Are DS Game Cartridges Made of Metal? (No – Plastic Shell, Gold Contacts)

No. Nintendo DS game cards are primarily plastic with internal electronics.

Construction

• Shell: Molded polycarbonate/ABS plastic.
• Internal PCB: Fiberglass board with mask ROM (game data), save memory (EEPROM/Flash), and sometimes a small battery (for RTC in titles like Pokémon).
• Contacts: Gold-plated copper pads on the PCB edge—this is the only metal exposed externally.
• Shell Screws: Small metal tri-wing or Phillips screws (2–3) hold the case together.

DS Console Metal Parts

The console itself has metal hinges, shoulder button springs, and internal shielding—but the game card is overwhelmingly plastic.