Best Nintendo DS action-adventure games

The Matrix has 166 action-adventure games on file for the Nintendo DS, released between 2004–2014. 85 of them support multiplayer, including 21 with co-op. They're ranked below by legacy score, so the games that shaped the genre on the DS come first, with lesser-known picks further down.

Action-adventures blend real-time combat with exploration, puzzles and item collection. You open up a larger world gradually as new tools let you reach places you couldn't before.

Typical commitment: weekend project (roughly 6–20 hours). Tip: Keep a mental (or paper) map of locked doors and unreachable ledges; most action-adventures expect you to come back once you find the right item.