BoxBoy
Image: Nintendo

For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library will be gone for good soon and, for one reason or another, these eShop-exclusives are close to our hearts.

Today, Gavin wishes he snapped up that Japanese Qbby amiibo when it first released...

Three games!? Bit cheaty. What are they called, then?

Look, we're running out of days, okay? They're BOXBOY!, BOXBOXBOY!, and BYE-BYE BOXBOY!

ALL CAPS! and ALL SHOUTY!

Who made them?

HAL Laboratory, the 'House of Kirby', no less.

What's the premise?

Qbby is a be-legged box who is able to spawn chains of boxes from his sides to solve environmental puzzles, avoid hazards, and make his way through a bunch of minimalist 2D levels to the goal. New puzzle mechanics are introduced, and Qbby also encounters fellow cubular companions Qudy and Qucy along the way.

Why should I play it?

It's a great little series of puzzler-platformers, with plenty of HAL's charm and a simple aesthetic that never gets old. A fourth game, BOXBOY! + BOXGIRL!, came to Switch in 2019, but the original trilogy is confined to 3DS eShop.

Well, in the West it is. Japan did see a physical 3DS release for the entire trilogy in a special box set which came with a region-exclusive Qbby amiibo. It's a thing of beauty that we wish we had imported back in 2017, as Qbby amiibo prices on the secondhand market are high.

How much is it?

$4.99 / £4.49 / €4,99 each, and each one has a demo if you're not convinced.

We'll be back soon with another 3DS or Wii U eShop recommendation as part of this 'Countdown' series. Let us know below if you've already got this in your collection and share your thoughts.