Handheld gaming has evolved so much in my lifetime, but I still think fondly of the best Nintendo 3DS games in this list.
I see new GameBoy Emulator models and some of the best retro handhelds on the market hitting gaming headlines every week, but Nintendo still owns the handheld market, I’ve had every one of their consoles right from the original grey DMG, and I’m a true Nintendoid for life.
Finally playing in colour on the GBA was one thing and owning a pocket flip-up SP took things to the next level, but everything changed when the dual-screen DS came out. But did Nintendo stop there? Of course not; they did what I never thought was possible and made a screen look 3D without even having to wear glasses!
They made games come to life in a way that no handheld console had ever done before, bringing new dimensions to our favourite levels and bolstering playability by 100%!
It’s tough to pick my ultimate favourite games on this console, but if you held me at NES-Bazooka point and asked me to pick the Best Nintendo 3DS Games in my collection in no particular order, then I’d have to go with these.
30. Persona Q: Shadow Of The Labyrinth (2014)
Persona Q: Shadow Of The Labyrinth is a pretty big deal as it was the first Persona title to land on a Nintendo console!
Not only that, but it’s got the best characters from Persona 3 and 4 collaborating together to fight their way through a brand new adventure!
Let’s talk about the graphics – I think we can all agree that they’re pretty intense. It’s definitely a bold art style choice and one that leaves an impression.
Sadly, it also leaves a minus count with your brain cells too.
Can you and your team conquer the Labyrinth using your Personas to guide you? Fight evil forces and discover the mystery behind two teens with amnesia.
The plot thickens!
29. Bravely Default (2014)
Bravely Default takes the 29th spot in this list of the best Nintendo 3DS games of all time!
If you’re looking for a renowned JRPG for the 3DS, then look no further. Bravely Default is about as classic a JRPG as you can get – turn based combat, jobs for characters gathering points through battle to use on upgrading your character, obtaining items.
If you can name an RPG trait, then it’s in this game.
The combat elements feel a lot like Final Fantasy, so much so that I think a lot of the elements of the battle segments and beyond have actually been ripped from the FF franchise.
But don’t quote me on that, we don’t need a lawsuit on our hands.
Stock up on Brave Points and Sleep Points and use them in battle. Yes, it’s a little convoluted but easy to get the hang off after a couple of rounds.
There’s also a minigame where players get to rebuild a village, hopefully getting some sweet freebies from the business you reopen along the way!
28. Dragon Quest VIII: Journey Of The Cursed King (2017)
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey Of The Cursed King is a game that you probably remember playing back on the PS2. It’s one of the best Dragon Quest games of all time and a bonafide classic.
And if you thought it looked slick on the PS2 back in the day, then you’ve seen nothing yet. Revisiting this epic adventure in 3D has only made it better, and the new additions added to the 3DS title make this well worth a purchase. It should have been called Dragon Quest VIII 2.0!
Back in 2004, this was the very first 3D dragon quest title. So i guess it’s only right that it went on to get the 3DS treatment.
One of the best changes from the original to now is the eradication of random battles, and you know how much I hate those!
Enemies appear up close and personal for all to see, and what’s more, saving anywhere is now a possibility too!
That should be something you can do anytime, anywhere in any game. It still annoys me having to find those campfires in Horizon: Zero Dawn!
With new dungeons, items, and tonnes more challenges to encounter, the 3DS version of Journey of the Cursed King is a real force to be reckoned with!
27. Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright (2016)
Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright is up next, one of three iterations of Fire Emblem Fates.
And you know how we love a trilogy here at Retro Dodo!
This isn’t the last time you’ll see Fire Emblem written in this list, and for all intensive purposes, the gameplay is very similar to the title sitting at Number 6, albeit if anything a little easier to grasp.
Fans of the Blood Moon resurrections in Zelda (spoiler alert – that’s no one in the history of time) will be all over the Pheonix Mode in this game, a setting where enemies literally rise from the ashes on their next turn.
Yep, it’s super hard and not for those with very little patience.
Birthright is pretty progressive too, allowing two women to have a same sex relationship as well as the option for marriage between characters of the opposite sex.
As well as tactical battles and exploration, players can make their very own village in a mode called My Castle. Birthright is the gift that keeps on giving, especially with the added DLC too!
26. Mario Golf: World Tour (2014)
Mario Golf: World Tour takes the 26th spot in this list of the best Nintendo 3DS games ever made!
Playing Mario Golf is one of the best ways to relax, full stop. It’s colourful, 100% non-threatening, and easy to pick up and play.
Ok, so if you’ve played one of these games before now then you’ll know it can sometimes be frustrating when trying to nail those power shots, but practice makes perfect!
The courses are all super imaginative too, boasting true Mushroom Kingdom scenery right from the off.
As always with the handheld Mario Golf games, there’s an RPG story element where players must rise through the ranks and use prize money to buy better gear.
If, however, you just want to play for fun, then you can just pick your favourite Mario character and hit the courses. With multiple challenges and minigames to complete too, there’s something to keep everyone happy!
25. Streets Of Rage II (2015)
Do I really need to introduce Streets Of Rage II to Retro Dodo readers?
If you’ve played the game on the Mega Drive or Genesis before, then you’ll already know that this game is bigger and badder than the previous Streets of Rage.
We’re talking getting closer to the action with better angles, a dude racing around on roller skates, and more beatdown action than you can shake a piece of drainpipe at!
Playing this classic game in 3D just makes everything better too. It’s like you could reach in and punch those goons yourself!
And it kind of makes me think i could pull off that Double Dragon double denim vibe too. What do you think; please send all answers on a postcard to Retro Dodo Towers.
Your mission is to save Adam from the clutches of Mr X. Pick your favourite character and clean up the streets in one of the best beat em up games of all time!
24. Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse (2016)
Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse takes the 24th spot in this list of the best Nintendo 3DS games of all time!
It’s safe to say that no matter what platform we play Shin Megami Tensei games on, they hit the spot every time. We loved the previous Shin Megami Tensei IV game too.
What, the previous one… what’s going in?
The clue is in the title – Apocalypse. This game is set in an alternate timeline to the previous. game, It’s still set in the same war-torn world, just a new character in a new time.
I guess this is what happens when developers get too many ideas for one game!
One thing is instantly noticeable in this title is that the gameplay mechanics are much tighter. From the outset, it’s much nicer and smoother to play, refining the experience we had from the previous title while simultaneously turning it up to 11.
The annoying thing is that not enough people got to experience this the first time around. Giving the game the same title and number as the previous game meant that people just passed it by or didn’t see a need to grab a copy.
Do yourself a favour; play this alternate version of SMT IV, it’s well worth a purchase!
23. Sonic Generations (2015)
Sonic Generations is the perfect nostalgic kick for fans of the blue blur.
I imagine Sonic feels a lot differently about that description above, considering the fact that he’s been pulled into a time continuum and must now work with his past self in order to put things back to normal.
I wonder if he ever just wishes he could have a week off?
Time is of the essence, but with double the speed, it should be easy, right?
This game originally dropped as part of Sonic’s 20th birthday celebrations and received a 3D port for the 3DS four years later.
It’s got all the best stages from across the years too; we’re talking everything from the first Sonic the Hedgehog title right through to Sonic Colours
In each stage, Act 1 sees old Sonic taking the regions, whereas Act 2 sees new Sonic taking charge and boasts lots of newer 3D elements to it that would probably just give old Sonic a headache.
If you love Sonic, then this is a no brainer. Give it a go and let us know your thoughts!
22. Kirby: Triple Deluxe (2014)
Kirby: Triple Deluxe takes the 22nd spot in this list of the best Nintendo 3DS games!
It’s not the last time you’ll see Kirby in this list too, though I don’t want to give the game away too much!
So what’s the score in this adventure?
Well, Dream Land is now at the top of a giant beanstalk in a place called Floralia, and a gigantic caterpillar is causing havoc.
All sounds about right for a Kirby game to me!
I know this is going to sound odd to say about a game that’s in the bet 3DS games list, but this isn’t a revolutionary title. It’s a Kirby game through-and-through with Kirby’s enemy-swallowing ability still the prominent force in the game.
That’s not a criticism, it’s just a fact. Kirby games sell because they follow a specific formula that people love. Don’t forget, it’s worked for Mario all these years!
There are a couple of new abilities such as the Rhino Beetle Horn shown in the picture above and bow and arrow gear, and it comes with cool modes such as a rhythm-based game and a time-trial mode where players must defeat all bosses against the clock!
21. Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon (2017)
Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon are up next, giving players a chance to get up close and personal with Necrozma’s two newest forms!
In these two updated variants of Sun and Moon, players must discover all they can about two new exciting Pokemon – Dusk Mane Necrozma from Ultra Sun and Dawn Wings Necrozma from Ultra Moon.
And yeah, it’s just as good as you’re imagining!
Step back into the Alola region and encounter two new legendaries that are both trying to rule the roost.
As always, these new updated variants of the Pokemon series (ala Yellow, Crystal, Emerald etc) follow the same basic principals as the previous iteration with a few new tricks up their sleeves.
Putting new Pokemon in a game that’s basically the same as the last shouldn’t be enough to make us part with our hard-earned cash, but it works every time!
I’m being unfair; there are new places to discover and the enemies provide more of a challenge. Both games are worth a shot, I just prefer the other titles listed further down this list!
20. Monster Hunter Generations (2015)
Hunting monsters on the go in 3D – sounds like were kicking off with Monster Hunter Generations!
How many of you want to take on the role of a newly appointed Monster Hunter? I imagine it would be better having some sort of experience under your belt, but you’ve gotta start somewhere I suppose!
Four villages, four threats, and you’re the only one that can save the inhabitants of each from certain death!
Generations brought a whole new way to hunt and even more ways to attack. You haven’t lived until you’ve battled winged creatures in the skies or summoned brutal spells to destroy your combatants.
And don’t worry about completing this game in a hurry. There are literally hundreds of different quests for you to take on both solo or with friends.
Yes folks; local or online play allows you and your mates to hunt monsters together. Nothing says friendship like taking down a dragon, am I right?
19. Ever Oasis (2017)
First up on our list of the best Nintendo 3DS games is a classic that comes from the team that brought us Zelda. If that isn’t a tagline that draws you in, then nothing will!
Ever Oasis is an action RPG that is considered by many to be the unofficial sequel to the popular Mana series. While the gameplay and characters are more ‘toony’ than what we might expect from a Zelda title (apart from Windwaker), the gameplay is superb and the levels that you travel through are breathtaking.
Ever Oasis follows the story of a young Seedling named Tethu who must create an oasis with guidance from a water spirit. Teaming up with members of different tribes (some of which you can tell have been made by the team that made Zelda), you must create the perfect oasis by completing missions in dangerous locations.
Forage, solve puzzles, and fight your way through this exciting game. Materials and money will go a long way in helping you to achieve the perfect Oasis, if you can defeat the bad guys that stand in your way, that is.
Ever Oasis isn’t the world’s hardest game, but it is a great one for your collection.
18. Kid Icarus: Uprising (2012)
Some of you might have played as Pit in the Super Smash Bros. series. His 3DS adventure, the third instalment in this exciting franchise, is an absolute classic and went down a storm with critics across the globe.
Instead of messing around near the fiery sun, Pit, our very own Kid Icarus, is here to kick ass and take names. He’s on a mission from Palutena, the Goddess of Light to fight the forces of evil. Legendary names from Greek Mythology such as Medusa and Hades appear to throw you off course, creating a compelling story that compliments the crisp graphics and addictive gameplay.
Kid Icarus: Uprising is made up of two main modes of third-person play. You’ll switch between aerial-based rail shooter segments (think Sewer Shark but better and in the sky), and action down on the ground where you can roam around and explore.
The game has a single-player story mode as well as online and local multiplayer which was always fun to play. If you’re ever wondered about Pit’s back story when playing Super Smash Bros., then give this game a try and immerse yourself in some modified Greek mythology.
17. Super Smash Bros For Nintendo 3DS (2014)
Speaking of Super Smash Bros., it’s time that Mario and the gang made an appearance in our list of the best Nintendo 3DS games!
If you’re familiar with the game franchise, then you’ll know all about how Super Smash Bros For Nintendo 3DS works.
If not, then imagine a game where all your favourite Nintendo characters come together to use the special moves they are most known for in their respective worlds. It’s button-mashing madness right from the off, and it’s also one of the best franchises of all time.
Super Smash Bros. was released on the 3DS and Wii-U at the same time. The 3DS version differed from the home console in a few different ways, most notably by providing the ability to put a cell-shaded outline around each character to make them easier to spot on a small screen.
There are 58 characters available to play with from all your favourite games. The 3DS version includes an open-world fighting mode called Smash Run and a top-down, disc-based game called StreetSmash.
Despite the cool extras, the main mode is always going to be the best and the one that I still go back to again and again when I want to let off a bit of steam.
16. The Legend Of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D (2015)
Majora’s Mask is an important game in the Hero of Time timeline and the impressive N64 sequel to the groundbreaking Ocarina of Time. Playing it in 3D on the 3DS made me love this game all over again, adding new depths to a game that I thought I knew inside out!
The Legend Of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D version came out 15 years after the original home console title dropped into our lives. Like other 3D games for the console, it features enhanced stereoscopic 3D graphics, turn and tilt gyroscopic features, and a host of touchscreen controls. Items and maps appear on the bottom screen. giving you access to your adventure equipment at all times.
If you’ve never played Majora’s Mask before, then here’s a little rundown of what it’s all about.
Link has three days to stop a pesky Skull Kid from coaxing the moon down from the sky and wiping out the land of Termina. Things only happen on certain days, and you have to move back and forward through time to complete the game. Travelling through time will also cause you to lose rupees (unless you bank them first).
Players will be able to use masks to turn into different characters or to complete certain tasks. It’s a must-have for anyone who loves in-game collecting and puzzles. That’s what Zelda titles are all about!
Well…that and fishing.
15. Animal Crossing: New Leaf (2012)
Next up on our list of the best Nintendo 3DS games is one that fans of Animal Crossing: New Horizons might want to head back and check out. Animal Crossing: New Leaf is another incredible title in the Animal Crossing series, featuring all of your favourite talking animals and zany antics.
Unlike other titles in the series, you start New Leaf as the town’s mayor rather than as a prospective citizen. You’ve got to make your little town a better place for all of the residents to live in, so you better not screw up!
Animal Crossing is an incredibly popular life simulation game that has garnered a strong following around the world. Thanks to the Nintendo 3DS’ internal clock, the game actually follows lots of the same constraints that we experience in our own lives. Shops have certain opening times, actions have to be completed at specific points, and you’ll also play through the passing of day/night and seasons.
Playing as the town’s mayor opens up even more customisation options than ever before. You can use the Nintendo Network to check out other user’s town and compare your handiwork, or just play solo and enjoy imparting your own creative flair on your little world. \
14. Mario & Luigi: Dream Team (2013)
The Mario & Luigi RPG series never fails to put a smile on our faces, and Mario & Luigi: Dream Team is a credit to the canon.
We all love the comedic mishaps of our favourite Italian brothers in this game and the weird and wonderful enemies they come up against, and this new title has a fresh feature to mix things up.
Play moves between Mazza’s normal world, viewed top down, and a dream world which is viewed side-on.
Dreamy Luigi moves through the Dream World, helping Mario solve problems that he comes across. I guess it’s a little like Gooigi helping Luigi out in Luigi’s Mansion 3!
Pull off poorly title moves (get ready) such as ‘Lugination’ and ‘Luginary Attacks’, work together with Mario to pull off the iconic Bros. moves, and kick ass in turn-based fights with bosses three-times your size.
13. Pokemon X & Y (2013)
Pokemon X & Y take the 13th spot in this list of the best Nintendo 3DS games ever made. They mark a pivotal moment as being the first Pokemon games to use 3D rendering. It’s a style more akin to what we’re used to with the newer games such as Sword and Shield.
While the formula is basically the same as the other best Pokemon games we’ve covered over the years, X & Y also brought customising the player character to the table. Users could finally give their guy or girl a new look with new duds from time to time.
Catching and logging Pokemon still happens in exactly the same way. The battles, however, are a whole new story.
Who fancies a horde or a sky battle? Horde battles are where players fight more than one critter at once, and sky battles are pretty self explanatory.
Mega Evolve your Pokemon, catch tonnes of new characters, and bond with your Pokemon like never before. X & Y changed the game mechanics so much and brought so many first to the table that we just take for granted now!
12. Shovel Knight (2014)
i know you might consider yourself a bit of a Shovel Knight when you’re out in the garden, but this kid really knows how to wield a spade.
Who would have thought that a medieval knight holding a piece of gardening equipment would have become a globally recognised character cameos in tonnes of other games.
Here’s a bit of background info for you – Shovel Knight once had a mate called Shield Knight. He fell in battle, however… so I guess she shovel is mightier than the shield.
Shovel Knight feels very much like Castle of Illusion crossed with Monster Hunter IV. I mean, that’s a cocktail for success there, isn’t it!
Run wild through side-scrolling levels as you ‘dig’ yourself out of sticky situations and dish out retribution by the ‘bucket-full’.
These jokes are about as good as it gets, guys.
11. Luigi’s Mansion 2 – Dark Moon (2013)
Twelve years after the original Luigi’s Mansion came out on the GameCube, the next title in our best Nintendo 3DS games, Luigi’s Mansion 2 – Dark Moon flew onto shelves and down digital download channels.
We all waited a long time for a sequel to Luigi’s first bone-chilling adventure, and in true Nintendo fashion, the long wait was totally worth it. Sucking up ghosts in glorious 3D is perfection, and having the map option available on the lower screen with
King Boo has been up to his usual tricks again (he is a king, after all) and has smashed the Dark Moon into pieces using a special gem in his crown. The ghosts of Evershade Valley, usually a joyous and happy lot, have turned hostile, forcing our favourite shrivelled Professor, the one and only E-Gadd, into hiding.
Gadd calls Luigi to sort things out with a brand new Poltergust 5000 and sends him into another terrifying adventure filled with ghost dogs, scary flowers, and dust-sucking action. Check it out if you’re planning on buying the new game for the Nintendo Switch this October.
10. Super Mario 3D Land (2011)
Described as a 3D Mario game that plays like a 2D one by Papa Nintendo himself, Shigeru Miyamoto, Super Mario 3D Land is the perfect fix for anyone who wants to take part in portable-plumber action on the go.
It looks like Super Mario 64 but with all of the elements that we know and love from the SNES Mario Classics. It also tests out a few of the ideas that went on to feature in Super Mario Odyssey, but I’ll let you search for those when you give the game a try yourself.
This title in our list of the Best Nintendo 3DS Games might just have the most complicated plot-line of all time, but I’ll try to summarise it for you here.
Bowser steals lots of Super Leaves from a Tail Tree on Princess Peach’s land, giving all of his minions the ability to fly. Mario has to go and save Peach, and then he has to restore the tree and put everything back to normal. Then he notices Luigi has been captured, so he heads off to rescue him, and then has to go and rescue Peach all over again because she can’t stay un-captured for more than 10 minutes.
Honestly, Nintendo, I’ve seen Peach kick ass in Super Smash Bros. so I know she can fend for herself! The plot might be confusing, but the gameplay is jam-packed with classic Mario Bros action, and I can’t get enough of it!
9. Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D (2013)
What could make Donkey Kong Country Returns even better? How about creating Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, a reworked version with a brand new mode and 3D gameplay.
Donkey Kong games have always been close to my heart over the years. Ever since the first game for the SNES (you know, the one with the pre-rendered graphics that Shigeru Miyamoto hated), DK and his simian superstar family have gone from strength to strength.
DKCR3D is jam-packed full of barrel blowing, jungle vine swinging, Rambi the rhino riding action.
And the 3DS brings a whole new lease of life to already textured and visually interesting backgrounds.
So, this new mode, aptly titled ‘new mode’ – what does it do?
Well, it makes the game easier if you’re struggling, a little like the mode on Yoshi’s Wooly World where you have wings to stop you falling down gaps.
There’s also a new world that becomes unlocked when you’ve completed the game!
8. Mario Kart 7 (2011)
Mario Kart hardly needs an introduction on any platform, but it would be a pretty dull list if I just left this section blank and moved onto the next title!
Yes, folks, Mario Kart 7 is the next classic in our best Nintendo 3DS games. It’s a mighty superb racer that reverts back to the one-person rule of karting after the Mario Kart: Double Dash change on the GameCube.
Whether you like to play on the bus, in the park, or on the toilet, Mario Kart’s Grand Prix mode or VS races are short and snappy, and they’re perfect for a little bit of ‘it’s-a-mee’ time whenever you’re feeling a little stressed or tired out. I love the fact that Mario Kart takes zero skill to play and can be enjoyed by anyone no matter their age or gaming background.
I also like the fact that I can usually beat the people with no gaming background (you’ve got to take the small victories in life).
Mario Kart 7 sees the inclusion of new types of karts for the gang to use, along with some new power
The coins from Super Mario Kart have made a comeback, and two new features; hang-gliding and first-person-mode have also been introduced. Mario Kart 7 sold a whopping 18 million copies since its release in 2012, making it the best selling game on the console.
7. Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time 3D (2011)
What could be better than being able to play the best Zelda game of all time while on the move? Playing it in 3D perhaps?
Yeah, that would do it alright!
I’ve played this game on the N64 and the GameCube more times than I can
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Join Link on a quest to become the Hero Of Time and save Hyrule from the evil clutches of Ganondorf. Learn mystical songs that can change the fabric of time on the Ocarina Of Time, a gift bestowed upon Link by Princess Zelda of the Hyrule Royal Family, and unleash the hidden power of the Master Sword to bring peace to a dark and troubled land.
I’ve really skimmed over a lot of the other awesome stuff that happens in this game there, but if you’re reading an article about the Best Nintendo 3DS Game and don’t know anything about Ocarina Of Time, then there might be no hope for you.
If you’ve never played this game, then I suggest you leave this list immediately and go buy yourself a copy. It’s about £15 on the Nintendo online store which is cheap as chips for the best game of our generation!
6. Fire Emblem: Awakening (2012)
The next title on our list of the Best Nintendo 3DS Games is another Nintendo classic, this time with dual screen action. This tactical Role Playing Game might remind some other gamers of the Final Fantasy series, but Fire Emblem has been going for just as long and has an impressive number of titles in its back catalogue.
Fire Emblem: Awakening is the thirteenth game in the series and is set 2000 years after the first-ever game. Players take part in turn-based combat and interact with other characters to improve abilities along the way, with additional cut scenes to help narrate the game’s epic quest.
Fire Emblem: Awakening follows the Prince of Ylisse, Chrom, and his personal ‘Shepherd army’. They take it upon themselves to rescue you, the
As you regain a sense of who you are, you help the Prince and his army battle zombie-style monsters and protect Ylisse from the neighbouring nations that want to see its demise. If turn-based RPG’s are your bag, then it might interest you to know that Fire Emblem: Awakening has been considered one of the best of all time by critics. If that doesn’t convince you to give it a go, then I don’t know what will!
5. Metroid: Samus Returns (2017)
We can’t get enough of Samus Aran at the minute, and rightly so! How many space warriors do you know that can wield a plasma cannon and swing across ravines using a grappling hook.
There’s only one, and she can also morph into a tiny ball and drop bombs while she’s at it.
Yes, Samus is back to rock our worlds in Metroid: Samus Returns, the next title on our list of the Best Nintendo 3DS Games on the planet. Samus Returns is a newly updated version of Metroid II – Return of Samus, with new features, colour graphics, and some sweet split-screen action which makes following maps much easier.
Samus Returns also features some of the attacks and abilities that we’ve come to love from Samus’ later titles; the grappling hook, super missiles, and bombs are all available for you to use as Samus makes her way around creepy space levels destroying hostile aliens and looking cooler than an ice cube in a cyber-age tray.
Those Metroid jelly brains don’t stand a chance against Samus’ plasma gun, and that Ridley creep better watch his back too! If none of this makes any sense and you’re wondering what the hell I’m on about, just go and download a copy of the game and give it a try out for yourself; I don’t want to spoil the magic!
4. Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask (2011)
Say what you will about Professor Layton and his incredibly large top hat, Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask is a slice of Sherlock Holmes-style crime-solving brilliance, and it helps to keep your little grey cells in check too!
Professor Layton games are as addictive as they are puzzling (see what I did there), and they keep you coming back for more and more every time. Like Mario Kart 7, this is another one that you can play on the bus or the potty, keeping you entertained while performing some of life’s more mundane tasks.
Professor Layton games follow a ‘whodunit’ approach, sending the player on a mission to solve puzzles and find clues as to who committed the crime. You can use the bottom touch screen to move a magnifying glass around your surroundings, searching for hidden secrets and conversing with characters along the way, all in glorious 3D.
I’ve played a few of these Professor Layton games, but The Miracle Mask is by far my favourite one. The storyline is just like a lost Arthur Conan-Doyle novel, and the gameplay is brain-ticklingly good. Give it a try if you like your games with a side of thought-provoking mystery.
3. Pokemon Sun & Moon (2016)
No list of the Best Nintendo 3DS Games would be complete without a Pokemon combo, which is exactly why I’ve added Pokemon Sun and Moon into the mix.
It doesn’t matter whether you’ve played every game since Red and Blue were first released on the GameBoy or whether you’re jumping into the series without ever having captured a pocket monster before, Sun and Moon are easy to pick up and full of enchanting little critters that will soon have you hooked.
The 3DS versions have a slightly different format to the original black and white days, following a series of trials where you learn about your Pokemon, your skills, and the wider world, as opposed to travelling between gyms and then getting your arse kicked by MewTwo over and over again.
You might recognise some of the characters from the Super Smash Bros. Wii U game or from your continuous travels through the internet, or they might all be completely new to you. I still can’t get my head around how many Pokemon there actually are these days.
All I know is the storyline in Sun and Moon is just as gripping as Red and Blue, and coming from someone who used to sneak his GameBoy everywhere with him just to be able to blast through Cerulean City on his bike, that’s saying something! Give it a try, and then why not revisit all of the other classic games on the previous Nintendo consoles that you might have missed along the way!
2. Kirby: Planet Robobot (2016)
Save the world from mechanised doom! This Kirby game could well be one of the Best Nintendo 3DS Games ever made, and it’s definitely my favourite in the Kirby series.
Our pink floating friend is back again, and this time he’s trying to defeat robots from outer space. Stealing abilities from other characters and enemies will never get old; heck, it’s part of the reason why Kirby games are so damn fun!
Kirby: Planet Robobot sees you able to use some brand new moves too such as poison, scientist, and a brand new ESP move that looks a little like the power ball that NES used in Smash Brothers for the N64.
When things get tough, Kirby can jump into a giant mechanical robot and bash his way through steel walls and any other objects that stand in his way. Float and fight through rich and colourful worlds where the attention to the background detail might end up distracting you from your mission.
This is a relatively new game to the Nintendo 3DS, but it’s still an instant classic that you should definitely add to your collection. Critics praised the games graphics, soundtrack, and overall gameplay very highly. I would too if Kirby was promising to save us all from an evil race of space robots! Go on kid; give
1. Legend Of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (2013)
I know I probably threw you all by putting a Zelda title up near the top of the article, but I’m finishing off our list of the Best Nintendo 3DS Games with another cracking Hyrule adventure that more than holds its own with the other games in the series.
A Link Between Worlds combines top-viewing Zelda action with 3D worlds crammed with stunning scenery and the same puzzle-solving action that we’ve come to know and love. And if you read our Links Awakening Review for the Switch and loved the game, then you’re bound to enjoy A Link Between Worlds. The added bonus of being able to move between worlds through paintings is also pretty handy, but I’ll get onto the how and why in the next section.
Everyone’s favourite green-garbed hero (sorry Luigi) is back to save the day once again, this time by defeating an evil magician named Yuga. In some sort of mishap, Yuga gives Link the ability to go all ‘Flat Stanley’ and blend into solid walls like a moving Harry Potter style painting.
This new ability must be used to combat new enemies and to solve brand new puzzles in both Hyrule and the kingdom of Lorule which, as it might sound, is a kind of ‘Upside Down’ world where everything is dark and foreboding.
To cut a long story short; it’s a Zelda title, which means it’s a hit from start to finish and playable over and over again without getting boring. What more do you need to know!
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Seb Santabarbara has bought every Nintendo console that has ever been released in his 31 years on Planet Earth. His favourite game franchise is Zelda, and he’s patiently waiting for Banjo-Kazooie to come back to the fold. When he’s not playing games, he’s travelling the world in his self-converted camper van.
