Summary
Compared to many other handheld gaming systems, it is astounding just how strong the3DSlibrary of games is. Unlike its older brother, the DS, the 3DS suffers from much fewer low-quality games bloating its library, but it has arguably even more high-quality titles that still hold up.
The console was supported well into the Switch years, leaving it with almost a decade’s worth of games. However, with so many games, it is easy for some to be forgotten and overlooked. So, out of the 3DS' massive selection of games, which are the most underrated?
We’ve selected these 3DS games based on their overall high quality in comparison to how they were received at launch and how they’re perceived now, as they’re often overlooked for more popular games on the system.
9Fantasy Life
The popularity oflife simulator gamesboomed on the Switch, with a massive choice available, and maybe even too many choices, and while the 3DS doesn’t have as many, its selection is high quality. While a game like Animal Crossing: New Leaf could still be argued as the strongest on the console, a more underrated gem in the 3DS library is Fantasy Life.
As the name implies, it has a much stronger fantasy focus with combat included, but it also has a job system with an impressive amount of depth that will keep you coming back.
8Bravely Second
When Bravely Default launched earlier in the 3DS' lifespan, it was well-promoted, and well-liked upon launch, and is now remembered as one of the most memorable and high-quality RPGs on the 3DS. That is why it is a shame when its direct follow-up, Bravely Second, was not as well promoted, and ended up being overlooked.
It simply continues the brilliance of the original, but because it doesn’t make any big changes, it didn’t get that much attention. It is now even easier to forget, with the confusingly namedBravely Default 2on Switch, which implies this game can be skipped.
7Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows Of Valentia
The 3DS can always be remembered as the console that revived theFire Emblemseries. When Awakening was successful, instead of being the last entry in the series as was expected, it ended up breathing new life into it.
The main continuation from this that can be recognized is the Fire Emblem Fates games, but these are not the only other Fire Emblem games on 3DS. Shadows of Valentia is a high-effort remake of Fire Emblem Gaiden, a much more traditional take on the series, but with the polish of modern Fire Emblem games to make it accessible to both old and new fans.
6Professor Layton Prequel Trilogy
A game series that was massively popular, especially with more casual DS owners, was theProfessor Laytongames. All of the original trilogy are available on DS, and are quirky puzzle games with an interesting story as a framing device.
The character of Professor Layton was popular enough that a prequel trilogy launched on the 3DS in the form of the Last Spectre, Miracle Mask, and Azran Legacy. While the character is not completely forgotten, his 3DS games often end up getting lost in the fray between the originals and the newer Switch titles.
5Kirby Planet Robobot
Throughout most of the 3DS' life-cycle, the most well-knownKirbygame on the system was Triple Deluxe. However, quite late on in the 3DS years, a sequel launched in a similar gameplay style calledKirby Planet Robobot.
The game is seen by Kirby fans as an improvement on Triple Deluxe in almost every way, with new mechanics, and incrementally more challenging gameplay. Unfortunately, due to its lateness in the 3DS life, it became a lot rarer, and is one of the more inaccessible Kirby titles, but, if you find a copy, it is well worth playing.
4Hatsune Miku Project Mirai DX
The popularity of rhythm games worldwide didn’t really explode until the Switch generation, which has a wide selection of games in the genre available. While on the 3DS, there are a few, but many of the best are region-locked to Japan.
Luckily,Hatsune Miku Project Mirai DXwas ported and translated onto the 3DS, and is arguably the best rhythm game on the system, and one of the best Vocaloid games overall for fans of the subgenre. It features a wide selection of tracks and fully customizable outifts for the characters in the game, as well as minigames and life-sim elements.
3Code Name STEAM
Intelligent Systems is most well-known for its work on the Fire Emblem series, and for the most part, that was what it worked on for most of the 3DS' life, but a notable exception to this is Code Name STEAM.
The one-off title featured revived historical figures from around the world in a steampunk, with an emphasis on the steam setting. Akin to the Fire Emblem titles, it is a strategy game, only with more free control and a different perspective. The moves are powered by each character mechanical steam-powered equipment, and the game also features amiibo support for most Fire Emblem figures.
2Yokai Watch
On almost every Nintendo handheld system, thePokemonseries has flourished, but the unfortunate drawback of this is other monster-catching games on the system are unable to separate themselves from copycat accusations.
This arguably stunted the potential popularity of Yokai Watch outside of Japan, which is unfortunate since the series controls completely differently, and the more condensed, but detailed, settings of the games are fun to explore. The entire trilogy is available on 3DS, but the original entry is the most accessible and the best starting point.
1Kid Icarus Uprising
Kid Icarus Uprising was heavily promoted as a launch title for the 3DS, but unfortunately had some of the wind taken from its wings when it was pushed back by a year. It was still well-received, but due to its clunky control scheme, was not remembered for too long.
This is a massive shame since it is arguably the peak of the on-rails shooter genre, and melds it impressively with a third-person shooter too. This is all matched with a well-told and hilariously written story that will keep you coming back to replay its challenging levels.
