3DS News
August2022
News Animal Crossing Welcome amiibo Cards Have Been Restocked At Nintendo UK
Play your cards right
In a pretty random update, amiibo cards for Animal Crossing: New Leaf — which you can also use on New Horizons — have been spotted again on Nintendo UK's store! Noticed by the Animal Crossing amiibo Card Trading Group on Facebook, you can currently pick up a pack of these cards for only £3.49. There are three cards in...
Video Don't Forget About Attack Of The Friday Monsters!
We're going on a summer vacation
One of the games we're most excited for this month is Shin chan: Me And The Professor On Summer Vacation – The Endless Seven-Day Journey — yes, the title really is that long. The game is inspired by the My Summer Vacation series and has been developed by the same team, Millennium Kitchen. Originally released in...
July2022
News Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater 3D May Return To The 3DS eShop Soon
That would be... "pretty good"
Since November 2021, the critically acclaimed Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater 3D for Nintendo 3DS has been unavailable to download on the eShop after Konami removed it, along with multiple other digital titles, from sale to renew licenses. Now, in a post celebrating the 35th anniversary of the original Metal Gear on...
News A Brand New 3DS Game Is Launching This Week (US)
It ain't dead until it's dead
If you remember a little while back, we reported on a rather ambitious indie developer from Australia who's looking to bring seven new titles to the Wii U and 3DS, defying the upcoming eShop closure. One of those games is about to come to fruition, as Silver Falls: Ghoul Busters will be launching on the Nintendo 3DS on...
June2022
News Jupiter Celebrates 30th Anniversary With Switch And 3DS eShop Sale
Savings on Picross and more start tomorrow
Japanese developer Jupiter hits a milestone celebration on 11th June — it turns 30! And to share the love, and promote its motto — "Let’s Play! Let’s Smile!" — the studio has announced that it will be slashing the price of its games on the Switch and 3DS eShop by 30% from tomorrow! We couldn't...
News Go! Go! Kokopolo Anniversary Collection Could Be The Last Physical 3DS Release
Go! Go! 3DS!
We're starting to get into the thick of the summer of gaming announcements, and last night, Limited Run Games held its 2022 Showcase, highlighting a plethora of upcoming rare physical releases. Among those announcements was the physical release of 3DS of "the world's first Chase 'em up" Go! Go! Kokopolo 3D. Released back in 2017, Go!...
May2022
Guide How To Prepare Your 3DS And Wii U For Retirement - Hard Drive, Battery, Backup Tips
Recommendations to help get your affairs in order
The announcement that Nintendo will be closing the 3DS and Wii U eShop stores and effectively sunsetting those consoles has caused many of us to fire up our old systems and survey our digital libraries. Both of these consoles represent the first generation of Nintendo hardware where it was possible...
Random Many At Retro Studios Weren't 'Excited' To Work On Mario Kart 7
Studio was brought in to assist development
It's widely known at this point that Retro Studios - famed for the Metroid Prime series and for reviving Donkey Kong Country - was recruited by Nintendo to help out on development for the 3DS release of Mario Kart 7. The developer had just wrapped work on Donkey Kong Country Returns and according to...
Random People Are Recording Concerts On Their 3DS Consoles, And We Love It
A new level of immersion
We've never really been fans of the idea of buying an expensive ticket for a concert only to spend the 2 hours or so it's likely to last holding some sort of recording device up in the air, watching the whole thing through the lens of a screen. Call us old fogeys, but to us, concerts are one of few experiences in life where...
News Nintendo Reports That More 3DS Games Launched Last Year Than In 2020
Eight games to two!
If you thought it was all over for the 3DS, think again. Nintendo's marvellous handheld is still hanging in there, despite the fact that production of the console ceased in 2020, and that the eShop will be closing next year. That hasn't dampened developers' spirits, however, as Nintendo has reported that the console got eight...
Review Fragrant Story - A Goofy, Final Fantasy Tactics-Style Indie Swansong For 3DS
Needs a little more watering
Since this review was originally published, the free Papaya's Path DLC update — which remains downloadable from the 3DS eShop if you own the game — was made available on December 11th, 2023. This free expansion is significantly longer than the base game and adds a large amount of content, including new story...
News Reggie Fils-Aimé Wanted The 3DS To Launch At $199, But Was Rebuffed
"With 3DS, we did not let the poor sales performance linger"
When the 3DS launched it had a tough task as the successor to DS, a portable family of systems that had become Nintendo's greatest success story. Though the 3DS (and 2DS) range of systems couldn't hit those heights, by the end of its run it had been a reasonable success with 75.94 million...
News A Bunch Of NIS America Games Get Huge Price Cuts On 3DS (Europe)
Only for a week, mind!
Ever since the announcement of the upcoming 3DS / Wii U eShop closure, gamers have been clamouring for sales left, right, and centre, eager to grab some last-minute deals to bolster their game libraries. RPG games for the 3DS in particular have become highly sought after, and while this latest sale doesn't include the likes...
April2022
News Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D Physical Prices Jump As eShop Closure Looms
Game still 'temporarily' unavailable to download due to license issues
Hideo Kojima games not only feature the creator's name a few hundred times, they're also well known for being loaded with licensed content. This can be in the form of iconic music or even video clips to tie games into real history, a clever bit of storytelling often deployed in...
News Atlus Dominates 3DS eShop Chart As Pokémon Crystal Falls Off Top Spot (North America)
A perfect timeline for Atlus
Since Nintendo announced it would be closing the 3DS eShop earlier this year, we've been keeping our beady eyes on the little handheld so we can complete our digital libraries before the Big N pulls the plug. If you've been following along with us, you know Sega / Atlus has been discounting their 3DS catalogue pretty...
News Save On Pac-Man, Anime Games & More In Bandai Namco's Switch eShop Spring Sale
Huge savings
Following on from Sega's massive spring sale, Bandai Namco is now running one on the Nintendo Switch eShop. There are all sorts of games currently available for cheaper prices. These range from Pac-Man, to anime games like Dragon Ball, Naruto, One Piece and even My Hero Academia. Other series like Taiko no Tatsujin and Digimon are also...
News Looks Like Nintendo Has Been Reprinting 3DS Retail Games For A Final Hurrah
Look for thinner boxes and tweaked package design
The 3DS was officially discontinued back in September 2020, with hardware production ending for a system that couldn't match the dizzy heights of its predecessor (the DS), but nevertheless remains a favourite for plenty of Nintendo gamers. There are definitely a few members of the 3DS fan club among...
Sale ends April 17th
There's a massive Sega Spring Sale currently taking place on the Nintendo Switch and 3DS eShop in North America. If there's a game you've been holding out for, or you just want to buy everything on the 3DS digital store while you still can, now is a great time to see what might interest you. There are all sorts of discounts...
March2022
News The 3DS Is Getting Another Physical Release This Year, And It's A Pun On 'Vagrant Story'
Smells good, right?
So, you assumed that Andro Dunos II was going to be the very last physical 3DS release? Think again, because the console is getting another boxed title this year, and the name is utterly pun-tastic. Fragrant Story arrives this April and is a 3DS exclusive. It's described as "an all-new 16-bit tactical RPG in the style of
News Andro Dunos 2 Switch Physical Edition Pre-Orders Fly Into View
Or 3DS, if you want to go old school
The Switch has an impressive range of shoot 'em ups, and we're still getting regular new releases to check out. One lower profile entry that arrived recently on the eShop is Andro Dunos 2, but if you're a fan of the genre you shouldn't sleep on it. We gave this one a hearty recommendation in our recent review...
Talking Point 3DS Is 11 Years Old, And Our Eyes Still Feel Strange
Remembering the magic and buzz at a preview event
Over this past weekend the 3DS turned 11 years old, not exactly the biggest of anniversaries but enough to make us look wistfully at the little portable. It's a real favourite in our team, and I still keep both it and its charger handy when a bit of sentimental play is required — or when I want to...
Random Look At This Custom Eggdog 3DS
What's up eggdog
Do you know Eggdog? The weird meme stemmed from a video of a fluffy white dog being groomed, but taken at a specific angle, the dog looks like an egg with a face. And thus, Eggdog was born. From out of the legend of Eggdog came a host of new memes, and one of the prime Eggdog memers is zamsire, who used a 3D render of the ovoid...
Random Someone Just Spent $1600 On A Super-Rare Canadian Barbie 3DS Game
Those are some expensive dogs
Across the Nintendo Life staff, we've probably collectively been in and around the games industry for at least a couple hundred years... and yet, there are still things that surprise us every day. Today's surprise was finding out that one of the holy grails for 3DS collectors is a game called Barbie Groom and Glam...
News Shin'en Kicks Off 'Everything Must Go' 3DS And Wii U eShop Sale, Up To 80% Off
Discounts in US and EU
The 3DS and Wii U eShops are sadly on their way out and, as expected, publishers are beginning to line up with some heavy discounts on their 3DS and Wii U software libraries in preparation for the store closures next March. Just yesterday, Capcom launched their own 3DS sale in the US, and now developer and publisher Shin'en...
News Capcom Launches Its Biggest 3DS Sale Ever (US)
The end is nigh
It's no secret that the 3DS — along with its console sibling Wii U — is heading toward that bright light at the end of the tunnel. With the handheld's eShop closing within the next year, it's natural that publishers will want to capitalise on this unfortunate eventuality with some rather sweet deals. It's a nice opportunity for...
News Indie Dev Cancels Roguelike Horror Game For 3DS In Response To Nintendo's eShop Closure
"this decision was made on our behalf by Nintendo"
An aspiring indie game developer says it's been left with no option but to abandon its plans for a 'New 3DS' game port after Nintendo announced last month it would be closing the system's eShop. Otyugra Games is currently working on a roguelike horror title called Dream-Prison Wanderer, which it had...
News Here Is This Week's 3DS eShop Chart, Pokémon Crystal Is At The Top (Again)
Get the best Game Boy games while you still can
Last month, Nintendo shocked 3DS owners by announcing the eShop for this platform would be closing up. If you are interested to know what's charting in the lead-up to this or happen to be looking for digital games to get on your 3DS, these North American charts are worth taking a look at. Here are the...
February2022
Feature Is It Worth Importing A Japanese 3DS For These Virtual Console Games?
Save money on import classics before it's too late
As we all know the 3DS and Wii U eShops are closing down, taking with them countless classics in all genres. It's a decision that's understandably left many of us scrambling to find our old passwords and make those last minute purchases, finally turning those 'Maybe next time' purchases into a...
PSA Update All Your 3DS Games, Even The Ones You Don't Own (Just In Case)
Yes, really
Our pals over at the Nintendo Life YouTube channel are full of wisdom, and today's advice comes to you from our very own Zion Grassl, who wants you to know that you should download every single update that exists on the eShop. Wait, shouldn't you just download the updates for the games you own? Well, yes, you should do that. But what...
News Nintendo Reveals Japan's Best-Selling 3DS eShop Games From 2011 - 2020
Animal Crossing, Pokémon and more...
Ahead of the 3DS and Wii U eShop closure, Nintendo's website has rounded up the top 15 best-selling games on the 3DS eShop in Japan from 2011 through to 2020. Monster Hunter, Pokémon and Animal Crossing have frequently charted to the top over the years, and some other popular series include Battle Cats,...
Guide How To Redownload Games From The 3DS eShop - Downloading Digital Games You Already Own
Your games need rescuing
The Nintendo 3DS eShop will close after March 2023, but you'll still be able to redownload games you already own "for the foreseeable future". When Does The 3DS And Wii U eShop Close? Nintendo eShop Closure Guide 29 Best 3DS eShop Games You Should Get Before They're Gone Forever But if you're not sure how to actually do...
News Video Game History Foundation Calls Out Nintendo's "Destructive" 3DS & Wii U eShop Closure
Asks Nintendo to "rethink" things when it comes to preservation
Nintendo this week announced the closure of the 3DS and Wii U eShop, and well...it's caused quite an uproar online. So, what now that roughly 2,000 games will no longer be purchasable on the 3DS and Wii U digital storefronts? There's seemingly not much that can be done from
News 1,000 "Digital-Only" Titles Estimated To Disappear When Nintendo Closes 3DS & Wii U eShop
It's like Nintendo's version of the Blip, but worse
Nintendo yesterday announced the beginnings of a phased shutdown for the 3DS and Wii U eShop stores. It's set to wipe out a huge amount of digital content on these systems, but just how many games can we expect to disappear? While we already know Fire Emblem Fates: Revelation and its D
Feature Our Nintendo 3DS And Wii U Memories, In Infographic Form
Wow, we sure liked Netflix on Wii U
Alongside the rather dispiriting — perhaps even controversial, depending on your take — news of the Wii U and 3DS eShop being shutdown in the next year, Nintendo also shared a rather neat trip down memory lane. Similar to the year-end Switch website many of us used, you can visit My Nintendo 3DS & Wii U...
News Pokémon Bank Will Be "Free To Use" When 3DS eShop Purchases End
Payments will no longer be required
Following on from Nintendo's announcement it would discontinue the 3DS eShop and the Wii U eShop as of March 2023, The Pokémon Company has announced it will be making the Pokémon Bank service on 3DS entirely free. Until now, users had to pay to access the entire service. As long as you download Pokémon Bank...
"it will no longer be possible to make purchases"
Nintendo has announced the discontinuation of the 3DS eShop and the Wii U eShop as of "late March" 2023. While you'll still be able to redownload games and DLC, receive software updates and play online beyond this date, the ability to purchase games will "no longer be possible" and new content will...
Random It's The 10th Anniversary Of Resident Evil: Revelaitons
We'll have to do a reprint for the headline
Resident Evil: Revelations came out on 3DS 10 years ago today in North America (it was late January in Japan and Europe but we missed that date, ok?). It was particularly famous at launch for its 'Revelaitons' box misprint, which became one of the more humorous collectibles in the 3DS era. Since that...
January2022
News Another Game Has Been Delisted From Nintendo's 3DS eShop
Dodge Club Pocket could now get a Switch release
It seems another digital game has gone missing - this time it's the 2018 3DS eShop title, Dodge Club Pocket. Not long after this was discovered, James Montagna - one of the individuals who worked on the series (who is also a director and game designer at WayForward), explained how the game had been...
December2021
News Nintendo Is Removing Credit Card Support From The 3DS And Wii U eShop Next Month (Japan)
A timely reminder
Nintendo's customer service Twitter account for Japan has issued a reminder that it will be ending credit card and prepaid card support for the 3DS and Wii U next month on 18th January 2022, 9 AM JST. The company previously announced these changes for 3DS and Wii U users in Europe, Australia and New Zealand back in 2019. Here's a...
Talking Point Mario Kart 7 And Its Infamous Course Skip Are Now 10 Years Old
One of the earliest Nintendo game updates we can remember
We're in a gaming era of plentiful patches, where it's common for games to get frequent updates starting on day one. There are some rare releases even today that receive either no updates or very few — unless there are frequent DLC additions — and one of Nintendo's selling points is its...
November2021
Video Hands-On With The 3DS Dragon Quest The West Never Got To Play
Twas an Elusive Age, indeed
Dragon Quest XI is a fantastic game that you can play on Switch right now, but it's worth remembering that back when it originally launched, it was on another Nintendo system: the 3DS. When Dragon Quest XI hit Japanese store shelves in 2017, it was released on the PS4 and 3DS. The 3DS version is fascinating because it's...
The 3DS titles are still out in front
Yesterday, Famitsu released its latest game charts - revealing Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl for Nintendo Switch got off to an amazing start in Japan, shifting 1,395,642 copies in just the first three days. This figure was based on in-store purchases alone and means these titles are now...
News Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D To Be Temporarily Removed From The 3DS eShop
Konami has to renew some licenses
If you were planning to pick up Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D from the 3DS eShop any time soon, you might have to wait. Konami has had to remove 12 different versions of Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3 from multiple digital storefronts - this includes the Nintendo 3DS eShop, due to license renewels...
News The Top Ten Best-Selling Games For Wii U, 3DS, Wii And DS (As Of September 2021)
How many of these do you own?
We've already seen an updated list of the top ten best-selling Nintendo Switch games, but what about the good old Wii and Wii U, and even the DS and 3DS? Naturally, sales for games on these older systems aren't what they used to be, but some copies continue to be picked up thanks to digital stores or the odd bit of...
Talking Point Super Mario 3D Land Turns 10 - Was It The Best '3D' Game On 3DS?
The golden era of stereoscopic 3D
Ten years ago on 3rd November 2011, Super Mario 3D Land made its debut on 3DS in Japan. It's not typically held up or remembered as a glorious entry of the Mario series — indeed, at the time of writing it inexplicably doesn't rank on our dynamic reader-rated list of the 50 best 3DS games — but several of us in...
October2021
News Kemco Sale Discounts 11 RPGs Across Switch And 3DS
Up to 50% off
Another month, another sale from Kemco. It's a tradition at this point. Yes, the Japanese publisher and developer is back with another round of discounts across the Switch and 3DS eShops. Eleven RPGs are available in the sale in total, and while Kemco's mass-produced lineup of role-playing adventures aren't usually considered the...
Random Fan Spotted Filming Bring Me The Horizon Concert With A Nintendo 3DS
That's the spirit
The 3DS' two outer cameras allow you to film in 3D – perfect for reliving live experiences! You don't see many Nintendo 3DS systems out and about these days, but when they do pop up, it seems they really show up in style. Nintendo's last-gen portable was arguably one of the best handheld consoles ever for making you want to...
September2021
News Nintendo's Monster Hunter Sale Discounts Five Games And Lots Of Rise DLC
Sale ends this weekend
Nintendo and Capcom have kicked off a special Monster Hunter franchise sale across Switch and 3DS, discounting several games and DLC items. All deals listed below will remain live on the Switch and 3DS eShops until 11:59pm PT on 3rd October, falling in line with the current Nintendo Blockbuster sale which is currently...
News New Kemco Sale Discounts Ten RPGs Across Switch And 3DS
Get up to 50% off
Are you ready for yet another eShop sale from Kemco? Because here we are with yet another eShop sale from Kemco. Yes, the publisher has returned with another chance to pick up a range of RPGs on Switch and 3DS at discounted rates, slashing their prices by as much as 50%. We've got all the deals for you below (the sale is active...
August2021
News Masahiro Sakurai Talks About The Beginnings Of Kid Icarus: Uprising
And how Pit returned
In the latest episode of Harada's Bar, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai spoke about how Kid Icarus: Uprising started out life on the Nintendo 3DS. At the time, Nintendo's Touch! Generations line (featuring games like Brain Training) was incredibly popular. With the belief this "trend would continue", Sakurai...
Soapbox Playdate Sold Out In 20 Minutes - Is It Time For A New Nintendo Handheld?
The Game Boy... 2
Many of us at Nintendo Life have been patiently, excitedly waiting for the Playdate to go on sale, because we're suckers for bits of colourful plastic. Well, it did, and we missed it, because all 20,000 initial units (for the 2021 batch, at least) sold out in just 20 minutes. [Not all of us missed it! - smug Ed] It's hardly...
July2021
News 3DS System Update 11.15.0-47 Is Now Live, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
The stability is over 9000!
Update [Wed 28th Jul, 2021 02:00 BST]: Following on from the first system update for the 3DS in 2021, Nintendo has now released the official patch notes. As expected, it's more "stability" improvements and some other minor adjustments to improve the overall experience. Here are the official patch notes, courtesy of...
Random An Eager 3DS StreetPass Fan Spent A Day In New York, Got Zero Hits
To steal a witty Reddit post, it's 'StreetPast'
Earlier this year we wholeheartedly jumped into nostalgia when sharing a video of all StreetPass puzzles, reminiscing on the days when you'd pop the marvellous 3DS into a pocket or bag and return home with some lovely hits. Yes, we miss those days. A lot of people do, as well, as this
Rumour Nintendo To End Submissions For New Wii U And 3DS eShop Games
"Effective from 1st April 2022"
Nintendo could be preparing to wind down 3DS and Wii U eShop game releases, according to a new rumour. YouTube channel Impact Game Station has supposedly "received a message from someone" about Nintendo's European branch ceasing the acceptance of submissions for new eShop releases on the 3DS and Wii U by early next...
Reminder Nine Resident Evil Games Are Currently Discounted Across Switch And 3DS
Update: Sale is coming to an end
Update: As a quick reminder, the Resident Evil sale currently taking place on Switch and 3DS ends today for those of you in North America, and on the 24th for those in Europe. All details can be found in our original article below. Original Article (Thu 8th Jul, 2021 17:00 BST): If you're a Resident Evil fan...
News Nintendo Removing Credit Card Support From 3DS And Wii U eShop In Japan
Ends January 2022
Back in 2019, Nintendo announced 3DS and Wii U users located in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand would no longer be able to top up their eShop funds with a credit card. Japan is now a part of this - with Nintendo's customer support account on social media today confirming credit cards and prepaid cards will no longer be accepted...
News Netflix No Longer Works On Wii U Or 3DS, So Where's The Switch Version?
"Thank you for your support of these applications over the years"
If you're one of the few people that still uses the Netflix app on your Wii U or 3DS, then we've got some bad news – the service has now been totally discontinued. The Netflix app for both platforms was removed from the Wii U and 3DS eShops in December last year, but if you had the...
May2021
Feature Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Foreshadowed Breath Of The Wild's Big Changes
A Link to the Past Between Worlds
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda, we're running a series of features looking at a specific aspect — a theme, character, mechanic, location, memory or something else entirely — from each of the mainline Zelda games. Today, Kate marvels at the way A Link Between Worlds snuck in a bunch of...
Video Remembering The 3D Classics NES Range On Nintendo 3DS
The "definitive way" to play these retro releases
Remember when Nintendo got Arika to bring a bunch of NES games to the 3DS? These games were part of the short running series known as the 3D Classics line, which contained six games like Kirby's Adventure and Kid Icarus, and even had a stereoscopic 3D enhancement. The series kicked off with 3D...
News Ace Attorney Games Are Now On Sale Across Switch And 3DS (North America)
Four games on offer for a limited time
In the mood for a bit of Ace Attorney? Well, what great timing you have! For a limited time, four Ace Attorney games across Nintendo Switch and 3DS have been discounted in the US. We've got the full list for you below – feel free to click on any games that pique your interest to read our further coverage and...
PSA Yes, Your DS And 3DS Cartridges Will Eventually Deteriorate, But Don't Panic
Update: A possible fix appears...
In book preservation, processes are established and closely followed. Manuscripts and first editions are kept in carefully managed vault-like facilities, where humidity and access is carefully managed. There are also extensive projects to digitise these materials, creating permanent backups in cloud storage so that...
News Does Your Copy Of Pokémon Omega Ruby And Alpha Sapphire Still Work?
Update: The plot thickens...
It's time to dust off your 3DS and your copy of Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, because people have been reporting that their cartridges are no longer working, almost seven years after the release of the game. A few people on Reddit and ResetEra are making sure to test their copies, and it seems like only the...
April2021
Random Take a Nostalgic Virtual Walk With This Video of Every StreetPass Puzzle
When virtual meetings were actually fun
It's remarkable to think that the 3DS is now over 10 years old; it was a family of systems that didn't smash sales records like its DS predecessors, but nevertheless won a place in many Nintendo gamer's hearts. It was a handheld with so much personality and neat extras - themes, folders and more - that we'd...
March2021
Up to 60% off!
Update: Now's your last chance to grab these spicy Capcom deals on Switch and 3DS! All deals listed below end today, so get on them while you can. Original Article (Thu 18th Mar, 2021 19:00 GMT): Joining Ubisoft with its current Switch eShop sale, Capcom has kicked off its own set of discounts across both the Nintendo Switch and 3DS...
Talking Point Nintendo 3DS Features That Should Really Be On Switch
Folders! Cover plates! StreetPass!
2021 is the 10th anniversary of the Nintendo 3DS, a lovely little system that helped carry Nintendo through a somewhat turbulent 2010s. Its companion home system, the Wii U, wasn’t doing so hot, but the 3DS spent much of its time hosting hit after hit. As a mixture of console and handheld, the Switch is a...
News Pokémon Designer James Turner Celebrates HarmoKnight's Anniversary With A Cute Drawing
"It’s been years"
It's been a big week for the 3DS, with the device celebrating its tenth anniversary. Yep, it's now an entire decade old. Of course, there were a number of amazing games released for it over the years and one of them happens to be HarmoKnight. The Pokémon developer Game Freak originally released this game locally back in 2013,...
News Surprise, The 3DS Is Getting Another Physical Release This Year
Andro Dunos 2 already confirmed for Switch release
The 3DS may have turned 10 recently after fading from Nintendo's business strategy, but the console isn't quite ready to die yet, it would seem. French publisher PixelHeart has just announced that Andro Dunos 2 – which is also coming to Switch – is getting a physical release on the 3DS, too...
News Kemco Discounts Eight RPGs Across Switch And 3DS In New Spring Sale
Including plenty of Asdivine titles
Publisher Kemco has announced a shiny new Spring Sale for Nintendo Switch and 3DS, discounting eight of its RPG titles for your consideration. The sale is live as we speak across North America, Europe and Australia, with discounts reaching as high as 50% off for a limited time. Check out all the games included...
Anniversary Nintendo 3DS Launched Ten Years Ago Today In Europe
US anniversary also falls later this week
Making the vast majority of the Nintendo Life team feel excruciatingly old, today sees the tenth anniversary of Nintendo 3DS' release in Europe. Yes, on 25th March 2011, the 3DS hit western shores for the first time following its Japanese launch a month prior – the North American release came just two...
News Disney Art Academy Is Being Removed From The 3DS eShop At The End Of March
It was nice knowing you, Mickey
Mario purge day is coming, and to add to the list of things getting taken down at the end of this month, we've got the Nintendo published 3DS title Disney Art Academy, which will be discontinued on 30th March. Nintendo's Japanese customer support shared this information on Twitter. Any user who has access to a...
News A Kid Icarus: Uprising Sequel Would Be "Difficult", Says Masahiro Sakurai
So don't expect one any time soon
Back in 2012, the release of Kid Icarus: Uprising gave Nintendo's decades-old franchise a fantastic new chance to shine. The game transformed the series into a third-person shooter and was directed by none other than Super Smash Bros. series director, Masahiro Sakurai. Today, 22nd March, just so happens to be...
A quest for the best
The 3DS may have been put out to pasture by Nintendo, but the retirement of a system isn't always a sad occasion – it gives you the perfect chance to look back on its impressively varied library with wonder; along with plenty of standout platformers, life sims, rhythm games, and puzzlers, the 3DS also carved out a particular...
News Square Enix's Spring 2021 Sale Offers Big Discounts On Switch And 3DS
Final Fantasy! Dragon Quest! Star Ocean!
Spring is almost here, and what better way to celebrate this occasion than with a new eShop sale. It's a big one this time, including discounts on some of Square Enix's heaviest hitters, including Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Star Ocean, and more. Mostly covering Switch games, there are also two 3DS games...
News Nintendo Will Stop Repairing Original 3DS and 3DS XL Consoles Next Month Due To Parts Shortage
Update: Parts now totally gone, repairs suspended
Update: Despite giving Japanese consumers until March 31st to send in their broken 3DS consoles, Nintendo has now announced that repairs have been suspended for the following models as the parts required have now been totally exhausted (thanks, Nintendo Wire): Original Nintendo 3DS – Model No...
Video Ten 3DS Exclusives That Could Be Better On Nintendo Switch
Potentially perfect ports
With the likes of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Pikmin 3 Deluxe making the jump to Switch, it's pretty commonplace to see fans talking about which other titles could transition from the Wii U to Nintendo's latest system. But what about games that were originally released on the 3DS? While...
February2021
Anniversary Can You Believe It? The Nintendo 3DS Is Now 10 Years Old
That went quick
It's a very special day for the Nintendo 3DS. Today is the tenth anniversary of this legendary 3D handheld system. Believe it or not, but the console was first released in Japan on 26th February 2011. This followed with the western release in Europe and North America in March of the same year. When the system first launched, it was...
News We Might Now Know Why Swapnote For 3DS Got "Remastered" Last December
Was this update tied to an exploit?
In December last year, Nintendo released a remaster update for its out-of-date 3DS messaging app Swapnote. It had a lot of fans wondering what was really going on at the time, as it didn't seem like much of a remaster at all. The
Video 11 Great 3DS Games Overshadowed By The Nintendo Switch
Now might be the time to check them out
The 3DS is easily one of the greatest handheld systems Nintendo has ever released, but admittedly it was overshadowed in its later years when the Switch arrived on the scene and games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild became top priority. Our Kong-loving video producer Jon Cartright has taken the...
January2021
Video Here's What The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time 3D Could Potentially Look Like On Switch
Just imagine 1080p, 60FPS
This year marks The Legend of Zelda's 35th anniversary. Much like Super Mario's celebrations, Nintendo could potentially revive any game in the series. With this in mind, YouTuber SnazzyAI - the same individual who showed off Animal Crossing: New Horizons running at 4K, 60FPS - has released a
News Capcom's Switch And 3DS January Sale Is Now Live In North America
New offers are available until 21st January
It wasn't that even a month ago that Capcom's last sale went live but already, a fresh round of offers has gone up across Switch and 3DS eShop. Only covering North America this time, it runs until 21st January and features the usual suspects, including Street Fighter, Okami, Phoenix Wright, Mega Man and...
News Nintendo 3DS Outsold The Entire Xbox Family - Including Series X - In Japan Last Year
Not bad for a dead console
If there's one thing that's true about the Japanese games market, it's that the nation is obsessed with handheld consoles – which is why the Switch is doing so well in that particular market, not just in terms of shifting millions of units but also in locking out 9 of the 10 best-selling games for 2020. However, another...
News Surprise, Nintendo Utterly Dominated The Japanese Video Game Market In 2020
Switch led the way in both hardware and software sales
The beginning of a new year is always a good time to take stock of what's happened in the previous 12 months, and Japanese publication Famitsu has done just that in publishing a report which sums up the state of the Japanese video game market in 2020. The headline stats show that the market...
News 3DS And Wii U Software Discounts Have Been Removed From My Nintendo
Can we get some Switch ones now?
It seems 3DS and Wii U software discounts on My Nintendo are no longer a thing, at least in certain parts of the world. My Nintendo users located in North America have noticed the removal of this icon from the store - meaning you'll no longer be able to get discounts for games associated with these systems. It...
Feature Remembering Super Mario 3D Land, 3D World’s Oft-Forgotten Predecessor
A stepping stone in Mario’s history that’s worth a second look
You don’t need me telling you how 2020 was a challenging year, but for dedicated Super Mario fans there were small comforts to be found. After months of rumours, Nintendo celebrated the series’ 35th anniversary in dramatic fashion and this brought about no end of content. Before...
Video So, Are People Still Playing 3DS Games Online?
We put a variety of games to the test
Recently, we shared a video in which we booted up several Wii U titles to see if people were still playing them online. The results were pretty surprising, with plenty of games still remaining active despite the system's age and relatively low install base. So, what about the 3DS? J
News LEGO City: Undercover Games Removed From Wii U And 3DS eShops
In what's becoming a worryingly common trend
Just days after it was discovered that a number of DSiWare games had vanished from the eShop, and following the confirmation that Netflix will soon be discontinued across Wii U and 3DS, it's now come to our attention that two LEGO City: Undercover games have also been entirely removed from Nintendo's...
News Netflix Is Winding Down Its Services On Wii U And 3DS
Will be discontinued as of 30th June
Nintendo has now removed Netflix's video application designed for the Wii U and 3DS from both eShops. As of 31st December 2020, it can no longer be downloaded by new users. It is, however, still possible for existing users to re-download the applications at this point in time. The service for Wii U and 3DS will...
Reminder Capcom's Switch And 3DS Sale Ends Today, Up To 75% Off
Update: Hours remain in North America
Update: As a quick reminder for our chums in North America, Capcom's current sale on Nintendo Switch and 3DS is ending later today. The deals ended in Europe a few days ago, but North American Switch owners still have a few hours left to snap them up. The offers listed below will vanish at 11:59pm PT...
Soapbox An Ode To The 3DS, Nintendo's Workhorse Console
Kate Gray explains why this dual-screen wonder will be missed
Some people remember where they were when they found out about the assassination of President JFK. I can't tell you where I was when JFK was shot, but that's mostly because I hadn't been born, and therefore wasn't watching the news at the time, but I can tell you where I was when the...
December2020
News Nintendo Releases 'Swapnote Remastered' Update, Despite Killing The App Seven Years Ago
Are you OK, Nintendo?
Remember Swapnote, the Nintendo 3DS app that you can't really use any more? Well, Nintendo's released an update for it because Nintendo. That's right, Swapnote – or Nintendo Letter Box as it was known in PAL regions – has been given the remaster treatment seven years after the company disabled its primary feature. Nintendo...
November2020
News Capcom Has "No Plans" Right Now To Bring The Original Monster Hunter Stories To Switch
Second entry is a completely new start
If you were hoping the original Monster Hunter Stories game might be released on the Nintendo Switch ahead of the sequel's release, don't get your hopes up. Speaking to Gamereactor, Capcom's Ryozo Tsujimoto said the company had "no plans" to bring the original 3DS release from 2016 across to Nintendo's hybrid...
News 3DS System Update 11.14.0-46 Is Now Live
Final form stability
Just when you thought the 3DS was dead, Nintendo does the unthinkable and goes and releases a system update for this legendary handheld unit. Of course, at this point in the system's life, it's all about making it more stable than ever before. There are also some other "minor" adjustments to enhance the user experience. Here...
News The Top Ten Best-Selling Games For Wii U, 3DS, Wii And DS (As Of September 2020)
Mario Kart still reigns supreme
Earlier today, we shared an updated list of the top ten best-selling Nintendo Switch games of all time, but how are the likes of the Wii U and 3DS doing, and even the Wii and DS before those? Well, it just so happens that Nintendo has also provided up-to-date figures for its best-selling games on those platforms. As...
Reminder My Nintendo Offering Discounts On Mario, Zelda And More Until The End Of The Year (Europe)
Missed any of these top games?
With the impending second lockdown heading to the UK this week, and indeed for everyone staying inside and doing their bit at the moment, there's never really been a better time to try out classic games that we missed the first time around. As such, we thought it worth reminding you that My Nintendo is currently...
October2020
News Rodea The Sky Soldier Is Being Removed From The Wii U And 3DS eShops In Japan
Following its removal in Europe and NA
Rodea the Sky Soldier, an action-adventure title produced by Sonic lead programmer Yuji Naka, will be removed from the Wii U and 3DS eShops in Japan next month. The game's delisting follows similar removals in Europe and North America earlier this year, meaning the title will soon be unavailable digitally...
News Kemco Discounts Six RPGs Across Switch, Wii U And 3DS For A Limited Time
With up to 50% off
Kemco has kickstarted an October sale across Nintendo Switch, 3DS and Wii U, slashing the price of six of its RPGs for a limited time. We have a full list of the games included for you below. Discounts range from 40-50% off, with each Nintendo system being treated to two deals each. Have a look through and make sure to jump on...
Reminder Sega's 60th Anniversary Sale On Switch And 3DS Ends Today (North America)
Mario & Sonic, Hatsune Miku, SEGA AGES and more!
Update: As a quick reminder, Sega's 60th anniversary sale is ending today. You've got just under an hour-and-a-half left to grab these deals at the time of writing, so get a move on if there's anything you fancy! Original Article (Tue 22nd Sep, 2020 16:30 BST): Sega is now hosting a pretty mighty...
September2020
News Monster Hunter Stories Is The Best-Selling 3DS Game On Amazon Right Now
It's amazing what a sequel can do
Capcom surprised Nintendo fans this week with not one but two brand new Monster Hunter games. The second title, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, will be released on the Switch in 2021 and is a follow-up to the original 2016 3DS entry. This announcement is now seemingly fueling sales of the original M
News Nintendo Currently Has "No Plans" To End Online Services For The 3DS
Online play and the eShop will "continue to be available"
Earlier this week, Nintendo confirmed the production of its mighty 3DS line had been officially discontinued. It brings an end to all six models in the 3DS family – the 3DS, 3DS XL, New 3DS, New 3DS XL, 2DS and New 2DS XL. Fortunately, there's still some life left in this system. In a...
News Nintendo 3DS Production Has Officially Come To An End
Goodnight, sweet prince
Production of the mighty Nintendo 3DS system has been officially discontinued, Nintendo has confirmed. The news comes nine years after the handheld machine first hit the market back in 2011, introducing truly innovative glasses-free 3D tech and a fantastic library of games that would be enjoyed for years to come. The...
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