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)
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
Loose prices across 1,848 priced games
Most valuable Nintendo DS games
![Pokemon [Not for Resale Arceus] cover art](https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/co4wo1.jpg)
![Zelda Twilight Princess [Preview Trailer] cover art](https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/co76v7.jpg)
Most valuable sealed Nintendo DS games
![Pokemon HeartGold Version [Figure Bundle] cover art](https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/co1z57.jpg)
![Pokemon Pearl [Carrying Case Bundle] cover art](https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/co1zio.jpg)
![Pokemon Platinum [Figure Bundle] cover art](https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/cocofp.jpg)
![Pokemon SoulSilver Version [Figure Bundle] cover art](https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_cover_big/co1z59.jpg)
Top rated Nintendo DS games
Most listed on eBay right now
Nintendo DS games by release year
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
Console family
More Nintendo consoles
Game values from PriceCharting market data. Hardware specs and revisions from IGDB.