According to data released by sales monitor Media Control GfK International, the DS’s heavyweight status in the European console market is closely tied to the popularity of Nintendo’s Brain Training series and other brain training titles.

“The biggest demand for brain games is in Germany and Holland”, the company said. More Brain Training was the bestselling title in Germany during the first six months of the year, while Brain Training topped the Dutch chart during the same period. Overall, four of the ten bestselling DS games in both countries during the first six months of 2008 were in the brain training genre.

Nintendo’s Brain Training titles took the top two spots in Spain and Belgium in the half-yearly rankings, while Sight Training took tenth and ninth in the respective charts.

The two Brain Training titles also made the Italian top ten, while three unspecified brain training games made the Swiss top ten, compared to two brain training titles in the Austrian top ten.

“The [DS’s] success is closely associated with the brain training trend”, said Ulrike Altig, managing director of Media Control GfK International.