Nintendo DS

Also known as NDS

Manufacturer: Nintendo
Type: Handheld
Generation: 7th generation
Released (North America): Nov 21, 2004
Released (Japan): Dec 2, 2004
Released (Europe): Mar 11, 2005
Launch price: $149.99
Discontinued: 2013
Units sold: 154.02 million (DS family)

Price guide Browse A–Z

About the Nintendo DS

Nintendo first called the DS a "third pillar" next to the Game Boy line, then it went on to become Nintendo's best-selling handheld. It had two screens, the lower one a touchscreen, plus a GBA cartridge slot on the original and DS Lite models. The DS Lite (2006) and DSi (2008) refined it.

Brain Age, Nintendogs and New Super Mario Bros. sold to huge audiences, and Mario Kart DS, Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold and SoulSilver, The World Ends with You and Professor Layton kept it going for years. HeartGold and SoulSilver complete with the Pokéwalker are the best-known high-value items.

Smaller RPG and niche releases from Atlus and other publishers had short print runs and have climbed: Radiant Historia, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor and the Etrian Odyssey games among them. Counterfeit carts and cases are common for Pokémon, so compare the label and the back of the cartridge to a known original.

Nintendo DS games by the numbers

1,958

Games tracked

39,946

Live eBay listings

$7.80

Median loose value

$10.14

Median CIB value

$26.58

Average loose value

Loose prices across 1,848 priced games

Under $10

1,179

$10–25

422

$25–50

143

$50–100

$100–250

$250+

Most valuable Nintendo DS games

Pokemon [Not for Resale Arceus] cover art

Pokemon [Not for Resale Arceus] $2,723.97 loose

Zelda Twilight Princess [Preview Trailer] cover art

Zelda Twilight Princess [Preview Trailer] $2,675.01 loose

Pokemon [Not for Resale Regigigas and Shaymin] cover art

Pokemon [Not for Resale Regigigas and Shaymin] $2,592.42 loose

Pokemon [Not for Resale Manaphy] cover art

Pokemon [Not for Resale Manaphy] $2,225.00 loose

Pokemon [Not for Resale Secret Key] cover art

Pokemon [Not for Resale Secret Key] $2,000.00 loose

Pokemon [Not for Resale Deoxys] cover art

Pokemon [Not for Resale Deoxys] $1,614.30 loose

Pokemon [Not for Resale Dragonite] cover art

Pokemon [Not for Resale Dragonite] $1,500.00 loose

8 Pokemon Distribution Cartridge [Pikachu, Colored Pichu & Jirachi]

Pokemon Distribution Cartridge [Pikachu, Colored Pichu & Jirachi] $1,300.00 loose

Pokemon [Not For Resale Pikachu] cover art

Pokemon [Not For Resale Pikachu] $1,024.50 loose

Pokemon [Not for Resale Zoroark] cover art

Pokemon [Not for Resale Zoroark] $941.20 loose

11 Pokemon [Not for Resale Diamond & Pearl]

Pokemon [Not for Resale Diamond & Pearl] $892.48 loose

Pokemon [Not for Resale Secret Egg] cover art

Pokemon [Not for Resale Secret Egg] $823.26 loose

Most valuable sealed Nintendo DS games

Zelda Twilight Princess [Preview Trailer] $10,844.00 new

Pokemon HeartGold Version [Figure Bundle] cover art

Pokemon HeartGold Version [Figure Bundle] $5,994.95 new

3 Pokemon Distribution Cartridge [Pikachu, Colored Pichu & Jirachi]

Pokemon Distribution Cartridge [Pikachu, Colored Pichu & Jirachi] $3,640.00 new

Pokemon Pearl [Carrying Case Bundle] cover art

Pokemon Pearl [Carrying Case Bundle] $2,850.00 new

Pokemon Platinum [Figure Bundle] cover art

Pokemon Platinum [Figure Bundle] $2,489.00 new

Pokemon SoulSilver Version [Figure Bundle] cover art

Pokemon SoulSilver Version [Figure Bundle] $1,748.00 new

Top rated Nintendo DS games

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story cover art

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story 93/100 rating

Pokemon SoulSilver Version 90/100 rating

Mega Man Star Force 3 Black Ace cover art

Mega Man Star Force 3 Black Ace 89/100 rating

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey cover art

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey 88/100 rating

Professor Layton and the Unwound Future cover art

Professor Layton and the Unwound Future 88/100 rating

Advance Wars Dual Strike 88/100 rating

Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure cover art

Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure 88/100 rating

New Super Mario Bros 88/100 rating

Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow 87/100 rating

Pokemon HeartGold Version 87/100 rating

Rhythm Heaven 86/100 rating

999: 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors cover art

999: 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors 86/100 rating

Most listed on eBay right now

Pokemon Black Version 2 718 listings

Pokemon White Version 2 685 listings

Mario Kart DS 570 listings

Pokemon SoulSilver Version 554 listings

New Super Mario Bros 540 listings

Pokemon Platinum 515 listings

Super Mario 64 DS 483 listings

Pokemon Diamond 437 listings

Brain Age 2 433 listings

Pokemon HeartGold Version 399 listings

Pokemon Pearl 311 listings

Brain Age 308 listings

Nintendo DS games by release year

1995

2000

2005

2010

2015

2020

2025

By each game's original release year, so ports count under the year the game first came out.

Hardware specs

CPU: ARM946E-S @ 67,028 MHz, ARM7TDMI @ 33,514 MHz
Memory: 4 MB RAM, 256 KB flash memory
Media: Nintendo DS Game Card, Game Boy Advance Cartridge
Resolutions: 256 × 192 pixels
Connectivity: Wi-FI IEEE 802,11
Online: Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection

Models & revisions

Nintendo DSi XL

The extra large version of the Nintendo DSi. The system itself is larger overall than the other Nintendo DS versions. The screens are larger than the Nintendo DSi, at 4.2-inch (110 mm), and have a larger viewing angle than the other versions allowing people around the main user to easily view the game being played. The system came with an extra stylus that did not fit into the system and was made in the style of a pen.

CPU: ARM9 clocked at 133 MHz and ARM7 clocked at 33 MHz
Memory: 16 MB PSRAM
Media: Nintendo DS Cartridge, Nintendo DSi Cartridge
Storage: 256 MB internal flash memory, SD card (up to 2gb), SDHC card (up to 32gb)
Resolutions: 256x192 pixel resolution
Connectivity: Wi-FI
Online: Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, Nintendo DSi Shop, Nintendo Zone

Nintendo DS Lite

A lighter and slimmer version of the Nintendo DS. It has improved brightness with 4 settings for the screen backlight. The battery can last twice as long as the Nintendo DS on the lowest setting and lasts about 1-2 hours less on the highest setting, depending on the game being played.

CPU: 67 MHz ARM9 and 33 MHz ARM7
Memory: 4 MB RAM, 256 KB flash memory
Sound: Stereo speakers providing virtual surround sound, depending on the software.
Media: Nintendo DS Game Card, Game Boy Advance Cartridge
Video output: Terminals for stereo headphones and a microphone.
Connectivity: Wi-Fi
Online: Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection

Nintendo DSi

An improved version of the Nintendo DS. It does not have a Game Boy Advance Cartridge slot. It has more RAM and a faster CPU than the Nintendo DS and Lite versions. It has slightly larger screens and 5 brightness settings. It has 2 digital cameras.

CPU: ARM9 clocked at 133 MHz and ARM7 clocked at 33 MHz
Memory: 16 MB PSRAM
Media: Nintendo DS Game Card, Nintendo DSi Game Card
Storage: 256 MB of internal flash memory, slots for a SD card (up to 2 GB) and a SDHC card (up to 32 GB)
Resolutions: 256 × 192 pixels
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Integrated 802.11b/g
Online: Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, Nintendo DSi Shop, Nintendo Zone