This year was a busy year for Nintendo’s handheld, with heaps upon heaps of games released over the course of 2009. Amidst the onslaught of titles to be released though, 2009 also marked the release of some of the most original, as well as best, titles for the system. Below, I’ve compiled a list of ten games that stood above the rest. If you haven’t played these titles, it’s time to start spending that christmas money from grandma.

1. Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor
Atlus’ popular demon battling RPG series finally hit handhelds this year and with wonderful results. Sporting a new focus on strategy-RPG gameplay mixed with Dragon Quest-style turn-based battles, a wide array of monsters to obtain, and a dark and engaging plot, Devil Summoner was easily one of the best games of the year.

2. Mario and Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story
The Mario Bros. again proved this year that they still got it with the newest entry in the popular role-playing series. And while the the plumber duo partook in the typical platform jumping, goomba stomping, hammer bashing shenanigans their known for, this game absolutely belonged to Bowser. Whether he was summoning minions to KO foes, growing to size of Godzilla, or just breathing fire, this was Bowser’s chance to shine. Easily one of the best titles on the system.

3. Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
For his newest outing, Link decided to ditch his trusty seafaring ship and choo-choo-choose something different. Traversing Hyrule by means of train, Link and Zelda embarked on a grand adventure that put the first DS entry, Phantom Hourglass, to shame. With some of the best graphics on the system, innovative cooperative play with (first time ever) teammate Zelda, and a darker story than other entries, Spirit Tracks is a return to form for the long-standing series.

4. Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars
Guns, drugs, and hookers. What else could you ask for?

5. Pokemon Platinum
Not so much an evolution to the series as a handful of refinements, Platinum again proved this year that people still love pokemon. For those that weren’t of tired of catching them all, there was more than enough in Platinum to keep fans coming back for more. If you’re looking for bang for your buck, this is your game.

6. Knights in the Nightmare
Best described as part strategy-RPG, part bullet-dodging shooter, Knights follows a continuing trend of original games hitting the DS. While some may be turned off by the initial steep learning curve (myself included at first), those that persevere will discover a deep and involving game with an engaging story and a large cast of characters for you to recruit in your quest for vengeance. If you’re looking for something new and fresh to whet your gaming appetite, I can assure you - you’ve never played a game like this before.

7. Professor Layton & the Diabolical Box
Solver of puzzles and long-lost love to Carmen Sandiego, Professor Layton and his trusty sidekick, Luke, returned for more hair-pulling, brain-bending puzzle goodness. With an all new adventure spanning more varied locations than the first title, new puzzles, and some minor tweaks to the already solid gameplay mechanics, Diabolical Box was everything fans could ask for and then some.

8. Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
OK, so the game suffered from repetition at times but it also sported some amazing visuals and solid gameplay. Besides, it’s Kingdom Hearts. Do you need any other reasons as to why you should play this?

9. Scribblenauts
I’m just going to get this out of the way right now, this game isn’t the second coming of gaming like we were lead to believe. Shoddy character control and some item confusion (ie: summoning a bridge to cross a lake but it turns out to be too small) aside, Scribblenauts was still one of the standout titles of the year with it’s delightful charm and focus on imagination. Hopefully, a sequel will someday address the issues plaguing this title and we truly will see the second coming of gaming. For now, I’m content with having God ride a skateboard, shotgun in hand, blasting away zombies.

10. Phantasy Star Zero
The addictive world of MMORPG’s hit the DS this year in the form of Phantasy Star Zero. While the game didn’t look as flashy as it’s console predecessors, Zero pushed the DS as much as it could with a commendable graphics engine. In addition, players everywhere could go online and play with friends through dungeons, fighting bosses and level grinding to their heart’s content. Oh, and did I mention you could play without the need of friend codes (via free play)? Kudos to Sega for thinking of us who don’t have any online friends *sniffle*

That’s it for 2009. Don’t agree with the top 10? Was there a glaring omission? Let us know!