The best games for Nintendo 3DS - a top list of cult hits for the portable console

Best Games for Nintendo 3DS

Nintendo 3DS is one of the most successful portable consoles in history, providing gamers with dozens of outstanding releases. Its unique dual-screen format, support for 3D without glasses, and, most importantly, a rich library of games have made it a true legend among Nintendo fans.

In this list, we have gathered the best games for the 3DS — including series such as Pokémon, The Legend of Zelda, Fire Emblem, Monster Hunter, and others. These projects have not only stood the test of time but continue to provide a lot of enjoyment from gameplay.

Minecraft

Arcade, Action, Adventure, Online, First-person view, Fantasy / Medieval, Sandbox, Indie, Survival, Crafting

August 15, 2011

Players: 7.6/10

Metacritic: 83/100

An exciting sandbox focused on freedom of action and exploring a practically endless open world. Created through procedural generation, it is filled with...

Rayman Origins

Arcade, Platformer, Adventure, Action

November 15, 2011

Players: 7.7/10

Steam: 93/100

Metacritic: 85/100

This 2D platform adventure with action elements takes place in the Glade of Dreams, which has been overrun by Darktoons. The Fairy Council calls on Rayman to save...

Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

Role-playing game, Top-down view, Futurism (Future), Indie, Roguelike, Dungeons, Cooperative (co-op), Replayability

November 4, 2014

Players: 8.6/10

Steam: 96/100

Metacritic: 87/100

Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is a top-down indie RPG. You will play as the boy Isaac, hiding in the basement from his mother, whom God ordered to sacrifice him. To...

Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time

Action, First-person view, Third-person view, Puzzle, Fantasy / Medieval, Legend of Zelda

November 21, 1998

Players: 8.7/10

Metacritic: 99/100

A fantasy adventure about young Link, who sets out to restore Hyrule after Ganondorf turns the land into a wasteland. To undo the consequences of his actions, Link...

Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove

Arcade, Action, Beat them all, Platformer, Side view, Indie, Adventure

June 26, 2014

Players: 8/10

Steam: 95/100

Metacritic: 88/100

Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove is an old-school pixelated platformer about Shovel Knight, who must destroy his enemies to save his beloved and defeat the evil...

SteamWorld Dig 2

Arcade, Platformer, Steampunk, Side view, Adventure, Metroidvania, Indie

September 21, 2017

Players: 8.9/10

Steam: 95/100

Metacritic: 87/100

SteamWorld Dig 2 is a continuation of the side-view arcade platformer in steampunk style. The main character of the game this time will not be Rusty, but a certain...

Metroid: Samus Returns

Action, Shooter, Platformer, Futurism (Future), Side view, Metroidvania

September 15, 2017

Metacritic: 85/100

Metroid: Samus Returns is a 2D side-scrolling action platformer set in the Metroid universe. The game is based on the 1991 classic Metroid 2: Return of Samus, with...

Dragon Quest 8: Journey of the Cursed King

Role-playing game, Third-person view, Anime / Manga, Fantasy / Medieval, Turn-based, Japanese role-playing game

November 27, 2004

Players: 9.7/10

Metacritic: 84/100

This fantasy role-playing game features turn-based battles in a world of fields, towns, and dungeons that players can explore seamlessly. Dragon Quest 8: Journey of...

Project X Zone

Arcade, Role-playing game, Strategy, Fighting

October 11, 2012

Metacritic: 70/100

This tactical role-playing game with fighting elements brings together more than 50 characters from 29 game franchises created by three Japanese companies. In...

Cut the Rope

Strategy, Third-person view, Puzzle

October 5, 2010

Players: 6.4/10

Metacritic: 93/100

Cut the Rope is a physics-based puzzle game about Om Nom, a creature inside a mysterious package who wants candy. The player cuts ropes to guide the sweet to him...

Bravely Default

Role-playing game, Japanese role-playing game

October 11, 2012

Metacritic: 85/100

A Japanese role-playing game about a Warrior of Light who journeys across the land of Luxemdarc. The story follows the hero’s personal growth and adventures in the...

Pokemon Sun and Moon

Action, Strategy, Fantasy / Medieval, Turn-based, Tactics

November 18, 2016

Players: 8.3/10

Metacritic: 87/100

Pokemon Sun and Moon is a turn-based tactical action game in a fantasy setting of legendary Pokemon. You have to explore the entire Alola region, where a new...

Cave Story

Action, Shooter, Platformer, Third-person view, Futurism (Future), Puzzle, Metroidvania

January 4, 2005

Players: 10/10

Metacritic: 89/100

This futuristic action-platformer combines shooting and puzzles with the story of an amnesiac boy who wakes in a dark cave. As he explores the world, he discovers a...

Animal Crossing: New Leaf

Arcade, God Simulator, Isometric

November 8, 2012

Metacritic: 88/100

A life simulation set in a town where players choose their own activities and shape the world around them. They can pass ordinances, fish, visit a coffee shop, or...

Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology

Isometric, Fantasy / Medieval, Anime / Manga, Adventure, Role-playing game, Turn-based, Tactics

June 29, 2017

Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology is an isometric fantasy game with anime/manga, adventure, role-playing and tactical elements from developers Atlus. The game is...

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS & Wii U

Arcade, Action, Fighting, Fantasy / Medieval

September 13, 2014

Players: 7.7/10

Metacritic: 89/100

A fighting game featuring characters from Nintendo series, who battle on stages inspired by the company’s classic games. The roster includes Mario, Link, Samus, and...

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 Record Breaker

Role-playing game, Isometric, Anime / Manga

January 29, 2015

Metacritic: 84/100

A tactical role-playing game set in a world invaded by demons and on the brink of annihilation. The protagonist and their friends gain the ability to summon demons...

Monster Hunter Generations

Role-playing game, Action, Third-person view, Fantasy / Medieval, Roguelike

November 28, 2015

Metacritic: 85/100

Monster Hunter Generations — introduces new gameplay mechanics, including hunter styles and arts, which can further enhance the personalized gameplay...

Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy

Adventure, Puzzle, Logic

February 28, 2013

Metacritic: 81/100

This puzzle adventure follows an investigation into a mystery surrounding a “living mummy.” Professor Layton receives a letter from archaeologist Desmond Sycamore...

Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D

Action, Third-person view, Fantasy / Medieval, Legend of Zelda

February 13, 2015

Players: 7/10

Metacritic: 89/100

This third-person fantasy adventure follows Link after he is lured into the land of Termina, where the Moon is set to fall in three days. To prevent the disaster...

Miles & Kilo

Arcade, Action, Platformer, Side view, Adventure, Indie

May 12, 2017

Players: 5.5/10

Steam: 94/100

Miles & Kilo is a side-scrolling arcade action platformer. A little boy, Miles, and his faithful dog, Kilo, find themselves stranded on an island after a plane...

Angry Birds: Star Wars

Arcade, Futurism (Future), Star Wars, Side view

November 8, 2012

Players: 7.2/10

Metacritic: 86/100

Angry Birds: Star Wars is a fantastic arcade game in the style of Star Wars with a side view. Levels take place both on standard terrain and in outer space. The...

Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward

Adventure, In real time, First-person view, Visual novel

February 16, 2012

Metacritic: 86/100

Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward — 9 main characters are kidnapped by an unknown person named Zero. Playable character Sigma is joined by Phi, a girl with a...

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor

Role-playing game, Strategy, First-person view, Third-person view, Isometric

January 15, 2009

Metacritic: 84/100

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor is a role-playing strategy game set in Tokyo, placed under lockdown after a demon invasion. The hero and their friends are among...

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey

Role-playing game, First-person view, Futurism (Future), Anime / Manga, Turn-based

March 23, 2010

Metacritic: 80/100

This first-person, turn-based role-playing game follows an expedition into an anomaly that appeared in Antarctica and became known as the Schwarzwelt. The player...

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

Action, Beat them all, Third-person view, Fantasy / Medieval

October 11, 2014

Metacritic: 86/100

A fantasy action game about a journey across a world where hunters track down enormous beasts and search for the source of a mysterious virus. The hunter travels...

Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

Arcade, Adventure, Top-down view, Legend of Zelda

November 22, 2013

Metacritic: 91/100

A top-down adventure set in the world of the classic The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds tells a new story in that...

Kid Icarus: Uprising

Action, Shooter, First-person view, Third-person view, Fantasy / Medieval

March 23, 2012

Metacritic: 83/100

Kid Icarus: Uprising is a fantasy action shooter and a continuation of the series that began with the NES classic. It followed a long hiatus for the...

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team Bros.

Arcade, Role-playing game, Platformer, Isometric, Mario Game, Japanese role-playing game

July 12, 2013

Players: 5.5/10

Metacritic: 81/100

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team Bros. — to save the people of Piillo Island, Mario needs to enter the "Dream World", which takes place in Luigi's dream, and Mario...

Fire Emblem: Awakening

Role-playing game, Strategy, Turn-based, Tactics

April 19, 2012

Metacritic: 92/100

A turn-based tactical role-playing game in which the player leads an army through a series of battles and advances the story. Fire Emblem: Awakening features...

Xenoblade Chronicles 3D

Role-playing game, Action, Third-person view, Futurism (Future), Anime / Manga

April 2, 2015

Xenoblade Chronicles 3D is a third-person action RPG with anime/manga elements from Nintendo Software Planning & Development. The game is published by Nintendo...

Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon

Arcade, Adventure, In real time, Third-person view

March 20, 2013

Metacritic: 86/100

A third-person adventure about Luigi, who sets out to clear spooky mansions of ghosts. Armed with his Poltergust vacuum cleaner, Mario’s brother captures stubborn...

Mario Kart 7

Racing, First-person view, Third-person view, Mario Game, Online

December 2, 2011

Players: 7/10

Metacritic: 85/100

Mario Kart 7 — racing from a third person view. Soar through the skies and dive underwater as the racing world gets bigger, better and into the third...

Shin Megami Tensei 4

Role-playing game, MMO, Third-person view, Anime / Manga, Japanese role-playing game

May 23, 2013

Metacritic: 83/100

Shin Megami Tensei 4 is a role-playing game about samurai defending the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado from a growing army of demons. The protagonist is a newly...

Project X Zone 2

Role-playing game, Strategy, Turn-based, Tactics

November 12, 2015

Players: 5/10

Metacritic: 73/100

A turn-based tactical role-playing game brings together characters from franchises by several Japanese game publishers. In Project X Zone 2, characters from Yakuza...

Tales of the Abyss

Role-playing game, Third-person view, Anime / Manga, Fantasy / Medieval

December 15, 2005

Metacritic: 77/100

This fantasy role-playing game follows Luke fon Fabre, a young aristocrat who was kidnapped as a child and returned to his family with no memories of his earlier...

7th Dragon III Code: VFD

Role-playing game, Third-person view, Anime / Manga, Fantasy / Medieval, Japanese role-playing game

October 15, 2015

Metacritic: 76/100

7th Dragon III Code: VFD is a third-person role-playing game in a fantasy setting. The game is the final part in the series. Players will have to fight the dragon...

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