Ever since the Nintendo 3DS launched in early 2011, the company’s latest handheld gaming console has had a solid library bolstered by fantastic first-party software. That’s not to say that third-parties stayed away from the system (this certainly wasn’t a Wii U situation), but the reason why most people buy a Nintendo system is to play games starring a mustachioed plumber and a heroic elf with a penchant for wearing green. Thankfully, Nintendo has delivered in the past five years and have put out dozens of titles for their dual-screened device.
All good things must come to an end though and with the Nintendo NX coming next year (and being officially revealed sooner rather than later), that means that the Nintendo 3DS’ days are numbered. Some will view this as a sad thing, but as someone who has spent hundreds of hours playing great games on the 3DS, I think it should be celebrated. The fact that a system that pretty much launched dead was able to be resuscitated into such a success story is incredible.
To help celebrate the handheld’s lifespan, I’ve curated a list of 10 of the best first-party games released on the system. These titles range from some of Nintendo’s biggest franchises to smaller digital-only titles that many gamers may have overlooked. Either way, if you play any of these Nintendo-published games, you’re in for a great time.
So, on that note, read on to see my picks for the 10 best first-party Nintendo 3DS games that you should play before the NX hits, and as always, leave a comment below with your thoughts.