Play DJ Star (EXiMiUS) Online

DJ Star, released by EXiMiUS for the Nintendo DS in 2008, arrived during a period when the handheld was full of experimental touchscreen games. It was one of those titles that tried to turn the system into something else entirely, in this case, a portable DJ setup. You don't hear much about it now, but it had a specific charm for anyone curious about music mixing on the go.

You control everything with the stylus, using the bottom screen as your pair of virtual turntables. The main objective is to complete mixes by scratching, crossfading, and dropping samples in time with the beat. Signature mechanics include matching the scrolling waveforms on the top screen to perform scratches and using the touchscreen to physically manipulate the record platters. The pacing is methodical, requiring a good ear and steady hand rather than quick reflexes. It feels surprisingly tactile and satisfying when you finally lock into a smooth transition between tracks.