News Mario Kart 7 Gets Its First Update In Over A Decade
Update: New details about the changes surface
Random Indie Dev Giving Away Free Game Codes Until Nintendo Closes Wii U & 3DS eShops
Both eShops will close this March
3DS - News
May2023
News Dillon's Rolling Western & Kirby Developer Vanpool Shuts Down
"We have decided to disband"
In some surprising news, it's been discovered Vanpool, the independent Tokyo-based development team behind the Dillon's Rolling Western series, has shut down. As of 31st May 2023, the studio is no longer in operation. It shared an official statement on its website confirming this. Here's part of a translation:...
News 3DS System Update 11.17.0-50 Is Now Live, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
Ultra stable
Nintendo has issued a surprise update for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. This bumps the system up to Version 11.17.0-50. As usual, it's another "stability update" - with improved system stability to further enhance the overall user experience. Dataminer 'OatmealDome' also notes how the system settings, eShop app and internet...
April2023
PSA 3DS And Wii U eShop Download Codes Can No Longer Be Redeemed
"Thank you for playing"
Last week, after ending 3DS and Wii U eShop sales, Nintendo announced it would be extending the period to redeem a code to make up for certain technical difficulties. The new date was extended until 4th April 2023 in Japan, and that means this extra time to redeem codes has now also ended here in the west. This marks the end...
Zion investigates
The start of this week saw the closure of the 3DS and Wii U eShops, a sad time for all of us, many of whom spent last weekend feeling a little sentimental about all of the brilliant games that we would be losing as we attempted to download as many titles as possible (not speaking from personal experience, of course). But what does...
News More Indie Developers Are Giving Away Free eShop Codes For Wii U & 3DS
Update: WayForward joins in on the fun
Update [Sat 1st Apr, 2023 03:05 BST]: Mighty Switch Force developer WayForward has joined in on the free giveaway fun sharing codes for Mighty Switch Force 2 on Wii U and 3DS throughout the day. It seems Shovel Knight developer Yacht Club Games was also giving out some codes earlier this week:
March2023
News SteamWorld Series Creator Admits 3DS eShop Closure Is A Little Bit "Upsetting"
A DSiWare classic is gone
It seems Nintendo's closure of the 3DS eShop has been just as upsetting for game developers and publishers. Speaking to 'Kit & Krysta' recently, SteamWorld series creator and Thunderful Group co-founder Brjann Sigurgeirsson admitted it was sad seeing 3DS owners lose access to the 2010 DSiWare origin title SteamWorld:...
News Limited Run Teases One Last Physical Release For Nintendo 3DS
"Days like that remind us why we do what we do"
It's the end of a generation, with Nintendo yesterday calling time on the 3DS and Wii U eShops. Now that digital sales and physical production have come to a halt, the Switch creator is essentially done with these older platforms, but that doesn't mean everyone is.... Physical distributor Limited Run...
News Nintendo Extends Code Redemption Deadline For Wii U & 3DS eShops
You've now got until April
The global shutdown of the 3DS and Wii U eShops was technically yesterday, but it seems Nintendo has thrown a lifeline out to anyone who still has any codes left to redeem on these digital storefronts. As highlighted by the company's official Japanese customer support account on Twitter, Nintendo has extended the period...
News Two 3DS HOME Themes Are Now Free To Download (North America)
Stars, dots & stripes
If you happen to be located in North America, there's apparently a small eShop goodbye gift from Nintendo in the form of "free" 3DS HOME menu themes. Users in this region can currently claim a 'Dots & Stripes: Yellow & White' theme and a 'Stars: Gold & Black' theme from the Theme Shop. These themes previously cost...
News The 3DS & Wii U eShops Have Officially Closed, Purchases "No Longer Possible"
You can still download your existing library, but that's about it
Today officially marks the end of the 3DS and Wii U eShops. While you'll still be able to download your existing purchases, you can no longer buy or redeem new games from these digital storefronts. Free content including demos are also off limits. Now that the digital shops have...
PSA Pokémon Bank Is Now "Free To Use" On Nintendo 3DS
Update: Poké Transporter issues resolved
Update #2: The login issues appear to have been resolved, and everyone with the Poké Transporter installed on 3DS should now be able to access it. Update #1: We've had a slight development, with word quickly spreading online that the Poké Transporter is not working for some users. We booted up the...
News Nintendo Badge Arcade 3DS Service Ends 'Daily Free Plays'
"Farewell, Arcade Bunny"
We've got some news you probably didn't want to hear about the 3DS service Nintendo Badge Arcade. With the 3DS shutdown currently taking place around the globe, it's now been confirmed by Nintendo's Japanese website that this title has been partially shut down. As highlighted by well-known Nintendo dataminer and Twitter...
Poll How Many 3DS Consoles Have You Owned?
1DS, 2DS, 3DS, more?
Call us nostalgic, but the closure of the 3DS eShop has us reminiscing about the many incredible years of portable gaming we've enjoyed with Nintendo's last dedicated handheld console and its wider family. Recently, we've been downloading various gems we missed over the years and it's given us a chance to take stock of our...
Guide When Does The 3DS And Wii U eShop Close? Nintendo eShop Closure Guide
Update: Today's the day
The Wii U and 3DS eShops are closing today, Monday 27th March. The North American stores will be closing at 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET according to Nintendo (which works out to 1:00 AM BST / 2:00 AM CET on Tue 28th March in Europe, although no specific closure hour is given for European stores — we'd get in there sooner...
Guide 39 Best 3DS eShop Games You Should Get Before They're Gone Forever
3DS eShop-only titles worth picking up pronto
It’s the final countdown — the 3DS eShop is closing for new purchases today, Monday 27th March, so we’re republishing this guide to highlight some gems you might want to consider snapping up... The 3DS eShop is closing down, after over a decade of service. It's not a huge surprise, but it is a...
News Nintendo Badge Arcade 'Free Plays' Might Be Over For Good
But it also could be an error
Players have been reporting that Free Plays on the freemium 3DS app Nintendo Badge Arcade are over. Over on the 3DS subreddit, users were booting up the game in order to cash in on their free plays only to find that there were none. Multiple users started reporting this yesterday, with European players also running...
Community We're Hosting A 3DS StreetPass Gathering At PAX East 2023, Come Join Us
A StreetPAX party!
If you're heading to Boston for PAX East this weekend, you might want to grab your 3DS, 2DS, New 3DS XL — whatever, just grab your 3DS console — because we're hosting a community meet-up to reminisce and celebrate StreetPass! Hosted by the lovely Zion Grassl, champion StreetPass and one of our lovely video hosts over on...
News Pokémon Games Continue To Dominate 3DS Charts Ahead Of eShop Shut Down
Catch all the Game Boy classics while you still can
Time is running out for the 3DS and Wii U eShops with the shut down taking place next week on March 27th. Ahead of this, we've got a sales update to show you what's charting on the 3DS eShop in North America with less than a week remaining. The Virtual Console Pokémon Game Boy games are still...
Video Everything To Do Before The 3DS And Wii U eShops Shut Down
The end is nigh
Are you starting to panic about the impending closure of the 3DS and Wii U eShops? Do you find yourself wondering which last-minute games to pick up, or even how to link your Nintendo accounts properly? Then worry not, dear readers, we're here for you. Our lovely video producer Zion has put together an extensive video that goes over...
PSA You Only Have One Week To Purchase 3DS And Wii U eShop Games
Can we panic yet?
March 27th, 2023. Judgement Day. The day when Skynet will rain nuclear fire upon the earth and send a Terminator back in time to... Hang on. Sorry, wrong script. Two secs... March 27th, 2023. The day when the 3DS and Wii U eShops will shut down permanently, preventing users from purchasing new games and downloadable content. It's...
Random YouTuber Spends Nearly $23K Buying Every 3DS & Wii U eShop Game
Jirard Khalil completes his preservation mission
The 3DS and Wii U eShop services are shutting down at the end of this month and that means you've only got so much time left to buy all of the digital games you possibly can on Nintendo's older storefronts. YouTuber, streamer and video game media personality Jirard "The Completionist" Khalil has taken...
News Pokémon Game Boy Titles Dominate 3DS eShop Charts Ahead Of Service Closure
Get 'em while you can
We're now nearing the end of the month and that means we're getting closer to the end of the 3DS and Wii U eShop service. If you haven't got around to making any last-minute purchases just yet, and are wondering what's hot on the 3DS eShop right now, the weekly sales chart for North America should help you out. As you can see...
Random The World's Largest DS Just Got A 3D Upgrade
And it even has a working Circle Pad
You might remember in July of last year, designer and all-around tech wiz BigRig Creates managed to build the world's largest working DS using a TV and McDonald's touchpad. Well, just as the DS gradually evolved into the 3DS, BigRig has managed to give his creation a dimension-adding upgrade. That's right, the...
Reminder Catch All The Pokémon Games On 3DS & Wii U Before The eShop Closure
Gotta purchase 'em all
The 3DS and Wii U eShop services are closing down at the end of this month on 27th March, and while all sorts of games and applications will no longer be available for purchase, one series in particular that's taking quite a hit is Pokémon. Serebii.net has put together a short social media reel to highlight what exactly will...
News Two 3DS Games Have Been Made Free To Download On 3DS eShop (Europe)
Kid Tripp and Digger Dan DX can be yours
Four Horses has made two of its 3DS eShop titles free to download in the run-up to the digital storefront's closure at the end of the month. Kid Tripp and Digger Dan DX are both currently free and will be free for the remainder of the eShop's life, Four Horses has revealed. (Thanks for the tip, Dogorilla!)...
News Capcom 3DS & Wii U Games Available For Just $2.99 In Final eShop Sale (US)
Get Phoenix Wright, Monster Hunter & more
The 3DS and Wii U eShops are shutting down at the end of this month, and ahead of this, lots of game developers have been slashing prices on their libraries across both platforms. Capcom is the latest to do this - with an absolutely massive sale currently taking place on Nintendo's slightly older digital...
News Shantae Goes Half Price In WayForward's 'Last Chance' 3DS And Wii U eShop Sale
Mighty Switch Force 1 & 2 also discounted
With the 3DS and Wii U eShops closing in less than a month, WayForward has joined a growing list of publishers discounting their games for one last sale before the end. There are a number of games across both platforms to go over here, including the likes of Shantae and the Pirate's Curse and Mighty Switch...
Soapbox 3DS' Boundless Creativity Got Me, And Nintendo, Through Some Tough Times
A platform for change
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Andy McDonald celebrates and reminisces about a console that showcased Nintendo's off-the-wall creativity at its very best... With the 3DS’ days numbered as an active...
News This Is What The Pokémon Bank 3DS Shut Down Update Looks Like
See one of the incoming changes
March marks the month of the 3DS eShop shutdown and as part of this, The Pokémon Company previously announced it would be making its Pokémon Bank service on Nintendo's handheld device entirely free. Serebii.net webmaster Joe Merrick has now highlighted one of the changes that will be made on the software side as...
Update: Splatoon and Mario Kart 8 for Wii U taken offline
Update [Fri 3rd Mar, 2023 15:30 GMT]: Nintendo has announced that it has begun temporary emergency maintenance on Splatoon and Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U. While unconfirmed, it's heavily speculated that the maintenance - which at the time of writing has no time frame attached to it - is...
Talking Point Which Is Your Favourite 3DS Theme?
Main theme
As we continue our trip down memory lane before the 3DS (and Wii U) eShops close up for new purchases, firing up our old consoles recently has reminded us just what a bounty of gaming joy 3DS presents every time you crack open that clamshell. What a wonderful little console! (Check out our 'Countdown' series if you're looking for eShop...
News Atlus Cancels "Final" 3DS Game Sale Ahead Of eShop Closure
Sorry, Japan
The 3DS eShop is scheduled to shut down this month, and in response to this, publisher and developer Atlus (known for series like Persona and Shin Megami Tensei) was planning on hosting one "final" sale on the platform in Japan. Instead of going live today, yesterday the company announced it would no longer be happening. It apparently...
February2023
Reminder Today Is Your Last Chance To Get Fire Emblem Fates On 3DS eShop
Don't miss out
In one month, on March 27th, 2023, the 3DS and Wii U eShops will permanently cease new purchases on games and DLC. We're very sad. However, today (February 27th, 2023) actually marks your last opportunity to purchase Fire Emblem Fates, as Nintendo will be removing it from the eShop store on Tuesday 28th February, one month prior to...
News 3DS Tactical Adventure 'Fragrant Story' Releasing Free DLC Expansion Before eShop Closure
Sniff this
Last year in April, a new 3DS 16-bit tactical RPG game known as Fragrant Story was released. It's one of the few physical releases on the handheld in recent years and is also likely to be one of the last. With the 3DS eShop closure on the horizon, the developer William Kage is now using the remaining time to pump out a few updates. The...
News You'll Have One Year To Transfer Funds Once 3DS & Wii U eShops Close, Says Nintendo
Get that Nintendo ID linked!
Ahead of the 3DS and Wii U eShop closures next month, Nintendo of Europe has shared a reminder on Twitter on what you can do in the lead up and aftermath of the end of the services. Importantly, Nintendo has clarified that you'll have until March 2024 to merge 3DS and Wii U eShop funds with your Nintendo Account. In
PSA Don't Worry, 3DS System Transfers Will Still Be Possible Following eShop Closure
Well, that's something at least!
As you will all likely know by now (we hope), the 3DS and Wii U eShops will no longer allow users to purchase or download new games onto their systems come March 27th, 2023. Nintendo has been reasonably forthright regarding what will and won't be possible after this date, but one question that's been lingering in...
January2023
Feature Best Japan-Exclusive 3DS Games - 13 Titles We Wish Had Come To The West
From strategy tributes to puzzle RPGs...
With the closure of the 3DS eShop fast approaching, it's got us feeling a little bit nostalgic here at Nintendo Life — particularly for games that we never got our hands on here in the West. It's a tale as old as time at this point. Many Japan-only games never get localised, and that's been the case for a...
Random Pocket Card Jockey Director Is 'Sad' About The 3DS eShop Closure
Aren't we all..?
As we all know by now (we hope), the 3DS and Wii U eShops will unfortunately be shutting down on March 27th, 2023. This of course means that in just a couple of months time, you'll no longer be able to purchase or download new games onto your 3DS or Wii U. Until that time, if your Nintendo Account is shared across your Switch, 3DS,...
Random Indie Dev Giving Away Free Game Codes Until Nintendo Closes Wii U & 3DS eShops
Both eShops will close this March
It's now officially 2023 and that means we're getting closer to the closure of the Wii U and 3DS eShops. The last part of the closure will take place on 27th March 2023 and after this you'll no longer be able to purchase in-game content, download demos, add funds or redeem download codes. In response to this, indie...
News Game Freak's Secret Best Game Is No Longer 3DS Exclusive
Don't get your hopes up, though
At the start of December 2022, we reported that a trademark for 'Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On!' had been filed by Game Freak. At the time, we weren't quite sure what this would be in reference to, but now we have our answer (thanks, VGC). We've got good news and bad news, folks. The good news is that the cult classic...
Video We Hereby Declare That 2023 Will Be The Year Of 3DS StreetPass
But we'll need your help
2023 is going to be a pretty big year for the Switch. It's only the start of January, but we already know that we're going to be playing the likes of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Fire Emblem Engage, Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, and Pikmin 4 within the next 12 months, and that's all while being fully...
December2022
Full server shutdowns could be coming sooner than you think, too
Over the holidays we're republishing some choice features from the last 12 months. A mix of talking points, interviews, opinion pieces and more from NL staff and contributors, you'll find our usual blend of thoughtfulness, expertise, frivolity, retro nostalgia, and — of course —...
News Mario Kart 7 Gets Its First Update In Over A Decade
Update: New details about the changes surface
Update [Tue 20th Dec, 2022 03:45 GMT]: Dataminer OatmealDome has shed some light on last week's Mario Kart 7 update. It appears changes have been made to the game's netcode, and there's also been an update to stop Version 1.1 from being used with Version 1.2. 3DS homebrew developer and Mario Kart 7...
News Game Freak Registers Trademark For Potential 'Pocket Card Jockey' Sequel
Or could it be a remake..?
Game Freak, the core developer behind the Pokémon franchise, released a much loved 3DS title back in 2013 called Pocket Card Jockey. Exclusive to Japan for three years, it eventually made its way to other regions in 2016 to positive reception. Now, it appears there may be a new game on the horizon, as a trademark for...
November2022
Random Sounds Like Masahiro Sakurai Wants A Kid Icarus: Uprising Port As Much As Us
"It sure would be nice"
Masahiro Sakurai has put out another video through his 'Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games' YouTube channel, this time looking at the implementation of difficulty settings. Focusing primarily on the 3DS action title Kid Icarus: Uprising, Sakurai explains the concept of risk and reward with difficulty, going into the 'Fiend's...
Poll So, Animal Crossing: New Leaf Or New Horizons - Which Do You Like Best?
Don't Leaf me this way
Today marks exactly ten years since Animal Crossing: New Leaf was first released on 3DS. Outside Japan, we had to wait until June the following year to become mayor in our autostereoscopic 3D hamlets, although its Switch counterpart, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, would be the first game in the main series to get a...
October2022
News Nintendo's 3DS & Wii U Image Share Services Have Now Ended
"Thank you for using our service"
Last month, Nintendo revealed it would be discontinuing two more 3DS and Wii U features on 25th October 2022. It's now officially past this point in certain locations around the world, and this means the Image Share feature is no longer available on both of these devices. To remind everyone, Nintendo's Japanese...
News Bravely Default Developer Team Asano Asks Fans If They Want A New Entry
And how about some ports of the 3DS games?
As you might have already seen, the Bravely Default series is currently celebrating its 10th anniversary. Yes, it's now been around for that long! During a special anniversary stream, developer Team Asano asked fans if they would like to see another entry in the series. Here's what was apparently said...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D
All-S.T.A.R Brawl
Happy Sunday, everyone; welcome to another edition of 'Box Art Brawl'! We've got another great one for you this week, but first let's take a look at the previous results. Last time, we featured the GameCube classic from Rare Ltd, Star Fox Adventures. Criminally underrated at the time of its release, the action-adventure title has...
September2022
News The 3DS And Wii U Are Losing Two More Features Next Month
Update: Changes to Switch log-ins too
Update: You will also be unable to link your Facebook or Twitter account to your Nintendo Account, even on Nintendo Switch. Here is the information on what's changing from Nintendo: As of October 25 , 2022, it will no longer be possible to link a Facebook or Twitter account to a Nintendo Account. - This...
Random Reddit User Creates The Ultimate 3DS Emulator With A Steam Deck
Bigger is better after all
The Steam Deck is widely known for its remarkable emulation capabilities, with users most recently managing to enable gyro controls for Wii U emulation. It's not entirely surprising when you consider that the Steam Deck is effectively a portable PC, but it's still impressive nonetheless. Now, one Reddit user has taken...
News 3DS System Update 11.16.0-49 Is Now Live, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
Super stable
Following the 3DS system update late last month, Nintendo has now issued another one. This bumps the system up to Version 11.16.0-49. Here are the full patch notes, courtesy of Nintendo's support website: Ver. 11.16.0-49U (September 12th, 2022) "Further improvements to overall system stability and other minor adjustments have been...
Random Wii U Emulation On Valve's Steam Deck Supports Gyro Controls
Dual screen 3DS and Wii U gaming also possible
Valve's Steam Deck has already proven it's able to run all sorts of video game emulators. What's even more impressive though is just how capable it is when it comes to Wii U and 3DS emulation. As highlighted by the website Steam Deck HQ, Valve's handheld PC is not only able to split screens across...
August2022
News 3DS System Update 11.16.0-48 Is Now Live, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
Another stability update has been delivered
Well, just like the Wii U - the Nintendo 3DS has also received a system firmware update today. This bumps the entire family of 3DS systems up to Version 11.16.0-48. It's another "stability" update. There have also been some other minor adjustments. Like the Wii U update, this also happens to be the first...
Reminder Today Is Your Last Chance To Redeem eShop Cards On Wii U And 3DS
Funds can still be added via linked Nintendo Accounts, though
Nintendo is ending 3DS and Wii U eShop functionality with prepaid cards today, 29th August. After today, you won't be able to redeem the card directly on either the 3DS or Wii U consoles. Maintenance is scheduled for 30th August 4:30am UTC, and if we had to guess, that's when the...
News Nintendo Prepares For 3DS & Wii U eShop Closure With Scheduled Maintenance
We're in the endgame now
This week is pretty significant in the world of Nintendo - with the Japanese company previously announcing it would "no longer be possible to use a Nintendo eShop Card to add funds to an account on Nintendo eShop for Wii U or Nintendo 3DS". This will take effect "as of" 29th August 2022, and it seems Nintendo has now taken...
Random Mobile Game Spotted Using Official Nintendo Imagery
Ex-Nintendo veteran makes the shocking discovery
Mobile companies are often known to embellish marketing materials to make their games more appealing to prospective audiences. This includes running ads featuring misleading gameplay, hiring influencers to run over-the-top promos, and - in this case - using imagery from other IP entirely. Yes, as...
News Pokémon Shuffle To Enter 'End Of Life' Service On 3DS In 2023
Everyday I'm shuffling - not for long
Alongside the news that the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShops would be closing on March 27th 2023, Serebii.net has today confirmed that the same closures will apply to the free-to-play puzzle game, Pokémon Shuffle. While all save data and play hours will be safe for those who already have the game downloaded,...
Guide Best 3DS And Wii U DLC You Should Get Before The eShops Close Forever
Paid and free DLC to download ASAP
So. The 3DS and Wii U eShops are closing. You probably got that from the title. The full closure will be on the 27th March, 2023, with some games becoming unavailable even before that. We've got the full rundown on the closure here: When Does The 3DS And Wii U eShop Close? Nintendo eShop Closure Guide Of course,...
Random Masahiro Sakurai Reminds Nintendo Fans About 3DS & Wii U eShop Closure Dates
"It's my last chance"
As you probably know by now, Nintendo is discontinuing the 3DS and Wii U eShop as of 28th March 2023. And later this month on 29th August, you'll no longer be able to add eShop card funds (aka points) to accounts. This is happening worldwide, and as a result - Nintendo fans around the globe are grabbing certain digital titles...
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
Thought the 3DS was done for, did you? Well, despite Nintendo’s best efforts with the announcement of the 3DS eShop's closure in 2023, the company’s popular handheld is still alive and kicking, and it’s recently seen a brand-new release with Fragrant Story. This odd micro-SRPG comes from an indie developer William...
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...
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