Exhibit: Nintendo DS (2004–2014)
Released: November 21, 2004 (North America) · March 11, 2005 (UK)
Manufacturer: Nintendo
Units Sold: 154.02 million worldwide
Status: The best-selling handheld of all time
Touching Is Good
Nintendo's marketing slogan for the DS was "Touching is Good" — a reference to the touchscreen that occupied the bottom of its clamshell design. The DS was a bold experiment: two screens, touch input, a microphone, and wireless connectivity. It looked strange. It played brilliantly.
The DS sold 154 million units — more than any handheld before or since. Its library ranged from the casual (Brain Training, Nintendogs) to the hardcore (Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, Advance Wars: Dual Strike), making it genuinely universal in its appeal.
Iconic Games
- Pokémon Diamond & Pearl — the fourth generation, with online trading and battling
- New Super Mario Bros. — 2D Mario's triumphant return
- Mario Kart DS — the first Mario Kart with online play
- Brain Training — the game that expanded gaming's audience dramatically
- The World Ends With You — a JRPG of extraordinary originality
- Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow — the finest Castlevania on the platform
The DS Family
The DS spawned a remarkable family: the DS Lite (slimmer, brighter), the DSi (cameras, online shop), and ultimately the 3DS — which added glasses-free 3D and became its own platform. The DS line dominated handheld gaming for over a decade.
Explore More Gaming History
→ Return to the RetroReplay Museum | → Shop Nintendo consoles