Topic: 2DS v 3DS for kids - and game recs for a 4 yr old

Hi all

With an overseas trip looming we are seriously contemplating getting some entertainment devices for the kids. They are just to be used for short periods of time such as in the mornings when the kids invariably wake before us and some odd times during the day. Initially I was considering tablets but am now thinking that DS could be the way to go.

We have a Wii U at home which our 7 year old boy just loves, despite a very small library of games (he particularly enjoys Mario Maker but thinks the world of Mario and all his chums!). Our four year old girl prefers streaming kids shows on the iPad but that won’t be an option for most of the time we ae away anyway. There is no doubt our boy will adore a DS and I think our girl will love it too if we get the right games (we would get one unit each).

A couple of questions around this though:

• The 2DS would almost definitely suit our 4 year old girl more than a 3DS. Which would you recommend for a 7 yr old boy though? I am tempted to get the same (though I have no doubt I will have to assure him that the 2DS is in fact essentially the same unit but that it just doesn’t fold up as I am sure he will think it inferior to the 3DS!) It does look more practical for that age to actually play with and avoids the hinge becoming a potential issue. I also would prefer not to use the 3D capabilities of the 3DS and don’t think the extra large screen of the XL is needed for him.
• Any recommendations for a 4 yr old girls of games to play? Obviously without reading. She loves typical girlie things, Frozen, princesses and make believe play.
• What’s the online eStore like for getting some cheap games for her? She is more likely to enjoy several “small” games whilst our boy will get absorbed by a big decent game (again, any recommendations for that age)?

New Style Boutique (the first one anyway) is cheaply available, but it contains a lot of text. The dialogue is simple enough, but I think that you'd be a better judge of whether your daughter would be able to play something like this. There are demos available of both games if you'd like to "try before you buy".

Mario Kart 7 is a no-brainer. Both of your children will be able to play the game together via Download Play (requiring only one copy of the game). Pokémon Art Academy is fine if your kids are into drawing. Luigi's Mansion 2 is a terrific option for kids and doesn't require much reading, however, your daughter may struggle with it (and may even find it mildly frightening) due to some of the button combinations that are required in game. My young Turkish cousins (aged 6 and 7) enjoyed it despite not knowing English. They all had a blast with Mario Kart 7 as well.

Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer has its share of text, but your actions in the game are completely inconsequential so the outcome is always positive, and your daughter may adore the cute cast of characters in the game. Mario Party: Island Tour and Mario Tennis Open also have Download Play functionality, and your children can also play these together.

Other single player games that require little to no reading include Super Mario 3D Land, New Super Mario Bros. 2 and Kirby Triple Deluxe. The Nintendogs + Cats games are also great for kids though they may not hold their attention as long as some of the other games that I've mentioned (avoid any other pet-themed games as nobody else does it anywhere near as well as Nintendo themselves).

I understand that the Hello Kitty games are also really easy, however, they are likely to be a little lacking in terms of content, and I would recommend these only if you can find them for under $30 (however, similar games published by Nintendo themselves will always be superior).

Your son may enjoy the main series Pokémon games (Pokémon X, Y, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire), however, they are text heavy. Do not buy more than one version from the same set as they are virtually the same games, with only minor differences between them (unless you intend to get the opposite version for your daughter).

Pilotwings Resort is a fairly relaxing game if you can find it cheaply (I believe it is out of print in Australia), and Kid Icarus: Uprising is an enjoyable action/adventure game (my little brother who was about 11 at the time of the game's release, loved it).

Thanks so much for that - lots of good ideas. Still not 100% convinced I will find games that will satisfy our girl - the text might just be an issue. She loves, for example, the Toca games on the iPad so anything simple like that would have been ideal. Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer (ignoring the text!) sounds like it may fit the bill though, I will look into that more.

Happy for any more suggestions.

Can you just clarify what you mean by Download Play? I assumed / thought that if say I downloaded Mario Kart from the store it could only be played on the device that it actually downloads too?

Also, any thoughts about the 2DS v 3DS for kids? The 4 year old I'd definitely go the more sturdy 2DS though the hinge of the 3DS worries me even for the 7 year old....

@Paulsmithy Download play means that only one copy of the game is required to play multiplayer between two devices locally. As for good games, there were a couple of angry bird games ported to the system, which can be obtained on the cheap.

and yes, you should be getting the 2DS it is a far more sturdy system, and it's cheaper in cost.

There are some games on the eShop called Lola's ABC train and Lola's Math Train that might be up a four year old's alley. My 4 yr old son loves them and he has a 2DS.

I would definitely go with the 2DS for both. It's far cheaper and definitely sturdier, plus the 3D, while nice, isn't really needed to enjoy any games.

Other than what's already been suggested (that's a great list above), your son may enjoy Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D. There's very little text involved, though there is a gradual difficulty curve. I never finished the original Donkey Kong Country as a kid, but I definitely enjoyed it. There are also some Mario RPG games (Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam), but these are pretty text-heavy.

As for your daughter, she may enjoy games like Nintendogs + Cats (already mentioned above), just avoid any other pet simulators. There is Disney's Frozen: Olaf's Quest; it's not a stellar game, but it's a reasonable entry level platformer and one that I think a young child would enjoy.

Is there any way to see what the (Australian) eshop sells – I can’t seem to get a full listing via the website. Do I actually need to view on the 2DS when I buy it?
Thanks

@paulsmithy: That is correct, Paul. Most retail games are sold for their full retail price in the eShop, so hard copies would be preferable and significantly cheaper (so long as your children look after them). Target is currently having a games clearance so you might be able to find some really top notch games at really cheap prices (about 50% off retail or less). Make sure you scan them first to be sure if anything is still marked at full retail price.

Bear in mind that purchases are locked to the console, so you won't be able to download the same game on both systems without purchasing it again, hence why I recommended "Download Play" games (which can be played in multiplayer mode with just one copy of the game).

Pokemon rumble world is free to play and very simple. My 3 year old girl enjoys watching me play Mario games. She loves playing Pokémon together. I read the text and she chooses the attacks. Happy Home Designer is easy to play and she loves inviting the critters using the amiibo cards.

Hi guys, I bought Nintendo 2DS system for my daughter. It will be a present for her 5th birthday. My wife is not very happy about it saying it is "mindless fun" so in order to make both sides satisfied I decided to go with games which help in development.

The first choice is Puzzle Dragon Z Mario Bros Edition. It is simple "match 3" puzzle game which helps to improve perception and quick reactions. And it helps her to quickly adapt to stylus. Plus she knows and likes Mario so even settings will make her happy.

But what next? I was thinking Mario Maker for creativity... Since she can't read I want to avoid any story driven games and also idiotic games like Style Savvy Fashion. Animal Crossing has quite a lot of text and racing games like Mario Kart 7 are now not in consideration.

@El_Scorpio This is a very old thread, so it might get shut down. However, I will say that I have found it hard to find games that a five-year-old can really engage with. There are plenty of good options on tablet/mobile, but 2DS controls are quite tricky and the games are quite challenging. I’d suggest perhaps the Kirby games (eg Triple Deluxe), Cooking Mama and Angry Birds. Mario Maker is definitely a good option too.

As soon as your daughter is able to read confidently, however, in a couple of years, I’m sure she will lap up the Pokemon games - my eldest has. Just waiting for the youngest to reach a similar point of development!

@El_Scorpio Prof. Kageyama's Maths Training is good. Encourages mental arithmetic development. Has a 'Daily Test' that my daughter likes - some short timed exercises whereby if you do well, after 5 consecutive days you Level Up, gradually increasing the difficulty.

Check out the DS catalogue - there's quite a lot of educational software out there on eBay. Phonics, music, art etc.