I haven't owned a Nintendo handheld since Gameboy Advanced SP. Just never had the money I guess. The DS and even 3DS never really caught my eye but the 3DS XL looks to be something I could enjoy. But when I really think about it...the only things I'd play on it are Pokemon games. Is there any other titles worth getting a 3DS for? I have the money in hand and am on the fence at the moment. I have a vita as well but there isn't anything out that I haven't beaten or as replayable right now(except for Disgaea 3). I want it but I'm terribly indecisive. CONVINCE ME.

I have no idea what type of gamer you are so I can't give you any advice. The pokemon game (the latest one) has just been announced and is almost a full year out still (october 2013). I can only tell you MY reasons for having a 3DS (XL) and maybe it's something you can find useful.

Here are my main reasons:

• Nintendo exklusive franchises
• Portable (even if I mainly use it in bed before falling asleep)
• Different "kind" of games

The last point actually is my main argument, while the touchscreen and the 3D are really nice to have it really comes down to the types of games I want to play. I grew up with gameboy, gamegear, commodore 64, Super Nintendo, N64, Gamecube, PC, Xbox, Xbox 360 and then again PC-gaming. In all those years I remember the times with my Super Nintendo and my Gamecube the fondest. I always liked my portables too. In the last years I just grew tired of all the competitive multiplayer shooters so dominant on the competing consoles and the PC has more and more become a place for lazy console ports, why invest top money in components if it won't look or play much better than on my 7 year old console. Besides that I really enjoy the "fun" nature of most games. If a game is "stressing me" by being overly competitive (like cod, battlefield, halo, ...) in multiplayer it's not enjoyable anymore for me. I have a very stressy daily routine and if I play a game, I like a challenge to some point but mostly I want to be entertained, not stressed or angered. This niche is perfectly filled for me by games like Mario Kart 7, New Super Mario Brothers 2, Super Mario 3D land and my latest buy: Paper Mario Sticker Star.

Honestly, after being a Battlefield fan for almost 10 years and playing ultra realistic stuff on the "big" consoles it took a bit getting used to the cuddly look of Nintendogames or Animecharacters. But honestly, if you give yourself the chance to be enchanted by that special style it will most likely grab you and treat you with pure innocent fun. No idea how old you are, but me being 30, I can USE that childlike experience to soften my daily routine a bit. I like it a lot.

Sure I still love to play strategy games like X-Com and even the occassional shooter (loved the first Bioshock) but for that I have my PC.
In my book having a PC with steam and its top sales together with one piece of Nintendohardware (or both Wii U and 3DS if you can afford) is the best way to please my gaming needs. But thats all just personal opinion.

That was probably the most fair argument I've ever heard for a Nintendo handheld. Most of the time all I get is "Nintendo has Mario and Pokemon". I'm a gamer of all types. I enjoy Halo and Battlefield games but not so much COD. Competitive games I enjoy vary from shooters to MOBAs but my PC died a few months ago so I've been restricted to console gaming. I'm a PC gamer at heart though. I love MMO's and such.
However recently I've been giving other consoles a chance such as the Vita and I just got a PS3 a couple weeks ago. Enjoying both of them. But I've heard nothing but good things about the 3DS and I too have the best gaming memories from my old gameboys and such. I love Pokemon enough to get a 3DS especially with the new ones announced but I'm looking for extra games worth the buy as well. I think RPG games belong on handhelds so I'd mostly be looking for RPG genre games for it. I checked out Fire Emblem and that looks fantastic.

Also I've heard that playing DS games on 3DS absolutely murders the resolution. Can anyone comment on that? There's mostly DS games that I want to play but would rather have a 3DS for the games that have yet to come out..

no it's just fine. you can play the games in their original DS resolution but then the pictures gets smaller. or you can play it with stretched resolution, which works fine for me. it doesnt look bad. i cant believe someone would not want to play DS games on the 3DS because of the resolution.

I can't speak about it personally as I haven't tried it, it's just what I've heard. My friends that have a 3DS say they hate playing when it's a smaller screen but blowing it up makes it look bad. I dunno, I don't think I'd really mind either. Just thought I'd get more opinions.

The games don't look bad.

Also another question(sorry for so many), are the newer Pokemon games multiplayer through a wifi connection or do you have to be in the same place? I've always been a big fan of playing other people with my own team but was wondering how the multiplayer works in the new games

@CrayonMuffin

You said Pokemon right? I heard there's going to be some 3ds pokemon games on the 3ds coming this year & there was one older pokemon game called pokemon rumble 3ds already released for the 3ds. I'm not into pokemon but hey if that's your thing then go for it.

Plus there's mario games to enjoy on the 3ds as well.

Mario Kart 7
New Super Mario Bros 2
Super Mario 3D land
Paper Mario Sticker Star

Plus there's alot of great games coming this year luigi's mansion 3ds & animal crossing 3ds plus Rythm Hunter: Harmo Knight!

Happy Gaming! (^_^)

Here are some of my fave games on the system:

Kid Icarus: Uprising. Ridiculously fun, and the sliding scale difficulty makes replay value immeasurable.
Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask (this is the 5th game in the series, if you've never owned a DS, you are missing out on this adventure/puzzle hybrid)
Pushmo: One of the most unique and challenging puzzlers I've ever encountered. There is also a sequel, haven't played it yet but the reviews are fantastic.
Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars: A strategy RPG. If you are a fan of Fire Emblem, Shining Force, Final Fantasy Tactics; this is a fun play.
Zero Escape: Start with the one on DS, but this electronic version of "Choose Your Own Adventure" is a total mind blow.

Fire Emblem is going to be awesome. Cannot wait for that game.

Yep, you can fight your friends or strangers over Wi-Fi.

Thanks. Nice to actually get some feedback from the internet that isn't so negative. I'll probably post here pretty often now

Welcome aboard!

You can hit select before a game starts up to get it to its native resolution

Yeah, the 3DS has some pretty good games.

For RPGs, there's Tales of the Abyss (PS2 port), Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance (my personal favorite on the system), Paper Mario: Sticker Star, Denpa Men: They Came by Wave (eShop only, behind it's cutesy exterior is a pretty old-school RPG), Unchained Blades (eShop only), as well as some upcoming stuff, such as Fire Emblem Awakening, Pokémon X & Y, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity, Denpa Men 2 (eShop only), Etrian Odyssey IV, amongst others.

Then there's everyone's Nintendo favorites, such as Star Fox 64 3D, Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D*, Super Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7, Kid Icarus: Uprising, as well as upcoming titles Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, & Animal Crossing: New Leaf.

3rd parties have had a good time as well, with Resident Evil: Revelations, Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy, Dead or Alive: Dimensions, Samurai Warriors: Chronicles, amongst others.

eShop is also a key component, with VVVVVV, Cave Story, NightSky, Liberation Maiden, Mighty Switch Force, Crimson Shroud (an RPG I forgot to mention before), Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword, Pushmo, Crashmo, amongst others.

You need no convincing. You are already convinced. 3DS will in no way enhance your life or put you in any meaningful direction. It will not fulfil your deepest desires nor save you from the depravity of existence. You tell me. Do YOU want to buy a Nintendo 3DS?!

@SZM I don't know Miiverse might help

As right as you are, it will allow me to play my Pokemon <3

Kid Icarus Uprising is amazing! (If you like the controls).

Jumping onto the Pokemon X and Y bandwagon too?
I extremely recommend the 3DS XL (even though I don't have one yet, I have a 3DS). There are plenty of other games for the 3DS XL out there too. I don't buy many retail games, but they do have some great eShop games like the The Denpa Men: They Came by Wave (which kinda reminds me of Pokemon because of the battle system and concept of catching and battling).