Topic: My son wants a 3DS, would be his first handheld

so is the 3DS to close to the end of its life cycle or do you think there are two more years left in in it? My son is young yet, 7years, and I would wait to pick up a handheld if there was going to be a big shift in hardware in say 10months to a year.

I figure no one really knows anything official about where nintendo is heading but it would be nice to know. I would much rather purchase a system at the beginning of its lifespan than end, but if there are a few years left I'd be okay with that. Any idea if DS/3DS games will work in whatever the next handheld is or the switch?

It's not dead yet but it's certainly slowing down. I wouldn't expect much to be going on with it in two years. That doesn't mean it would be a bad investment, though. It has a lot of great games and I don't see backwards compatibility with them happening any time soon (Nintendo are surely in no hurry to produce brand new hardware with the Switch having taken off). Seems like a better fit for a kid than the Switch, too. Smaller and more durable.

DS/3DS games don’t work on the Switch. I personally think that the 3DS has a least another year left in it, but I know that some people might disagree with me. If the 3DS is on its way out, I think it’s going to be in favor of the New 3DS, which hasn’t gotten too much room to show what it can do through exclusive games.

Okay I guess I did not specify (i blame nintendo for how they named things), is there enough life left in the New 3DS xl or 2DS XL? I would not purchase the older 3DS or other older versions.

@jgwcaster
Yo !
Time doesn't matter.
You can introduce your son about 3DS, let him know and experience the 3DS games.
It doesn't matter how old are the 3DS / NDS games, if he has never experienced yet, it will be something New for him.

3DS also is cheaper than Switch right now, so you can teach him how to use and treat his 3DS properly before bought him a Nintendo Switch.

3DS games recommendation for 7 years old Boy :
1. Animal Crossing New Leaf
2. Pokemon X / Y
3. Mario Kart 7
4. Miitopia
5. Disney Magical World 2
6. LEGO CITY UNDERCOVER: The Chase Begins
7. Super Mario 3D Land
8. Harvest Moon Skytree Village
9. Paper Mario Sticker Star
10. Fantasy Life

Better you buy New 2DS XL if you concern about 3D Effect that may harm your son's vision. I hope your son will enjoy 3DS games and start to grow his fond memories about Nintendo machines. For Nintendo Switch, if you patience enough, you can wait for next year while monitoring his behaviour about 3DS games.

Good luck.

@Tsurii Thank you, this is very helpful! To me it seems like those who played the DS and 3DS got to enjoy an ecosystem that kept running their games as they grew up. Each iteration having backwards compatibility with their library of games. I am just thinking it would stink a bit to grab a new 3DS and then in a year find out that a new handheld system is coming out that won't run previous games anymore. But such is life and I am probably overthinking this anyway.

@Anti-Matter much appreciated and thanks for the recommendations.

@jgwcaster I doubt there's going to be anything other than the Switch. The Switch is their new handheld, and the 3DS is already on its way out. The only reason why they're keeping the 3DS alive for now was probably just in case the Switch flopped. Don't buy the 3DS if you expect another system in the foreseeable future that can play 3DS games too, that won't happen.

Get him a 3DS, the library of games is fantastic and the price is point is great.

People always get hung up on whether they release new stuff, but I would argue that if the person hasn't played the games then they are new to them. I've had a 3DS it's entire lifecycle and between DS, 3DS and digital games I could probably not buy a new system for years and not run out of quality games.

At 7 years I'd say he's heading into the transition stage into more complex games; so additional ones I would suggest are:

New Super Mario Bros 2
Metroid: Samus Returns
Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Shinobi (tough but its something sorely missed in modern games).
Shovel Knight (again tough but so good)
Star Fox 64 3D
Luigi's Mansion 2

And if you want to introduce to the enjoyable time sinks that are JRPGs:

Bravely Default
Xenoblade Chronicles 3D
Ace Combat Assault Horizon Legacy +

Okay that last one is not a JRPG but I love it so much. He could start with simplified controls and easy setting and hopefully step up to realistic controls later on.

I admit a few may be PEGI 12 up there but nothing too bad so I'll let you be the judge as a responsible parent.

Also, Paper Mario Sticker Star was mentioned earlier. Whilst it may be a decent game for a younger gamer to start the series, it does lack any of the charming wit from the previous games in the series so personally, I'd give that one a miss. But if you like the look of it give it a bash. May be a good game to get him into JRPGs.

The 3DS has a really good collection of games so even if it had no more support it would still be a good buy. And you can use parental control to turn off the 3DS effect till he's older, if that's a concern.

If your son is the creative type, Super Mario Maker for 3DS is great. My friend takes care of her 2 nephews (ages 6 and 4) and they are constantly fighting over the 3DS to make stages.

Other games I haven't seen mentioned:
Ocarina of Time 3D
Kirby Triple Deluxe
Kirby Planet Robobot
Yoshi's New Island

This. I'm still getting plenty of mileage out of my aging system despite first getting it in early 2012. The libraries of both the DS and 3DS are amazing and have something for everyone. I expect the the system's support to end sometime in the next year or so, but it's hard to ignore such a quality library.

Nintendo is still making games for the 3DS, cause its still a new consle.

so yeah, you should get you're son a 3DS,

If he/you know(s) a load of games already on it that he would want to play, it would be a great idea. It's relatively cheap, and the Switch is quite an expensive piece of hardware to get for such a young person.

It's only got another year or so but there are so many games available for it, as well as all the DS games, that it'd take you about a decade to get through all the good games.

Get the New 2DS XL version. That's the best bet. Cheaper than the 3DS but plays all the same games. And the "New" models have a few more available retail games as well as the absolutely essential SNES virtual console games.

Thanks for the help. We stopped in at a local used game store just to see what was available. Ended up grabbing a used new 3ds XL for $139. Not a scratch or mark on it. Also picked up new super Mario Bros 2 and a Lego City game. He is living it and I have to admit I am a little jealous. . . Might have to get my own or maybe a switch . . .

I love the 3DS. And for him it's definitely the right choice. But as an adult with more expectations graphically, with regard to screen real estate, and with regard to versatility and playing on the TV, or as a handheld, or in tabletop mode , Switch is a far better device. The games are exponentially better too.

If you can afford it get him a Switch. Its the new handheld. There won't be a new one for many-many years.
3ds is dying and its screen resolution is so bad. Its a big upgrade.

Now on the topic of what is for you, I'd say you should should get a 3DS too. You can share most of the games (as long as there is more than one save file) and then you would both be happy about new games. Plus you'd be able to play multiplayer on some games. (Just a heads up, some games like New Super Mario Bros 2 you need a copy for each 3DS to play multiplayer, while others like Mario Party can be played with just one copy) I'd highly recommend getting a New 2DS XL since it's the same thing just no 3D and at a good price.

As for getting the Switch it's really nice but the price comes into play. The system is twice the price of a New 2DS XL not to mention if you want another controller it costs about $80. Also the games are more expensive and the library is much smaller.

Here's some more games
-Super Mario Maker 3D
-Super Smash Bros.
-Tomodachi Life