In a world where all smartphones and tablets are capable of playing brilliant video games such as Angry Birds and Candy Crush Saga, it's easy to forget about the dedicated handheld games consoles on the market. And with the 3DS and PS Vita being the latest and greatest handheld games consoles, it's even easier to forget about the humble Nintendo DS.

However, ignoring the DS would be a huge mistake. Here is a games console of which in excess of 150 million have been sold worldwide since its launch in 2004. It's the best selling handheld games console of all time, and the second best selling games console (handheld or otherwise) ever.

This success means a lot of games have been released for the Nintendo DS, and many of them are eminently playable. A DS can be bought for next to nothing, making it the perfect accompaniment for a vacation or long journey. What follows are five essential Nintendo DS franchises you should play, whether you're a new owner, a veteran user, or even a buyer of the new Nintendo 2DS.

Pokemon

The Pokemon series is one that everybody reading this will be familiar with, as it is known the world over thanks to numerous games, TV shows, and even movies. It's also a franchise that is synonymous with the Nintendo handhelds, starting with the Gameboy and continuing on through to the 3DS and (no doubt) beyond.

There are several Pokemon games available for the DS, including Diamond and Pearl, HeartGold and SoulSilver, and Black and White. All of which are insanely addictive and contain endless hours of entertainment. These are games that, while primarily aimed at kids, will appeal to all, regardless of age or gender.

Scribblenauts

Scribblenauts is a video game franchise that mixes puzzling and edutainment into an eclectic package. You play Maxwell, a (purposely) crudely drawn main character whose mission it is to collect Starites in order to help his cursed sister. You do this by helping NPCs solve problems by using your ability to conjure physical objects from thin air.

This series features puzzles which can be solved in a number of different ways, which lets gamers of all ages put their gray matter to the test. The original Scribblenauts and Super Scribblenauts appeared on the DS, while Scribblenauts Unlimited (which also made our list of educational console games) released on the Wii U.

Advance Wars

Advance Wars (or Famicom Wars or Nintendo Wars) is a series of strategy games that, in one form or another, has appeared on Nintendo consoles since 1988. Two Wars games have been released on the DS: Advance Wars: Dual Strike and Advance Wars: Days Of Ruin. Both of which will take away far too many hours of your life to be healthy.

These titles are both turn-based strategy games which sees you in control of one military power and battling against another for victory in battle. The gameplay is a lot more compelling than it sounds, with individual moves becoming as crucial as any made in a nail-biting chess match.

Professor Layton

The Professor Layton games surely need no introduction, as they've gained an incredible reputation thanks to the combination of classic Japanese-style animation and timeless puzzle-solving. You play Professor Layton and his assistant Luke Triton as they embark on lengthy and engrossing adventures together.

There are four Professor Layton games available for the DS: The Curious Village, The Diabolical Box, The Unwound Future, and The Last Specter. All offer a simple premise featuring puzzles that will give even the oldest and wisest gamers headaches. Which is, as far as puzzle games go, a positive thing.

The Legend Of Zelda

If you have never heard of the famed The Legend of Zelda series then Nintendo has failed in its mission. The original Zelda game was released in 1986, and there have been numerous sequels and iterations released in the succeeding years. With the exception of just a couple of below-par titles, most Zelda games are more than worthy of playing.

There have been two Zelda games released on the DS: Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks. While the best Zelda games have appeared on the home consoles, these two handheld titles are gems in their own right, with an inventive control system being employed to keep things feeling fresh.

Conclusions

I still own my DS, and I'm not sure I'll ever part with the trusty Nintendo handheld. It's the perfect console for when you're out of the house and either need to kill a few minutes or feel the need to get your gaming groove on. The five franchises listed above represent the best of the best that you really cannot go wrong with.

Do you own a handheld games console? Would you consider buying a Nintendo DS or does your smartphone fulfill your desire to game on the go? Are there any DS games which have resonated with you to the point you'd feel comfortable recommending them to all and sundry? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Image Credit: Joseph Choi