Play Spore Hero Arena (US)(M6)(XenoPhobia) Online

Spore Hero Arena came out for the Nintendo DS in 2009, published by Electronic Arts. It was part of that wave of DS games that tried to do something a little different, building on the creature creator from the main Spore series but shrinking the scope down for the handheld. You weren't building a civilization here; it was a much more focused, combat-oriented spinoff.

You control a custom creature you build from parts you earn or unlock, and the main goal is to fight your way through various opponents in enclosed arenas. The core loop involves using the touch screen to drag and drop new parts onto your creature, like claws or horns that change your attack properties, and then testing that build in real-time battles. Fights are fast and rely on timing your dodges and special moves rather than just mashing buttons; you might swing a tail, shoot a projectile, or charge up a powerful strike. The difficulty comes from adapting your build to counter specific enemy tactics, and it feels satisfying when a new combination of parts finally lets you overcome a challenging rival. It's a game of constant, tangible experimentation.