Mario Kart DS is that classic handheld racer where you pick your favorite Nintendo character—I always go for Yoshi—and tear through wild tracks full of shortcuts and banana traps. The controls feel tight, and the drifting mechanic actually matters here, unlike some later entries. First race in, you'll probably get hit by a blue shell right before the finish line, and yeah, it stings, but that's Mario Kart.

What's cool is the multiplayer—local or download play meant you could race against friends even if they didn't own the game. The retro tracks from older Mario Karts are a nice touch too, especially when you realize how much smoother they feel on the DS. It's chaotic, it's unfair sometimes, but man, nailing that perfect drift boost on Waluigi Pinball never gets old.