Colors 3D
Image: Collecting Smiles

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, Ollie nominates Colors! 3D, a curious and wonderful little painting tool that allows budding artists to create fully 3D landscapes over five separate depth layers.

So, what's it called again?

Colors! 3D. You've got to shout the 'colors' bit. Every time.

(Actually, the exclamation point is stylised as a brush in the logo, so you can stop shouting.)

Who made it?

Collecting Smiles is responsible for the entire Colors! range. Starting as a homebrew painting application for the Nintendo DS, Colors! 3D was the game that really put the studio on the map.

The game is still alive and kicking to this day on the Switch with Colors! Live, which includes a pressure-sensitive pen for digital and physical purchases and was funded via a successful Kickstarter campaign.

What's the premise?

Colors! 3D is not a game, but rather a software tool to allow for drawing and painting across five layers of 3D depth. You simply select the layer you want to edit, choose from a wide range of tools and colours, and off you go! Finished pieces can be shared via galleries, and you can also create speed-painting videos of your masterpiece.

It's hardly the most extensive art tool on the market, but for the 3DS, it's definitely the one to go for — a really delightful surprise.

Why should I play it?

It's difficult to recommend Colors! 3D as a "must-have" title if you're simply not interested in creating art. But for those with a flair for creativity, or even those who just want to give it a go and mess around for a bit, Colors! 3D might turn into one of your favourite art tools.

As we mentioned earlier, it's certainly no Photoshop or ProCreate in terms of viability in the professional art world, but that should be obvious from the outset and it never purports to be. It stands as a fantastic way to pass the time if you're not particularly in the mood to play a game on the 3DS. Go on, give it a whirl.

How much is it?

$6.99USD / £5.39 / €5,99. This one rarely, if ever, goes on sale, but for the standard low price you're getting a fantastic tool for your money.

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. Also, feel free to nominate other games — we just might highlight those in the coming days, too.