Play Destiny Links (JP) Online

Destiny Links came out for the Nintendo DS in 2009, developed by Capcom. It was part of that late-era DS lineup, a time when developers were still finding clever ways to use both screens for more than just menus. This one slipped under the radar for a lot of people, but it had its own quiet charm.

You control a party of adventurers from an overhead view, exploring the world screen by screen. Your main goal is to stop a spreading corruption by sealing rifts, which involves a lot of dungeon crawling. The combat is turn-based but happens right on the map; you link your party members together in formations that change their attack patterns and range. Positioning is everything, and a wrong move can leave a character isolated and vulnerable. The pacing is deliberate, and some of the later puzzles require real spatial thinking. It feels like solving a tactical puzzle with every encounter.