DS game for a 9 year old's birthday

I want to get a DS game for my little brother's birthday, but I'm not sure what would be the most accessible, fun, and appropriately challenging game. I was thinking about getting him the latest layton or picross 3D, but they might be too difficult for a 9 year old. Are they? Any suggestions?

Hmm... Scribblenauts or Super Scribblenauts and Drawn to Life are probably good for that age range.  I'll check out my kid's DS game collection and see what she has.

Devil Survivor :P.

Pokemon
Zelda: Spirit Tracks (Fact: kids love trains)
Any of the Mario RPGs

Mario

Do him a favor, get him a Pokemon game if he doesn't have one yet. Those are perfect for his age.

I would have originally said to give a little kid Layton, but Brad and the crew amazed me with their Layton quick look so I'd say don't try it.

I'm not sure how a little kid would react to Picross 3D he might not appreciate and think you gave him homework.

Those are probably too hard. A Mario or Zelda game might be good!

From what I can get its all about the cartoon shovel ware titles. like Spongebob and what have you. eventhough they play terrible from our standpoint kids love em. But Im not sure about a 9 yearold ;/

Pokemon or something with Mario in the title.

Pokemon for sure.

He's played both pokemon and mario rpg.

I would go wit the pokemans

" He's played both pokemon and mario rpg. "

Pokagina or Vagimon... :-D

MARIO KART DS OR NEW SUPER MARIO BROTHERS

Every kid loves Pokemon.

Super Scribblenauts is a lot of fun. It'll also help him with his vocabulary and spelling.

Alright, here's what you're going to do. You're going to buy a DSi, and then get a DSi Points card. Open up the DSi, enter the code on the card, and purchase myNotebook Carbon, Pearl, Red, Blue, Green, and of course, Tan. You can leave him the rest of the money on the card since we all know that the hotly anticipated myNotebook: Cobain edition comes out at the end of this year. Personally, I would recommend breaking the cartridge slot on the DSi, because the critically heralded myNotebook series is really the only series of interactive entertainment will be all he needs.

Tell me, will Pokemon be able to record his innermost thoughts and secrets?

Will Pokemon be able to accurately capture his hushed inner turmoil?

When he enters his teenage years, will Advance Wars be able to serve as a sturdy time capsule-like window into a period of angst, peaks, and the lowest of valleys?

Yeah, I didn't think so.

Just about anything Mario.

New Super Mario Bros.

Spider-Man Web of Shadows is a surprisingly decent Metroidvania and it is cheap as hell by now.  Also my nephew loves Batman: Brave and the Bold.

I'd say mario, that's what I played at that age.  All about reaction, Zelda games are hella hard at that age though.

Animal Crossing