Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology
5 3DS Games to Look Forward to in 2018
JRPG fans who own a 3DS will definitely be well-served in 2018; it’s the genre that consumes a majority of the spots on this list. Starting in February, we have Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology, an expanded remake of the well-received DS game.
A key part of the original Radiant Historia was time travel. Using the white chronicle, players would hop between two alternate timelines, where solving a puzzle or gaining an item in one timeline could help you progress further in the other. Depending on what you did on these timelines could affect which ending you received. It’s reminiscent of the beloved JRPG Chrono Trigger, so fans of that classic may want to give this 3DS game a look.
The remake is looking to be more than just a visual upgrade, however. Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology features a new support skill system where characters are able to perform follow-up attacks during battle. On top of this, the 3DS version has added in new characters, scenarios and dungeons, so those who have played the original have some new stuff to look forward to.
Detective Pikachu: Birth of a New Team
5 3DS Games to Look Forward to in 2018
If you haven’t seen the trailer for Detective Pikachu, get on that. Detective Pikachu incorporates the bizarre concept of a talking Pikachu who goes around solving crimes – and he has the gruff voice of a middle-aged man!
Once you get over the craziness of this game, it still looks like it’s going to be a lot of fun. You don’t actually play as Pikachu, but his new friend Tim Goodman. You have to walk around town, and interact with people and Pokemon alike to uncover new clues and solve puzzles. It’s an adventure game like Sam & Max, but with Pokemon!
Detective Pikachu had already released in Japan on the 3DS eShop back in early 2016, but the game is now finally coming to the West in March, and has a new episode bundled in. Detective Pikachu is even getting his own jumbo-sized amiibo.
The Alliance Alive
5 3DS Games to Look Forward to in 2018
The Alliance Alive is another JRPG coming to the 3DS in March, and comes from the veteran JRPG publisher/developer Atlus. The team for this game are also known for the 3DS JRPG The Legend of Legacy.
The visuals give the game a similar vibe to the Bravely series, and if this is anything like those games, we’re in for a treat. The battles are turn-based, like traditional JRPGs, but it also incorporates heavy elements of tactical-RPGs too with its implementation of its formation system. Party members are arranged in formations on a grid, where their positions grant them different offensive or defensive abilities.
The 3DS has a ton of great JRPG’s, and The Alliance Alive is looking to be another one to add to the list.
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux
5 3DS Games to Look Forward to in 2018
Speaking of JRPG’s, here comes Atlus with yet another JRPG for the 3DS. They just don’t stop coming. Like Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology, Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux is another remake of a DS game with an unnecessarily wordy title.
If you’ve played any other game with the Shin Megami Tensei moniker, you’ll mostly know what you’ll be getting into with Strange Journey Redux. You’ll be traveling the world of alternate dimensions known as Schwarzwelt, and recruiting demons to help you in the games’ many random encounters and boss battles. In Strange Journey Redux your choices in the story can affect how your demons think of you, which can affect how they react to your commands, and whether they will stay loyal to you or not.
The 3DS version boasts some nice additions, such as a new route, a new character, and even voice acting. If you’re looking to go on the best journey of the strange kind, Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux is the game for you.
Sushi Striker: Way of the Sushido
5 3DS Games to Look Forward to in 2018
Lastly, we have one of the more unique entries on this list: Sushi Striker: Way of the Sushido. This title is being developed by indieszero, who have brought us some great games in the past such as Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy and the NES Remix games.
It’s a fast-paced puzzle game in which you use the touch screen to match and stack up plates of sushi. The higher the combo and the fancier the sushi, the more damage you will do to your opponent. “The last sushi samurai standing wins!”
Sushi Striker: Way of the Sushido is going to be released as a download title on the 3DS eShop, so it likely won’t be too expensive. It looks like a fun little puzzle game that can be enjoyed in bite-sized chunks, perfectly suited to the 3DS.
Of course, these five games are not all that the system has to offer in 2018. Nintendo has a history of revealing some never-before-seen titles in surprise Nintendo directs. There’s a good chance that more great games could be on the horizon for the handheld.