2026 is going to be a great year for video games. Along with AAA and indie releases that are on the horizon, we’re also going to see a huge increase in interest with the retro market. Consoles are fetching pretty good money; and some games are definitely worth owning again. (Looking at you, cherished copy of Blur.) But in the midst of all this, one particular handheld is standing out – the Nintendo 3DS.
Nintendo initially released this nifty little system in 2011, where it sold over 75 million units across its original and varied forms. These include the oddball Nintendo 2DS, as well as its XL models. But even after the discontinuing of its eShop and shutdown of certain features, it continues to thrive.
Why is that? What is it that makes the Nintendo 3DS so appealing, even in the face of the Nintendo Switch 2? Let’s take a closer look.
The Nintendo 3DS Is a Well Built System
Whether you’re going with the original 3DS model or the much bigger 3DS XL, you’ll find that the system is built with strength in mind. If you drop it closed, it doesn’t take much damage. (Don’t throw it on the ground though, weirdo.) Furthermore, you can fold it when it’s not in use (not the 2DS models, mind you), making it easy to store in your pocket. Try doing that with the Nintendo Switch 2. It won’t even marginally fit.
On top of that, it’s easy to get into the games, whether you utilize 3D or not. The menu interface is incredibly easy to use, and whether you use the stylish or traditional controls, you can choose what you want to play with relative ease. There’s even a nifty menu icon that shows the game you’re about to jump into, which interacts with your voice. (Thanks to the built-in microphone, of course.)
And it’s got features galore. It works really well with the touch-screen, something that’s useful for certain titles. Plus there’s a camera, and even though some aged better well than others, it’s still cool to take pictures with it – especially in 3D. (“Here’s my nose, coming at ya!”)
Even after all this time, my 3DS remains very sturdy with minimal damage. (The D-pad does go left on its own on occasion, but pretty sure I just need to clean it out.) And it’s great to take on the go for sessions of Mario Golf: World Tour and the Virtual Console games. That leads us to…
An Impressive Nintendo 3DS Game Library
Over the years, Nintendo truly strengthened the Nintendo 3DS with one of the best libraries out there. Almost every great franchise is on here, whether you’re into Mario, Super Smash Bros. or even StarFox. And they all look excellent, with nary a bad title in the bunch.
Hell, Mario Kart 7 deserves some love in itself. Why not? Connect with friends and race the night away. And in 3D, no less.
Plus there are curio titles that are cool, like The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (alongside the N64 remakes, dazzling) and the countless Kirby games, including the outstanding Planet Robobot and Triple Deluxe. And don’t even get us started on Pokémon. You’re going to be here a while with that library alone.
On top of that, plenty of classics arrived via the Virtual Console, including games from the SNES, NES and even the Game Gear library. You could pick and choose favorites back in “the day” and they held up well – no emulator needed. (Though you could toy around with that option if you preferred, especially with the eShop being gone and all.)
Finally, there’s two things worth mentioning. StreetPass was a great service, and some people even use it at game expos to this day. (Looking at you, John Riggs!) Plus the system is backward compatible with the Nintendo DS, and the games work just fine with little to no issues. I mean, where else can I play Point Blank DS in this much clarity?
Of Course It’s Popular, It’s Nintendo 3DS
At the end of the day, it’s easy to see why the Nintendo 3DS is thriving again and increasing in price. People want a good, dependable portable game system that’s easy to carry and loaded with fantastic games. Sure, there are caveats, like some games only working on new hardware. (Like Hyrule Warriors, which is good.) But overall, the abundance of titles here, along with the amazing features, make it such a great system nearly 15 years after its initial release.
I’m glad I own mine, and I’m pretty sure I’ll be in good company with those getting their first one this year. Hop on in the 3DS pool, the water’s fine!
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