Best DS games?

[romulus]

After a year without a handheld, I've finally decided the PSP is too rich for my blood and am going with a DS (mostly for Mario Kart online). Can anyone recommend any good action/strategy games? I'm not really into stuff like Pokemon or the Dr and Lawyer games that just came out. I am into racing and action title, maybe a good platformer here and there. I'm getting the flame red bundle that comes out on the 15th with the new Mario Kart, and I'll also get the new Advance Wars for sure.

Suggestions? Since it plays GBA games, maybe a few recent GBA recommendations?

[guerillacropoli]

Advance Wars: Duel Strike is the best new strategy game for any system right now. (I see now you already included this in your post)

As far as action, the new Castlevania game is supposed to be awesome. I have actually played and own Kirby: Canvas Curse, by far the hardest Kirby game I've ever played, but it is excellent as well.

As far as GBA games, you could start with the older Castlevania's and work your way up to the newest one. As far as I know, the Castlevania series is currently the best platformer being made for any current system.

[Noukon]

A few good titles to look into:
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
Meteos
Kirby Canvas Curse
Super Mario 64 DS (Way worth it if you haven't played the original)

Gunstar Super Heroes just came out for the GBA.

[sdp]

launch title Feel the Magic, while most will say to pick up Wario Ware Touched instead, i think FtM while not as expansive feels different.

Advance Wars is a great game.

but you better instead save up as many grade a titles are coming out soon.

[Mog]

I agree with Advance Wars DS. The Metroid FPS is coming out soon and that should be good. If you need anything else you should first look through all the GBA games that have come out in the past few years that are too many to name. I'm sure you could find something good.

[Nin-Nin69]

Jump Super Stars
Takamura Doctura/Tramua Center
Castlevania: DoS
Phoenix Wright
Dig Dug
Space Invaders
Pac Pix
Atari Retro
Super Mario 64
Mario Kart

[JohnCrichton]

GBA:

Make sure you play Aria of Sorrow. It's the prequel to the DS game, Dawn of Sorrow.

If you're down with ZOIDS, I can't recommend Zoids: Legacy highly enough.

Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap is said to be among handheld's greatest games.

I'm gonna try and score a DS at Christmas, myself. Enjoy!

[Sigma]

Meteos - One of the best puzzle games to come out in years.

Advance Wars: Duel Strike - The same addicting strategy game we all love from the GBA, now with two screens, whats not to love?

Kirby: Canvas Curse - Innovative and very entertaining platformer.

Trauma Center: Under the Knife - Again innovative, but also a lot of fun and it gets quite difficult in some areas.

Pheonix Wright: Ace Attorney - I haven't had a chance to play much of it, but DS owners praise it for it's hystrical story and interesting adventure gameplay.

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow - I had to save the best for last, easily the best game to grace the DS, simply put if you like any of the previous Castlevania titles on the GBA then you will love this one.

[Demonic Raven]

Most of it has been mentioned. If you aren't already running to get Advance Wars, Castlevania, and Kirby Canvas Curse, you're nuts. SM64DS is good, just don't expect a whole lot new if you played the N64 version. Meteos, if you're a puzzle guy.

Future games: Mario Kart (already on your list. Smart man ;) ), Guilty Gear, Sonic Rush, Mario and Luigi, and Animal Crossing. A lot of those games still need some more details and such. If you're planning to go online with the DS, Animal Crossing is a good choice. Not quite an action title or anything, but all I ask is you consider it.

[MattThomasM2B]

Just got a DS yesterday.

Already beaten WarioWare. Not as fun as twisted. Shouldn't rented it.
Metroid Hunters is a PITA to play. Too much fumbling with the thumb strap.
Trauma Center is the only out of the three games I'm impressed with. Really good application of the touch screen without feeling forced or frustrating.

[Obi]

-Super Mario 64 DS and Kirby Canvas Curse are great for platformers.

-Meteos is the best puzzler on the system and one of the most fun puzzle games I've ever played. Some people seem to like Polarium too, but I've never played it. Puyo Pop is fun, but it doesn't exactly make great use of the system's capabilities.

-Advance Wars Dual Strike is great if you like strategy.

-Bomberman is good for multiplayer.

-Nintendogs is fun if you want one of those "non-game games".

-Ouendan and Jump Super Stars are probably the best import DS games (Ouendan is a rythm game, JSS is a fighting game based off Shonen Jump).

-Trauma Center: Under the Knife and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney are good if you want some more non-traditional games (Trauma Center gets pretty hard though).

-Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow is...well...it's Castlevania. Buy it!

-Upcoming games that look nice include: Mario Kart DS, Animal Crossing: Wild World, Tony Hawk's American Skateland, Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time, Sonic Rush, Viewtiful Joe Double Trouble, Metroid Prime: Hunters, and Final Fantasy III-D.

[auto]

you can't go wrong with Kirby Canvas Curse or Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, even Metroid Prime Pinball is a surprisingly good game if you liked the Metroid Prime games. Upcoming titles Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble and Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time seem very promising as well.