Best Nintendo 3DS Games of All Time
3D became kind of a big deal when James Cameron’s Avatar broke all kinds of records at the box office, wowing people so much with its flashy visuals that they didn’t realise the film was actually pretty dire. Still, this made people believe 3D was the next big thing, sending them to stores in their droves to buy whatever 3D HDTV the teenager in Dixons said was da best innit.
Nintendo also believed 3D to be the next big thing – or at least it did until it released a 2D version of the 3DS – and brought its 3D enabled handheld to the market in 2011. Most impressive about the 3DS was its ability to display stereoscopic 3D without the need to wear glasses, which for many was a sticking point when buying a 3D TV.
Truth be told the handheld didn’t launch with any must-have titles, with Pilotwings Resort, nintendogs + cats, and Super Street Fighter IV the stand-out day one releases. Thankfully things improved and nowadays there are plenty of games worth owning the system for. Check the list below for the best the 3DS has to offer.
- All Genres Action Action Adventure Action RPG Adventure Arcade Battle Royale Beat 'em Up Board Games Card Casual City Builder Collection Combat Dance Educational Family Fantasy Fighting First Person First-Person Shooter Fitness Flight Football Horror Indie Management Massively Multiplayer Massively Multiplayer Online Metroidvania Mini Game MOBA Multiplayer Music Open World Party Pinball Platformer Puzzle Quiz Racing Real-time Retro Roguelike Roguelite RPG Science Fiction Shoot 'em Up Shooter Side-scroller Simulation Singing Soccer Space Sport Sports Stealth Strategy Survival Survival Horror Tactical Third Person Turn Based Virtual Pet Virtual Reality Visual Novel Wrestling
- All Platforms 3DO Android Apple II Atari 2600 Atari 5200 Atari 7800 Atari 8-bit Atari Lynx Atari ST Atari XEGS Classic Macintosh Commodore / Amiga Dreamcast Game Boy Game Boy Advance Game Boy Color Game Gear Gameboy Advance GameCube Genesis Google Stadia iOS Jaguar Linux macOS Neo Geo NES Nintendo 3DS Nintendo 64 Nintendo DS Nintendo DSi Nintendo Switch PC PlayStation PlayStation 2 PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 PS Vita PSP SEGA 32X SEGA CD SEGA Master System SEGA Saturn SNES Test Platform Web Wii Wii U Xbox Xbox 360 Xbox One Xbox Series S Xbox Series S/X Xbox Series X
- All Time 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
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101
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
A Link Between Worlds deserves its place among the great Zelda games of yesteryear.Reviewed on: 14 November 2013
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
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102
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
We knew in 1998 that Miyamoto and co had made a classic, but it's only now that we can see just how revolutionary Ocarina of Time actually was.Reviewed on: 23 June 2011
Platforms: GameCube, Nintendo 3DS
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93
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94
Super Mario 3D Land
Super Mario 3D Land is a step back and a leap forward. As a gateway drug for those reluctant to embrace Mario in three dimensions, the game should be a huge success.Reviewed on: 14 November 2011
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
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9
The Legend Of Zelda: Oracle Of Seasons
The 'Oracle Of' games have withstood the test of time and are still some of the best Zelda experiences in existence.Reviewed on: 02 June 2013
Platforms: Gameboy Advance, Nintendo 3DS
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96
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
Simply Marvelous.Reviewed on: 14 November 2013
Platforms: Android, iOS, macOS, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One
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-7
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98
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99
Skylanders: Swap Force
Playing for keeps.Reviewed on: 21 October 2013
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One
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910
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911
Professor Layton vs Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Like Tango and Cash with Top Hats and manga Hair.Reviewed on: 18 March 2014
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
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912
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D
The long-awaited remake is here, and is arguably the best Zelda game in the series.Reviewed on: 04 February 2015
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
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913
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Take on the role of an Ace Attorney in Capcom's excellent courtroom drama.Reviewed on: 18 April 2006
Platforms: Android, Game Boy Advance, iOS, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, PC, Wii
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-14
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915
Minecraft
4J Studios has played its part in one of gaming's grandest success story with affable competence, allowing console owners to grab their tools and build something in Mojang's intricate and lovable world.Reviewed on: 07 May 2012
Platforms: Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One
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916
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team Bros. is yet another excellent addition to a series that rarely ever puts a foot wrong.Reviewed on: 11 July 2013
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
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917
Dragon Quest VIII: The Journey of the Cursed King
Sometimes sticking to what you do best is a good idea.Reviewed on: 15 May 2006
Platforms: iOS, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 2
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918
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 doesn't do anything new, but it also doesn't do anything wrong.Reviewed on: 07 November 2011
Platforms: iOS, macOS, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, PC, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360, Xbox One
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919
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate
Comfortably one of the best Castlevania games ever madeReviewed on: 04 March 2013
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS, PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
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920
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921
Mario Kart 7
Gaming's greatest spin-off glides onto 3DS and proves it's in the form of its life.Reviewed on: 30 November 2011
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
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922
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823
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824
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Kojima hones his MGS vision, but is it a vision gamers want to be part of?Reviewed on: 09 March 2005
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PS Vita, Xbox 360
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825
LEGO The Lord of the Rings
Lego Lord of the Rings is still a huge success that's wonderfully adorable and an absolute delight to play.Reviewed on: 20 November 2012
Platforms: Android, iOS, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, PC, PlayStation 3, PS Vita, Wii, Xbox 360
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826
Super Mario Maker
Super Mario Maker is a fantastic creation tool. Just don't expect it to be much more than that.Reviewed on: 02 September 2015
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS, Wii U
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827
The Oregon Trail
Wagon-a cross America.Reviewed on: 21 April 2009
Platforms: iOS, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, PC, Wii
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828
Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS
A great port of an excellent Wii U game, but where's the online level sharing?Reviewed on: 29 November 2016
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
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829
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
Harry Potter returns in another adorable game LEGO title.Reviewed on: 18 November 2011
Platforms: Android, iOS, macOS, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, PC, PlayStation 3, PS Vita, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360
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830
