Best Nintendo DS puzzle games

The Matrix has 130 puzzle games on file for the Nintendo DS, released between 2004–2011. 48 of them support multiplayer, including 1 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.

Puzzle games challenge pattern recognition, planning and quick thinking, from falling-block games to single-screen logic puzzles.

Typical commitment: quick session (under an hour, or endless arcade fun). Tip: Puzzle games are perfect for short sessions and often have endless or score-attack modes, so they never really end.