What's Your Favorite Nintendo 3DS Game?
COMMUNITY QUESTION | Now that the 3DS is officially no more, let's reminisce about our favorites on the portable platform.
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This week, Nintendo confirmed that it has discontinued the Nintendo 3DS after ending the platform's production earlier this year. Considering the Switch's success, this isn't a complete surprise. Still, it's sad to see the portable console come to an end.
For this week's Community Question, we thought it'd be fun to look back on the best games on what may be the last solely portable platform from Nintendo. So tell us in the comments: What's your favorite 3DS game?
Eric Van Allen, News Editor
Outside of a gaming PC, Nintendo handhelds have been the most consistent gaming system in my life, and 3DS is no exception. It has some really great games—Phoenix Wright: Spirit of Justice, the remastered versions of Devil Survivor 1 and 2, and Pokemon Art Academy. Seriously, that game rules.
The one that holds a special place in my heart though is Fire Emblem: Awakening. It was the Fire Emblem that pulled me back in. It was the perfect blend of tactics, social links, and grand storytelling. I loved its cast and its story, and it just overall felt like a revitalization. While I think history might end up remembering Three Houses as the standout of this era of Fire Emblems (and for good reason, because it's great), it wouldn't have been possible if Awakening hadn't brought Fire Emblem back to life.
But seriously, play Pokemon Art Academy.
Mathew Olson, Reporter
I got a 3DS XL when The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds came out and dumped so much time into it… and then just never finished. I was one heart piece away from having them all, then got distracted while hunting for the last one, and never went back.
Still, even though I never beat it, I think Zelda takes the top spot for me since I didn't play much else on the 3DS. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies didn’t come close to the heights of that series for me, and I think I hyped myself up a bit too much for Metroid: Samus Returns (oh how I wish it took more notes from Zero Mission). I do think the XL was a great handheld, though, and I was happy to see it get a ton of use from my partner years later, who needed something to play Animal Crossing: New Leaf with after getting hooking on Pocket Camp.
Caty McCarthy, Senior Editor
My favorite 3DS game is an obvious one: Animal Crossing: New Leaf. It's my favorite in the series, and kept me engaged for over a year. Meanwhile, I've already burned out on New Horizons, as good as it is. Close seconds for me are A Link Between Worlds, Style Savvy: Fashion Forward, Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward, Crashmo, Tales of the Abyss (I never played it on PS2!), Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call, and Tomodachi Life. Whew! The 3DS had a lot of great games. Now that it's fading away, it's time for Nintendo to put a Badge Arcade equivalent on Switch.