Can You Download Games on Nintendo DS?
The short answer is: no, you cannot directly download new games onto a Nintendo DS in the way you might be used to with modern consoles. While the Nintendo DS family did have some download capabilities, they were limited and largely no longer functional. The era of actively purchasing and downloading new games for the original Nintendo DS, DS Lite, and DSi systems is over.
However, the story is a bit more nuanced, so let’s delve into the details and clarify what is and isn’t possible when it comes to downloading games on your beloved Nintendo DS.
The End of the eShop Era for Nintendo DS
The most significant factor in this is the closure of the Nintendo eShop for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U on March 27, 2023. While the original DS did not have an eShop in the same sense as the 3DS, its successor’s eShop’s closure has implications for downloadable content in the entire DS family of consoles.
The Original Download Functionality of the Nintendo DS
The original Nintendo DS and DS Lite did not offer direct digital downloads of full retail games. Instead, they relied primarily on physical game cartridges, or DS Game Cards. You bought a game in its physical form, inserted it into the DS Game Card Slot (SLOT-1), and played. These systems also had the DS Download Play feature which allowed a limited version of a game to be shared wirelessly from one DS to another, or to participate in multiplayer experiences, not a full download though.
The Nintendo DSi, however, took a step towards digital distribution by introducing the Nintendo DSi Shop, which allowed users to download DSiWare games, an array of smaller and often budget-priced games.
Why You Can No Longer Download New Games
With the closure of the eShop, and the cessation of DSi Shop services, it is no longer possible to purchase or download new games through official Nintendo channels for any system within the DS family. This means that:
- You cannot buy new games through any online store for the original Nintendo DS or DS Lite.
- You cannot purchase or download DSiWare titles for your DSi or DSi XL, nor can you redownload them if lost.
- You cannot add funds to any related digital accounts.
Although Nintendo has indicated that redownloading previously purchased content may be possible for the foreseeable future for 3DS systems, this is completely distinct from the original DS systems and does not apply to those earlier consoles. In short, the era of digital downloads for the Nintendo DS is essentially finished.
Playing Games on Your DS: What is Still Possible?
Even though you can’t download new games anymore, there are still ways to enjoy your Nintendo DS:
- Physical Game Cartridges: The primary way to play games on a Nintendo DS, DS Lite, or original DSi is by using physical DS Game Cards. There is a large library of games available, both new and used, to explore.
- Used Games Market: Look to online marketplaces, used game stores, or friends to acquire a variety of DS titles.
- Legacy Content: If you have a Nintendo 3DS, you can use its backwards compatibility to play DS game cartridges.
FAQs about Downloading Games on Nintendo DS
Here are some frequently asked questions to provide further clarity on the topic:
1. Can I Still Redownload Games I Previously Purchased on My DSi?
Unfortunately, no. With the closure of the DSi Shop, it is no longer possible to redownload purchased DSiWare titles. Once they are gone, they are gone.
2. Can I Download Games onto an SD Card for My DS?
No, not directly, nor in the traditional sense. While the Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS XL, and Nintendo 2DS systems can use SD cards up to 32 GB to store downloaded software and other data, the original Nintendo DS, DS Lite, and DSi systems do not use SD cards for storing games. These systems use the physical game cartridges and, in the case of the DSi, a limited amount of internal memory.
3. Why Can’t My DS Download Games?
The main reason is that the Nintendo DS and DS Lite were designed primarily for physical game cartridges. The DSi had digital downloads via the DSi Shop, but that service has been discontinued.
4. Are DS Games Region-Locked?
No. All Nintendo handhelds except both Nintendo DSi models and the Nintendo 3DS are fully region-free. This means you can play games from any region on your Nintendo DS, DS Lite, or original DSi. However, the DSi and 3DS are region-locked for games specific to those systems.
5. Can I Play Game Boy Games on a DS?
No. The Nintendo DS and DS Lite do not have the necessary processor to play Game Boy, Game Boy Color, or Game Boy Advance games. There are different methods that people use to play those on DS systems but this is only via homebrew software.
6. What is DS Download Play?
DS Download Play allows limited multiplayer experiences. A host system shares a small portion of a game wirelessly to other DS systems. It does not provide a full game download.
7. Will DS Game Cartridges Eventually Stop Working?
Yes, they will eventually stop working, but how long they will last depends on how well they are maintained. If kept in a clean, dry place, they can last decades, but eventually, the data storage will degrade.
8. Can I Install Apps on My DS?
No, not in the way you might think. The DSi had access to some DSiWare apps, but those are no longer available. The original DS and DS Lite did not have any ability to download apps. There are some unofficial applications that people create and install through other methods but this is not through official channels.
9. Why are Used DS Games So Expensive?
Demand and limited supply are the primary reasons. As the systems have aged, the supply of physical games has dwindled while nostalgia for the games has increased demand which has caused prices to rise.
10. What Was the Last Official DS Game Released?
The last physical game for the Nintendo DS was Big Hero 6: Battle in the Bay, released on October 28, 2014.
11. What Does the eShop Closing Mean for My DS?
The closure of the eShop has minimal direct impact on the original Nintendo DS or DS Lite but it does indicate that the era of any kind of official digital distribution is over for that generation of Nintendo handhelds. It does impact the DSi as it can no longer access and redownload previously owned digital titles.
12. Is it Worth Buying a Nintendo DS in 2024?
Yes, if you are interested in playing its large library of games from physical cartridges. Despite the lack of digital downloads, the hardware remains a great way to experience older titles and can provide hours of fun.
13. Are DS games region-free?
Yes, most DS games are region-free, which means you can play them on any DS console from any region. However, this excludes DSi-specific titles that were available through the DSi Shop.
14. What if my SD card is not working in my 3DS?
If you are having issues with an SD card on your 3DS, make sure it is a supported type (up to 2GB SD card, or up to 32GB SDHC card), that it is not full, or that there is no corruption in the content. You can use the Nintendo 3DS Download Repair Tool to repair any application or games that have issues.
15. Is it true that DS games save on the cartridge?
Yes, DS games save their progress data directly onto the game cartridge itself, not on the console’s internal memory. This makes it easy to continue your game progress across consoles.
Conclusion
In summary, you cannot download new games onto a Nintendo DS in the way that you would with modern systems. The era of digital downloads for the Nintendo DS and DSi ended with the closure of Nintendo’s online services, but thankfully, the system’s vast library of physical games remains fully playable with game cartridges which are widely available on the used market. While it might be a bit old now, it still is an excellent system to play many different games.