Summary
- Nintendo 3DS has hidden gems & beloved games, like Super Street Fighter 4 & Resident Evil Revelations.
- Monster Hunter 4 offers engaging, modernized gameplay with varied monsters and strategic elements to keep players happy.
- Kid Icarus: Uprising stands out with diverse gameplay, memorable characters, and responsive controls for a challenging experience.
Considering it was a system released in the years between the immensely popular Wii and the mega-successful Switch, the Nintendo 3DS can often feel like the black sheep of Nintendo's systems. However, that isn't to imply this handheld is lacking in quality, as it actually boasts a pretty extensive library of incredible games spanning across a range of genres, and while some may no longer be all that relevant, there's a small pool of 3DS titles which continue to be brought up even to this day.
There are numerous reasons that can contribute to a game having a long lifespan, whether that be through innovative gameplay mechanics, a timeless visual style, or even just a captivating story which has stood the test of time. In fact, some of these games have even become more beloved over time because of shifts in gaming culture as a whole, with players looking back more fondly on games that might have otherwise been underappreciated at the time.
8 Super Street Fighter 4: 3D Edition
The 3DS Edition Of SF4 Is One Of The Best Handheld Fighting Games Ever Released
Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition
- Released
- March 27, 2011
- ESRB
- T For Teen
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
The idea of a handheld fighting game, let alone one as complex as Street Fighter, may sound like a pretty bad idea on the surface, but Capcom managed to pull it off extremely well with the 3DS version of Street Fighter 4 thanks to a few new mechanics. While the fights themselves will take place on the top screen, the bottom screen of the system will present a few options that players can click on to execute a special attack or pre-made combo.
This way, players won't be forced to execute precise movements on the system's joystick, and because of this, the game actually acts as one of the best in the series when it comes to onboarding newcomers. Being able to focus more on the neutral game and general movement without needing to think about pulling off commands as much makes the 3DS port of Street Fighter 4 a fighting game that many players come back to thanks to its accessibility.
7 Resident Evil Revelations
A Handheld Survival Horror Spin-Off Which Manages To Still Feel Scary And Immersive
Resident Evil Revelations
- Released
- January 26, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Game Experience May Change During Online Play, Intense Violence, Language
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
When it was first announced that a spin-off Resident Evil game was coming to the 3DS, fans were skeptical about whether Capcom could truly pull off an engaging and scary horror entry in the series, considering it would be on the small screen. However, thanks to the creepy ship setting, paired with the unnerving Ooze monsters and lack of lighting in certain areas, the game can easily get under the skin, especially when playing in 3D mode.
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At a time when the Resident Evil series was beginning to lean heavily into the action genre, much to the dismay of a lot of fans, Revelations brought the franchise back to its survival horror roots. While there have been some re-releases of the game since its release, the original 3D version stands out for its 3D compatibility, which works wonders for the immersion, alongside the simple fact that it's a high-quality horror game that can be played front to back on a handheld system.
6 Pokemon Sun & Moon
Sun & Moon Adds Just Enough To Freshen Up The Core Pokemon Gameplay Loop
Pokemon Sun and Moon
- Released
- November 18, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Very rarely do Game Freak decide to shake up the core loop of beating Gym leaders and collecting Badges in their Pokemon games, but with Sun and Moon, it felt as though they were finally attempting to try something a little different. The Gyms have been replaced with island trials which provide a nice breath of fresh air from the traditional single-battle formula, and the introduction of Alola Pokemon forms adds a lot of diversity to the roster, with even some of the classics receiving a makeover.
Aside from the experimental gameplay, what has also allowed Pokemon Sun and Moon to age gracefully is the setting. With most Pokemon games being based in dense cities and towns, being able to explore a lush tropical island which is full of vibrant blue skies and breathtaking landscapes has made Alola a great destination to revisit.
5 Monster Hunter 4
The Fourth Mainline Monster Hunter Game Offers A Ton Of Content For Players To Explore At Their Own Pace
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
- Released
- February 13, 2015
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
While Capcom had gradually been refining the core gameplay loop of Monster Hunter with each new entry, it feels like the series took a huge leap into its modern era with the release of Monster Hunter 4. Not only were the monsters themselves much more varied in their designs, while also offering just the right level of challenge, but the focus on verticality playing a bigger role in fights also adds just enough strategy to make the hunts that much more engaging and satisfying to complete.
Additionally, the developers decided to ditch a lot of the segments that can sometimes make it harder to return to the classic games, such as the dreaded underwater sections, for example. Being able to climb around the environment also allows the game to feel very smooth and responsive to play, even by today's standards, making for the best handheld Monster Hunter game to this day.
4 Tomodachi Life
Animal Crossing With An Extra Dose Of Weirdness
Tomodachi Life
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 74 /100 Critics Rec: 49%
- Released
- April 18, 2013
- ESRB
- e
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
Tomodachi Life is a game that allows players to insert their own custom-made Miis onto an island where they can all hang out, socialize, and on rare occasions, even fall in love. While the game plays quite similarly to Animal Crossing, even sharing the real-time day and night cycle, what makes Tomodachi Life stand out is the weird and unpredictable vibe that surrounds the games' visuals and gameplay.
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While there is a romance system, for example, it goes incredibly in-depth, to the point where players can eventually be called to engage in a babysitting mingame to help out two of their fellow Miis later down the line. Because of the random nature of the gameplay, and the fact that anyone and anything can happen due to the staggering level of freedom granted to the player, it makes for a game that really doesn't play quite like anything else Nintendo has put out since.
3 Fire Emblem: Awakening
Awakening Still Stands As The Most Accessible Entrypoint Into The Fire Emblem Series
Fire Emblem: Awakening
- Released
- February 4, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, Strategy
While the Fire Emblem franchise of games has been running since the 90s, Awakening is without a doubt the most important entry in the series. Due to dwindling sales, Intelligent Systems were told that, if Awakening didn't succeed, Fire Emblem as a whole would cease to exist. As a result, the developers decided to focus primarily on the game's accessibility, granting the option to disable permadeath and making the map layouts a lot more forgiving, as a way to encourage more players to jump into the series.
Thankfully, the game would go on to sell extremely well, but even with newer Fire Emblem games being released since, Awakening is still the best entrypoint in the series, and also just an incredible game in general. While the tactical strategy gameplay is easy to get the hang of, players can choose to get a bit more experimental if they choose to, thanks to the class variation and pair-up system, making every playthrough feel fresh and different from the last.
2 The Legend Of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Link Between Worlds Provides A Fun And Fairly Straightforward Zelda Experience With A Unique Gimmick Included
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 90%
- Released
- November 22, 2013
- ESRB
- E For Everyone due to Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EAD
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
WHERE TO PLAY
On the surface, A Link Between Worlds might seem like just another 2D Zelda title, which does make sense considering it's regarded as a direct sequel to the third entry in the series. What makes the game stand out from its predecessors, though, is the uniqueness of the gameplay, and more specifically, the ability to merge onto walls. While seeing Link turn into a living wall painting is already quite a sight, implementing this gimmick also opens up some pretty creative gameplay avenues when it comes to puzzle solving and dungeon crawling.
Speaking of dungeons, because they can be completed in any order, it allows the game to feel a lot more modern and accessible, while still retaining that familiar gameplay formula of the classics. Simply put, A Link Between Worlds still stands as one of Nintendo's best attempts at ushering the retro style of the Zelda franchise into the modern era, resulting in an incredible 3DS game.
1 Kid Icarus: Uprising
Arguably The Best Action Adventure Game On The System Is Still Tons Of Fun To Play
Kid Icarus: Uprising
- Released
- March 23, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
The main reason Kid Icarus: Uprising has managed to enjoy such a plentiful amount of praise since its release, outside of its intriguing story and memorable cast of characters, is the gameplay variety. One moment, players will be tasked with shooting a few monsters out of the sky while Pit soars above the clouds, while the next, they'll be beating up enemies on the ground where the intensity levels will determine the strength and durability of Pit's foes, ensuring the game always feels challenging.
Being able to create a fully-fledged action adventure game for a handheld is far from an easy task, and it usually results in at least one or two areas lacking in quality, but this simply isn't the case with Kid Icarus: Uprising. Thanks to the surprisingly in-depth and responsive gameplay, paired with the bright and vibrant aesthetic and compelling story, it's never a bad time to relive Pit's epic journey based on tales of Ancient Greek mythology.
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