Nintendo 3DS

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♥ This article is dedicated to the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShops, which shut down on March 27, 2023. Thank you for your twelve years of service.
Nintendo 3DS

This time, 3D gaming worked.
Developer: Nintendo
Release Date: Nintendo 3DS:
JP: February 27, 2011
EU: March 25, 2011
NA: March 27, 2011
March 31, 2011
IND: April 5, 2011
BRA: July 9, 2011
KOR: April 28, 2012
HK: September 28, 2012
Nintendo 3DS XL:
JP/EU: July 28, 2012
NA: August 19, 2012
AU: August 23, 2012
BRA: September 3, 2012
KOR: September 20, 2012
HK: September 28, 2012
CHN: December 7, 2012
Nintendo 2DS:
WW: October 12, 2013
CHN: October 19, 2013
KOR: December 7, 2013
JP: February 27, 2016
New Nintendo 3DS:
JP: October 11, 2014
AU: November 21, 2014
EU: January 6, 2015 (Ambassador release)/February 13, 2015 (regular release)
KOR: September 10, 2015
NA: September 25, 2015
New 3DS XL:
JP: October 11, 2014
AU: November 21, 2014
NA/EU: February 13, 2015
KOR: May 1, 2015
New 2DS XL:
AU: June 15, 2017
JP/KOR: July 13, 2017
NA/EU: July 28, 2017
Predecessor: Nintendo DS
Successor: Nintendo Switch
Competitors: PlayStation Vita
Generation: Eighth generation


The Nintendo 3DS is a handheld gaming console developed by Nintendo and the successor to the Nintendo DS line.

Why It Makes Touching Even Better in 3D

  1. As the console's name suggests, the top screen can provide 3D effects without the need for 3D glasses or other similar peripherals. You can even adjust it or turn it off, thus solving a major problem that the Virtual Boy had.
  2. The StreetPass feature allows the 3DS to wirelessly connect to other systems in the area around it to collect Miis and play some multiplayer games. Some games also use it for other functions, such as Bravely Default and Bravely Second using friends for Summoning/Sending for Friends, as well as rebuilding Norende/Magnolia's Moon Base.
    • The SpotPass feature allows for StreetPass gameplay without being in the immediate area, which allows you to connect with others from around the world.
  3. There are augmented reality (AR) features that are used in the built-in game AR Games and several others, such as the opening cinematics of Bravely Default.
  4. The 3DS has a built-in pedometer, which tracks how many steps the player takes. They are rewarded a Play Coin for every 100 steps they take, which can then be used in several 3DS games; up to 10 Play Coins can be obtained per day, and a maximum of 300 can be obtained at one time.
  5. The inclusion of the Circle Pad makes 3D movement much easier than it was on the DS.
  6. It is completely backward-compatible with any DS Game Cards and DSiWare games and software.
  7. The 3DS has a large selection of first-party games (both good and bad), most of which are made for the console rather than just watered-down ports of home console games. They are listed in their respective sections.
  8. Many third-party titles (again both good and bad) were also created for this system. They are listed in their respective sections.
  9. There were many 3DS models, including the 3DS XL, 2DS (which plays 3DS games only in 2D, but costs less than the 3D models), New 3DS, New 3DS XL and New 2DS XL (which is the same as the 2DS, but with a clamshell design and New 3DS features).
  10. The New 3DS/2DS models have extra features, such as a second analog nub, custom face plates, a built-in NFC reader, and more powerful hardware than the original, which allowed for newer-style games.
    • Meanwhile, the 2DS and New 2DS XL lack the 3D mode and are lower-priced, making them easier to produce and easier on children's eyes. Although the original 2DS was criticized for lacking hinges, it was also more durable.
  11. The Circle Pad Pro and NFC Reader/Writer accessories for the original 3DS give it more capabilities, such as reading amiibo and having extra buttons and another Circle Pad that could be used with some games.
  12. All models came in several variations, such as Hyrule Gold Edition and the Year of the Luigi Edition, which had a digital copy of Mario & Luigi: Dream Team pre-installed.
  13. The console uses standard or micro SD cards, depending on the model, meaning that they are lower-priced than the Vita's memory cards.
  14. Although it may not be the best, it uses dual-camera technology, something that wouldn't be popularized in smartphones until the late 2010s. Back then, however, dual cameras were only used by the 3DS, which ended up becoming a fad.

Bad Qualities

Overall

  1. The cameras have several issues:
    • Images taken with the New 3DS's inner cameras will have a strange purplish tint in some lighting.
    • Videos recorded with the cameras (particularly the original) suffer from choppy frame rates (some as low as 5fps) and low resolution at 240p.
  2. Sadly, the Nintendo 3DS eShop closed on March 27, 2023, so you are no longer able to digitally buy games legally. This page is dedicated to this fact.
    • This also means that digital-only games, such as HarmoKnight, the Pushmo trilogy and Nintendo Badge Arcade, are now lost to time.
  3. Nintendo put too much focus on the New 3DS models, basically forcing players to abandon their old models to spend money on the newer ones.
    • You can only play Super Nintendo games on the New 3DS models.
  4. Unlike most Nintendo handhelds, this console has region-locking, while its competitor, the Vita, had no such issue. However, you can play DS games from any region.
  5. Unless you live in a high-population area, the StreetPass feature barely works properly.
  6. A lot of games that released late in the 3DS's lifespan (such as Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey, WarioWare Gold, and Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn) didn't sell well due to the Switch having released during that time, and don't play in 3D.
  7. Despite having backward compatibility with DS games, there is no GBA cartridge slot on any of the models, meaning you can't play GBA games on your 3DS, just like the DSi and DSi XL.
    • You also can't play games that require the use of the GBA cartridge slot, such as the Guitar Hero: On Tour series.
  8. PictoChat, a feature that the DS family had, is not available on the 3DS. However, before the eShop's closure, you could buy equivalents known as Swapnote and Swapdoodle, even being able to attach badges from Nintendo Badge Arcade.
  9. As of April 8, 2024, the Nintendo Network has been shut down, so it's now impossible to play multiplayer games unless they are locally played. Thankfully, Pretendo Network can be used as a substitute for the original Nintendo Network.

Original Model

  1. The battery life leaves much to be desired, lasting around 3-5 hours. However, it is possible to get about 5-8 hours when playing DS games.
  2. The 3DS doesn't have a very good Circle Pad and the rubber can easily come off if you are playing too roughly with it. Also, the shoulder buttons are prone to giving out, just like the DSi and DSi XL.

Nintendo 3DS XL

  1. The speakers have very low-quality sound.
  2. Just like the DS Lite, the top screen's hinge can get loose over time and eventually break.
  3. The system can take a while to load or turn on/off.

Nintendo 2DS

  1. While the 2DS is cheaper than the normal 3DS, there are still charges and downsides to it:
    • It loses the original 3DS stereo sound to the $130 price tag, although it still supports stereo sound through the headphone jack.
    • It lacks the clamshell design that the DS and 3DS families are well-known for, so you can't put it in your pocket.
    • Its screens are more vulnerable to cracking, which is especially problematic considering that the system was designed for younger children.
    • Games such as Super Mario 3D Land may be harder, since some of the optical-illusion puzzles utilized 3D capabilities.

New 3DS

  1. Sadly, the New 3DS models weren't very commercially successful, selling fewer units than even the Wii U, due to Nintendo trying too hard to push them.
  2. It doesn't come with a charger (except for the New 2DS XL), meaning you will need to buy one or have already owned one.
  3. For some strange reason, the SD card slot is located where the battery is, meaning you will have to unscrew the plastic case to replace the SD card.
  4. The ZL and ZR buttons can be hard to reach.
  5. The standard New 3DS model wasn't available at launch and was only released in special bundles in North America.
  6. The 3DS XL models don't have customizable face plates.
  7. The C-Stick's placement is very odd and requires jamming your thumb into it to use.
  8. Many of the same issues that the 3DS and 3DS XL had are still here.

New 2DS XL

  1. Like the original 2DS, it loses stereo sound. It also has the speaker in the bottom right-hand corner, making it easy to obstruct with your hand.
  2. As if the speaker placement wasn't bad enough, both the front and back cameras are on the bottom screen rather than the top screen. While the front camera's placement is fine, the back camera might get covered by your fingers sometimes.
  3. It suffers from many of the same issues that the New 3DS and New 3DS XL had.
  4. The edges of this model are sharp and can be rather uncomfortable for your palms when you play with it for a relatively long session.

Reception

The Nintendo 3DS hardware has largely received positive reviews, with the use of 3D effects and its overall more powerful hardware being praised, but the low battery life was a point of criticism.

Over 75.96 million units have been sold worldwide as of September 30, 2020. While it may not enough to outsell its predecessor, it is the 12th best-selling console/handheld of all time.

Good/Decent Examples of Nintendo 3DS Games

First-Party Titles

Third-Party Titles

Bad/Mediocre Examples of Nintendo 3DS Games

First-Party Titles

Third-Party Titles

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