Nintendo DS Multiplayer: Local Wireless, Online History, and Top Games That Supported Linking

The Nintendo DS pioneered portable online gaming with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection (WFC), a free service that let players battle, trade, and cooperate across the internet. Launched in 2005, it powered hits like Mario Kart DS, Pokémon Diamond/Pearl, and Animal Crossing: Wild World. However, Nintendo officially shut down WFC on May 20, 2014, ending all official online functionality for DS and Wii titles.

Two Ways DS Consoles Connected

• Local Wireless (Ad-hoc): Direct console-to-console communication within ~30 feet. No internet required. Still works today.
• Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection (Infrastructure): Online play via home Wi-Fi. Defunct since 2014.

Notable Games With Multiplayer Linking

• Mario Kart DS – Local and online racing
• Animal Crossing: Wild World – Visit friends' towns
• New Super Mario Bros. – Local co-op/versus
• Pokémon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum/HeartGold/SoulSilver/Black/White/Black 2/White 2 – Trading, battling, Global Terminal (GTS)
• Elite Beat Agents – Local versus
• The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass – Local multiplayer modes
• Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon – Local wireless battles
• Advance Wars: Days of Ruin – Local and online
• Dragon Quest IX – Local co-op questing

What Still Works Today

• Local wireless multiplayer – Fully functional between two DS/3DS systems.
• DSi/3DS backward compatibility – Can link with original DS games locally.
• Single-player content – Unaffected.

Modern Alternatives for Online Play

• MelonDS / DeSmuME (PC emulators) – Support netplay for local wireless simulation over LAN/internet. Requires owning original game ROMs.
• Community server projects – Efforts like Wiimmfi (primarily Wii) and AltWFC (DS) aim to restore online services unofficially. Setup requires custom DNS and sometimes homebrew. Reliability varies.

For pure local play, the DS remains a fantastic couch-co-op handheld. For online, emulation + netplay is currently the most stable route.