10 Greatest Nintendo 3DS Games of All Time, Ranked

by

The 3DS had a lot to live up to. Following the massive success of the Nintendo DS – which sold over 154 million units – it needed to prove itself as a worthy successor to the best-selling handheld console ever. While the 3DS didn’t sell quite as well, and its 3D feature wasn’t a huge hit, it still boasted an incredible library of games.

The best 3DS games proved that handheld gaming could be just as amazing as playing on a home console. Titles like the N64 classic Ocarina of Time – which was ported to the system – and innovative new games like Super Mario 3D Land showed the 3DS had something for everyone and didn’t feel restricted in any way.

Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Perfected GBA Classics

The Nintendo 3DS was a fantastic era for Pokémon games. While Pokémon X and Y introduced 3D graphics to the series, many fans consider Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire to be the best 3DS Pokémon titles. These games were complete remakes of the older Game Boy Advance versions, taking everything that was great about the originals and improving upon them.

A highlight of Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire was how they blended elements from Pokémon Emerald with gameplay features from the newer Generation 6 games. They successfully included things like Mega Evolutions and simplified online Pokémon trading, making the experience even better.

Fantasy Life Let Players Lead a Simple Life

Fantasy Life let players live out their ideal lifestyle, and it truly delivered on that promise. Instead of focusing solely on battling monsters like many role-playing games, Fantasy Life offered a more relaxed experience, letting players become cooks, alchemists, wizards, or even paladins – offering a variety of cozy and adventurous paths.

In Fantasy Life, you can choose from 12 different classes and change between them whenever you like. This makes the game feel new and exciting, even after playing for a while. It’s a relaxing and often overlooked RPG that players who enjoy games like Stardew Valley are sure to love.

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate was a pivotal game that propelled the series to massive success. It achieved record-breaking sales, selling 3.9 million copies in Japan within its first year and becoming the fastest-selling Monster Hunter game in North America.

A major reason Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate became so popular was how simple it was to play with friends. It had both online and local multiplayer options, making it easy to team up with others and battle the game’s creative and unique monsters, similar to how people connect in games like Animal Crossing.

Super Mario 3D Land Is the Perfect Portable Mario Game

Super Mario is Nintendo’s most famous series, and it was very successful on the 3DS. The standout game on that platform is Super Mario 3D Land, which brilliantly blended classic 2D Mario gameplay with 3D elements.

Although some people find Super Mario 3D Land a bit simple, it includes optional challenges like collecting all the star medals and golden flagpoles. The game’s level design still feels fresh and creative, and its graphics hold up remarkably well, even compared to today’s standards, considering it was originally released in 2011.

Dragon Quest VIII Brought a Classic PS2 Game to 3DS

The Dragon Quest series is considered one of the best in the JRPG genre, and Dragon Quest VIII is a standout title. Originally created for the PlayStation 2, the game tells the story of a lone hero who must gather a team of companions to lift a curse that has fallen upon his kingdom and bring it back to its former glory.

Like other Dragon Quest games, DQVIII initially seems straightforward, but it quickly becomes full of surprises. This 3DS version improves upon the original PlayStation 2 game with added characters and new content. Despite being adapted for a smaller screen, DQVIII‘s distinct art style looks fantastic on the 3DS.

Animal Crossing: New Leaf

Although Animal Crossing: New Horizons became incredibly popular globally, many fans believe Animal Crossing: New Leaf is the strongest game in the series. Unlike earlier games where you simply moved to town, New Leaf let you become the mayor, giving you greater power to shape and manage your community.

Previous Animal Crossing games, such as City Folk, had online capabilities, but New Leaf really expanded on them. It became much easier to visit friends’ towns and share a dream version of your own. While the decorating tools in New Leaf weren’t as advanced as those in New Horizons, players could still design some stunning towns.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Reimagined a Classic

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds feels like a continuation of the classic A Link to the Past. While clearly inspired by that earlier game, it also innovated the Zelda series with a clever new ability: Link could transform into a painting, allowing him to move through walls.

The game features amazing puzzles and dungeons that are as good as anything else in the Zelda series. It also boasts a fantastic soundtrack, with both fresh new music and updated versions of classic tunes from A Link to the Past.

Shin Megami Tensei IV Is a Must-Play JRPG

Shin Megami Tensei IV demonstrates that large, complex Japanese role-playing games can thrive on portable consoles. The game takes place in both a medieval kingdom and a demon-infested, alternate version of Tokyo. While the story starts with a focused path, it quickly opens up, allowing players to freely explore its expansive world.

While there’s a lot to enjoy in SMT IV, its strongest point is definitely how it plays. The combat is turn-based, easy to learn, but surprisingly complex, letting you take advantage of enemy weaknesses – similar to games like Persona 5. It’s a great place to start if you’re new to the Shin Megami Tensei series, and you’ll also love its follow-up, SMT IV: Apocalypse.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D Perfected a Classic

Look, Ocarina of Time on the N64 was amazing, a total game-changer. But honestly, it had a couple of frustrating parts – I’m looking at you, Water Temple! Thankfully, the 3DS version fixed those issues, but the best part is they didn’t mess with the awesome story and gameplay that made OoT so special in the first place.

As a huge Zelda fan, I still think The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D is the absolute best way to play this amazing game. I really hope Nintendo remakes it one day, but for now, OoT 3D is perfect because it lets newer players jump in and enjoy everything without getting stuck or frustrated. The controls and dungeons are just so well done!

Fire Emblem Awakening Saved the Franchise

While Fire Emblem: Three Houses is now the best-selling strategy RPG in history, the series faced a tough time before its success. Before Fire Emblem: Awakening, sales were low and the franchise was at risk of being canceled. However, Awakening, released on the 3DS, revitalized the series with its appealing characters and easier-to-learn gameplay, leading to a huge surge in popularity.

As a huge fan, I think one of the things that really got people hooked on Fire Emblem Awakening was that it finally let you turn off permadeath! It meant you could enjoy the game without constantly stressing about losing characters forever, which was perfect for anyone new to the series. And honestly, the ability to pair up characters and actually have their kids join your team? That was just brilliant and so much fun!

Awakening is a fantastic game, and many consider it the best on the 3DS. It’s a great place to start if you’re new to the series, and a must-play for fans of strategy RPGs.

5 Questions
Test Your 3DS Mastery: Which Handheld Hits Do You Know Best?
Your Top Score
—
Attempts
—
0
0
Report Error

Found an error? Send it so it can be corrected.

Read More

2026-03-21 20:46