Phantom Hourglass is one of those Zelda games that just gets the DS—you’re tapping, swiping, and scribbling with the stylus for everything, from slashing your sword to drawing paths for boomerangs. At first, I thought the touch controls would feel gimmicky, but they actually make sailing between islands weirdly satisfying (even if the Temple of the Ocean King can be a bit of a pain on repeat visits).

The story picks up right after Wind Waker, so if you’ve played that, seeing Link and Tetra again feels like catching up with old friends. The puzzles are clever without being brutal, and there’s this one boss where you literally close the DS to win—no spoilers, but it’s the kind of thing that makes you grin when it clicks.

It’s not the biggest Zelda game, but it’s packed with little details that make the world feel alive, like digging up treasure maps or arguing with a stubborn old boat. Definitely one of the more underrated entries in the series.