Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate New 3DS XL
Here’s our first special edition Nintendo console. A fancy Monster Hunter logo would have sufficed for this one. They went the extra mile with this one by adding that appearance of texture throughout the outside shell.
Better yet, that isn’t an actually raised texture that might collect dirt in its nooks and crannies. A legitimate concern for something that spends hours on end in lint-filled pockets and bags. It’s a smart design and it looks even better.
Pikachu N64
While it may look a bit tacky now, but if you had one of these bad boys then you would be the coolest kid on the street. The giant Pikachu that has a button for a right foot jumps out at you from the get-go.
The color scheme is nothing overwhelming. The simple blue and yellow sections give it a fun and playful feeling. The matching controller also ties everything together into one undeniably cool Pokemon-themed Nintendo console.
Persona Q 3DS XL
Even if you’re not a fan of the Persona franchise you have to admit that this 3DS XL console looks incredible. It’s not too often that you’ll see any kind of Persona game on a Nintendo system, so it was a good decision to celebrate it with one of the best-looking system variants I’ve ever seen.
The blue argyle pattern that forms the foundation for grimoire-like appearance flows smoothly around the outside of the system. The character art on the back is a bit busy, but it’s hard to not appreciate the stellar design in the Persona series.
Pokemon World Championships 2009 DSi
Good luck finding this one in your local Gamestop or mom and pop video Nintendo game vendor. The Pokemon World Championships 2009 DSi is worth thousands of dollars and was only given to select players who attended the 2009 event.
If you’re a big Pokemon fan, then it’s hard to beat the design on this system. It features tons of Pokemon with exclusive art that hasn’t been on any other piece of merchandise before or since.
The sky blue background is a perfect canvas for what is one of the coolest looking DSi consoles out there.
Majora’s Mask New 3DS XL
Nintendo always goes all out for The Legend of Zelda games and their special consoles are no different. While they mostly use a gold color scheme, each one is surprisingly unique.
This Majora’s Mask New 3DS XL is a perfect example of that. It features the titular mask in the middle surrounded by the Deku Mask, Goron Mask, Zora Mask, and Fierce Deity Mask.
Even without knowing too much about the game, it lets you know that these five items are incredibly important. Better yet, the detailed shading and intricate lines on Majora’s Mask are ridiculously impressive.
It’s a sight to behold in person and pictures can hardly do it justice.
Gold LoZ GBA SP
It’s so shiny! Like I said before, Nintendo loves their gold when it comes to LoZ special edition consoles. This one is a bit more toned down than that 3DS, but it’s that simplicity that makes it appealing.
On the outside it’s just a basic triforce, then the inside has a small logo in the lower right. If it wasn’t for the metallic gold finish, not much about this console would stand out.
It’s the perfect combination of enough gloss without being a fingerprint magnet.
Fire Emblem Fates 3DS XL
I am a bit biased towards this one because it’s the 3DS that I’ve used for a few years now, but it’s undoubtedly one of the best designs out there. From a distance, it just looks like a plain black and white 3DS.
However, the elaborate draconic designs are what makes this console so great. They blend in with their surroundings until you view them at certain angles.
It’s a shame that they’re not more easily visible, but that gives this console a more sleek and professional look compared to other 3DS systems.
GS Pokemon Center Game Boy Color
Pokemon special edition consoles are always some of the coolest-looking systems out there. This Game Boy Color that was exclusive to Pokemon Center stores is no exception.
It has a muted color palette compared to the otherwise obnoxiously purple and lime green GBC systems. The Pokemon art on the plastic bezel surrounding the screen is also top-notch.
Since the Game Boy screen isn’t much to look at, the addition of some extra art surrounding this tiny lcd is always a welcome addition.
Hylian Shield New 2DS XL
This thing is probably chunky enough to be used as an actual shield. The new 2DS XL is one of the youngest members of the 3DS family and it hasn’t received many special edition consoles.
However, this one is a bit different since it bucks the gold trend we see with many LoZ-themed systems and peripherals. Sure, the original 2DS also did this, but it did so with an atrocious combination of green, brown, and yellow.
Even though the 3DS was essentially on the way out, Nintendo still turned plenty of Switch owner’s heads with one of the coolest designs for a handheld console that I have ever seen.
Pikachu and Pichu Yellow Game Boy Color
Pokemon gets a pass when it comes to obnoxious colors. Sure, this Game Boy doesn’t quite seem to understand how to use complementary colors, but at least all the colors are a reference to something.
This system has blue, yellow, green, and red, which were the first four Pokemon games that came to the Game Boy.
Again, the art surrounding the screen is fantastic and this console is a beautiful homage to Pokemon franchise and its fans.
Image Source: catawiki
Pokemon Dragon King 3DS XL
If a 3DS can be badass, then this one is just that. We’ve come a long way for the little Pokemon drawings around the Game Boy bezels.
This 3DS XL was another prize for tournament players and features some of the coolest Mega Charizard X art you’ll ever see. Charizard looks like it’s bursting out of the 3DS with a massive firestorm raging in the background.
There’s a good chance you’ll never get your hands on this bad boy, let alone ever even see it in person, but it’s one of the best pieces of art you’ll ever see on a Nintendo console.
Image Source: consolevariations.com
Famitsu Game Boy Light
There’s nothing too complicated about this Game Boy, except the means for obtaining it. These Famitsu special edition Game Boys can go for upwards of $500 depending upon if they’re in their original blister packaging.
There have been tons of clear Game Boys, but there’s just something about the aesthetic of this one that tops all others.
For me, it’s the white buttons and the extra text on the lower bezel indicating that it’s a special edition that makes this system look so stylish. The white buttons and clear plastic just looks ridiculously slick.
Happy Home Designer 3DS LL
Lovingly named the “Poptart” by 3DS and Nintendo fans alike, the Happy Home Designer 3DS LL (same as the XL in the US) is one of the best-looking Nintendo consoles out there.
It earned this moniker because of its white design with smatterings of furniture that are likened to colored sugar on a Pop Tart.
The design is a bit busy, but it’s unmistakably Animal Crossing. It’s so colorful and sparks joy in the hearts of those who strive to have a perfectly used space with minimal clutter.
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate New 3DS XL
Better yet, that isn't an actually raised texture that might collect dirt in its nooks and crannies. A legitimate concern for something that spends hours on end in lint-filled pockets and bags. It's a smart design and it looks even better.
Pikachu N64
The color scheme is nothing overwhelming. The simple blue and yellow sections give it a fun and playful feeling. The matching controller also ties everything together into one undeniably cool Pokemon-themed Nintendo console.
Persona Q 3DS XL
The blue argyle pattern that forms the foundation for grimoire-like appearance flows smoothly around the outside of the system. The character art on the back is a bit busy, but it's hard to not appreciate the stellar design in the Persona series.
Pokemon World Championships 2009 DSi
If you're a big Pokemon fan, then it's hard to beat the design on this system. It features tons of Pokemon with exclusive art that hasn't been on any other piece of merchandise before or since. The sky blue background is a perfect canvas for what is one of the coolest looking DSi consoles out there.
Image Source: consolevariations.com
Majora's Mask New 3DS XL
It features the titular mask in the middle surrounded by the Deku Mask, Goron Mask, Zora Mask, and Fierce Deity Mask. Even without knowing too much about the game, it lets you know that these five items are incredibly important. Better yet, the detailed shading and intricate lines on Majora's Mask are ridiculously impressive. It's a sight to behold in person and pictures can hardly do it justice.
Gold LoZ GBA SP
If it wasn't for the metallic gold finish, not much about this console would stand out. It's the perfect combination of enough gloss without being a fingerprint magnet.
Fire Emblem Fates 3DS XL
They blend in with their surroundings until you view them at certain angles. It's a shame that they're not more easily visible, but that gives this console a more sleek and professional look compared to other 3DS systems.
GS Pokemon Center Game Boy Color
>
The Pokemon art on the plastic bezel surrounding the screen is also top-notch. Since the Game Boy screen isn't much to look at, the addition of some extra art surrounding this tiny LCD is always a welcome addition.
Hylian Shield New 2DS XL
Sure, the original 2DS also did this, but it did so with an atrocious combination of green, brown, and yellow. Even though the 3DS was essentially on the way out, Nintendo still turned plenty of Switch owner's heads with one of the coolest designs for a handheld console that I have ever seen.
Pikachu and Pichu Yellow Game Boy Color
Again, the art surrounding the screen is fantastic and this console is a beautiful homage to Pokemon franchise and its fans.
Image Source: catawiki
Pokemon Dragon King 3DS XL
Charizard looks like it's bursting out of the 3DS with a massive firestorm raging in the background. There's a good chance you'll never get your hands on this bad boy, let alone ever even see it in person, but it's one of the best pieces of art you'll ever see on a Nintendo console.
Image Source: consolevariations.com
Famitsu Game Boy Light
For me, it's the white buttons and the extra text on the lower bezel indicating that it's a special edition that makes this system look so stylish. The white buttons and clear plastic just looks slicker than clear plastic with black buttons.
Happy Home Designer 3DS LL
The design is a bit busy, but it's unmistakably Animal Crossing. It's so colorful and sparks joy in the hearts of those who strive to have a perfectly used space with minimal clutter.
About the author
Omar Banat
Omar is a UofM Duluth graduate who is obsessed with Smash Bros. Video games are life, but life is not video games. Playing Games Since: 1991, Favorite Genres: Puzzle, Platformer, Action-Adventure (mainly Metroidvanias)