The ten best DS games of 2007

Will we look back at 2007 as the best ever year for DS gaming?

There are good reasons to believe it could be the case, and in comparison to 2006, it's clear that a wider range of developers really got their teeth into the console this year, providing a mixture of great graphics, intuitive touchscreen controls, addictive multiplayer modes, as well as plenty of innovative game concepts.

Compare last year, when the vast majority of the best DS games were published by Nintendo, to the situation 12 months on. It's no surprise to see the continuing amazing sales of the DS to have encouraged other publishers to release as many DS titles as they could get passed Nintendo third-party developer relations teams.

Sadly, that's the main reason 2008 might not rank as purely as 2007: DS is now a real super-mass market gaming machine with everything from casual game ports, puzzles, Wii-ports and crosswords to a huge number of animal nurturing games and kid-friendly movie licences flooding into the market. How that will affect the hardcore-oriented segment of DS games that typically provide our most exciting and thrilling experiences (let alone the emerging gore-core scene) remains to be seen.

In the meantime, though, it's an opportunity to look back and enjoy 350-odd days of plenty. Frankly, there are many DS games that could have appeared in this list. When the likes of Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, Lunar Knights, Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Picross DS are beaten into the grey space that marks the ranks 11th to 15th, you know all the games in our Top 10 are mighty fine.

The ten best DS games of 2007

10. Race Driver: Create & Race Developer: Firebrand Publisher: Codemasters Released: September Even on the DS, when it comes to racing games, there's plenty of competition and 2007 was the year where big brands such as Need for Speed finally managed to gain some acceleration from their previously lackluster attempts. Surprisingly though, it was Codemasters' version of its TOCA brand that made its mark. Providing an impressive combination of track and vehicle verisimilitude, an arcade driving stylee and a touchscreen track editor (which can be shared in multiplayer mode), Race Driver: Create & Race will stretch your skills, as well as forcing you to go head-to-head with hardcore computer-controlled drivers. Put your foot down.
9. Geometry Wars: Galaxies Developer: Kuju/Bizarre Creations Publisher: Sierra Released: December (US), January (Euro) Okay, so it's a remake of the Xbox Live Arcade hit, but Bizarre Creations went back to the drawing board with the DS version, adding new enemies, loads of levels, in-game currency and a drone that you control through different attack protocols. But not only is Geometry Wars: Galaxies a well considered game in terms of design, it makes the most out of the DS touchscreen control and has a couple of very neat multiplayer modes, too. You can also virally beam a free version of the game to your mates. And, when released, it's supposed to retail at a value-packed price of £20. What more do you want?
8. ANNO 1701: Dawn of Discovery Developer: Keen Games Publisher: Disney Released: August It's fair to say that, early in 2007, we got a bit carried away when it came to the number of strategy games in development for DS. In fact, so carried away did we become that a 'Top 10 forthcoming strategy game' list was generated. It makes for heavy reading now, but the one bright, shining conclusion is ANNO 1701: a genuinely great strategy that makes good use of the DS touchscreen, provides helpful tutorials and combines those necessary aims of infrastructure, trading and combat in equal measure, forcing you to think seriously about how to grow your nascent community. Throw in a couple of single-player modes and a multiplayer alternative, and many happy hours are there for the playing.
7. Tony Hawk's Proving Ground Developer: Vicarious Visions Publisher: Activision Released: November When it comes to the quality of the small number of DS games that have been refreshed every year, Tony Hawks ranks above all others. Of course, it helps that Activision has top in-house team Vicarious Visions to work on the franchise, but even with it in the bag, each of the Birdman's DS outings have been impressively consistent. Proving Ground is the best to date (with 2006's Downhill Jam and 2005's American Sk8Land best characterised as a developer tweaking its wheel bearings), and with four classic single-player modes, numerous unlockables, the usual solid NWC multiplayer, as well as screen and video capture options, Proving Ground is the purest dilution of DS Hawkness. Wonder what we'll get next year?
6. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 Developer: Exient Publisher: EA Released: September EA learnt well from its first attempt to make a Tiger Woods DS game. The 2005 version wasn't successful, hence the two-year gap while the execs sucked their teeth and decided what to do next. It was worth the wait. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 is a marvellous example of making the most of limited hardware, including particular attention paid to the control method of swinging your club. Of course, there are plenty of extras, too, with the Create A Golfer option, Challenge modes and the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection multiplayer option. The PGA Tour mode remains the excellent core of the experience, however. Almost a hole in one.
5. Hotel Dusk: Room 215 Developer: CING Publisher: Nintendo Released: April Bad hotel rooms are as common as package holidays but the reason Hotel Dusk: Room 215 ranks high as a DS game is its combination of private dick noir, a slashing hand-drawn pencil graphics style and the typical conspiracy stroke metaphysical backstory. Yeah, so the anti-hero is a disgraced New York cop turned cynical door-to-door salesman, but the game – full of puzzles, investigative options and dialogue trees – will certainly get you scratching your head. Consider it brain training via Raymond Chandler.
4. Pokémon Diamond/Pearl Developer: Game Freak Publisher: Nintendo Released: July Diamond and Pearl is surely the game Satoshi Tajiri originally envisaged when he came up with the idea of Pocket Monsters. Of course, the whole wandering around towns, woods, forests, lakes, mines, etc, to fight and capture new beasties remains in place but, finally, the ability to swap your collected, battled and evolved Pokémon with anyone around the global via the Pokémon Global Trading Station (itself powered by Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection) is clearly the highlight of this globally, hugely popular tweenage phenomenon.
3. Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords Developer: 1st Playable Productions Publisher: D3Publisher Released: March Surprised to see this game so highly rated? But then Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is that most significant of games: something that's been inspired by casual games such as Bejeweled but that, thanks to its role-playing casing, also appeals to the hardcore audience. Frankly, it's the sort of crossover any sensible DS developer will be looking to exploit in future – the more you think about it, the more pattern-matching and RPG levelling up are two sides of the same coin. In fact, the only issue with the game is how difficult it is to get hold of. Hopefully, D3Publisher's new sci-fi version (Galactrix, due in 2008) will be better promoted in Europe.
2. Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga Developer: TT Games Publisher: LucasArts Released: November You'll never know how disappointed and surprised we were with 2006's Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy. Heck, the dialogue (not to mention gameplay, bugs and general brokeness) was so bad, we thought George Lucas himself must have been on quality assurance duty. Thankfully, the man with the Force (Jonathan Smith) stepped into the breach and told us he would make everything better. And so it came to pass. The Complete Saga is everything you could ask for when it comes to handheld Star Wars gaming. Play through the six films, unlock all the characters and then mix them up thoroughout any of the settings you desire. It's the playability of Lego with the options of Star Wars mythology. We love it and can't wait for Lego Batman (and Lego Indiana Jones).
1. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass Developer: Nintendo Publisher: Nintendo Released: October There is a point in every person's life when you finally have to put aside the toys of youth and step into the world as an adult. Thankfully, the sheer beauty of The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass means we can set aside that evil day for another year. Yes, it's Link in his less than loved cel-shaded form, in a game derived from a less-than-loved GameCube title, but with this combination of touchscreen flexibility, classic adventuring and gorgeous time-based gameplay, Nintendo has surely created the best DS title to date. This is a game the handheld was designed for. Essential.