15 Rarest Nintendo DS Games And How Much They’re Worth

Collectors, beware. You’re in for a scare. Retro games tend to get rarer and more expensive as the years go on, and nowhere is that more apparent than the Nintendo DS. The handheld was discontinued in 2014, and many of its titles went out of print long before that.

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For a while, you could download digital versions of DS games from the Wii U eShop. However, the service tragically shut down in 2023, leaving fans with no other option than buying from the second-hand market. The results are staggering price tags sure to give your bank account the fright of its life. The following titles, in particular, are the rarest and priciest video games for the system.

Updated on November 16, 2024, by PJ Molloy: It’s been almost two years since the Wii U eShop closed and ten years since the DS was pulled from stores. Needless to say, DS games are harder to find than ever, and their prices are through the roof. Get ready to see some mind-boggling four-digit numbers.

18

Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier

Estimated Value – $350

As a spin-off of the Super Robot Wars games, OG Saga: Endless Frontier swaps the series’ traditional tactical RPG gameplay for turn-based combat. You control a gun-slinging bounty hunter named Haken, who gets tangled up in an intergalactic conspiracy while escorting a princess back to her home.

While Super Robot Wars is immensely successful in Japan, only a handful of its titles have been officially localized in English. Endless Frontier, in particular, is one of the rarer games in the series. A new copy costs roughly $350.

17

Pokemon Platinum

Estimated Value – $358

Pokémon Platinum

Systems

Released

March 22, 2009

Publisher(s)

Nintendo
, The Pokemon Company

ESRB

E For Everyone

Often considered a top-tier DS Pokemon game, Platinum combines the best elements of Diamond and Pearl while adding quality-of-life updates, brand-new characters, and a new story about the spooky legendary Pokemon Giratina. The Sinnoh region has never looked better and featured so much to see and do.

Unfortunately, if you want to play this Gen Four classic, you’ll probably need to drop an exorbitant amount of cash. Be prepared to see eBay price tags up to $358 – enough to buy five copies of the Sinnoh remakes for Switch.

16

Digimon World Dusk

Estimated Value – $374

Digimon World Dawn and Dusk are two variations of the same game, similar to how Pokemon divides each title into two versions. When a mysterious virus causes Digimon to revert into Digi-Eggs, it’s up to you to investigate the SunShine District, explore dungeons, and get to the bottom of this baffling puzzle.

Both versions cost a pretty penny, but Digimon World Dusk is far worse for your wallet. An unopened copy goes for around $374 – almost three times the price of its Dawn counterpart.

15

Commando: Steel Disaster

Estimated Value – $375

Commando: Steel Disaster is a lesser-known run-and-gun similar to Metal Slug or Contra. Take control of a hotshot soldier named Storm, who must blast his way through a series of enemy camps to stop a warmongering villain named Rattlesnake.

Gameplay-wise, you explore side-scrolling levels, collect guns, and destroy everything and everyone in sight. Despite its exciting premise, the game received lukewarm reviews and quickly faded into obscurity. If you happen to find a copy, you’ll need to spend about $375 to add it to your collection.

14

Mega Man Star Force Dragon

Estimated Value – $378

As the follow-up to the Battle Network series, Mega Man Star Force maintains the action RPG combat, which now takes place in a 3D environment. Set 200 years after its predecessor, the plot follows a high school student named Geo, who dons the iconic Mega Buster to investigate his father’s strange disappearance.

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Similar to Pokemon, Star Force launched in three separate versions, the rarest of which is the Dragon edition. A new copy is worth around $378, more than double the value of the Leo and Pegasus versions combined.

13

Solatorobo: Red The Hunter

Estimated Value – $386

Solatorobo: Red the Hunter

Systems

Released

October 28, 2010

Developer

CyberConnect2

Publisher

CyberConnect2

ESRB

e

Solatorobo: Red the Hunter is known for being one of the most graphically impressive DS games. It’s a 3D action RPG that follows Red, an anthropomorphic dog who fights crime in a series of steampunk-themed mech suit battles.

The game performed fairly well when it launched, spawning multiple spin-offs, prequels, and even a novel adaptation. But despite its popularity, tracking down a new copy has become nearly impossible over the years. If you manage to find one, it’ll likely set you back about $386.

12

Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels Of The Starry Skies (Zoma Distribution)

Estimated Value – $388

Dragon Quest 9

Systems

Released

July 11, 2010

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Alcohol Reference, Animated Blood, Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes

Dragon Quest 9 is generally beloved by JRPG fans, thanks to its impressive 3D graphics, engaging turn-based combat, and outstanding soundtrack. You control an angelic guardian known as a Celestrian, who is robbed of his powers and forced to find his way home as a mortal being.

A regular copy of the game isn’t too difficult to find, but the Zoma distribution is a different story. This special edition is unique in only one way: it features a different map than the standard version. That tiny change was enough to triple the value, putting it at a whopping $388.

11

Pokemon Ranger

Estimated Value – $435

Pokemon Ranger

Systems

Released

October 30, 2006

Publisher(s)

The Pokemon Company
, Nintendo

ESRB

E For Everyone Due To Mild Cartoon Violence

Pokemon Ranger is a refreshing departure from the series formula, replacing the usual turn-based battles with real-time combat. The goal is to catch Pokemon by drawing circles around them using the stylus. If they touch your line, your combo breaks, forcing you to start over.

There are three Pokemon Ranger games on the DS, each with a price tag in the triple digits. However, the first is the hardest to find. A new copy is worth about $435, which is more than the cost of both sequels combined.

10

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers Of Darkness & Explorers Of Sky

Estimated Price Range: $454 – $455

In Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness, you’re put in the role of a human who’s been mysteriously transformed into a Pokemon. During your journey to recover your lost memories, you join a group of adventurers, explore dungeons, and fight malicious Pokemon.

Explorers of Darkness launched alongside a special edition bundled with an Explorer’s Guide, now costing an average of $454. The enhanced version of the game, Explorers of Sky, is just as rare, costing a staggering $455 for a new copy.

9

Pokemon Dash

Estimated Value – $475

Pokemon Dash

Systems

Released

March 13, 2005

Developer

Ambrella

Publisher(s)

The Pokemon Company
, Nintendo

ESRB

E For Everyone

Despite being a launch title in Japan and Europe, Pokemon Dash is largely forgotten about today. It’s a top-down racing game in which you control Pikachu by constantly flicking the stylus in the direction you want him to run. You can even link it up to one of the GBA games to unlock special tracks.

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Sadly, the game received scathing reviews when it launched and went out of print shortly after. New copies are pretty tricky to find, but if you happen to hunt one down, it’ll likely cost around $475.

8

PowerBike

Estimated Value – $475

Picture a cross between Excitebike and Grand Theft Auto. That’s PowerBike in a nutshell. You control a motorcyclist thrown into the world of street racing after receiving an offer from a mysterious sponsor. The goal is to speed down public roads as fast as possible while avoiding the police.

While a European launch was planned, it was unfortunately canceled before it hit shelves. Since the game only ever launched in North America, copies have become incredibly scarce since it went out of print. If you’re lucky enough to find one, you’ll probably need to pay about $475.

7

Veggy World

Estimated Value – $572

Here’s a hidden gem in the DS library. Veggy World is a silly 2D shooter set on a planet inhabited by sentient fruit and vegetables. When the villainous Bacteria brainwashes the peaceful produce people, it’s up to the heroic Veggy Kid and his strawberry airplane to save the day.

The game initially launched for Wii in 2010 before hitting the DS a year later. While both versions are a pain to find, the handheld entry is significantly more expensive. Get ready to see price tags around $572.

6

Shepherd’s Crossing 2

Estimated Value – $574

Shepard’s Crossing 2 is the sequel to a lesser-known farming simulator from the PlayStation 2. The story begins with you moving to a village in the Alps, where you can harvest crops, raise animals, and mingle with the quirky townsfolk. If you’ve played Harvest Moon, this game has a similar vibe.

While its predecessor was remastered on modern consoles, the sequel is tragically stuck on the DS, making it incredibly difficult to find. A new copy is worth around $574. With that amount, you could buy the first Shepard’s Crossing on Steam 19 times.

5

Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver (Pokewalker Bundle)

Estimated Price Range: $644 – $725

Pokemon Heart Gold & Soul Silver

RPG

Adventure

Grand Strategy

Strategy

Systems

Released

March 14, 2010

ESRB

e

Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSiver have long been celebrated as must-play DS games. Those who ordered the special edition at launch received a Pokewalker, a pedometer that transfers rewards to your game based on how many steps you took.

Since a limited amount was produced, complete bundles are pretty scarce. The SoulSilver version costs an average of $644, while the HeartGold version is worth around $725. To put that in perspective, you can buy every mainline Pokemon game on Switch for that amount.

4

Pokemon Pearl (Carrying Case Bundle)

Estimated Value – $5,000

Pokémon Pearl

Systems

Released

April 22, 2007

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

ESRB

E FOR EVERYONE

As any DS collector knows, the Pokemon games just get pricier as the years pass. A new copy of Pokemon Pearl is already rare as it is, but the limited edition carrying case bundle is almost 22 times more expensive.

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This special edition came with a DS carrying case featuring Dialga and Palkia. Very few were ever made, making it a nightmare to find even a used copy. If you happen to track one down, get ready to spend a whopping $5,000. Rest in peace, bank account.

3

Pokemon Distribution Cartridges

Estimated Value – $5,600

No one will blame you if you don’t remember the Pokemon distribution cartridges. Each contains at least one rare Pokemon you could transfer to compatible DS games. They were only available at select game stores during limited-time special events, so naturally, they’ve become extremely rare.

Several distribution cartridges were made throughout the DS era, each of which is outrageously hard to find. The rarest is a tie between one containing a Pikachu-colored Pichu and one with Jirachi, each costing a staggering amount of $5,600.

2

The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess Demo

Estimated Value – $7,499

Systems

Released

November 19, 2006

Developer(s)

Nintendo EAD

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

ESRB

T For Teen due to Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence

It’s easy for even the most dedicated Zelda fans to forget that Twilight Princess was on the Nintendo DS—well, kind of. This cartridge, distributed at E3 2004, shows nothing more than a trailer for the game, which strangely features Link’s voice clips from Ocarina of Time.

Only 500 copies were made and given to the press before the DS even launched. They’re almost impossible to find, but if you come across one by some miracle, be prepared to see a mind-boggling price tag of $7,499.

1

Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver (Figure Bundle)

Estimated Price Range: $1,492 – $8,500

If you thought the Pokewalker bundles were expensive, brace yourself for these. The limited edition, Walmart-exclusive figure bundles of HeartGold and SoulSiver came with a figurine of either Ho-Oh or Lugia and a Pokewalker with a protective jacket. Needless to say, tracking down a complete set is headache-inducing.

If you’re lucky enough to find an unopened SoulSliver bundle, it’ll likely set you back about $1,492. But that doesn’t even begin to compare the wallet-murdering price tags you’ll see for the HeartGold edition. A new and complete copy costs a jaw-dropping $8,500, easily making it the rarest and most expensive Nintendo DS game.

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