Plants vs. Zombies on the DS is still one of the best ways to play—something about the stylus controls just feels right for plopping down peashooters and wall-nuts in a panic. You start off simple, just defending your lawn with basic plants, but before long you're juggling sunflowers for resources, cherry bombs for emergencies, and figuring out which zombies need a squash to the face first.

The zombies are ridiculous in the best way—football helmets, screen doors, even disco zombies shimmying toward your house. And the plants? Way more personality than you'd expect from something that photosynthesizes. My first time through, I wasted all my sun on repeater peas before realizing I needed more defense. Learned that lesson the hard way when a buckethead zombie strolled right through.

It’s got that perfect balance where it’s easy to pick up but makes you think a few moves ahead once the levels ramp up. The DS version keeps all the charm of the original, just with the added bonus of poking at your plants with a stylus like some kind of deranged gardener. Still holds up years later.