Third Party... what about that LaMulana thing that proves to be popular?
Ah and don't forget: Sonic & All Stars Racing - which is a mighty solid game (played demo on 360) if they can capture it on the 3DS and give it some nice online functionality like Mario Kart it could be some nice and welcome alternative!

I would say that we might see a Soulcalibur announcement at E3 (we already got a Tekken from them), but they're helping Nintendo with Smash Bros, so probably not.

I'd love to see SE announce some of it's RPGs for the west (Bravely Default, DQVII remake, & that Dragon Quest Monsters game).

I also want to know why Beyond the Labyrinth (RPG from Konami) hasn't been released yet. It's been out forever in Japan.

I expect some WarioWare 3D.

Along with new Zelda and HOPEFULLY a new Metroid, Star Fox or (overly optimistic) X title.

Comparing the DS and 3DS, I feel like the 3DS in the same amount of time has lacked in a varied, quality first party library. I'm hoping for variety come 2013, and with Fire Emblem Awakening, Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon and Animal Crossing New Leaf it will have a great start. A new Metroid, WarioWare and Kirby announced or released late would make it a year to remember. In terms of third party support, the 3DS needs to keep on going. It's third party support has been solid.

Im willing to bet money that 2013 will be a good year for 3DS. Nintendo will have released most of their "must have" titles by E3 so that means that they have to think of a couple of new "must haves" for the next 2 years. They will probaly annouce a new major IP's game at E3 2013. Also if everything is going as planned with SSB4 we might see a teaser trailer but who knows. Hopefully the Eshop will get some love and release a new batch of awesome VC and 3DSWare titles.

They better not push Animal Crossing: New Leaf back to Fall.

We're already having to wait long enough.

Solid thoughts in here so far, keep it coming.

I also hope/demand GBA and SNES games on 3DS eShop,
those could EASILY help us over "dry" periods of game releases.

Absolutely doubtful and most likely not happening but could you imagine SNES (or even better GBA's) Super Mario World 3D classics version, enhanced with 3D effect? Awesome.

Or what would absolutely blow my socks of would be:
Old SNES games that had 2-Player support, playable over system link or online!
TADA! Instant Success!

i think they will do it. i really need this game! but i just have a bad feeling about it being pushed back again

It really depends. What's Nintendo's output looking like?

Because it looks like every major third party release will also be ported to the iOS. So really, 2013 is going to be the year of the iPad.

I've been feeling the same lately, my 3DS has been sitting around with no reason to pick it up for months on end. Nintendo promised to keep a steady stream of games coming after the launch debacle but they're really failing it at the moment. Kid Icarus finished off the torrent of games from winter '11 and since then it's been NSMB2 only.

Why not? The last new metroid game on a handheld was fusion back in 2002. Zero Mission was a remake, but if you count that it's still been 7 years. Hunters was more of a spinoff, but even if you count that it's been 6 years. We're way overdue for a handheld Metroid.

Plus, Other M finished up a year before Skyward Sword did. The Metroid staff have had more time to get something together than the Zelda staff has, and after Other M it'd probably be a good idea to release a 2D game on the 3DS as a pallet cleanser before bringing the series back on Wii U.

I'm not too sure about that since they would've just been done working on Game & Wario for the Wii U. Then again, now that Intelligent Systems is done with Paper Mario: Sticker Star, maybe the handheld divison would lay the groundwork for a 3D WarioWare?

I hope so, because it should've been out by now. The WarioWare series has always been good at showing off what a new Nintendo system can do, but a new entry will be very late for the 3DS.

Oh yeah... And Mutant Mudds 2! (Probably)

Considering New Leaf is releasing in 2013, I think it's safe to say the 3DS will have a great year.

No, Virtue's Last Reward came out this year.

I'd rather have Zelda XVII on the Wii U than have it on the 3DS. Majora's Mask needs to be on the 3DS though.

A true Metroid Side Scroller!!! Haven't had one since the GBA days...
Maybe go back to the days when the chozo were still around.

A Majora's Mask remake needs to happen period.

Yes! I am playing Ocarina of Time on 3DS right now and when I finish it I really want to play Majora's mask, so I have been contemplating buying the VC game on Wii ot holding off until it comes to 3DS hopefully...

New IP's would be nice.

Same, I have yet to beat Ocarina of Time 3D 100%, but when i do, I will be eagerly awaiting a Majora's Mask remake. To buy the VC version of the game when a remake was already in the works would suck.