If you have 2 Nintendo DS’s or you know someone else who has one you’ve probably played some multiplayer games. And you want more.
But which games are worth buying with the incentive of good multiplayer? Here are our notes on some of the most popular games out right now:
Please note that these games are DS to DS wireless, not over the internet.
Advance Wars: Dual Strike 
Get this game. This is hands down the best game for the DS available right now. And with 8-way multiplayer it will satisfy your wifi hunger. Bonus: The ability to draw your own maps makes this a game that has a great replay value….draw a map and let your friends download it.
Single Pak Multiplayer.
1-8 for Combat, 1-4 for all other multiplayer modes.
Wireless Rating: 5 out of 5 bars
Bomberman 
The first 8-way multiplayer game available for the DS. Loads of fun with lots of people, but if you are planning on only having a 2-way game most of the time it probably shouldn’t be your first pick. However, with a lot of players this can be great fun. Especially if all the players are using the mic to call out battle commands.
Single Pak Multiplayer.
Wireless Rating: 4 out of 5 bars
Goldeneye Rogue Agent
This title was added because of a reader’s suggestion.
A good 8-way multiplayer game available for the DS. The controls are very configurable and can be picked up easily by friends using the downloaded version. While the single player might be a bit too short for somepeople, the multiplayer will keep you coming back to this title again and again. If all players have a cartridge you can play special modes unavailable in the download play.
Single Pak Multiplayer.
Wireless Rating: 4 out of 5 bars
Meteos
This game makes for some great 4-way puzzle action. There is nothing finer than watching your Meteos launch and seeing them collide with someone else’s planet. This game is great wireless fun, in addition to the loads of single player fun you’ll have.
Single Pak Multiplayer.
Wireless Rating: 5 out of 5 bars
Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt
The first console FPS that feels right. 4-way multiplayer action is very good on this demo, and with the recent announcement that the full version will have Internet play we can only expect more from the Samus Touch N’ Kill department. My only beef with the multiplayer on this game is that the game is too dark. Of course, maybe that is just an excuse to why I am not any good at it. You probably already have this game, since it probably came with your DS, but after playing it in multiplayer mode it will make you want to buy the full version when it comes out.
Multi Pak Multiplayer Only.
Wireless Rating: 4 out of 5 bars
Nanostray 
2-way multiplayer and not terribly fun at that. Two players can play together to kill the bad guys, but not to help each other out…only to score points. The person with the most points wins. This is very limited and only huge fans of this genre will find any long-term playability in it. It would be nice to have a mode that allowed two or more players to play the main game together. It would also be nice to not have to use the download play if both players have the game.
Single Pak Multiplayer
Wireless Rating: 2 out of 5 bars
Nintendogs
Added by popular demand! Although not a “normal” game, Nintendogs may be the most fun you have with your DS. It is listed as a single player game but there is some wireless functionality. You can set your dog to bark whenever there is another Nintendog in the area and you can let the two dogs play with each other. You can swap gifts and if you hadn’t unlocked the breed that your dog is playing with it will be unlocked for you. Although this can be fun and is a great way to meet new people, it isn’t going to keep you coming back for more…the single player mode will.
Multi Pak Multiplayer Only
Wireless Rating: 4 out of 5 bars
Polarium 
A 2-way puzzle game that actually has a pretty fun multiplayer mode. If you can get past the plain graphics this game will have you and a friend swearing at each other in no time. Of course, if you have more than one friend with a DS you will probably want to look at other puzzle games like Meteos or Pop Puyo Fever instead.
Single Pak Multiplayer
Wireless Rating: 3 out of 5 bars
Puyo Pop Fever
This 8-way puzzler is the first DS game where you probably won’t use the touchscreen at all. It is also the first DS game which appears to be marketed directly at girl gamers. If you can get past that (and you should try), you’ll find an addictive puzzle game that has great wireless play. This is also a great game to play with your wife or girlfriend. They’ll really love it when they start kicking your butt. And they will start kicking your butt.
Single Pak Multiplayer
Wireless Rating: 5 out of 5 bars
Super Mario 64
4-way Yoshi action. Race against the other players to get as many stars as you can before the time runs out. And you can, uh, stick out your tongue and, uh, eat the other players. Then spit them out. Uh, yeah. Anyway, the multiplayer is fun, but not fun enough to justify buying the game soley for it. However the single player is a lot of fun, so if this style is your thing then getting the multiplayer is a nice bonus.
Single Pak Multiplayer
Wireless Rating: 3 out of 5 bars
WarioWare: Touched
Many readers have pointed out that although WarioWare Touched does have a multiplayer mode it is not wireless and should therefore be removed from the list. I would have to agree and therefore the review is no longer posted here. I will leave this placeholder as an apology to those readers who were confused by its listing.
Yoshi’s Touch and Go
A 2-way oddity. Although the single player is known for being extremely limited, the multiplayer is quite fun. Not quite fun enough to get anyone to pay full price for the game, but enough to keep you looking in the bargain bins for it. If you know someone who has it then try out the multiplayer, but don’t buy the game for it.
Single Pak Multiplayer
Wireless Rating: 3 out of 5 bars
Zookeeper
Another 2-way puzzle game, this one in the style of the famous Bejeweled game. The wireless play on this game is extremely fun and is great for little quickies to pass the time. It would be nice if the game would keep a tally of wins and losses for the current session, but even without it the game is great fun. The 2 player limitation and the rough edges are unfortunate. This could have been the best multiplayer puzzle game for the DS. Instead it only comes out as being a great quick-play game.
Single Pak Multiplayer
Wireless Rating: 4 out of 5 bars
This article was update on August 30th, 2005 to incorporate ideas from our readers.
Tags: Nintendo DS · Platforms · Reviews
33 responses so far ↓
1 Someguy // Aug 29, 2005 at 3:41 pm
Nice advertisement-I mean-article. Have you played all these games? I’d kinda like to know how multiplayer works in Wario Ware, considering that IT HAS NONE.
2 Randy // Aug 29, 2005 at 4:15 pm
What about Nintendog? Although this just came out in the US, many many people are already using this and meeting friends to play.
3 SengokuX // Aug 29, 2005 at 4:29 pm
Good list – a very useful addition to this list would be to denote which ones are single-cart multiplayer. My wife and I both have DS’s, but we don’t want to rebuy games unless we have to. (I wish Nintendo would provide some way to get a multiplayer-only second cart).
4 Garret // Aug 29, 2005 at 4:52 pm
Let’s not forget Band Bros. I would rank it above all of these games. While it’s not out in America it’s definitely worth the import since we have no idea when we’ll see it on our shores. Good list, though, and I agree with pretty much everything. Now all we have to do is wait for Animal Crossing and Mario Kart!
5 onehero » Blog Archive » Nintendo DS Wireless Multiplayer Roundup // Aug 29, 2005 at 5:03 pm
Brittlefish has a posted a quick roundup of wireless multiplayer games for the DS.
6 Mike Hulsebus // Aug 29, 2005 at 6:09 pm
Whats a shame about advance wars though is near as I can figure, theres not much you can do with one game except that real-time minigame.
I agree though, Meteos multi is pretty great
7 Shane Monroe // Aug 29, 2005 at 6:19 pm
Overall, a good piece … however, I’d like to comment on a couple of these mini-reviews …
Zookeeper – the two player mode simply isn’t level enough. Its almost IMPOSSIBLE to recover once the other player has any sort of advantage over you. Once you’re behind, the round is really over. Never do they drop enough health or goodies to recover from a tailspin. I’d have to go 2 bars on this one.
Yoshi Touch & Go – Great game all around, not sure why people hate it other than there is no story, no FMV and no button mashing text to read. A great arcade style old school game. Marathon mode is the bomb – and two player mode is good – quick to load, fast to get back into.
Warioware Touched – Since its on a WIFI list, its a bit confusion – since it is NOT wifi playable. Two players play on the SAME DS. I just wanted to clear the air on that. Despite multiplay, I wouldn’t have included it in this list.
Advance Wars DS – “Get this game.” Umm … If you aren’t into turn based strategy games, the wifi brilliance isn’t going to make the game BETTER for you. Don’t buy it because its wifi – buy it because you like Risk-style turn based strategy games. For most people, this is a love-hate relationship. I just want to point out that if the game isn’t to your liking as a single player model (aka the GBA version) then the wifi doesn’t change what it is.
I’m just happy to see the DS getting press!
8 Chris // Aug 29, 2005 at 6:36 pm
Not a complaint, but a request:
Might you add some info for each game on whether or not each player requires the cartridge or not? That’s a huge decision maker.
And where’s Nintendogs? Poor PoMoKnockKnock has no friends to paly with!
9 Martin // Aug 29, 2005 at 7:53 pm
Still, DS just sucks. I soooo prefer the PSP.
10 Steve // Aug 29, 2005 at 8:00 pm
I too would like to know which ones require two carts.
It’s great to see the list and the comments – well done!
Steve
11 Antao // Aug 29, 2005 at 8:14 pm
I have the same request as Chris…
I know that for Yoshi Touch & Go (I love this game) and Super Mario 64, only one player need to have the cartridge, the other players download from him. While, for the Metroid, all the players have to have a cartridge…
12 zakalwe // Aug 29, 2005 at 8:22 pm
@martin: you mean you can’t afford both systems?
13 DanielM // Aug 29, 2005 at 8:27 pm
How did Metroid make it in when its not even released, yet Mario Kart didn’t?
Also I have Warioware Touched, and besides the ping pong game, where one player presses L and the other R, there is no multiplayer as far as I know.
I agree with everyone thats requesting knowledge on which games only require a single kart. This is not a particularly good list IMO.
14 alex // Aug 29, 2005 at 11:10 pm
Yeah, the DS sucks. The PSP has tons of better games, like…
Um…
Right. I’ve gotten tons more mileage off of my DS than my PSP. The PSP is a bloated machine with great graphics, but hardly any good games to showcase them graphics. I’ve only bought one game for my PSP, and already four or five for my DS (and rent more for the DS than the PSP from GameFly). I actually use it more for movies now, and the emulation kinda sucks, so I’m actually thinking about going to 2.0 firmware. Hopefully GTA LCS will bring some life to the PSP, but beyond that there’s really not much to say about it. Go look at the DS games that will be coming out by the end of the year… there’s about six I know I’m going to get.
15 Orion // Aug 30, 2005 at 12:20 am
Nice site:
If i might add even though i have heard about the rough edges of the gameplay in mulitplayer in Nanostray (never played multi yet though), I just wanted to tell people it is an addicting 1 player game.. The graphics are amazing, and reminds me of Ikaruga. Its addicting as well.
Oh and by the way… if PSP is so great why is DS sales ANS GBA sales killing it…. oh yea, and the library is made up of half EA Sports tiltes…. YUCK
16 Dopefish // Aug 30, 2005 at 10:34 am
Why isn’t Goldeneye: Rogue Agent on the list? I mean, it’s not the greatest game ever, but it has 8-way multiplayer action with basic deathmatch available for all from one cartridge…
17 grant // Aug 30, 2005 at 10:36 am
For the many readers who were wondering why WarioWare was on the list and Nintendogs was not on the list I have updated the page to reflect your advice. Thank you Randy and Shane Monroe for your constructive criticism.
18 grant // Aug 30, 2005 at 10:41 am
Also, due to reader demand the site has been updated to reveal which games require multiple cards to play and which can only be played with one card.
Some of the games that are listed as Single Pak Multiplayer (like Puyo Pop and Advance Wars) also have multiplayer modes where you can use multiple cartridges to get added effects. These games can still be played with one Pak, so they are listed as a Single Pak game.
Thank you to SengokuX, Chris, Steve and Antao for pointing out that this would be valuable information to have on the list.
19 grant // Aug 30, 2005 at 10:45 am
Someguy:
—————–
Nice advertisement-I mean-article. Have you played all these games? I’d kinda like to know how multiplayer works in Wario Ware, considering that IT HAS NONE.
—————–
You are partially correct, WarioWare has multiplayer…it just isn’t Wireless. All the same, it should not have been on the list and has been removed. I appreciate your criticism.
I’m not quite sure how to respond to the “advertisement” comment as I am not quite sure what you are referring to. If you could explain more I’d be glad to respond accordingly.
20 Joe Pomerening // Aug 30, 2005 at 6:08 pm
Great article. I’ll be sure to take your advice. =D
21 steve // Aug 31, 2005 at 8:52 am
we dont need a list to know which games support multiplayer or not…we could gee i dunno…look AT THE BACK OF THE BOX.
useless article.
22 bill // Aug 31, 2005 at 9:59 am
steve – calm down. Some stores don’t actually stock every game, so the back of their boxes aren’t all that handy. To some of us, it’s helpful to see a list of wireless DS games along with the comments.. -bill
23 Shawn // Aug 31, 2005 at 4:50 pm
Mr. Driller Drill Spirits… preferably the Japanese version, as it doesn’t require multiple carts to run multi-player:
http://www.4colorrebellion.com/archives/2005/03/03/import-worthy-mr-driller-land/
Also of note, a single player mode was left out of the US release. I just played this franchise for the first time earlier this month, and I absolutely love it.
24 topez scpio // Sep 2, 2005 at 2:15 pm
the nintendo is the best and i like it and i like the psp because you can watch movies on it. i wish the nintendo ds had it but i still like it i have one
with the free demo which is boring i hope i get other games for it.
25 stillshadow // Sep 4, 2005 at 4:04 am
It’s still useful to know which games are multiplayer to guide you in knowing which ones to look for. Do you know if the DS works with memory carts like X-Rom?
26 anonymous // Sep 12, 2005 at 3:59 am
yep i agree with the first guy, nice advertisement… u havent listed all the available games and by clicking the image u get taken to a site to buy them… stupid
27 grant // Sep 13, 2005 at 7:44 am
anonymous:
No, all the games are not listed. Of course, at the top of the article it plainly says that these are notes “on some of the most popular games out right now”. But in your haste to write something negative you probably forgot to, you know, read the article.
And yes, there are links to buy the products listed. And really, I can’t think of anything more relevant.
28 4 color rebellion » Link Dump - 09.22 // Sep 22, 2005 at 7:53 pm
Wizardry on DS Classic Bubble Bobble to Appear In Remake AdHoc Multiplayer DS Roundup MAME for the DS?
29 BigRedPimp no DSDev » Blog Archive » Wireless game roundup // Sep 23, 2005 at 1:04 am
Article: Brittlefish » DS Wireless Roundup Source: 4cr
30 Jercos // Oct 1, 2005 at 12:10 am
Great article!
I’ve been looking for a comparison of games like this since the ds came out!
31 ht // Nov 25, 2005 at 8:25 pm
awesome but will you update it soon?
32 rolledup // Jan 7, 2006 at 2:27 pm
Yeah, it’s a good article, but I think the comments are better. This is definitely more like a list of games than an in-depth review of them.
33 Michele // Nov 25, 2008 at 2:17 am
I found this list very useful (exactly what I was looking for) – and quick reviews are sometimes best… Only downside for me was that I was hoping for more child-oriented games to be on the list… is it possible to make a seperate list for kid appropriate ones? I have two boys, ages 7 and 9 and am giving them each a DS for Christmas. Would love to have more Mario and Yoshi type adventure and/or racing games where they could share one cartridge.
Thanks for the info!
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