Top 25 Best Nintendo 3DS Games of All Time

Pushmo

Intelligent Systems is definitely best known for games like Fire Emblem and Advance Wars, but they also brought us the adorable little puzzle game Pushmo. The title has you playing as a little round sumo character, who can push and pull blocks in multiple directions, having to create a path to the top. It almost plays similarly to something like Catherine, and its smart puzzles combined with cute aesthetic make it one of the most charming games on the system.

Kirby Planet Robobot

Kirby may take a backseat to the big series like Mario and Zelda at times, but the pink puffball has seen numerous strong releases in recent years. Probably the best out of all of those is Planet Robobot, which applies a twist on Kirby by giving him a mech suit. Planet Robobot brings a ton of charm, and has a smart way of integrating the new mechanic with traditional Kirby gameplay. It's easily one of the best platformers available on the handheld.

Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D

Donkey Kong Country Returns brought the series back in a big way on the Wii, with a surprisingly challenging platforming title. The 3DS port may be compromised a tiny bit visually, but gameplay-wise it's just as great of an experience. There's also a new mode that makes the game a little easier, and an entirely new world not found in the Wii version. This makes the 3DS game a great title for newcomers or fans to return to.

Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth

The Persona series has exploded into popularity over the last few years, and fans got a little bit of a different experience with Persona Q. The game is a 'what if' scenario that has the cast of Persona 3 and 4 meeting up to solve a new mystery in a title that combines the gameplay of the Persona and Etrian Odyssey series. It's a challenging RPG, but the main draw here is seeing the fun interactions between the casts of the two games.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice

The Phoenix Wright series has been a staple for Nintendo on the DS, and the 3DS saw one of the series' best entries to date with Spirit of Justice. The game has you playing as both Phoenix and Apollo Justice in a story that takes you to the mystical country of Khura'in. Spirit of Justice takes the best elements that worked from previous games, while taking the story in an entirely new direction, potentially setting the stage for future entries.

Rhythm Heaven Megamix

The Rhythm Heaven games are some of the most overlooked titles in the Nintendo library, giving you tons of quirky music-based minigames to play through. Megamix is the absolute best way to experience Rhythm Heaven right now, as it compiles minigames from all of the previous entries while also adding in new ones. You'll be tapping away for hours with this quirky gem.

Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward

The Zero Escape games are some of the most unique and compelling visual novels out there, putting a group of characters into a deadly game created by the mysterious "Zero." Virtue's Last Reward is technically a sequel to the previous game 999, but it functions well as a standalone game as well. With some fascinating storytelling and unique mechanics that tie into that story, Virtue's Last Reward is a wholly unique experience on 3DS.

Kid Icarus Uprising

It had been over 20 years since we'd last seen Pit when Kid Icarus Uprising released, and the game helped give new life to the series. Uprising is split into two gameplay parts, one an action-packed rail shooter and two a third-person action game. The title features some spot-on humor, and makes great use of the stereoscopic 3D on the system. With a multiplayer offering and a memorable campaign, Kid Icarus Uprising is a strong contender for best action game on 3DS.

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse

Shin Megami Tensei IV may have been an original mainline entry on 3DS, but Apocalypse by all regards managed to be the better game. The title picks up during SMT IV, and its story follows well after the original with a brand new alternate storyline. Apocalypse features a memorable cast of characters, a phenomenal soundtrack, and some helpful gameplay improvements over SMT IV. It's a dark, huge JRPG on 3DS and any fan of the genre should make sure to experience it.

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

Monster Hunter found a great home on the 3DS, and by far the strongest title on the system is Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate. Ultimate really is an example of simply expanding on an already great formula. With tons of quests and monsters, new and unique weapons, and a great presentation on a handheld, it's easily one of the most compelling Monster Hunter entries yet.

Shovel Knight

Shovel Knight is one of the biggest indie surprises we've ever seen, a nostalgic throwback to 2D platformers that also manages to update and modernize the formula. With a smart checkpoint system, and a shovel jumping mechanic that works almost perfectly, Shovel Knight feels like the realization of what 2D platformers should have evolved into. It's a fantastic title, and one of the very best you can download through the 3DS eShop.

Mario Kart 7

Mario Kart has always been a party game series, but at the same time Mario Kart 7 makes a strong case for single-player and online play. The 3DS entry introduced some unique new mechanics like the hang-glider, underwater driving, and the ability to drive in first person. Combined with a really strong track list, Mario Kart 7 isn't just one of the best 3DS games, it's one of the best Mario Kart games.

Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright and Conquest

Fire Emblem saw a trio of great entries on the 3DS, but Fates is the one that tried to be most different. Fates is split into three different titles; Birthright, Conquest, and Revelation. These three entries each tell a different story, but each is a full-fledged game on its own. Despite version differences, Fates manages to be a memorable Fire Emblem experience filled with memorable characters.

Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon

Luigi got yet another shot in the spotlight on 3DS with Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, a sequel to the critically acclaimed GameCube title. Dark Moon gives you yet another creepy mansion to explore, where every room feels absolutely filled with things to see and interact with. The characters are charming, animations lavishly done, and Dark Moon is generally just a blast to play through and through.

Bravely Default

Bravely Default was both a nostalgia throwback to classic Final Fantasies, as well as a forwarding of the turn-based formula. At every turn Bravely Default evokes Final Fantasy, from its storytelling to its job-based combat. However, it streamlines the experience by letting you customize things like battle rate, and its Brave and Default systems in combat are genius. It's one of the very best JRPGs of the last decade, not just on the 3DS.

Pokemon X and Y

Pokemon X and Y finally took the series' presentation into 3D, this time letting you explore the France-inspired Kalos region. It also introduced some big new features like customizable trainers and Mega Evolution, something that's a focus in Sun and Moon as well. With a new roster of Pokemon and a host of other new features, X and Y are essentials for your collection.

Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia

While Awakening and Fates took Fire Emblem in bold new directions, Echoes returned to the series' roots by completely remaking Fire Emblem Gaiden. Echoes throws a lot of recent changes out the window, doing away with the weapon triangle for one. Yet, the game makes some bold advancements for the series especially in terms of how it presents its story and diversifies gameplay. Echoes may be different, but it's no less engaging than Fates and Awakening.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D

Ocarina of Time is one of the most beloved games ever made, and for good reason. The core game is mostly the same, as it should be, but the 3DS version does feature a few neat enhancements. Gyroscopic controls work incredibly well for aiming items like your bow, and the game features the fantastic rearranged versions of dungeons from Master Quest. Ocarina of Time 3D is absolutely the best way to experience this classic game.

Metroid: Samus Returns

2D Metroid has been dormant for years, and 2017 saw the return of Samus in an important way. Samus Returns is one of the best Metroid games ever made, not just in recent years. This remake of Metroid II changes so much that it feels like a brand new game, ambitiously combining elements from across the 2D series into the framework of the original Game Boy title.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D

Majora's Mask is a title every bit Ocarina of Time's equal, and one of the most strangely ambitious entries in the Zelda series. The game's time mechanic is still something wholly unique to this day, and the 3DS version adds in some changes. An easier save system, more time, new fishing minigame, and a stellar presentation make this a phenomenal entry in the series.

Animal Crossing: New Leaf

Animal Crossing easily draws you in with its cutesy aesthetic and strong core gameplay loop. New Leaf took things one step further by making you the mayor of your own animal town, letting you make improvements to the area on top of your usual collecting and home customization. There's more to see and do than ever before, meaning you'll be spending a lot of time with New Leaf.

Pokemon Ultra Sun and Moon

Pokemon Sun and Moon took us to the unique tropical region of Alola, and Ultra Sun and Moon simply improve upon that experience. Sun and Moon buck a lot of Pokemon traditions, like doing away with gyms for more structured Island Trials. Ultra Sun and Moon add on new Pokemon forms, story arcs, Ultra Beasts, and minigams, making these already large games even more compelling.

Super Mario 3D Land

Super Mario 3D Land is the very first 3D Mario game on a handheld, and boy does it do a great job. Instead of most 3D Mario games that present you with open areas to explore, 3D Land is segmented into levels, most of which feature some really smart puzzles or platforming segments. This is probably the best use of the 3D feature the system has ever seen as well, making it an essential for any 3DS library.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

A Link Between Worlds is the sequel to Link to the Past that we've always wanted, and it more than lives up to its namesake. The game brilliantly creates a new vision for 2D Zelda with a 2.5D presentation that uses a unique mechanic that has Link popping in and out of walls as a painting. It also switches up the Zelda formula in terms of how dungeons can be tackled, and items obtained. A Link Between Worlds definitely makes the case for the very best game on 3DS.

Fire Emblem Awakening

Fire Emblem Awakening is a game that actually saved its franchise, while integrally redefining what Fire Emblem is about. The strategy at the core is the same, but drastic new features like unit pairing, overhauled support relationships, and more emphasis on character development, make Awakening a freshly unique experience. It remains the very best Fire Emblem game to date, and is easily one of the highlights out of the entire 3DS' library.