What Ds Games Are Worth Money

When it comes to rare and valuable games, Nintendo consoles have as many as any other systems – and the Nintendo DS is no exception. The rarest and most expensive Nintendo DS games have maintained their value over the years. And in many cases, a lot of DS titles have increased in price since their respective debuts.

This collection of valuable Nintendo DS games only includes titles that were publically available for purchase – meaning no unreleased "demo-only" or "not for resale" promotional copies. These handheld favorites are still available at online retailers and used game stores today, and DS owners may still have copies of these beloved entries in their collection.

(Please note: Prices and information below are accurate as of January 23, 2020. This article has been and will continue to be updated to reflect current rates, but prices can fluctuate. Additionally, the information provided is based on average used complete-in-box listings on eBay that have actually sold. Prices for other retailers and conditions may differ from those shown below.)

The25 Rarest (And Most Expensive) Nintendo DS Games:

1. Shepherd's Crossing 2 | $295

Average Price Sold: $295
Genre: Simulation / RPG
eBay: See Pricing

Description : "Shepherd's Crossing 2 DS is a full-featured and in-depth farming simulation and strategy game. At its heart, the game is about the player living in a small town and communicating with the other villagers while raising livestock, harvesting crops, and building a farm. Aside from laying out fields and deciding where to herd the animals, players must also pay attention to the placement of their resources, arranging their life as they see fit. As a special feature unique to the DS, interaction with others is a major part of the game. One can even court, date and marry. It's just one goal in a game filled with things to do and people to meet."

Why It's So Valuable : Like the Harvest Moon series, Shepherd's Crossing is a farming simulation game franchise with a cult following – except it's more niche and there are even fewer copies out in the wild.

2. Solatorobo: Red The Hunter | $161

Average Price Sold: $161
Genre: Action RPG
eBay: See Pricing

Description : "Set out on an adventure amid floating islands and witness a world brought to life by renowned designers and animators. Battle robot enemies, build your strength and undertake quests as you journey through the Shepherd Republic and meet fascinating characters. Take control of Red as he's drawn into an epic tale and becomes responsible for the fate of the world."

Why It's So Valuable : Solatorobo is pretty niche, even by JRPG standards. There weren't too many copies floating around when the game launched, so a complete-in-box unit is worth quite a bit today.

3. Jewel Time Deluxe | $160

Average Price Sold: $160
Genre: Puzzle
eBay: See Pricing

Description : "Jewel Time Deluxe is packed full of gem-swapping match 3 games plus loads of new twist and turns to keep you entertained for hours! Offering new gameplay modes for increased enjoyment & longevity, Jewel Time Deluxe offers casual gamers a new match 3 experience."

Why It's So Valuable : Puzzle games were quite popular on the Nintendo DS, but titles from less popular franchises (like Jewel Time) weren't published in huge quantities, making them quite valuable today.

4. Pokémon HeartGold [With Pokéwalker] | $121

Average Price Sold: $121
Genre: RPG
eBay: See Pricing

Description : "Return to the beloved Johto region first introduced in the Pokémon Gold and Silver Version games for the portable Game Boy system. Several new enhancements for the series, such as updated graphics and touch screen features, enrich these timeless adventures, and the new Pokéwalker accessory allows players to take their favorite Pokémon with them wherever they go"

Why It's So Valuable : In general, Pokémon games maintain their value pretty well – and that goes double when it comes to HeartGold and SoulSilver on the DS. And those who hung onto the Pokéwalker bundles could turn quite the profit.

5. Pokémon SoulSilver [With Pokéwalker] | $102

Average Price Sold: $102
Genre: RPG
eBay: See Pricing

Why It's So Valuable : Even without the Pokéwalker, HeartGold and SoulSilver are some of the DS' more valuable titles. With the Pokéwalker accessory, however, they are even more valuable.

6. Dragon Quest VI: Realms Of Revelation | $100

Average Price Sold: $100
Genre: RPG
eBay: See Pricing

Description : "Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation for Nintendo DS brings the classic console title into the handheld scene. Explore two parallel worlds while distinguishing reality from illusion and seeking to discover the true meaning of your very existence."

Why It's So Valuable : Even JRPG franchises as celebrated Dragon Quest don't see a ton of prints in the west. But because of their relative popularity and usually high standard of quality, these games are typically highly sought after.

7. Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ | $98

Average Price Sold: $98
Genre: Action / Shooter
eBay: See Pricing

Description : "Use the great arsenal of weapons at your disposal to do away with the savage hordes of zombies. Shoot, blast, massacre, bombard, and burn your enemies to the bone with a simple touch of your stylus on the console screen. Can you save fairy tale land, or will you let its creatures live unhappily ever after?"

Why It's So Valuable : Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ only saw a physical release in North America. It was only released as a DSiWare title in Europe and not at all in other regions.

8. Commando: Steel Disaster | $93

Average Price Sold: $93
Genre: Run & Gun
eBay: See Pricing

Description : "Assuming the role of 'Storm', who is extremely agile with a plethora of actions, players will battle against the arch-enemy hoodlum organization 'Rattlesnake' and its henchmen. Besides basic actions, such as shoot, jump, and throw, Storm has a rolling maneuver to dodge enemy strikes that are extended further with additional diversification to ensure a grueling but progressive challenge!"

Why It's So Valuable : Like other DSiWare titles that saw a physical release, there wasn't a ton of Commando: Steel Disaster copies printed.

9. Mega Man Star Force 3: Red Joker | $80

Average Price Sold: $80
Genre: Action RPG
eBay: See Pricing

Description : "Mega Man Star Force 3 is a unique blend of an action and role-playing game (RPG), combining the high-intensity combat that is the hallmark of Mega Man games with Star Force's strategic battle system. By defeating enemies and boss characters, players earn battle cards that enhance and evolve Mega Man's abilities and attacks."

Why It's So Valuable : Capcom developed and published a ton of Mega Man games for Nintendo handhelds over the years, but they didn't print a ton of copies for spin-off titles like Star Force.

10. Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier [Soundtrack Bundle] | $79

Average Price Sold: $79
Genre: RPG
eBay: See Pricing

Description : "Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier is a unique sci-fi/fantasy RPG that takes players across a variety of worlds, ranging from an apocalyptic wasteland covered with the hulks of downed spaceships to a fantastical place of fairy tales and dark magic. Join Haken Browning: gunslinger, professional bounty hunter, and amateur ladies' man, along with his motley crew of robots, were-beasts, secret agents, and busty princesses as they delve deep into the mysteries of how their worlds came to be and face a threat that imperils the multiverse."

Why It's So Valuable : Developer and publisher Atlus is known for printing limited quantities of games in the west, and Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier is no exception.

11. The Dark Spire [Soundtrack Bundle] | $78

Average Price Sold: $78
Genre: RPG
eBay: See Pricing

Description : "The Dark Spire is an RPG of exploration and character development in the purest sense. Parties will be assembled, stats will be rolled, items, weapons, and armor shall be equipped, and monsters will be slain."

Why It's So Valuable : The Dark Spire is another Atlus game so quantities are limited – even more so for the Soundtrack Bundle. Just the game by itself, however, still goes for a decent amount of money.

12. Black Sigil: Blade Of The Exiled | $76

Average Price Sold: $76
Genre: RPG
eBay: See Pricing

Description : "Bel Lenora is a world where people are born with magic at their command. Years ago, a single man walked the land with no magic in his veins. He brought death and tragedy in his wake and was banished by a brave General at a great cost. It has been fifteen years since his banishment and once again, a young man with no magic walks the land of Bel Lenora. Join Kairu, a young knight, born with a cursed spirit."

Why It's So Valuable : Black Sigil: Blade Of The Exiled was originally planned to be released on the Game Boy Advance, but it got pushed to the DS. Even then it didn't see a wide release and was limited to North America.

13. Blue Dragon: Awakened Shadow | $76

Average Price Sold: $76
Genre: RPG
eBay: See Pricing

Description : "Awakened Shadow is designed to take full advantage of the Nintendo DS capabilities allowing players to engage in impressive boss battles with up to two friends and earn and trade items via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection in multiplayer mode. Players will be able to attack enemies faster than ever before with upgraded weapons and powerful Shadows, which can be switched for tactical advantages. Players will roam a 3D open-world environment across several unique "cube" worlds as they take on formidable Otherworld bosses, complete multiple challenges, and recruit over a dozen characters in their own custom adventure."

Why It's So Valuable : JRPGs don't generally see a ton of copies printed in the west, and that goes double for games from more obscure franchises.

14. Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers Of The Sky | $74

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers Of Sky

Average Price Sold: $74
Genre: Roguelike
eBay: See Pricing

Description : "Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky is the newest installment in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon video game series. The game expands on the fun found in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness. Players be a Pokémon and team up with a partner Pokémon. Together the two set out on an adventure of exploration and discovery, ultimately saving the world from destruction."

Why It's So Valuable : As previously stated, Pokémon games tend to maintain their value; the same can be said for the spin-off games.

15. Magician's Quest: Mysterious Times | $73

Average Price Sold: $73
Genre: Simulation / RPG
eBay: See Pricing

Description : "Set in a magic school, the game entails mastering a series of spells and incantations in order to achieve a Magician Licence and become Master Wizard. To this end, the player enrolls in the Magic Academy where alongside over 150 fully interactive pupils, they must learn and implement key spells and use them wisely."

Why It's So Valuable : Magician's Quest is like the Animal Crossing series, but far more obscure. And considering the rabid fanbase for the Animal Crossing franchise, it should come as no surprise that this title is as sought after today as it is.

16. Dokapon Journey | $73

Average Price Sold: $73
Genre: Party
eBay: See Pricing

Description : "The Kingdom of Dokapon is in peril! Desperate to do away with the monster invasion that has overrun his land, the King has offered his crown and the hand of his daughter, Princess Penny, to whoever can restore peace once again. Heroes from distant lands rise to the call, but with multiple adventurers offering to assist in the struggle, each eagerly eyeing the prizes that await the champion of Dokapon, they must now fight amongst themselves to save the kingdom and claim their reward."

Why It's So Valuable : Dokapon Journey wasn't released in all regions, so there are significantly fewer copies floating around than your standard Atlus-published game.

17. My World, My Way | $71

Average Price Sold: $71
Genre: RPG
eBay: See Pricing

Description : "My World, My Way features Elise, who is a beautiful princess and has been given everything she's ever wanted. Upon turning 15, she realizes there's only one thing in the world she lacks, a handsome boyfriend. She sets out to remedy this by asking her father to hold a ball in her honor, to which every prince is invited to come and try his hand at wooing her. However, only one young man catches Elise's eye, and, as it turns out, he is no prince, but an adventurer."

Why It's So Valuable : Another JRPG, another desirable title among genre fans and collectors.

18. Mega Man Star Force 3: Black Ace | $67

Average Price Sold: $67
Genre: Action RPG
eBay: See Pricing

Why It's So Valuable : Basically copy and paste this section from Red Joker. This title just sells for slightly less, on average.

19. Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City | $63

Average Price Sold: $63
Genre: RPG / Dungeon Crawler
eBay: See Pricing

Description "Aspiring explorers are responsible for charting their travels utilizing the intuitive touchscreen map editor, meaning that careless cartography could easily spell doom for a fatigued party trying to escape danger. Powerful challenges demand cunning and strategy: players will assemble and fully customize their party of adventurers from a variety of highly specialized classes and sub-classes. For the patient and prepared, fame and fortune await."

Why It's So Valuable : Etrian Odyssey III is a relatively late DS release that didn't quite make it to every region.

20. Mega Man Star Force: Dragon | $63

Average Price Sold: $63
Genre: Action RPG
eBay: See Pricing

Description : "Mega Man Star Force introduces a new lead character, a boy named Subaru Hoshikawa, whose astronaut father has disappeared after a mysterious incident at the satellite station. Fond memories of spending time with his father have inspired Subaru's interests in the stars and what lies beyond. One day, Subaru heads to the observation deck and puts on a pair of 'visualizer' glasses that had belonged to his father. These allow the wearer to see all the electric connections that exist between spaces. When he puts on these special goggles, a specific wave is triggered, summoning the presence of a mysterious alien life form named Warlock who had escaped from the planet FM."

Why It's So Valuable : Mega Man Star Force was released in three different versions, Dragon being exclusive to GameStop and EB Games in North America.

21. Girls Only | $60

Average Price Sold: $60
Genre: Simulation
eBay: See Pricing

Description : "Girls Only is the newest game for girls between the ages of nine and twelve that encourages them to use their imagination and create the latest fashion designs, add a decorative touch and splash of color to their chosen room, manage their own ice-cream parlor and nurture and care for their own pets."

Why It's So Valuable : The DS was so popular and its library is so big that games like Girls Only were released with very little fanfare and very few copies. Girls Only didn't start raising in value until years after it's release, but now, it's one of the more valuable titles for the handheld.

22. Drone Tactics | $60

Average Price Sold: $60
Genre: Turn-Based Strategy
eBay: See Pricing

Description : "Transported to an alien world, you find yourself in the middle of a great conflict. An army of evil Drones is on the march, threatening to obliterate the land of Cimexus. Its inhabitants now turn to you to lead them in battle against the Black Swarm. Each level offers new challenges, and taking full advantage of each Drone's unique specialties will be the difference between success and defeat!"

Why It's So Valuable : Drone Tactics is a strategy RPG published by Atlus in North America – enough said.

23. Hoppie | $59

Average Price Sold: $59
Genre: Action / Platformer
eBay: See Pricing

Description : 'Break the evil spell cast on your kingdom as you hop through multiple stages, bringing livelihood to everything you touch! You are Hoppie, the bouncing bunny on a mission to restore peace and prosperity to the world!"

Why It's So Valuable : Hoppie isn't a JRPG or a spin-off of a Japanese licensed game franchise, but it's limited quantities have made it quite valuable among collectors.

24. Avalon Code | $58

Average Price Sold: $58
Genre: Action RPG
eBay: See Pricing

Description : "From the creative minds behind Rune Factory and Harvest Moon with the development studio responsible for the Final Fantasy III and Final Fantasy IV DS remakes comes Avalon Code, an action RPG boasting a deep and engrossing story and innovative gameplay mechanics. Using the main character's 'Book of Prophecy', players can modify the rules of engagement during battle as well as weapon and monster attributes. The player even has control over the story as it changes depending on which gender the player chooses to play as, enhancing the ability to immerse themselves into the story."

Why It's So Valuable : Creatives behind less niche JRPGs made this pretty niche JRPG and it increased in value after its release.

25. Dragon Quest V: Hand Of The Heavenly Bride | $57

Average Price Sold: $57
Genre: RPG
eBay: See Pricing

Description : "This entry in the Zenithia Trilogy follows a journey that transcends three generations. Travel alongside your father on his quest to see the world, grow to set forth on a journey of your own and face life-altering decisions as you continue your family's legacy."

Why It's So Valuable : Again, Dragon Quest games usually maintain (and raise) their value pretty well.

Those are the rarest and most expensive Nintendo DS games, but which are your recommended picks? Make sure to shout your favorites in the comments and let us know why they are worth picking up.