Best 3DS Games: My Top List of the Most Successful Nintendo 3DS Games
The Nintendo 3DS was one of Nintendo’s greatest successes, check out some of the best 3DS games to date
The Nintendo 3DS is now over a decade old, but its legacy of fantastic games lives on into 2024.
This revolutionary handheld system introduced glasses-free 3D gaming and some of Nintendo’s most beloved franchises to date.
For a generation of gamers, the 3DS marked countless hours of entertainment on the go.
Let’s take a nostalgic look back at 10 of the best 3DS games that helped cement this system’s place in video game history.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
The original Ocarina of Time revolutionized 3D gaming on the Nintendo 64. Bringing this masterpiece to the 3DS with vastly improved graphics was a no-brainer.
Exploring Hyrule and defeating Ganondorf in stereoscopic 3D makes this iconic adventure feel new again. The touchscreen controls also streamline inventory management.
For both first-time Hero of Time and veterans, Ocarina of Time 3D is the definitive way to play one of gaming’s highest-rated RPGs.
Super Mario 3D Land
Mario’s first original 3D adventure on the 3DS pays homage to his 2D platforming roots.
With Tanooki Mario’s familiar tail attack, the acrobatic catsuit power-up, and flagpole finishes after each level, 3D Land puts a fresh spin on the classic Mario formula. The clever use of 3D gives landscapes new depth and makes judging distances easier.
With inventive level designs, accessibility for newcomers, and epic boss battles, 3D Land set the standard for Mario’s handheld outings.
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Fire Emblem: Awakening
This beloved entry in Nintendo’s long-running strategy RPG series rarely came to be. On the brink of cancellation, Awakening went on to revitalize Fire Emblem and introduce legions of new fans.
The relationship system lets players pair units together in battle and bond over support conversations. Permadeath raises the stakes for every skirmish, while character customization offers unprecedented depth.
Difficulty options also make this a great starting point for tactical beginners. Awakening saved the Fire Emblem series and stands as one of the 3DS’s most essential genre classics.
Animal Crossing: New Leaf
New Leaf took the popular village life simulator to new heights by letting players assume the coveted role of town mayor.
This expanded our ability to customize everything from public works projects to ordinances that influence daily routines. Seasonal events, redecorating homes, collecting furniture sets, fishing tournaments, bug catching, and so much more make this game players can enjoy for hundreds of hours.
Just try not to rack up too much debt to Tom Nook! There’s a reason Animal Crossing has thrived on Nintendo handhelds, and New Leaf deserves its place among the greats.
Pokémon X and Y
No Nintendo handheld would be complete without new Pokémon adventures, and X and Y ushered the beloved franchise into the era of 3D.
The France-inspired Kalos region gave the series its first global feel, harmonizing old traditions with captivating landscapes based on places like the Eiffel Tower and Versailles Palace.
Mega Evolutions added a new strategic wrinkle to Pokémon battles, while Super Training streamlined EV and IV optimization.
With 72 new species, player customization, and massive post-game content, X and Y set the tone for Pokémon’s future as a marquee Nintendo franchise.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
A Link Between Worlds returned players to the familiar land of Hyrule first seen in A Link to the Past.
However, inventive dungeon design and Link’s ability to flatten himself against walls as a graffiti drawing made this so much more than a spiritual successor.
With access to item rentals, dungeons could be completed in almost any order. This opened up new avenues for sequence-breaking glitches speedrunners would come to adore.
For anyone who loved the 16-bit glory days of Nintendo gaming, this nostalgic masterpiece delivered all the adventure we wanted from a new portable Zelda quest.
Super Smash Bros for Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo’s mascot brawler gained huge competitive legitimacy on Wii U.
But being able to take frenzied 4-player Smash battles anywhere cemented this incredible fighting game as a 3DS pillar.
Although the graphics and features understandably take a hit from the home console version, there is no sacrifice in terms of full-on Smash action.
With one of the most robust rosters in franchise history and sustained balance patching years after launch, Super Smash Bros. for 3DS holds its own as a party game, pick-up brawler, and tournament mainstay.
Mario Kart 7
Mario Kart 7 set a new standard for kart racers thanks to innovative track design and the franchise’s first foray into aerial and aquatic racing.
Driving upside down and vertically along walls created memorable 3D set pieces that took full advantage of the system’s visual capabilities. Underwater segments also fundamentally changed racing lines and strategies.
And hang gliders added new aerial shortcuts only accessible by launching off ramps. We also can’t forget fan-favorite courses like Music Park, Rosalina’s debut, and the return of coins affecting top speeds.
Mario Kart 7 merged the conventions of classic arcade racing with fresh ideas befitting a new Nintendo handheld.
Monster Hunter Generations
While Monster Hunter has thrived across multiple platforms lately, Generations remains the definitive MH experience for Nintendo loyalists.
This installment reworked combat fundamentals by introducing Hunting Styles and Hunter Arts, which opened up rewarding new ways to approach weapons and tailor playstyles.
With the most extensive monster roster ever, an all-star cast of new and returning beasts, and the ability to play as Nintendo icons like Link and Felines, Generations is still populated by players today.
Its recent Switch port also speaks to the amazing legacy this installment left.
Bravely Default
Classic JRPGs saw renewed interest in the early 2010s, and Bravely Default tapped directly into our nostalgia.
At the same time, ingenious additions like the Brave and Default combat mechanics reinvented genre traditions. Optional microtransactions also let players modify encounter frequencies and difficulty spikes — or disable random battles entirely.
This kind of accessibility paired nicely with the grandiosity of its production. The stirring orchestral soundtrack, multifaceted characters, and lore involving Luxendarc’s warring duchies and crystal orthodoxy delivered an unforgettable RPG journey.
For fans of epic quests and turn-based tactical combat, Bravely Default remains the 3DS’s standout.
Beyond Visual Feast, The Lasting Impact
The 3DS library has no shortage of honorable mentions like Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, Kid Icarus Uprising, and so many more we wish we could include.
Our top 10 list transports you back to some of your favorite moments and memories of playing 3DS games over the years.
Despite underpowered hardware next to rapidly evolving smartphones, the 3DS carved out a niche by delivering premium gaming experiences not quite possible elsewhere.
Nintendo has since moved on to the Switch, but the 3DS will remain an indelible part of the company’s handheld legacy.
For millions, this quirky dual-screened marvel introduced unforgettable characters, captivating worlds, and an entire generation of gamers to the magic of Nintendo on the go.
If you like my articles here on Medium, please give me a follow or comment and check out my homepage for more info on Technology, Music, and More: James Watson
