Play Spore Hero Arena (EU) Online

Spore Hero Arena came out on the Nintendo DS in 2009, developed by Maxis. It was part of that wave of DS games that tried to bring bigger, more complex ideas to the handheld, and it stood out for its focus on creature creation and arena combat instead of the broader evolution sim its console cousin offered.

You control a custom creature you build from a huge array of parts, each affecting its abilities and attacks. The main goal is to fight through a series of themed arenas, defeating opponents to earn new parts and DNA that let you evolve your creation further. Combat is real time; you use the touch screen to swipe for attacks, tap to activate special moves, and drag parts to modify your creature between matches. The pacing is fairly quick, with matches that don't overstay their welcome, though some later battles can get tough if your build isn't optimized. It feels satisfying to see a creature you designed yourself gradually become powerful enough to dominate the arena.