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For the best all-round kart racer on Nintendo DS, start with Mario Kart DS: Nintendo lists 32 courses and five modes, from Grand Prix and Time Trial to Battle and Mission. If you want licensed street cars instead, Asphalt: Urban GT offers urban races and a distinctive Cop Chase mode. Need for Speed Most Wanted and Race Driver: GRID are further options, though the available official descriptions provide fewer details for comparing them.
Mario Kart DS: the broadest feature set
Mario Kart DS is the strongest default recommendation if you want a kart racer with several ways to play. Nintendo lists 32 courses, including classic courses from earlier entries, and five modes:
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Sonic All Star Racing - Nintendo DS (Renewed) | $22.87 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Need for Speed Most Wanted - Nintendo DS (Renewed) | $33.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Mario Kart DS | $70.04 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
M&M's Kart Racing - Nintendo DS (Renewed) | Buy on Amazon | |
| 5 |
|
Mx Vs ATV Untamed - Nintendo DS (Renewed) | $32.94 | Buy on Amazon |
- Grand Prix: race through cups.
- Time Trial: race against the clock.
- VS.: set up races.
- Battle: compete in battle formats.
- Mission: take on objective-based challenges.
The official manual lists 50cc, 100cc, and 150cc classes, as well as CPU difficulty settings and multiplayer race options. Nintendo also highlights the Blooper and Bullet Bill items and an emblem editor for kart customization. Its product page lists multiplayer for one to eight players. These published features make it the best all-round pick here by breadth; they are not a head-to-head performance test or a universal ranking.
Nintendo’s Mario Kart DS product page and official manual provide the feature details.
#1 Best Overall
Asphalt: Urban GT: licensed cars and Cop Chase
Choose Asphalt: Urban GT if karts are not what you want. Nintendo describes it as a mix of arcade and simulation racing, with licensed high-performance cars from manufacturers including Lamborghini, Jaguar, and Hummer, plus urban tracks.
Its standout alternative is Cop Chase: one player takes the police role and tries to apprehend the other. Nintendo also lists multi-card wireless races with up to four other players, a different format from the one-to-eight-player figure listed for Mario Kart DS.
Rank #2
- Engage in (and escalate) epic pursuits at your own discretion
- Customize and build and tune your ride to go bumper to bumper with the super car icons
- Rule the streets as you race on teh open road, in an open world where the environment can be a friend for a foe
- Master short-cuts and use the traffic and destructible environments to your advantage
- In Tuner Takedown mode, gamers can become a cop and track & arrest racers
Nintendo’s Asphalt: Urban GT page describes its cars, modes, and multiplayer.
Other DS racing games to consider
Need for Speed Most Wanted
Nintendo confirms a Nintendo DS release and gives 11 November 2005 as the regional release date on its product page. The official description available here does not establish enough about the DS version’s modes or handling to make a detailed comparison with the other picks.
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Rank #3
- Now you can play Mario Kart against opponents all over the world with Mario Kart DS. Mario Kart DS includes new tracks, as well as retro tracks selected from all the previous Mario Kart versions. In addition to a handful of single-player modes, you can play with up to eight players locally or with four players over the Internet. Your records are stored in your cartridge, and a unique friend code lets you keep track of friends online.
Nintendo’s Need for Speed Most Wanted page
Race Driver: GRID
Nintendo describes supercar challenges featuring vehicles such as the Aston Martin DBR9 and Dodge Viper. Its page also describes an online mode associated with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection at the time of publication; that historical feature description does not establish that the service works today.
Nintendo’s Race Driver: GRID page
Choose by the kind of racing you want
| Game | Best fit | Documented features | Multiplayer detail listed by Nintendo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Kart DS | Kart racing with varied modes | 32 courses; Grand Prix, Time Trial, VS., Battle, and Mission | One to eight players |
| Asphalt: Urban GT | Licensed street cars and a chase variant | Urban tracks; Cop Chase; arcade and simulation elements | Multi-card wireless play with up to four other players |
| Need for Speed Most Wanted | A further named street-racing option | Not stated in the cited Nintendo product description | Not stated in the cited Nintendo product description |
| Race Driver: GRID | Supercar challenges | Challenges featuring cars including the Aston Martin DBR9 and Dodge Viper | Nintendo describes an online mode from the period; present availability is not established |
If you are choosing between just the first two, the split is straightforward: pick Mario Kart DS for its range of modes and courses, or Asphalt: Urban GT for licensed cars and Cop Chase. The official descriptions cited here do not support a reliable comparison of handling, frame rate, or overall technical performance across these games.
Rank #4
- Play as your favorite M&M's characters. 12 unique race environments loaded with collectable bonus items.
- 7 different customizable race vehicles to choose from
- Real time physics offers different feels in street, dirt, ice and sand venues
- Tune up your cars with accessories and upgrade kits in full 3D at the M&M's garage
- Outrageous stunt combinations including jumps, 2 wheel rides, and turbo speeds
Buying a DS game card
If you are shopping for a physical copy, check the seller’s description for cartridge condition, region, and whether the original case is included. Nintendo identifies Mario Kart DS as a Nintendo DS game card. Current stock, prices, and seller quality are not established here, so verify those details with the seller before buying.
Nintendo’s Mario Kart DS manual discusses Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, but a historical manual is not confirmation of present-day online service availability.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
