending them and any blocks above them into space. But each planet has its own unique gravity and if you're not careful, the blocks could just come crashing down. With plenty of different planets to play as and so much to unlock, Meteos was an addicting and deep puzzle game that I highly recommend.

7. Mario Kart DS

It's Mario Kart, what else needs to be said? Not as good as the one for Wii U, but still one of my favorites. 

6. Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

I'm not sure whether I'd put this above Superstar Saga. On one hand, it's way too linear with far too many tutorials. On the other, you got to play as Bowser! Who, both in terms of story and gameplay, is much more interesting than the babies from Partners in Time. Combine that with the game's brilliant pacing, fun combat, and fantastic villain, and....how I have I not replayed this yet?

5. Kirby: Canvas Curse

This was the game that really sold me on touch screen gameplay. Rather than control Kirby, Canvas Curse has you draw lines to guide him around obstacles and to attack enemies. And as a change of pace for the series, it was very difficult. But the level design was so creative and fun that I wanted to bear with it to see what they had next. And it's getting a sequel on Wii U, so be sure to check that out!

4. Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow

The closest thing to perfection I've seen from the series with the Metroidvania formula. The character designs are lame and the boss sealing is a horrible design choice, but these still feel like nitpicks. I love the size of the castle, all the bosses and secrets that reside there, the dozens of different powers you can use. As good as sidescrollers get.

3. Elite Beat Agents

This game is stupid addicting. You won't care that half the soundtrack sucks. You won't care that they're not even the real songs, they're just covers. All that matters is that I don't miss that next beat or else...FUCK MY COMBO IS RUINED! The only game which had me throw my DS....then pick it right back up and play for another hour.

2. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations

Any Ace Attorney is good Ace Attorney, but this was my favorite. Creative plots, fantastic characters, well directed court cases to get you excited every time you have a witness cornered. Sure, there's not much gameplay beyond figuring out the right piece of evidence, but it works . It's also a damn good critiqued of so many flaws in our justice system, though done in a way which works better because it's a game. 

1. Pokemon

Was there any doubt? I have a hard time picking my favorite, Heartgold/Soulsilver offered an incredible wealth of post game content along with the best interface and multiplayer, but Black/White 2's single player is pretty fantastic. Pokemon dominated on the DS for a reason, it's addicting and even though we've gotten a game every year for the past eight years, I'm still not sick of the formula. It's just that good.