The Summer months are here, which gives us an opportunity to take reveals from E3 and beyond to contemplate what big hitters are coming over the rest of the year. We split the recent Wii U lists into retail and eShop sections, and we're doing the same here, starting off with retail games.
Though we've picked out ten retail titles (and a few honourable mentions) that we feel are worth consideration, if we were also including Japanese titles a couple more would certainly feature - notable examples include Monster Hunter X (Cross) and The Great Ace Attorney, neither of which even has a release window outside of Japan but are due this year in Nintendo's homeland. Also, we're treating Mighty No. 9 as a download title, though it will also have a retail edition; we feel it'll fit nicely in the eShop list to come.
Another issue we have is that a few releases are heading to North America late this year but Europe in 2016, an unfortunate reality affecting 3DS gamers in Europe right now.
With all of that said, below is our list of retail goodies heading to the 3DS this year.
Announced during this year's E3, this incorporates the game engine from The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds in a co-op experience very much in the style of Four Swords. In this case three players tackle dungeons together - though single player is an option - either locally or online, with the gimmick being the use of a totem mechanic to reach higher levels. We've been really impressed during our hands on time with this, and it's certainly one to watch for Zelda fans.
This franchise has been a phenomenon for Level-5 in Japan, with multiple games, the anime series and a broad range of toys being hugely successful in the country. It'll be intriguing to see whether the RPG - with superficial similarities to Pokémon but nevertheless boasting unique mechanics - can take off in the same way in the West. We loved what we played in a localised build, so we're pretty confident this'll be worth the wait.
A surprising E3 reveal, primarily due to the fact Chibi-Robo! is getting its own retail release and amiibo in the West, and also as it's a fairly conventional platformer. The little robot does use his plug extension in various ways as a whip, and this is certainly high on the charm stakes; you can learn more about how this plays in our first impressions article.
One of the more successful Pokémon spin-off series, this dungeon crawling adventure makes its way to 3DS and promises that you "will battle alongside Legendary and Mythical Pokémon to save the world in a sweeping tale of adventure and mystery". Fans of the franchise can, we suspect, be sure that it'll serve up the gameplay and exploration that's been enjoyed in its predecessors.
Not only does Atlus keep the 3DS ticking over with new entries in its most popular RPG franchises, but it continues to serve up impressive re-releases / remasters. An enhanced remake of the second title on DS - Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard - this'll include a whole new story to take on, which features new classes and characters, in addition to the original being remastered with new visuals and other enhancements.
When thinking of Sonic Boom many consider the shoddy Wii U release of 2014, but Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal on 3DS was (arguably) a reasonable platformer. Developer Sanzaru Games is back with another tie-in to the animated series, with this entry employing new mechanics utilising the fire and ice referenced in the title; we're hoping for another solid effort, potentially with improvements over its predecessor.
An intriguing spin-off for one of Nintendo's most beloved franchises, and as the name makes clear this title is all about designing animal's homes to their exacting requirements. You have access to hundreds of different decorative items, while amiibo cards will be an optional extra to bring specific characters into your game.
A popular anime series in Japan since 2011, the series made its way to Nicktoons in the US in 2014. There have been plenty of games before this one in Japan, but this release will be just the latest step towards the IP's expansion in the West - you get to construct (with a dizzying amount of customisation) mini robots which you then take into battle, while local multiplayer will be a big part of the experience. We're curious to see how this performs in North America and Europe.
Dragon Ball has had a big year in the West with successful releases on Sony systems, in particular; this 3DS fighting game will have a whole load of characters to choose from and a story mode to tackle. Intriguingly, some bundles will include a 3DS download of the Super Famicom (SNES) Japanese version of Dragon Ball Z: Super Butōden 2.
Developed by the highly respected FuRyu and published by Atlus, this features battles that utilise formations rather than class types. A key feature is that each of the seven core characters has a different agenda and their own ending, encouraging multiple New Game+ playthroughs, while the Western version will have tweaks based on feedback from the Japanese release.
Honourable Mentions
- Rodea the Sky Soldier
- Hatsune Miku: Project MIRAI DX
- Skylanders Superchargers Racing
- Adventure Time: Finn and Jake Investigations
- The Peanuts Movie: Snoopy's Grand Adventure
Let us know what you think of this list with a vote for your favourite in the poll below, while you can share views and post your own lists in the comments section.
Comments 84
The 3ds really has a lot of great games coming out. That's awesome.
Where's Bravely second?
For me, Tri Force Heroes, Zip Lash, Yo Kai Watch and Etrian Odyssey will be the first ones I look at. Not sure which order I'll do them in though. I still have a backlog! Then there's Lego Dimensions and Super Mario Maker on the Wii U and the indies. Lots of games, not much time (or money for absolutely everything).
@GMB-001 Forget that. Where's Fire Emblem Fates? Better than that, where's the Fire Emblem Fates impressions?
I'm all over the new Animal Crossing! I always get addicted over Animal Crossing throughout the course of a few months. I am excited to play it once again.
Still bummed out by the fact that The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes is apparently one or three players only :-/ I might still get it though, depending whether it is fun to play alone (I assume so), or whether I'm able to come up with a third player (I doubt that).
I'll also keep an eye on Yo-Kai Watch of course.
So the Zelda Triforce Heroes is all for the rest of the year.
For me anyway. Nothing for either system until Mario Maker in September.
Only 3DS game that I want at the moment is Senran Kagura 2...
Not much that looks exciting. Yokai watch may be nice but it's not coming until 2016.
Tri Force Heroes and Yokai Watch I'm gonna be getting. Happy Home Designer and Legend of Legacy are a "Maybe". Also, I'm curious as to who that 1% of people who voted for Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice was...I'm not judging or anything, I'm just surprised anyone would vote for it.
Oh, its an exciting end of the year for this HandheldGuru!!!!!!!!!!!
Loz Tri Force Heroes
Chibi-Robo Zip Lash
Legend of Legacy
Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon
and...
Yokai Watch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll probably end up getting AC: Happy Home Designer...need to look into that one a bit more and maybe Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold...not bad at all (especially with Fallout 4 coming)
As we're not counting 2016 games like Fire Emblem Fates and Hyrule Warriors Legends, I voted for Sonic Boom: Fire and Ice. It's the only upcoming 2015 3DS game that appeals to me though I may give Tri Force Heroes a chance once we get some single player footage.
It's not here, but I'm very much looking forward to Mario and Luigi: Paper Jam.
I'll also be grabbing Triforce Heroes.
@VeeFlamesNL This and Fire Emblem Fates. Nothing else interest me.
@Megumi
Yep all I want is Senran Kangura 2 as well, nothing for me on this list :-/
Am a big fan of Zelda but that multiplayer one isn't my cup of tea. Nintendo 2015 isn't their year.
Get me that Yokai Watch!
The game that interests me the most on that entire list is by far Animal Crossing Happy Home Designer. I'll be getting it the day it comes out. I can't wait to see for myself the therapeutic charm that will ooze from that game. I think I may have an Animal Crossing addiction, but I sure do love it! And Fire Emblem Fates looks amazing too. That's a definite buy for me too. All in all, there are plenty of great games for all gamers on that list, at least in my opinion.
zero interesting games for me on the 3DS in the next months. good thing i still have a pc
There's more stuff here that interests me than what I was expecting. Tri Force Heroes and Etrian Odyssey Untold 2 are must haves for me. Yo-Kai Watch and Legend of Legacy are both wildcard contenders that could end up being awesome. If they sell the Chici-Robo game and amiibo bundle here in Europe, I'll try that game as well.
Yokai Watch and LBX are what I have my eyes on. Been waiting for the Yokai for ages and the customization/6 player combat sounds like a must have. And it reminds me a little of Custom Robo.
Sorry about the double post...
I forgot Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Super. I'm just not gun-ho interested in it like I am Yo-kai Watch and LBX.
Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon for me. Maybe Chibi-Robo or DBZ. More interested in what's coming next year.
I'll definitely be getting Triforce Heroes, and Yokai Watch and the Dragon Ball Z game are both intriguing (although I've never watched Dragon Ball).
LoL and LBX! Need more Jrpgs and mechs
Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight, The Legend of Legacy, Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden, and Chibi Robo Zip Lash seems like the only 3DS games worth getting. Everything else either look bland, boring, or looks like plain shovelware.
Etrian Odyssey and Legend of Legacy for me. Looking forward to Bravely Second and FE: Fates, too, though I think I'm going to take a swing at the Japanese versions.
@Chaoz I don't know. Yo-kai watch practically oozes Japanese charm.
@Aromaiden It characters are charming, but I just find the gameplay boring. All it does it just make me wish I was playing Pokemon.
Dragonball Z and the new Animal Crossing game for me and my wife.
well europe did got some level 5 games way before america (professer layton [i assume some of it i don't know] and inazuma eleven[jp gone up to IE GO 3, EU gone to up to IE GO 2, AU just start the GO trilogy instead of start the original trilogy first and NA just started the original trilogy] ) release so i guess it's time for america to get some game from level 5 way before europe =) (i still wondering when IE 2 will release/annouced in NA as well as the original trilogy collection for EU and maybe AU)
still can't wait for yo-kai watch and LBX as well as most of the game mentioned in this news(well expect for sonic boom fire and ice [i just don't know why maybe because of me joining forced with the sonic fan or something like that] and animal crossing happy home designer [i wasn't interested about the series unfortunately] and i didn't know about the legend of legacy[honestly i don't know about this game])
Not interested in any of this.
@Chaoz I personally find it to appear fairly interesting, and honestly it appears far more interactive than Pokemon. I'm going to buy it, but I don't blame you for not liking it.
Weakest lineup since 3DS release. Where's the "nothing for me this Q3-Q4" button?
Worst year since the first one, very bad. 2016 looks better with Fire Emblem and Bravely Second.
October is a good month. DBZ and Chibi Robo should be cool. Looking foward to Tri-Force too. Sonic could be good too.
You should've put a 'none' option in the poll, or included Rodea (due in October).
Yeah its a weak lineup for the rest of the year on both 3DS and U. Other than Mario Maker in September and Xenoblade Chronicles X in December, there's nothing even remotely interesting. Good thing there are a ton of games I wanna replay. Like Chrono Trigger...for the 90th time...
not interested in a single game in this list, only upcoming 3DS games I am interested on are Project X Zone 2 and Bravely Second... would be interested in Fire Emblem if it wasn't for the pokemon business model
@DualWielding Huh... What wrong with the Fire Emblem Fates?
I voted AC: HHD, but also looking forward to Etrian Odyssey Untold II. The Legend of Legacy looks interesting too.
All this list tells me is that EU is getting screwed with some of these games' release dates (in NA games coming out in 2015, EU-2016).
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Where's Senran Kagura 2? What kind of summer lineup doesn't include the most ridiculous excuse for girls in bikinis?! Come on!
if there was a 'None of the above" option, I'd be voting that. Hopefully theres some interesting looking download titles...
I'll be getting Senran Kagura 2 and maybe DBZ if Namco bother to record an English dub.
I wanted to pick both Triforce Heroes and.Yokai watch. My backlog continues to grow lol
Weak line up for me. Might be interested in TLoL if it gets good reviews.
Fortunately, I still have ~200 hours or so of games on my backlog.
Love you chibi robo but I had to vote for legacy of generic names, hoping it's as cool asradiant historia
Really surprised Zelda is leading so far in the poll. I'm a huge Zelda fan, but for me a big part of those games is the world exploration next to the dungeons, which isn't part of the game here.
Will be getting Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden for sure and if the reviews for The Legend of Legacy are positive [and it releases in Europe], I'll definitely be getting that as well. So far I quite like what I've seen of it.
@Monkeh That's what I find interesting about Zelda fans, they all imagine Zelda game's differently and expect differently from them, but to be honest, considering it's a Zelda game, I imagine it being pretty good.
Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon was automatically number one for me, since I'm more hyped about that game than any other game right now. I have high hopes for Sonic Boom Fire and Ice, Hatsune Miku DX, and DBZ Extreme Butoden. Oddly, those are the only four I feel too interested in.
Chibi Robo for me, that one caught me by surprise and is one of the few E3 games I'm actually hyped about.
Other than that it's just FE: Fates for the 3DS for me, but that's not coming out here until next Spring or Summer probably.
Guys, really, just listen and really hear my words. Yokai Watch is such a fun, charming game. Really consider getting it.
There's literally nothing on 3DS this year I'm interested in, and that's a bummer. Oh well, I have older games to catch up with on 3DS, Wii U, and PS4. That and I'm adding an Xbox One to my entertainment center soon, so it's not like I'll be in a drought game wise. Just bummed that there's nothing really for me on 3DS this year.
Really weak line up compared to previous years, could have been stronger for me personally if The Great Ace Attorney was getting a translation, but looks like capcom is going to take their time with it as usual
I was loving Triforce heroes from the moment it was revealed (big fan of Four Swords, but I also hope they make a decent game out of Fire and Ice as well.
Thank goodness I dont like most of everything coming this year. I can finally catch up and save some cash!! Im actually more happy than I am upset. Sorry for all you guys who are ready for games right now....
As long as I get an Isabelle, K.K. Slider and Tom Nook Amiibo, I will be super excited for both the Animal Crossing games coming out.
I'm actually really looking forward to super mystery dungeon, those games are always so charming and a real tear-jerker at times, plus I like having a game I can chill out with and relax. Aside of that, Zelda looks fun as usual, I liked four swords. Oh and if Dragon ball Z has download play I will be all over that, me and my brother used to play the one on gba all the time
Pretty decent lineup.
I voted for Yo-kay Watch, can't wait to finally play that one. Legend of Legacy looks great too. Zelda Tri-Force looks great as well, I just hope there's a single player option for that game. Kinda like how there was a single player for DSi Four Swords..
I'll get EOII whenever I get around to playing and finishing the first. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon is a maybe. The MD games don't seem to bad pick-ups if you wait for a price drop.
Yo-Kai Watch for the kids and Animal Crossing HHD for the wife.
What's that? I don't have a wife or kids? Woohoo!!!
C'mon! Why do Japan get all of my favourite games? I need MHX Fire Emblem fates and the Great Ace Attourney
Dragon Ball all the way.
Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash for me. Looks super cute.
Not a bad list of games there, Zelda, Animal Crossing and Chibi robo are the standouts.
I would have voted Rodea the Sky Soldier.But since it isn't in the poll I voted DBZ Extreme Butoden.
The releases this year are only mildly exciting for me. I will get Tri-Force Heroes if it plays well as a single player game. Chibi-Robo will definitely get a look and Etrian Odyssey is always good (but not at $60). Legend of Legacy will get a look so long as they offer a not-hard-as-nails difficulty option. However, there is nothing this year that makes me want to rush out an pre-order it.
2016 is a different matter. Fire Emblem Fates, Bravely Second and Mario and Luigi : Paper Jam are my three most wanted 3DS games and they are all coming out in 2016.
No "Nothing for me this year" option?
When I saw Dragon Ball, I thought, "sold", but when I saw it was in 2D...
Well, they dont want my money...
Im sure if they made a 3DS 3D Dragon Ball similar to the ones on consoles, every Dragon Ball fan with a 3DS would buy it instantly.
But hey, Im probably wrong, and maybe thats just I who would...
Maybe in the next gen...
None of the above. Hopefully the indies have something for me.
Will give Super Mystery Dungeon and Yo-Kai Watch a try, but really looking forward to The Legend of Legacy. There are quite a few websites posting a Oct 13th release for The Legend of Legacy but not sure if its just a place holder for now or what.
So, I'm one of the very few people who thinks LBX looks pretty sweet? Bummer, no local multiplayer for me then.
Legend of Legacy looks interesting. Other than that...not much for me. Which is great for catching up with some games I missed. I've got more than enough Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate to plow through and restarting ACNL will give me something to do until 2016 which is looking like Monster Hunter X, a new Pokemon, Bravely Second, etc
The 3DS Dragon Ball
Why is Paper Jam not an option?
No mention of mighty no 9 or project X zone 2? Fail list.
Well Dragon Ball Z has me sold. The other games are really pending for me but the new pokemon dungeon game will be something to look at.
where's advance wars
So.....Americans have been complaining that Yoshi's Woolly World arrives 3 Months late for them, huh?
Seriously, I am pretty disappointed that Europe hardly gets a game at all this year. =/
Otherwise I am looking forward to Fire Emblem, Etrian Odyssey, Zelda, Yokai Watch and Pokemon Mystery Dungeon.
What about Hyrule warriors legends!?
The 3DS looks pretty sweet right now, actually. EO2U looks good as always, Extreme Butoden looks awesome, Chibi-Robo looks surprisingly fun, and I really hope that LBX is good. We never get any Gundam-esque games in the west, and it has been far too long since we got a Custom Robo game. I just hope the whole "based on a kid's anime" thing doesn't end up bringing it down.
Honestly surprised that Triforce Heroes got the most votes, although it does look intriguing! I can't wait for Etrian Odyssey Untold 2 and Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam (strange that it wasn't mentioned). Just sucks that Europe is getting so many of these games only months after America.
Also: no plans to bring Legend of Legacy to Europe? Curse you region-locking!!
1. Triforce Heroes
2. Legacy of Legend
3. Chibi-Robo
I can't hard OK y wait until I can get the new 3DS XL. I want to use the new features. Yeah I am old, but when I was young, we didn't have games like they are now. I was a teenager when the first Atari came out. Laser Blast and Kangaroo were my favorites. Maybe Space Invaders too. I was never any good at Pac-Man. 🎥📼these were popular in my childhood. LOL!
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