Five 3DS Games That Are Worth A Revisit

By Megashaun

We’re entering the busiest time of year when it comes to the videogames industry, where publishers seek to cash in on holiday spending by releasing their biggest blockbusters. It’s both a great time and a terrible time to be a gamer. It’s great because there’s no shortage of amazing new titles to play, but it’s terrible because our budgets and free time are limited, so oftentimes most of us need to be extremely picky about the games we get now, and which games we feel we can wait a bit to get into (at least till they go on sale).

With this in mind, however, there has been one platform we keep going back to, time and again throughout the year: Nintendo 3DS. Since its initial release the device has seen many iterations and improvements while its library has felt a significant boost in quality games. Which much of these titles are first-party Nintendo-published (if not developed) games, there are also some notable third-party gems to be found. With the New Nintendo 3DS here (along with its bigger cousin, the New Nintendo 3DS XL), we felt it’s a good time to look at our five favorite games for the system

Star Fox 64 3D

Much has been debated when it comes to reissues, remakes, and remasters in the videogame world. But take it from us: You’ve not played Star Fox 64 until you’ve played it on the 3DS. It’s hard to believe this version of the game is already over four years old, but again it’s one that’s worth a re-visit on the new hardware. Star Fox on the SNES sparked our imaginations with its crude low-count polygon graphics, but it was Star Fox 64 that brought the personalities of Fox, Peppy, Falco, and Slippy to life. It’s a real treat to be able to bring it everywhere we go. The game itself is quite short, but the branching level paths make it one that’s fun to re-explore. Also, it’s holding us over until the release of Star Fox Zero.

Super Smash Bros for Nintendo 3DS

This is somewhat of a no-brainer. The Smash Bros series of games not only gets more popular with each iteration, but also better. Super Smash Bros for Nintendo 3DS and its counterpart for Wii U represent a whole new level of fun and mayhem in what has to be the silliest fighting game franchise in the world. It also helps that this time around, the battles are augmented through the use of Amiibo figures that act as incredibly deft NPCs that learn how to fight based on your own play style. Taking a powered-up Amiibo into a multiplayer game with friends is a sure-fire way to put those friendships in jeopardy, but dammit if it’s not the most fun you’ve had playing competitively against others. Sadly, Amiibo are still hard to come by. But even without Amiibo integration, SSB is a solid fighter with a well-rounded, hilarious cast of characters.

Animal Crossing New Leaf

When you’re not in the mood for action, shooting, or fighting, Nintendo still has your back with Animal Crossing. Arguably one of the big N’s cutest franchises, this one (like previous AC titles) has you moving to a new town to start of your new life. You meet your new neighbors, who all happen to be animals with their own distinguished personalities, and you find yourself with a job from the town’s biggest entrepreneur, Tom Nook. The game takes place in real time, with special events peppered throughout the seasons. New Leaf is all about building your home and your town, and this time around players get to be more creative as the Mayor of their town. With randomized item and crop availability and the ability to invite friends into your town (while also being able to visit theirs), New Leaf is full of fun trade opportunities.

Bit.Trip Saga

The Bit.Trip series from Gaijin and Aksys Games was a throwback to simpler times with clear gameplay concepts, sharp lo-fi pixels graphics, and totally bangin’ chip soundtracks. Originally available as single, downloadable titles, Bit.Trip Saga brought six titles together (Bit.Trip Beat, Bit.Trip Core, Bit.Trip Void, Bit.Trip Runner, Bit.Trip Fate, and Bit.Trip Flux) on one tiny cartridge, offering hours of incredible challenges while also bringing the games into the third dimension thanks to the 3DS’s support of stereoscopic visuals. With the New Nintendo 3DS’s better display, this collection pops more than ever.

Honorable Mention: Whoa Dave! by Choice Provisions is a simple pick up and play single-screen retro challenge from the same creative team

Resident Evil: Revelations

While it’s now available on a host of other platforms, along with its originally episodic sequel, Resident Evil: Revelations got its start as a 3DS title. Promising a return to the classic scares and resource management that made the series famous in the first place, Revelations did not disappoint. It was also the first game to support the 3DS Circle Pad Pro attachment (a rather bulky add-on that offered a secondary analog circle pad along with new shoulder buttons which are now all accounted for in some form or another on the New Nintendo 3DS). The action followed Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield, who are on a mission to stop a bioterrorist group from spreading a deadly virus through the Earth’s oceans. Part of the draw was that the title took place between the excellent Resident Evil 4 and the somewhat less excellent Resident Evil 5, filling in the narrative gaps of what was going on in the meantime. The game also featured two new characters: Agents Parker Luciani and Jessica Sherawat (who looks like a Bond villain). Although it’s playable on other platforms, Resident Evil: Revelations is best experienced on a very personal level on a screen held inches away from your face, in 3D.