*This article is compiled from IGN US and is not reproduced without authorization.
In 2011, Nintendo released its latest flagship handheld, the Nintendo 3DS, which sold more than 75 million units during its sale. Throughout 2019, there were many high-quality games on the platform, and the sheer number of high-quality titles made it difficult to summarize this article, but together we've come up with ten of the best 3DS games of all time.
10. Mario Racing 7
Mario Kart 7 is the seventh in Nintendo's famous racing game series, which innovates the gameplay of the series for many years with only land tracks, bringing something that is now an integral element of the series. In this game, players can not only ride under the waves and experience ambitious new tracks such as sky gliding, but also redesign the classic tracks.
Although the number of selectable characters in the game is slightly insufficient, it is an interesting new element to create your own exclusive racing mechanics by mixing various parts. This, combined with excellent battle modes including balloon battles and coin battles, as well as solid online and local gameplay, makes this game a must-have for most 3DS players.
IX. The Apocalypse of Courage
As an outstanding innovation of the perfect system in the golden age of Square Enix RPG, "Apocalypse of Courage" gives people a glimpse of the unique style and expressiveness of Japanese RPGs. If you haven't experienced the class system in the Final Fantasy series, you might as well try the great character class customization system in this genre.
8. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has undoubtedly occupied an important historical place in the 3D Zelda game, and the transplanted remake of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, launched by Grezzo Studios in 2011, is the best entry point to experience the first 3D game in the series. Based on the updated picture quality, the game still retains the essence of the original N64 game, while also adding a series of tweaks that can bring about a qualitative experience, including support for touch screens (this change undoubtedly makes the game's backpack management system much friendlier). In addition, the increase in frame rate also makes the game more silky to play.
Even for those who have played the original game through N64 or other means, Zelda Legend: Ocarina of Time 3D is still a game worth revisiting. And if you haven't played the original yet, you can start with the remake.
VII. Monster Hunter 4G
While there are newer Monster Hunter series titles on 3DS than this game, Monster Hunter 4G is the best of the 3DS-exclusive games in the series. The game is filled with monsters of increasing difficulty and a variety of weapons and armor created from their materials, and the game is also the first work in the Monster Hunter series to include a climbing mechanism and truly have a vertical space concept.
If the game's aesthetically otherworldly design and addictive gameplay of hunting monsters, crafting gear, and then hunting stronger monsters aren't enough to appeal to you, Monster Hunter 4G also has a story and characters that stand out throughout the series. If you're looking for a "classic" Monster Hunter title, Monster Hunter 4G is the right choice.
Pokémon: The Ultimate Day / Month
Pokémon: Day/Moon, while following the tradition of the Pokémon series, also made some major changes to the series, while Pokémon: Ultimate Day/Month further fostered the spirit of innovation and became the pinnacle of the Pokémon series on 3DS. The Arora map is in a new form reminiscent of the haunting feeling of the first generation of the series, and the tour of the islands is an interesting presentation of another form of dojo challenge gameplay in the past.
All of the elements that are part of Pokémon: Day/Month are all the better in Pokémon: Ultimate Day/Month. In addition, the game has a new side story that adds more characters to the Arora region, more Pokémon, and an unexpected game ending that allows players to find rare legendary Pokémon. Pokémon: Ultimate Day/Month continues to make a unique interpretation in other ways while retaining the traditional charm of Pokémon.
Mitrold: Sams Returns
In Mitterrod: Sams Returns, developer Mercury Steam did not continue to follow the style of Metroider 2, but instead made modern improvements to the series. In this game, Sams can aim 360 degrees through the laser sight, and the modified melee block system has a better experience. Nintendo was clearly very happy with the performance of this game, so they then let Mercury Steam continue to work on "Mitterrod Survival Fear", which was able to appear thanks to the brilliant performance of "Mitterrod: Sams Returns".
IV. "Animal Forest Friends Association New Leaves"
Animal Forest Friends New Leaf is one of the representatives of Nintendo's first-party exclusive game on the 3DS platform, and compared to the previous work in the series, Animal Forest Friends City Family, Animal Forest Friends New Leaf has many excellent improvements, allowing players to get more fun and rewards every time they reach a mileage during the journey.
Although the customization element has always existed in this series, Animal Friends Club New Leaf pays special attention to the customization system, in this game, players can not only modify the character's costumes and home furniture, but also serve as the mayor of the town to carry out infrastructure development and other matters in the town. "Collection! Animal Friends may be the best in the series to date, but many of the best content in this game refer to Animal Friends New Leaves.
3rd Place: Super Mario 3D Continent
There are several games on 3DS that have really achieved breakthroughs in the field of "naked-eye 3D", and Super Mario 3D Continent, like the game "Super Mario Galaxy 2" released a year ago in the series, shows the charm of naked-eye 3D vividly in Mario's adventures. Super Mario 3D Continental's game world is colorful, with a dense and ever-changing obstacle track and a variety of visual puzzle elements that will make you sincerely want to maximize the 3D effect.
Whether you're drawn to the joyful atmosphere of Mario or happy to complete the challenge of collecting all the Star Coins in the level, this game is something you can't miss.
II. Fire Emblem Awakening
Fire Emblem Awakening has a pivotal role in the history of the series, increasing the series' popularity in the European and American markets and laying the groundwork for the game's future commercial advancement. A first-class tactical RPG, fun characters, witty dialogue, a deep combat system, and tough choices and character perpetual death (optional) are all included in the game. Together, these things resulted in an amazing composition that established the Fire emblem series as Nintendo's signature game.
I. The Legend of Zelda: The Triangular Power of the Gods 2
The Legend of Zelda: Triangular Power of the Gods 2 is one of the best 3DS games to date. As a sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Triangular Power of the Gods, this action game released in 2013 is a wonderful nostalgic journey, both a love letter to the previous game and a new blood for the 2D Zelda series, bringing players the right challenge through a first-class dungeon and puzzle solving design combined with excellent balance.
What's more, the game also adds a new mural ability mechanism, which is theoretically impossible to achieve in 2D games, but it performs well in this work, without any sense of violation, and the mural ability has a natural fit with the existing gameplay of the Zelda series. If there's one Zelda game that's a must-play, The Legend of Zelda: Triangular Force of the Gods 2 should definitely be on your radar.