What began as a bizarre shot in the dark has fast become one of the biggest success stories in video games. Even though its first six months were rough and questionable, the DS currently owns the handheld market, and with good reason. There's literally something for everyone on the dual-screened portable, and its beautiful cosmetic makeover (known as the DS Lite) made the device all the more palatable to hardcore and casual gamers alike. With its mixture of brain teasing puzzle games, life-robbing adventures and online grudge matches, this system simply cannot fail right now.

But with countless games inundating store shelves as we speak, which are good enough to bring home? That's where our handy guide comes in. Last year held an astonishingly diverse batch of hits and 2006 was no different. Combine the wide assortment with our focused guide and you'll have no trouble finding the best gift for any type of gamer.