The DS is still the highest selling console at the moment. It’s been out-selling everything else without trouble for years.

This year was a pretty good year for the DS, with a lot of fun and unique games. If you have a DS, there’s no possible way there wasn’t a game that interested you in the year. Making a list of the best games is no easy task but we tried to narrow it down to 5 great games anyone with a DS should check out.

So read on and see our 5 winners for best DS games of the year!

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

The Zelda series almost always had top-notch games. This one is no exception. While not perfect, mostly because of the touch screen controls and the train, it’s still a solid title, with very interesting puzzle and fun gameplay. And having Zelda herself actually playing a role is a great idea, and it works pretty well. Now if only it didn’t contribute to screwing up the already cryptic Zelda Timeline…

Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes

This game is one of the most unique experiences of the year. It combines a few unlikely game genres(“Match 3″, puzzle, turn-based strategy, RPG) and makes it into a game that’s really fun to play, with surprisingly varied gameplay. Add in a fun story with some pretty cool characters, and there’s not much not to like about this game.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story

The third in the series, and probably the best in the series. Taking on the trademark Mario & Luigi gameplay and adding Bowser to the mix is great, adding variety to gameplay since parts you can play with Bowser are totally different from parts with the Mario Brothers, even when you pass through the same areas with both. Lots of side-quests and fun mini-games, in addition to a fun story, there’s nothing really wrong with this game.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

Frankly, GTA hasn’t been the same since it transitionned to 3D. Not bad games, of course, but they lost that wacky feeling the series used to have. So, to me, Chinatown Wars was a return to form. Back with the interesting bird’s-eye view, 2D gameplay, great controls, with the story and characters taking a backseat to the action, and the characters themselves not being taking completely seriously makes this one of the more interesting GTA experiences in years.

Retro Game Challenge

This might sound like an oddball choice… but that’s just because it is. This game takes on a relatively original idea of having to go through “challenges” in various “oldschool” games to advance to the next games. Most of the time those are pretty easy, but that’s not what I cared about here. What I like is that the games within RGC are all new. Some take ideas from actual oldschool classics(some are pretty much rip-offs), some are actually quite original. This is a must-play for any retro gamer, and a must play for anyone else to see just what games were like back in the day, and the media surrounding them (you get magazines in the game all the time with reviews of the games you’re playing, tricks and cheats, stuff like that). This is a great experience for any gamer. It’s a shame XSeed won’t be localizing the second game in the series.

jobocan ds, Game of the Year, Handheld