The Nintendo 3DS had a rough start. Initially, Nintendo's innovative handheld console struggled to catch on like its Nintendo DS predecessor or the Wii, famously causing Nintendo to initiate a massive price cut mere months after launch. But as the years went by, 3DS sales increased, and its library grew to be rather impressive. The Nintendo 3DS eventually became yet another hit handheld for the company, with support lasting nine years.
Sadly, Nintendo has recently announced that the 3DS has been discontinued. With no major new games in development for the handheld, it's time to look back at the titles that stand out as the absolute best the system has to offer.
Here are the best Nintendo 3DS games. Please note that we stuck to one game per franchise, and also focused on original releases as opposed to remakes or remasters.
Animal Crossing: New Leaf
The Animal Crossing franchise really blew up with Wild World on the DS, which sold over 11 million units over the course of its lifespan. Because of this, there was a considerable amount of hype for Animal Crossing: New Leaf on the Nintendo 3DS, and it's safe to say that it exceeded expectations for many. New Leaf didn't just replicate the Wild World experience with better graphics; it made major strides forward for the series, greatly enhancing the customization options, adding the ability to swim, and giving player a more active role in their town's development by making them the mayor.
Bravely Default
Square Enix likes to experiment with its Final Fantasy series, constantly switching up the characters, gameplay mechanics, and setting. However, there are those who want Final Fantasy to return to its roots, and for those fans, Square Enix released Bravely Default for the Nintendo 3DS. Bravely Default boasts many features associated with classic Final Fantasy games, like a job system and turn-based battles, but it also established an identity of its own, spawning a high-quality RPG series in its own right.
Fire Emblem: Awakening
For decades, Nintendo kept the Fire Emblem franchise exclusive to Japan, believing that the games wouldn't appeal to western audiences. But then Fire Emblem characters appeared in Super Smash Bros. Melee, sparking newfound interest in the tactical RPG series. Nintendo finally started bringing Fire Emblem games to the west with varying degrees of success, but the franchise really broke out into the mainstream with Fire Emblem: Awakening on the 3DS. Appealing to newcomers and fans alike, Fire Emblem: Awakening made the franchise more accessible than it ever had been before.
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
The Nintendo GameCube launched with Luigi's Mansion, a kid-friendly take on the survival-horror genre starring Mario's brother Luigi. Despite Luigi's Mansion being a sales success, the series remained dormant for 12 years until Next Level Games and Nintendo finally released Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon on the 3DS. Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon successfully translated the original Luigi's Mansion gameplay to handheld form, while also adding a slew of new gameplay features, like a cooperative multiplayer mode. Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon sold over 5 million units and successfully reinvigorated the series, with Luigi's Mansion 3 launching for the Nintendo Switch just last year.
Mario Kart 7
A Nintendo system just isn't complete without its obligatory new Mario Kart game, and Nintendo was quick to release a new Mario Kart for the 3DS. Nintendo wasn't content to just rest on its laurels with Mario Kart 7 on the 3DS, though. Mario Kart 7 features a number of major innovations for the franchise, including expanded vehicle customization, hang-gliders, first-person gameplay, and underwater driving.
Pokemon X & Y
The Pokemon franchise has long been one of Nintendo's most popular franchises, especially when it comes to handhelds. Numerous Pokemon games were released for the 3DS over the course of the handheld's lifespan, but none had quite the same impact as Pokemon X & Y. Pokemon X & Y had a ton of new Pokemon for players to collect, plus it introduced Mega Evolutions to the franchise, giving classic fan favorite Pokemon brand new, more powerful forms. Pokemon X & Y also represented a significant leap forward for the franchise's visuals, as they were the first main series Pokemon games released for the 3DS.
Pushmo
With its expanded online capabilities, the 3DS also featured a robust offering of digital-only titles through its eShop. One of the best games available on the eShop is undoubtedly Pushmo from Fire Emblem studio Intelligent Systems, along with its sequels Crashmo and Stretchmo. Pushmo's unique puzzle-solving gameplay took advantage of the system's 3D capabilities to create a genuinely unique experience that hasn't really been properly replicated in any other games since.
Super Mario 3D Land
Similarly to Pushmo, Super Mario 3D Land takes advantage of the 3DS' unique glasses-free 3D capabilities to actually enhance the gameplay experience. While it's totally possible to play through the game in 2D mode, there are definitely some things that get lost in translation. Regardless, Super Mario 3D Land is a high quality Super Mario platforming experience that plays like a bite-sized Super Mario Galaxy in many ways.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. franchise has consistently been one of its top-sellers since it debuted on the Nintendo 64. It finally made its handheld debut on the 3DS with Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS. Virtually the same game as the Wii U version, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS successfully translated the Super Smash Bros. fighting game experience to handheld form, with an impressive, expansive roster of characters to choose from.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
The 3DS was a great system for Zelda fans. Besides the remakes of Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, the 3DS also featured The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. The critically-acclaimed sequel to A Link to the Past on the SNES, A Link Between Worlds featured a number of major changes to the Zelda formula, with many of its gambles paying off.