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Top 10 handheld games that keep on giving

Battery busters

Top 10 handheld games that keep on giving
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iPhone + DS + DSi ...

Is it depth, length or addictiveness that produces a game you simply can’t put down? Arguably a smattering of all three.

At first we thought this list would be pretty easy to compile, but we had some agonising decisions to make - it just goes to show the quality and depth of software now available on handheld platforms.

But, ultimately, we tended to veer towards games that not only give you a lot of bang for your buck in terms of longevity in the main quest but also demand that you go back to experiment and explore some more.

We know you’ll have some excellent choices of your own so as always we invite your comments below.

Top 10 games that keep on giving

Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions (PSP)
Sony

Before Disgaea came along this was the ultimate in strategy RPG, boasting some 22 job classes and over 400 abilities to customise your characters with.

Largely a port of the PS2 classic with some extra bells and whistles, its turn-based nature perhaps won't appeal to everyone but for stat fans it's a must have purchase.

The wireless ad-hoc mode is seriously addictive, too, making chess seem like game of snakes & ladders by comparison. It can suck up 50 hours of your life at a canter.

Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness (PSP)
Koei

Nippon Ichi's strategy RPG masterpiece gives a whole new meaning to the word customisation as players can tinker about with practically every mode and feature in the game, including the innovative geo cubes, characters, weapons and even the multiplayer mode.

It's easy to lose a hundred hours of your life to this game, but others have testified to an addiction that has multiplied that number by ten. The flexibility of the unique tactical system gives this title an unprecedented depth that rewards imagination, experimentation and perseverance.

Jeanne d'Arc (PSP)
Sony

Another turn-based tactical RPG, but a magnificent one, suffused with Level 5’s cel-shaded visuals and trademark depth.

Battling through the 40 expansive and beautifully presented environments is a significant task, but add to that the copious customisation options that see you controlling up to 14 characters with over 150 skills to choose from and you could be tinkering for the best part of a lifetime.

40 hours for the full quest might not seem that much, but - trust us - you’ll want to do it all again.

Tetris DS (DS)
Nintendo

Sure, when it comes to stat crunching, narrative subtlety or complex computation Tetris comes woefully low down on the depth chart but for its sheer ability to enchant with a simple, hypnotic shape stacking mechanic it still has no rival.

Tetris is testament to the philosophy that depth isn't always about complexity. It can keep you mesmerised by its compulsive visual spatial gameplay years after it was conceived.

Advance Wars: Dual Strike (DS)
Nintendo

When Advance Wars was first shown to the public it was greeted with mild disdain: surely those nursery school graphics and 8-bit stylings couldn't deliver anything of much merit? But this is a wolf in sheep's clothing, and beneath beats the heart of sheer calculated genius.

While it doesn't take too much brain strain to beat the main campaign trying to ace each mission with ‘S’ grades will take even an armchair general the best part of a month, without any sleep or toilet breaks.

Mario Kart DS (DS)
Nintendo

Another of those titles that may seem out of place among all the heavy RPGs and number crunching strategy legends but the humble Mario Kart proves again that depth isn't always about complexity.

With sublimely nuanced handling and track design to match Mario Kart’s longevity is a result of game balancing that has no peer.

Trying to gain all the cups is one thing but it's shaving off split seconds from your best lap times or beating some of the world’s best players that gives it wings.

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus (PSP)
Konami

While the Story mode is meaty enough, Portable Ops really comes into its own when you get stuck into its deep recruitment mechanic. And what a beautifully crafted piece of design genius it is.

While clobbering guards from behind and dragging them into the back of trucks may seem a bit Thomas Harris, it becomes addictive very quickly. Unlocking characters like Roy Campbell, Raiden and old Snake from MGS 4 will keep you going for hours; getting your army up to a hundred quality recruits will take up a significant portion of your life.

Pokemon (DS)
Nintendo

This mighty Nintendo franchise sees no signs of slowing down, and with each iteration the deeply engrossing collectathon becomes even more labyrinthine and moreish.

Your typical Pokemon narrative itself takes at least 30 hours, but add on to that the Gotta Catch ‘em All meta quest and you could be at it for 150 hours.

If you’ve played one Pokemon game you’ve arguably played them all, but such comments fall on deaf ears to those that understand the joy of finding a Manaphy or a Cresselia.

Monster Hunter Freedom 2 (PSP)
Capcom

Practically a way of life in Japan, this immersive action RPG has still found enough favour in the west to make our list.

There’s a caveat though: you're going to have to find friends to really get the most out of it as the game only excels in its multiplayer coop modes.

With hundreds of quests, items and weapons to discover, plus dastardly monsters to slay, this is the game that has practically kept the PSP alive. Capcom reckons the average player knocks up 200 hours, with some exceeding 1000.

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords (DS)
D3 Publisher

Who ever thought the old match-three and burst-the-chain mechanic could be used to such devastating effect? But Puzzle Quest surprised the world by adding in a novel swords and sorcery plot that simply compels you to play on.

This title also does that clever (or should that be sinister?) thing of drawing you in ‘just for a quick blast’ but ends up keeping you glued to its mesmerising puzzling for hours at a time. Out of the versions available, the DS shades one it for us.

Mark Walbank
Mark Walbank
Ex-Edge writer and retro game enthusiast, Mark has been playing games since he received a Grandstand home entertainment system back in 1977. Still deeply absorbed by moving pixels (though nothing 'too fast'), he now lives in Scotland and practices the art of mentalism.