The Nintendo 3DS was another example of how Nintendo continues to dominate the portable console market. The glassesless 3D effect was a unique idea at a time when 3D television production began to take off, even though many people had turned the feature off. That being said, the 3DS was a significant step forward in mobile gaming. Nowadays, the Nintendo Switch has made it hard to justify running a two-screen device, but there’s still quite a wealth of games on the portable console. Here are the top ten games in the entire life of the Nintendo 3DS.
Animal Crossing: New Leaf
Animal Crossing: New Leaf sees you become the mayor of a city full of animals. Like other games in the mainline Animal Crossing series, your job in this new town is to interact with villagers, customize your living space, and perform a range of activities, including fishing, bug catching, and more. There’s no end goal in Animal Crossing other than enjoying the cool culture as the mayor of a city full of colorful characters.
Fire Emblem Awakening
Fire Emblem Awakening is the game that might have saved the series from going Chibi Robo’s way. At the time of its release, Fire Emblem’s numbers were dwindling, and Nintendo was planning Awakening to be the final game in the series. After the game was best seen in the series overseas, Nintendo changed its mind and led to releases such as Fire Emblem Fates and Fire Emblem Three Houses.
Fire Emblem Awakening was the friendliest game in the series for newcomers at the time of its release. This added an option to remove Permadeth which would make it difficult for beginners in the series to stay in the game. With the game being a turn-based tactical role-playing game, the members of your army are critical to your success. Like other games in the series, you can build relationships with your army, which will improve their bonuses in battle. Any fan of this style of game needs to try it.
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D
Donkey Kong Country Returns initially made its appearance on the Wii, but was rebuilt solely for play on the 3DS. Being able to enjoy the game on the go without motion controls makes it a better version in our opinion.
Highly inspired by the Donkey Kong Country games of the SNES days, DKCR had over 70 levels filled with banana collecting, mine cart rides, and barrel blasting. The game was a return to form for Donkey Kong that badly needed the franchise, and its sequel, Tropical Freeze, is widely regarded as one of the best 2D platformers of all time.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
When it was initially released in 1998, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was considered one of the greatest video games of all time. Even today, it’s still beloved by many and the surefire way to play Remastered Classic for Nintendo 3DS.
All character models and environments received major upgrades, providing fun gameplay and a traditional Zelda adventure experience. Watching Link progress from the only boy in the Kokiri Forest to the Hero of Time without the Fairy is a story that will live on in Zelda fans’ hearts forever.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D
With Ocarina of Time getting a remaster that was so well received, it only made sense for its sequel, Majora’s Mask, to receive the same treatment. As in the past, the character models and environments were upgraded to high standards for mobile gaming without sacrificing its creepy, deep storyline and spectacular gameplay.
The story follows Link, who is in search of his fairy friend Navi from the Ocarina of Time. On his journey, he crosses the Skull Child, which is being controlled by the rogue Majora’s mask and in three days prepares the Moon to crash into Termina. Fortunately, Link still has the Ocarina of Time and can control time to ensure his ability to travel to all areas of Termina and in some cases to hold a mask that changes gameplay and Link’s appearance. .
Mario Kart 7
Mario Kart games are arguably the most popular games released on every Nintendo console, and Mario Kart 7 is no different. This time karts can drive underwater and sprout air gliders for a few jumps. Both of these features came back in Mario Kart 8, and it’s hard to even think of future games that won’t bring them back.
If you’ve played any Mario Kart game before, you know what you’re getting into with Mario Kart 7. In addition to gliding and underwater driving, a lot of the famous gameplay is back. Blue spheres still blow up the person in first place, lightning bolts still shrug off those running in front of you, and classic red spheres, bananas and mushrooms are back too.
Metroid: Samus Returns
Near the end of the life of the Nintendo 3DS, a remake of Metroid II: Return of Samus was released called Samus Returns. While Nintendo released more games for the console before eventually giving way to the Switch, Samus Returns was the last great game released for the 3DS.
Samus is sent to the Metroid home world to wipe out parasitic aliens. A number of improvements were made, aside from the immediate graphical update, since the original game was based on the Game Boy Color. A melee counterattack was added, as well as the ability to aim freely at any angle (as opposed to at some angles), and new Aeon abilities that depend on his energy gauge. While perhaps not highly requested at the time, Samus Returns was a spectacular return to form and paved the way for Metroid Dread to eventually move the series forward.
Super Mario 3D Land
You can’t have a list of great Nintendo games without mentioning the Mario title. Super Mario 3D Land was the first Mario game released for the handheld console in 2011 and was an obvious experiment for Nintendo before making Super Mario 3D World for the Wii U two years later.
The 3D Land series was a merger between a classic 2D side-scrolling game and a more modern 3D platformer such as Super Mario Galaxy. Story-wise it’s the same old song and dance: Bowser kidnaps Peach, and Mario saves her. The game also reintroduced the classic Tanooki Leaf and suit power-ups that were last seen in Super Mario Bros 3 for the NES.