The retail list has its own interesting results, with a higher number of scores submitted and the inclusion of some wonderful games from recent times and further back in the portable's library.
The autostereoscopic 3D effect of the 3DS hasn't always been well utilised, yet this Mario platformer puts it to great use. Puzzle rooms and general platforming are easier to judge and look fantastic with the 3D effect enabled, and Nintendo certainly brought its A-game with this first all-new 3D Mario game on a portable (following the remake / remaster Super Mario 64 DS in the previously generation).
If this were a Wii U list then Smash 4 would be higher, but even an average of 8.78 out of 10 can only grab 9th place. While it's naturally not as slick as its Wii U equivalent, this portable entry is nevertheless a remarkable technical achievement and a lot of fun for some drop-in brawls.
A game that perhaps did more than most to boost 3DS hardware sales in its mid-life, turning the summer of 2013 into an Animal Crossing bonanza. This title was all over social media and captured the hearts and long-term fans and newcomers alike, also including some nifty online features. Some, of course, are still running their towns to this day.
We're rather pleased to see this New Nintendo 3DS exclusive make the cut. Cramming on of the Wii's biggest games - in a literal sense - onto the portable no doubt required the finest minds at port masters Monster Games, and it's certainly a huge pleasure to enjoy Monolith Soft's extraordinary adventure on a portable. You might want to plug into a power supply for this one, though.
A testament to how this latest entry in the series has taken the popularity of Capcom's franchise to another level around the world. A breakthrough release in the West, it not only has the usual fantastic cast of monsters but also steps up its game in storytelling, while introducing new weapons and mounting into the equation. With a massive solo campaign and online multiplayer that's still popular to this day it hits the mark in every respect.
It isn't an exaggeration to say that this game was hugely anticipated by the Nintendo community. Rumours of a 3D or HD remaster had been doing the rounds for quite some time, and the big N met demand when it released this one alongside the New Nintendo 3DS (in North America / Europe) in February 2015. A beautiful version of one of the franchises' most loved and ambitious games.
Not bad for a game that hasn't even arrived in Europe yet, this dual release (triple if you count the Revelation DLC campaign) has been the most successful launch - ever - for the IP in North America. It's been shifting sales numbers that make more games inevitable, and it's done so while taking a lot of what was good in its predecessor and evolving it - there's a lot of Fire Emblem here. Oh, and about that predecessor...
A game that, as admitted by Intelligent Systems, effectively saved the franchise. This was Fire Emblem's last shot at finding a big audience and it succeeded; it delivers an engrossing and challenging turn-based strategy experience that can be hardcore or accessible, thanks to the optional disabling of permadeath. When you add in the DLC this gives a lot of bang for buck, and is highly regarded in the Nintendo Life community.
This one was very close to taking top spot, but nevertheless its placing shows just how effectively this 2D Zelda title scratched an itch for fans. Considered a sequel of sorts to the iconic The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, it has lovely visuals and clever gameplay design to keep anyone hooked in the adventure. Whether moving through walls as a 2D painting or trying out new items, this provides a lot of memorable gaming.
Narrowly outscoring its series brethren with an average score that points to a lot of 10s being given, this is the remaster of one of the greatest games ever made. Though some purists may always prefer to play it on the N64, Grezzo did a top-notch job of giving this classic new life. With natural controls, cleaned up visuals and an intuitive user interface this set the standard for various dual-screened Zelda experiences across 3DS and even Wii U. Oh, and the Water Temple is much improved, too.
Honourable Mentions:
So there you have it, the highest rated games in terms of user reviews on Nintendo Life. What do you think of the results? Sound off in the comments, and our staff favourites will be posted on 28th March.
Comments 99
Mighty Switch Force should be higher up on the list. I love those games.
Personally, A Link Between Worlds is my favorite 3DS game to date.
Also, the lack of Pokemon X/Y/OR/AS is rather surprising.
This list pleases me. Glad to see Liberation Maiden catch that honroable mention, it's one of my favorites on the system, and FE:A definitely deserves the spot it earned.
@Superzone13 It appears that you haven't read the article properly...
I am very surprised to see SteamWorld Heist higher than SteamWorld Dig though! Perhaps it is because the former is newer and therefore is the first one that springs to mind?
Pullblox and BOXBOY! are my two personal favourites.
What's first or second or tenth doesn't matter, all it shows is what a great system it is when MK7, Pokemon, And Layton don't make the top 10. Even Codename STEAM, Pilotwings, and SF4 are great little flawed gems on the 3DS.
How is Shantae 3 not on this? It's easily the best eShop title on the system out of all the ones I've played. And I've played a lot. Including almost each of these.
I'm disappointed that the top one is a remake.
@MrGawain Time to read the article?
I didn't realise, before adding my ratings for this poll, just how much better, more interesting, and more original the 3DS' digital library is compared to the blah blah Mario blah blah Zelda of its retail library.
@NewAdvent Man, I still remember when the Gamecube was THE Zelda console. If you had a Game Boy Player attached to it, you could play every single entry in the series up through Twilight Princess.
@Peek-a-boo Huh? How did I not read the article properly? None of the 3DS Pokemon games made it into the top ten and I'm just surprised that they didn't make it.
Not a bad list! Shovel Knight is my personal favorite here. Still, I'm not that huge of an indie guy usually. First party is where it's at for me, mostly anyway. The price on these are nice though!
Pleasing result for me. Glad to see Liberation Maiden up there in honorable mentions, nice little game that is very addicting. A little disappointed that Kid Icarus Uprising didn't make the cut into top 10 (it's at least top 5 for me), but at least in honorable mentions. Happy to see both Fire Emblem are high on the list, and ALBW might be my most favorite Zelda ever (I just prefer 2D Zelda). Also Ace Attorney Trilogy on top!
Regardless, every single entry in this list is all awesome!
My favourites are the awesome WayForward trio - Mighty Switch Force, Mighty Switch Force 2, Shantae and the Pirate's Curse - plus many of the SEGA Classics, particularly 3D Streets of Rage 2.
Thanks for the results! Bullblox and Boxboy! can now be found on my "want" -list ;D. ..never heard about them before. I am pleased with the results, except that "Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars" is not on the list
Wow I am SHOCKED to see no flagship franchises such as The Legend of Zelda, Fire Emblem, Mario, DK, Pokemon. My list is personally very different but its nice to see so many other great games out there.
Very pleasing lists on both fronts. In fact, this may have convinced me to finally pick up Shovel Knight.
Do you have any statisticians looking at the numbers? I'm guessing not, and guessing that the usefulness of this "best of" list is nearly nil because of the way it was run.
(We'd be better off just going to Metacritic and sorting by user scores.)
Would prefer to see the lists without remakes, personally. Not that they're bad games (obviously, OoT exists, and everyone knows it's amazing), but it's not fair to lesser known 3DS titles that might be getting a spotlight they otherwise wouldn't be.
@kiigu Neither Fire Emblem is on the list though!
There is one thing this top 10 has in common,so many of you above have clearly missed that.
Edit: I'm just as bad,I never noticed there was a 2nd page.
E-shop top 10 should have been in the header.
Seems like there's a lot of quick scrolling going on, people are missing a lot.
No POKEMON??? I am very disappointed with the Nintendo Life community. Shame on you!
@HyrulePrince You need to click page 2 sir, both Fire Emblem, 3 Zelda and a Mario made the retail Top 10. The first page is digital only.
@OorWullie Both Fire Emblem are on the 2nd page, which is retail top 10. Lots of people seem to have missed that.
Perhaps the article should be adjusted to make the 2nd page known, as lots of people missed it, including me the first time around.
Happy to see the love for Fire Emblem!
Why the hell is Xenoblade on the list when it should be either Uprising or Dark Moon. While those games aren't my personal favorites, they are solid gems nonetheless!
@BlastRadius Yeah! Me too.
Hopefully we will get more Fire Emblem games for NX!
@xPH03N1Xx86
Yeah, I agree. I think the list last year was all 20 games, digital and physical, on one page.
@NewAdvent Same, so nice to have most of the Zelda game in portable form, on one platform. Sadly don't have OOT nor MM in digital form on my 3DS, so would only bring one with me at a time of the two, but mostly have MH4U in my game-slot.
Too many good games on 3DS - luigi's mansion and Layton vs. Phoenix wright deserve recognition
A good list. I feel Luigi's Mansion 2 is getting a raw deal Only being an honourable mention. Kid Icarus too!
Code Name S.T.E.A.M deserves more love too. It's a rough diamond but it's easily on my top 5 games for 3DS next to Fire Emblem, Smash Bros, SteamWorld Heist and A link Between Worlds.
😱 No MK7 Fantasy life Tomodatchi Life or Rune Factory 4. Could have replaced one of those Zelda with one of these I mentioned.
@JosieC84 Look at page 2. You are looking at the eShop games list.
Great lists with only a few misses for me. Where is Resident Evil Revelations??
I'd be very interested in a top 10 list of what games have the highest number of positive ratings in order to see which game is the most popular. I bet it'll look very different to looking at the average ratings.
@abbyhitter I know!😅😅 I gave the article another look at the article after I posted my comment and noticed it. I've edited my post. Thanks anyway 👍😉
Some Pokemon, Professor Layton and Kid Icarus Uprising would have been nice to see on the list.
It was a long shot, but I was hoping that Virtue's Last Reward would also sneak on this list.
Ocarina pls go
Nice lists! Personally, my top 5...
eShop:
Retail:
My honorable mentions are Attack of the Friday Monsters: A Tokyo Tale, Mighty Switch Force!, & Sakura Samurai on the eShop side, and Dead or Alive Dimensions, Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, & Super Smash Bros. 3DS on the retail side.
All lists alphabetical.
Codename STEAM among my personal top favorites
Where's Pokemon? I got X (my first Pokemon game) this year, and I love it! I bet it got pushed off by all of those Fire Emblem fans...
I'm sure this list is so different than what most people expect because many people who use this site (myself included) did not do the my favorites game.
They should do a quick look at see what percentage of active users on the site did what they asked and what percentage did not.
No Mario? No Zelda? No Pokémon? 😱
No Pokémon shocked me but I'm glad ace attorney did very well one of , if not my favourite series of all time which is why I'm incredibly disappointed the great ace attorney didn't get localised and the series has been relegated to digital only meaning my DS games are on their own, at least professor Layton vs ace attorney (why not phoenix wright?) Got a physical release! Fire emblem doing well is also an incredible delight! The wait is killing me and the stress of special editions but I've got one on Amazon FR in case I miss the others so I'm less stressed about it now! Shame I have exams when it delivers so I'll have to wait even longer while trying to pretend the game doesn't exist so I can focus of exams!! Still long live the 3ds, to another great year!
...but Stella Glow...
Surprised Sonic 3D beat the other 3D titles, especially Outrun 3D
@gaby_gabito Look at the 2nd page. The list you are a referring to is the digital eShop games.
For the people who are not seeing the retail games list, don't you see a pattern with the 1st list? They are all digital eShop games. Of course they aren't the top overall 3DS games. That was the first thing I picked up on before seeing a page 2 link.
@nintendolife you should add 1 more. 3DS VC top 5
It disappoints me that 3 remakes were on the list, plus a Link Between Worlds which is a semi-remake of LttP. I really prefer brand new games and it kind of annoys me that Nintendo fans keep buying and asking for remakes of everything while brand new original games like Codename S.T.E.A.M. go largely ignored.
I was hoping to see Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure on the list, but it only had 8.5, while it looks like SM3DL has an 8.7. I'd kind of like to see a top 20 list for eShop and for retail.
@Socar Why? Because Xenoblade is a great game! I do think that the remakes shouldn't be on here, but please don't call Xenoblade 3D bad. It's an incredibly polished game. I do wish this list was one franchise per entry, as Zelda is hogging the list with 3 spots, 2 of which are ports! Ugh....I would have liked to see KIDUR on here too. It's a very good game! Now if only I can beat those impossible final Hades panels......
@Socar Why? Because Xenoblade is a great game! I do think that the remakes shouldn't be on here, but please don't call Xenoblade 3D bad. It's an incredibly polished game. I do wish this list was one franchise per entry, as Zelda is hogging the list with 3 spots, 2 of which are ports! Ugh....I would have liked to see KIDUR on here too. It's a very good game! Now if only I can beat those impossible final Hades panels......
Why did they put the e-Shop list on the first page? It's the retail games most people want to see.
@Ogbert Very happy to see i'm not the only one that loves STEAM. Very underappreciated.
@gaby_gabito Page 2
Fire Emblem Awakening, Fates, Kid Icarus, Mario Kart 7, Bravely Default, Link between worlds, Smash Bros., Monster Hunter 3 & 4, Super Mario 3D World, Persona Q, Pokemon (everyone), Animal Crossing, Luigi's Mansion 2, Tomodachi life, Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Majors'a Mask, Ocarina of TIme, Yo-Kai, Code Name Steam, Puzzle & Dragons Z, Star Fox 64 3D, Shin Megami Tensei 4, Tri Force Heroes, Fantasy Life, New Super Mario Bros. 2, Mario Golf... this list is a fraud. Haha just kidding but look at all these great games that's crazy none of them made the list.
For me it's...
1. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
2. Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D
3. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
4. Mario Kart 7
5. Super Smash. Bros. 3DS
6. Resident Evil: Revelations
7. Mighty Switch Force
8. Kid Icarus: Uprising
9. Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D
10. Super Mario 3D Land
Ocarina has surely stood against the times as a great game among a ton of people. Personaly I think dream team, Bravely default and uprising should've been on the list, definitely my top 3 favorite 3ds games.
And street fighter 4 3D is a VERY underated game for the 3ds
@ChaoticBull
I thought Uprising had its fair share of flaws, the control scheme being among them, but there is a certain charm to it. I still had a blast playing it despite the controls and while I know the story was criticized, I liked it. Definitely an underrated game, imo, but the 3DS has so many great games (some I'd say all-time great), it's easy to see why it can get lost in the shuffle.
Smash Bros all the way
While I'm disappointed to not see MH4U on the list I'm thrilled with just how much Phoenix Wright love there is. This list is a good list.
Good lists, mostly agree..sorry, I haven't done my user ratings yet...but do you know how many hours it would take to play just these top 20..and then there's the Wii U top 20... ( phew, just realized how huge my backlog is! )...
Bird Mania 3D :3
@Superzone13 Yeah, Pokemon X was so refreshing for the franchise imo, surely a top 10 3ds game.
Awakening would be my Top 3ds game, though i have yet to start fates
Good to see Xenoblade Chronicles and A Link Between Worlds getting spots
@FlameRunnerFast I don't hate on Xenoblade....its just a remake that exclusive which is already hurting the userbase. Might as well put either Dark Moon or Uprising there instead.
So no one likes Attack of the Friday Monsters by Level-5?
Ghost Recon Shadow Wars, a 3DS launch title was all forgotten today. It's similar to Fire Emblem, a turn based strategy game. I wished there's an Advanced War game that plays like it.
I would be put Kid Icarus in the top 10 list.
@Gamer83 With the N3DS, you can use the nub to play Kid Icarus. Control problem solved. This game should've been launched with the N3DS.
To Nintendo Life:
It's a mistake separating the eshop games and retail games into 2 pages, some people are blind they can't see the link to the 2nd page. Grouped them all into a single page!
What, no Shantae???
So while I don't think any of those games (Retail side) are undeserving of a top 10 placement...it never sits well with me when remakes and ports make up a significant part of a list, especially when one takes up the number one spot. Don't get me wrong, OOT3D is rad as heck, and fixes a lot, but this should be about 3DS games, as in originals, rather than remakes of (then) 12 year old games. So I would personally replace those 3 games with:
Shin Megami Tensei IV
Kid Icarus: Uprising
Bravely Default
In no particular order.
Where is Shin Megami Tensei IV?
This list needs more diversity, this list needs third party Games.
There must be one done for the Wii U before the next not NX rumor leak comes out!
There must be one done for the Wii U before the next not NX rumor leak comes out!
It's kinda sad not to see Atlus get any love on the list. Playing through Stella Glow right now and it's maybe the best RPG on the system. And considering the RPG library the 3ds has that's saying quite a bit.
Fantastic. So pleased to see Ocarina and ALBW at the top as they're definitely my favourite games on the 3DS!
eShop list opinion:
Brilliant top 5 I think, have yet to play Heist though. I forgot to change my rating with the AA Trilogy from a 10 to a 9 because I feel that Capcom was lazy and should have remade it with Dual Destinies stuff, instead of porting the iOS version and fixing the issues.
Dual Destinies should have been higher I think.
Retail list opinion:
As always, Ocarina of Time is being overrated again. I believe Majora's Mask to be the better game by miles.
Have yet to play ALBW, Awakening, or 3D Land(I did play a few levels).
ACNL and MH4U don't interest me in the slightest.
Xenoblade is amazing, but I play the Wii version.
If Fates was released in Europe before this list, it probably would have beaten Awakening and maybe even ALBW.
Smash is fine I guess.
There could have been better games on this list, clearly, and a much better order. I mean seriously, where's Mario & Luigi Dream Team Bros. or Paper Jam Bros.? Bravely Default?(Never played it though) No Pokemon games? Professor Layton vs Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney?
Surprised by the lack of pokemon, Alpha Sapphire is my most played 3ds game.
I really must try the Phoenix Wright games.
Phoenix Wright all the way, but Mighty Switch Force is amazing too.
Steamworld Dig? Meh, this game did very little for me, it felt repetitive, short and mundane. I really like the look of Heist though. BoxBoy I find to be just okay too, definitely not better than Pullblox (Pushmo). Overall this is a very nice list though which does show the great variety on the eShop, very happy to see an M2 release and Mighty Switch Force.
Kind of dull list for the retail releases, that's why it's nice to curate lists, to add some spice and variety.
Amazing list! I have every single one on the retail list.
Ace Attorney deserves it. (1st and 4th place)
Definitely my favourite game series of all time.
It's fair to say Ace Attorney Trilogy is the best 3DS eShop game.
Meh, mostly a bunch of remakes for retail top 10, although the Fire Emblem love is great. Definitely not my top 10, but at least it's not a terrible list.
The download top 10 was much more on the money, I think.
@DonSerrot MH4U is #6 on the Retail list.
@Superzone13 This is a list of eShop games only, that's what peek-a-boo means by you not having read the article properly. Games with physical releases will be a seperate list.
This doesn't seem like it came out right because people didn't want to go star their games. They're all popular games but some didn't appear that seemed more popular, and I didn't think people liked Pullblox & Sonic 3D enough to actually have it appear in the top 10 of truly popular games. I remember people bashing Pullblox because of it being repetitive and childish on here but then it's #9? lol...
@BetaBugs64 Huh... I didn't even realize there was a second page to the list.
Decent list, although the retail list could have used some more diversity considering all the great games the 3DS has seen. Honestly surprised that a Pokemon game isn't on the list.
Some extremely great games didn't make it onto the list in preference for 3 remakes -_- Didn't play Fates either yet, so can't comment on that. Probably could have used some more 3rd party love.
Would have loved to see games like:
1) Kid Icarus (absolutely phenomenal, can't believe I almost missed out on this gem)
2) Shin Megami Tensei 4 (awesome sequel, to an amazing series)
3) Etrian Odyssey 4 (loved the new overworld, music, everything)
4) Resident Evil: Revelations
and others.
The Download list was probably much better, although I would also give a mention to Crimson Shroud (another Guild01 game). One of the harder RPGs I have recently played (NG+) with a classic dice based system, and a finely crafted story, despite the short length. Loved it
Am I missing something from the list? Fire Emblem Fates has a higher score and more user scores than all on the list...not sure why it's off.
This is so much better than the staff picks list. They got the eShop games right, except for Steamworld Heist. One of the best eShop games, ranked 3rd behind only Shovel Knight and Phoenix Wright Trilogy, is not rated... at all? Not even an honorable mention? Pretty harsh considering Pokémon Shuffle got an honorable mention...
And the retail list is trash. Of the top 5 games, only two made it onto the list. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate was left off for some ungodly reason. That game is incredible. To replace it with X/Y, Kirby: Triple Deluxe and Mario Kart 7 is just atrocious. Mario Kart 7 is a good game, but is so much worse than Mario Kart 8 in every measurable way. X and Y is what happens when you make an already-easy franchise even easier. And for god's sake, Kirby?! I love Kirby, even named my dog after him, but Kirby Triple Deluxe was average, as both a Kirby game and platformer. There's no reason it should be on a top ten list, unless that top ten is cutest 3DS games. Open it up to top 20, and MAYBE I put Kirby on the list. Beating Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate for top ten is a sin.
I would add Earthbound to eShop list.
I feel like this list was skewed by the new voting system. I think I a lot of people didn't bother to vote because it wasn't just a "click one" poll.
Nah.
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