Login to access exclusive Nintendo content, win prizes and post on our forums. Not a member yet? Register for free
Best 3DS games
Here are the top ten best 3DS games you can buy in the shops
Looking for a new game to play on your Nintendo 3DS. Look no further for here are the best 3DS games that are available to buy now in the shops.
10. Rhythm Thief And The Emperor's Treasure
Rhythm Thief is like Professor Layton with rhythm mini-games replacing the brainteasing puzzles. Playing as Raphael, you have to explore Paris and steal works of art in order to get to the bottom of your father's disappearance. With Napoleon Bonaparte rising from the dead, this sounds pretty daft, but with with breathtaking cutscenes and amazing music accompanying you as you tap and slide the stylus, you should give this serious consideration.
Sonic couldn't quite manage to beat Mario to the crown of best 3DS platformer but he had a good go in this excellent game that sees Sonic doing what he does best - speeding through 2D levels, collecting rings, burning around loops and taking out enemies. The fact that it features levels from old 2D and 3D Sonic adventures adds to the nostalgia value for older gamers but this still feels fresh.
It's hard to separate Dead Or Alive and Super Street Fighter IV 3D. Both games are classics of the beat 'em up genre, both do their best to get the most out of 3DS with StreetPass and online fighting but in the end the extra character of Capcom's brawler means it wins on points. If you want a pure fighting game without the fireballs and OTT special moves, Dead Or Alive Dimensions curvacious crew of fighters might be for you.
Super Street Fighter IV 3D was a brilliant way to launch the 3DS. Capcom's fighting game was the best game in the 3DS launch line-up and it remains not only one of the greatest 3DS games but one of the best fighting games of all time. The impressive thing about is that has been near perfectly recreated from the HD consoles but it also added an new over-the-shoulder camera angle and an addictive figure collecting mode which sees you assembling figures to fight other players over StreetPass. The new touchscreen special moves make it more accessible for newcomers, too.
One of two N64 remakes in this top ten, Star Fox 64 3D reminds us of why we loved Fox McCloud and crew in the first place (although Slippy Toad is still annoying). After a few average games on GameCube and GBA, they returned for more space-shooting action armed with newly-polished visuals, accessible gyro controls and a great multiplayer mode.
I think residemt evil mercenaries should be in this because 1. its better than nintendogs and cats 2. it has online, absent from many a game and 3. the graphics are pretty amazing. So it should start at number 10 and slowly climb up untill it finds its place!
Considering there's only about 60 or so 3DS games out at the moment, and with even fewer of them being that amazing, it can't have been that difficult to compile this list
I think residemt evil mercenaries should be in this because 1. its better than nintendogs and cats 2. it has online, absent from many a game and 3. the graphics are pretty amazing. So it should start at number 10 and slowly climb up untill it finds its place!
Good list but starfox shouldn't have been number 4. Am I the only one who didn't like this game? I got it and completed the game in less than 2 and a half hours and the gameplay wasn't even good, it was just doing the same thing over and over again. Took it back the next day. Other than that no surprises in the list.
So SM3DL above MK7. How is the MK7 single-player, and will online be updated to make it better? Should I get SM3DL or MK7. I enjoy both genres, but want something to last a little while, although I'm doubtful as to whether I'll play much online.
If you are going out looking for 3DS Games in the after christmas sales try Dead or Alive. Its a lot more accessible than street fighter because it only has One Punch Button and One Kick Button. The roster is attractive. And I Think it is the hidden classic of 3DS. And if you dont like it you can easily trade it, but i really like it.
I found Ridge Racer and Street Fighter both average games. With SM3DLand being slightly above average, meaning I would put MK7 first as I don't like the Zelda series.
I got SM3DL for Christmas. It's pretty crap until world 5. then it gets kind of fun. nowhere near as good as galaxy. OOT 3D was really good but so was its source material! I want Mario Kart 7 bad! SSFIV is crap.
'Top ten 3DS games' 'Yet' at the end should have been added. Next year's games will be much better, and I imagine OoT 3D will be kicked off its 3DS perch sooner with the upcoming release of Kid Icarus: Uprising and Luigi's Mansion 2.
Sonic Generations and Cave Story 3D should be higher up the list.
Perhaps Skylanders should be on the list? Even after all the flaws it has with having to get figures and having slightly lacklustre worlds, it's still one of the only decent 3d platformers around.
Rayman 3D is just a lazy port of the dreamcast version of Rayman 2. Don't think we didn't notice Ubisoft! Give us Rayman Origins soon and all will be forgiven.
Meh, personally I reckon Tales of The Abyss and RE: Mercenaries should have been in there, instead of Ridge Racer and Cave Story. Other than that, the list is pretty solid.
I don't think that Ocarina of Time should be so high on the list because I don't think that it lived up to the hype. Everyone was talking about the best zelda game ever and when I played it I was kind of dissapointed. Also, I think Dead or alive should be higher.
I don't think LoZ OoT should be number 1, to be truthful I don't think it should even be in the top 10. But seeing as there aren't many good games on the 3DS at the moment (or at least ones with a good storyline) I guess it could make it into the top 10.
Glad to see Sonic Generations,Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D land have made this list. Great games but I think they should be higher up. I'd put Sonic Generations at number 3,Super Mario 3D land at NO2 and Mario Kart 7 NO1.
Street Fighter; greatest fighting game ever? Street Fighter; accessible for newcomers? ONM are experts at the old oxymorons aren't they?
This is an example of someone who's heard a word but doesn't know what it means.
'Top ten 3DS games' 'Yet' at the end should have been added. Next year's games will be much better, and I imagine OoT 3D will be kicked off its 3DS perch sooner with the upcoming release of Kid Icarus: Uprising and Luigi's Mansion 2.
Well obviously it's going to be "so far". Show me a list of best games for a console that's still in production that includes games yet to be released.
Street Fighter; greatest fighting game ever? Street Fighter; accessible for newcomers? ONM are experts at the old oxymorons aren't they?
In what way are those oxymorons?
To qualify an oxymoron is a phrase or sentence with presents two opposites. For example, the living dead is an oxymoron. Those sentences are in no way oxymoronic.
I think SM3D personally should be number one, and Ghost Recon should be in there rather than Dogs. It was a great game which got me through the drought and the 3d effect was nice.
I have LoZ, SM3DL, MK7, Starfox, Street fighter and ridge racer i think fifa should be there if it had online cause i am playing it atm and loving it all except no online and rubbish transfer system
OOT is fantastic - but it is definitely NOT the best title on the 3DS.
The creaky old n64 engine being pushed to breaking point with a mixed bag of remodelled areas and 3D wasn't that impressive. Grezzo could've at least been given the Twilight Princess engine - but then again it probably would've taken until now to release it - something Nintendo couldn't afford.
I'm amazed how often Ghost Recon gets overlooked when the 3DS games are debated. Yes visually it's not the best looking or uses the 3D effect to its potential but what it will do is keep you engrossed for 40+ hours, and not many 3DS games can boast that.
Hopefully they will make a 3DS sequel and it will get the recognition it deserves.
Street Fighter; greatest fighting game ever? Street Fighter; accessible for newcomers? ONM are experts at the old oxymorons aren't they?
In what way are those oxymorons?
I think he was somehow trying to say that the greatest fighting game ever can't be accessible for newcomers. They're clearly not oxymorons though. Drop the "oxy" and you might be closer to the mark
I really can't see Ocarina 3D deserving the top spot… It's a wonderful game, mind you, but being over original games? It's a remake (or enhanced port, whichever you prefer). Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7, RE: Revelations are sequels to well known franchises and even had much more work involved, and Kid Icarus has proven to be a must-have title, and feels like a new IP despite the NES and GB games.
Did they really call Ridge Racer 3D better than Pilotwings Resort? Pilotwings was a great game! Sure it was light on modes and content, but the gameplay was solid and the graphics were beautiful!
I'm Sorry but guys, Kid Icarus: uprising has got to be Number 1. As much as I love LOZ OOT, Uprising is brand new adventure with soooo much to offer. It has it all, online, collectibles and a fab solo mode, not to mention the highly addictive trading card collection. Uprising has not only got me wanting more but it's also got my star points in on the action and we all know how much action they usually get!
Is it just where I live (Up North) or are 3ds games really hard to find in shops? In the game in Preston, They hardly have any, with the ones they do have either being big 1st party games or launch games... No Cave story, no bit trip, no rhythm theif... What is the reason for this?
Good list but starfox shouldn't have been number 4. Am I the only one who didn't like this game? I got it and completed the game in less than 2 and a half hours and the gameplay wasn't even good, it was just doing the same thing over and over again. Took it back the next day. Other than that no surprises in the list.
I agree, Star Fox was utter crap. Also, Kid Icarus is obviously the best 3DS out, a million times better than OOT 3D. Ocarina 3D was just too boring and nowhere as epic as Twilight Princess.
Tales of the Abyss deserves a place in my opinion I think Kid Icarus Uprising should have been in 1st, Although Oot has better gameplay, It does not use any of the 3DS's wireless features.
super mario 3d land has been far too highly ranked in this, as onm seem to do with all mario games. it's not as good or even close to resident evil: revelations or kid Icarus: uprising.
That's hilarious, ONM. Seriously though, where's the game that's actually supposed to be there?
... Oh, you were being serious.
If anything it should be higher in my opinion. Sure it's short but its loads of fun, and the missions and online mode add loads of longevity.
If I made this list, it wouldn't be on there. At all.
It's short, definitely. It's not fun, though. Generations seems to suffer from the same flaws Sonic Rush had, where enemies pop out from nowhere, leaving you no time to react because you gotta go fast, and having bottomless pits everywhere to imply a false sense of difficulty. The pits are a joke; I think it's rather embarrassing when you have to point out to the player where these are, especially when they're several metres long. Whatever happened to good level design in Sonic games? They seem to just fade away during Sonic & Knuckles, and only ever resurface again for Sonic Advance. Also, this game can take the cake with Goddamn QTEs. One example is in Mushroom Hill Act 2, where if you don't respond to it within 0.25 seconds you die. Remember when these moments would be more forgiving, and simply just lead you to a slower route? Sonic Team seems to have forgotten this, though to be honest they've simply just forgotten how to make a decent title for the blue blur. I was about to say how I hope Sonic 4 Episode II could prove me wrong, but every time I make a statement like that I regret saying so.
Tales of the Abyss deserves a place in my opinion I think Kid Icarus Uprising should have been in 1st, Although Oot has better gameplay, It does not use any of the 3DS's wireless features.
Im a huge Zelda fan, its joint 1st of my favourite franchises with pokemon.
But I agree. Ocarina is the same, just in 3D...and thats all it offers really.
Icarus covers everything brilliantly (sept the wifi doesnt seem to like me much and disconnects alot..and I do think its a bit repetative).
Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater should be in the top 10.
Here's my top ten 3DS games. 1.Kid Icarus Uprising 2.Ocarina Of Time 3D 3.Mario 3D Land 4.Mario Kart 7 5.Star Fox 64 3D 6.Dead or Alive Dimensions 7.Resident Evil Revelations 8.Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater 3D 9.Rhythm Thief and the Emperors Treasure 10.Sonic Generations.
For me top 5 are kid icarus, snake eater, oot, resident evil rev and tales if abyss. Not that you could walk into a shop and get it but tales of abyss is epic.
"It's hard to separate Dead Or Alive and Super Street Fighter IV 3D. Both games are classics of the beat 'em up genre, both do their best to get the most out of 3DS with StreetPass and online fighting but in the end the extra character of Capcom's brawler means it wins on points."
at number 7 Super Street Fighter IV 3D
perhaps I misunderstood what you mean by "the extra character of Capcom's brawler means it wins on points."?
Let's be honest, this shouldn't be called "Top ten best 3DS games", this should just be titled "3DS games". These games are all there is to the console, 2 of which are remakes, and some being okay but not great.
Tut tut, guys - there were no Star Fox games for the GBA at all!
Anyway, if I had to name my top ten retail 3DS games so far (bearing in mind that many games to my taste that I'm waiting for aren't out yet), they'd be;
10: Rayman 3D 9: Ridge Racer 3D 8: Rabbids 3D 7: Super Mario 3D Land 6: Pilotwings Resort 5: Cave Story 3D 4: Star Fox 64 3D 3: Mario Kart 7 2: Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure 1: Kid Icarus: Uprising
Some of them were pretty close and it was difficult to decide their order, but I think that I'm happy with the list.
If I made this list, it wouldn't be on there. At all.
It's short, definitely. It's not fun, though. Generations seems to suffer from the same flaws Sonic Rush had, where enemies pop out from nowhere, leaving you no time to react because you gotta go fast
Firstly, Sonic Rush is great so that's not much of an arguement. Second, I've never been hindered by an enemy popping out of nowhere, so I don't what you're talking about. Besides even if that was the case, that's what the Boost is for. You just plow straight through them anyway.
and having bottomless pits everywhere to imply a false sense of difficulty. The pits are a joke; I think it's rather embarrassing when you have to point out to the player where these are, especially when they're several metres long. Whatever happened to good level design in Sonic games?They seem to just fade away during Sonic & Knuckles, and only ever resurface again for Sonic Advance.
I hate this arguement that pitfalls = bad level design. It used to mean that games were hard, requiring photographic memory of the layout so that you didn't fall for those traps. Take Mega Man for example, inparticular that level in Mega Man 2 where the room fills with death-lasers as you plummit. Now, there's only two ways of clearing that: 1) stupid luck, or 2) using your brain to memorise where the openings are so that you don't get caught. It's a mental challenge and as far as I'm concerned should never be called "a joke".
Also, this game can take the cake with Goddamn QTEs. One example is in Mushroom Hill Act 2, where if you don't respond to it within 0.25 seconds you die. Remember when these moments would be more forgiving, and simply just lead you to a slower route? Sonic Team seems to have forgotten this, though to be honest they've simply just forgotten how to make a decent title for the blue blur. I was about to say how I hope Sonic 4 Episode II could prove me wrong, but every time I make a statement like that I regret saying so.
Maybe you're just a little bit rubbish? Just putting it out there.
Now, there's only two ways of clearing that: 1) stupid luck, or 2) using your brain to memorise where the openings are so that you don't get caught.
Or quick reflexes (how I got through it the first time I ever set foot in that level), or, much much easier, using the correct weapon to freeze the beams.
Anyway, please pardon me! I'm a Mega Man nut, and I just wanted to point out that there are two other methods of clearing it.
Firstly, Sonic Rush is great so that's not much of an arguement.
Sonic Rush is okay, the main problem with the game is that you can literally just boost through everything. Until some enemy which, for some reason, is impervious to something running into it at a few hundred miles an hour and knocks a few rings out of you. This practically destroys any sense of challenge the developers wanted to make, and also makes the game less exciting that it could have been.
I hate this arguement that pitfalls = bad level design.
Pitfalls are okay when they're implemented well, but they rarely are in recent Sonic games. Remember that in the earlier games, bottomless pits barely showed up until either later levels, or when they suited the zone. Notice how in Classic Sonic's Mushroom Hill there are no pitfalls, but in Modern's there are. Why? Surely they should share similar attributes due to being in the same environment?
Maybe you're just a little bit rubbish? Just putting it out there.
Nice. Try and mock my gaming abilities because you know you can't make a decent argument for QTE's. I don't see why I should bother when the other person realises, "Oh God, I don't know how to respond to that. I know, I'll claim he's crap at the game. Problem solved!"
Now, there's only two ways of clearing that: 1) stupid luck, or 2) using your brain to memorise where the openings are so that you don't get caught.
Or quick reflexes (how I got through it the first time I ever set foot in that level), or, much much easier, using the correct weapon to freeze the beams.
Anyway, please pardon me! I'm a Mega Man nut, and I just wanted to point out that there are two other methods of clearing it.
No, no, your right. I completely forgot about the time-freezing strategy. My bad.
Maybe you're just a little bit rubbish? Just putting it out there.
Nice. Try and mock my gaming abilities because you know you can't make a decent argument for QTE's. I don't see why I should bother when the other person realises, "Oh God, I don't know how to respond to that. I know, I'll claim he's crap at the game. Problem solved!"
I'm not trying to mock your gaming abilities. I'm being quite blatant. I mean, I had no problem with it what so ever with the QTEs. There are a number of them in the game, and I've never failed any of them and they are not at all unforgiving. Like Diddy ZX mention, quick reactions are a legitimate and key skill to have. That's why they're called Quick Time Events. So I stand by my remarks.
I rarely fail them either, only on some of the first times I encounter them. I just dislike the idea of "Press X to not die" style gameplay when it can be easily avoided.
Anyway, I forgot to mention things other than the gameplay. Level choices make no sense to me; the 3DS version is supposed to celebrate the handheld history somewhat, yet the console rendition does that simply by having more music from these games. You have Water Palace from Rush, and technically Tropical Resort from Colours (though it seems to be more like the Wii version's), but why not include levels from the Advance series? Moving on from that, Sonic Adventure 2's level wasn't even Sonic's in the first place, but rather Shadow's. My guess was this was so it fitted in with the boss fight with him, but if that's the case, why the heck do you fight Metal Sonic in Casino Night? And why, when you don't include a stage from Sonic Heroes, do you use a boss from that game? Why not one from Sonic Rush?
I was thinking of mentioning the short length, but realise someone would mention the missions. But then I realise I'll just ask the question of what is the point. So I can look at some more pictures that can be found on the internet? It's not like the missions in the console versions, which unlock you news skills and items such as the elemental shields. I appreciate some people like that sort of content, being able to see the concept art and so on, but I prefer it when the unlockable content can affect the game, e.g. in Mario Kart 7, where new kart pieces unlocked can allow you to devise a better vehicle for time trials and so on.
Ocarina of Time may well be a top ten 3DS game, but it is certainly NOT the best.
I differ from ONM take - I feel that they didn't improve it enough - its the exact same OOT engine right down to the slow down - the difference being the new assets, higher resolution textures, a few added frames of animation and 3D - it's running on emulation. Grezzo didn't even bother upgrading a number of NPCs or their textures.
Hyrule field is a disappointment, they could've done more with it, added a bit more life, vegetation, texture to spruce it up - as are the the lack of camera control options.
@ Targey - With regard to the level choices, I'm not sure the game is geared towards being a handheld tribute. I always saw the inclusion of Water Palace as a refernce to it being a Nintendo exclusive. Also with regard to Radical Highway's inclusion, you may not be aware of this, but early in Sonic Adventure 2's development there were screenshots of Sonic in Shadow's exclusive levels, and Sonic was playable in the stage in the 2 Player mode. For me, being able to play as Sonic in one of my favourite SA2 stages is a fan-boy's dream come true. Sure I would have prefered City Escape, but I'm happy with the alternative. I agree with you that it would have been nice to include stages to represent the Advance games and Heroes. I think Egg Emperor was includes to reprent that game, like Big Arm represents Sonic 3, and Metal Sonic and Silver represent CD and '06 respectively. And yeah, I'm one of those people that like seeing the development material, but I would have liked the Missions even if there was no unlockables. I like them for the challenge and variety.
Whilst I agree that yes this probably is the general top ten, my personal number one is Kid Icarus. Ocarina of time lost me quickly and Kid Icarus kept me hooked
I think residemt evil mercenaries should be in this because 1. its better than nintendogs and cats 2. it has online, absent from many a game and 3. the graphics are pretty amazing. So it should start at number 10 and slowly climb up untill it finds its place!
Considering there's only about 60 or so 3DS games out at the moment, and with even fewer of them being that amazing, it can't have been that difficult to compile this list
Yeah, I do think that they are all in the right place there!!
Totally agree
Good list but starfox shouldn't have been number 4. Am I the only one who didn't like this game?
I got it and completed the game in less than 2 and a half hours and the gameplay wasn't even good, it was just doing the same thing over and over again. 
Took it back the next day. Other than that no surprises in the list.
Tales of Abyss! That is all...
Misleading title is misleading. Only 5 of those games are worth playing.
Street Fighter; greatest fighting game ever? Street Fighter; accessible for newcomers? ONM are experts at the old oxymorons aren't they?
So SM3DL above MK7. How is the MK7 single-player, and will online be updated to make it better? Should I get SM3DL or MK7. I enjoy both genres, but want something to last a little while, although I'm doubtful as to whether I'll play much online.
Ghost Recon Shadow Wars?
May not be the best using the 3d effect, but its an overlooked gem.
Currently, myself and my brother have got: SM3DL, MK7, PW: Resort and Nintendogs and we think...
they'll all great
Come 2012 and boy, will we have some top 10
If you are going out looking for 3DS Games in the after christmas sales try Dead or Alive. Its a lot more accessible than street fighter because it only has One Punch Button and One Kick Button. The roster is attractive. And I Think it is the hidden classic of 3DS. And if you dont like it you can easily trade it, but i really like it.
I got the Limited edition Zelda 3DS, with Ocarina of Time, and the limited edition Skyward Sword guide book, even though I'm on the Sky Keep
The top four are the only ones I want/have. Pilotwings and Rayman 3D are also pretty fun games!
I've got 9 on that list apart from Cave Story 3D,which you can't find anywhere in Game.
I found Ridge Racer and Street Fighter both average games. With SM3DLand being slightly above average, meaning I would put MK7 first as I don't like the Zelda series.
What about Super Pokemon Rumble? IT is an amazing game!
so, the best game may allways be OOT 3D.
street fighter deserves to be there, maybe higher.
next year god knows. metal gear solid for the top anyone?
I got SM3DL for Christmas. It's pretty crap until world 5. then it gets kind of fun. nowhere near as good as galaxy. OOT 3D was really good but so was its source material! I want Mario Kart 7 bad! SSFIV is crap.
'Top ten 3DS games'
'Yet' at the end should have been added. Next year's games will be much better, and I imagine OoT 3D will be kicked off its 3DS perch sooner with the upcoming release of Kid Icarus: Uprising and Luigi's Mansion 2.
I have the top 5 so, the others don't appeal to me, except sonic, i might buy it eventually!
Sonic Generations and Cave Story 3D should be higher up the list.
Perhaps Skylanders should be on the list? Even after all the flaws it has with having to get figures and having slightly lacklustre worlds, it's still one of the only decent 3d platformers around.
Rayman 3D is just a lazy port of the dreamcast version of Rayman 2. Don't think we didn't notice Ubisoft! Give us Rayman Origins soon and all will be forgiven.
Tales of The Abyss?
Meh, personally I reckon Tales of The Abyss and RE: Mercenaries should have been in there, instead of Ridge Racer and Cave Story. Other than that, the list is pretty solid.
Tales of the abyss should have been in there. And ridge racer out.
Also, Skyward Sword better than Ocarina? No chance...
Correction: They aren't in the right place there...
Yea, It's pretty good
I don't think that Ocarina of Time should be so high on the list because I don't think that it lived up to the hype. Everyone was talking about the best zelda game ever and when I played it I was kind of dissapointed. Also, I think Dead or alive should be higher.
Is it really right to do a best 3ds games ever when the console's been out for less than a year?
All Of You Please Calm Down! Skyward Sword Is Better Than Ocarina And Super Pokemon Rumble Should Be There Ok?
Looking at those games makes me think how good a metroid prime game could be, or maybe even a remake of the beloved metriod prime for Gamecube
I have Super Pokemon Rumble and I do like it but I don't think it should be in the top ten,probably in the top 15.
I do think Shinobi should be in there,brilliant game,if a bit hard.
I don't think LoZ OoT should be number 1, to be truthful I don't think it should even be in the top 10. But seeing as there aren't many good games on the 3DS at the moment (or at least ones with a good storyline) I guess it could make it into the top 10.
Glad to see Sonic Generations,Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D land have made this list. Great games but I think they should be higher up. I'd put Sonic Generations at number 3,Super Mario 3D land at NO2 and Mario Kart 7 NO1.
Wouldn't make me buy a 3DS.
In what way are those oxymorons?
This is an example of someone who's heard a word but doesn't know what it means.
Well obviously it's going to be "so far". Show me a list of best games for a console that's still in production that includes games yet to be released.
To qualify an oxymoron is a phrase or sentence with presents two opposites. For example, the living dead is an oxymoron. Those sentences are in no way oxymoronic.
I think SM3D personally should be number one, and Ghost Recon should be in there rather than Dogs. It was a great game which got me through the drought and the 3d effect was nice.
Its good to see LoZ at its rightful place as number one.
I have LoZ, SM3DL, MK7, Starfox, Street fighter and ridge racer
i think fifa should be there if it had online cause i am playing it atm and loving it all except no online and rubbish transfer system
OOT is fantastic - but it is definitely NOT the best title on the 3DS.
The creaky old n64 engine being pushed to breaking point with a mixed bag of remodelled areas and 3D wasn't that impressive. Grezzo could've at least been given the Twilight Princess engine - but then again it probably would've taken until now to release it - something Nintendo couldn't afford.
I'm amazed how often Ghost Recon gets overlooked when the 3DS games are debated. Yes visually it's not the best looking or uses the 3D effect to its potential but what it will do is keep you engrossed for 40+ hours, and not many 3DS games can boast that.
Hopefully they will make a 3DS sequel and it will get the recognition it deserves.
I think he was somehow trying to say that the greatest fighting game ever can't be accessible for newcomers. They're clearly not oxymorons though. Drop the "oxy" and you might be closer to the mark
Love all of these games, can't fault the list at all
Anyone know a good way of recording 3DS footage though? It would really help with Youtube videos
I have 5 of the out of 10 best 3DS games and I have 1 demo from the NINTENDO e shop.
Both Revelations and Mercenaries were much better than 3D Land. I'm fine with Mario Kart 7 and OOT being in the top 3 though
Surely not Mercenaries? The raid mode in Rev is better and what mercenaries always was: a side game.
Good list, although I don't really agree with Ridge Racer or Sonic Generations being there, how about Tetris or Tekken 3D?
Besides that it's pretty much exactly what I'd of put, also it feels good knowing I own almost all of them.
I really can't see Ocarina 3D deserving the top spot… It's a wonderful game, mind you, but being over original games? It's a remake (or enhanced port, whichever you prefer). Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7, RE: Revelations are sequels to well known franchises and even had much more work involved, and Kid Icarus has proven to be a must-have title, and feels like a new IP despite the NES and GB games.
The top 3 should go
1. MK7
2. SM3DL
3. LoZ:OOT
Ocarina of Time should not be number one as its a remake! Sure it is fantastic but MK7 is an original 3DS title and is superb.
Either Mario Kart 7 or Super Mario 3d Land, I wish they would make a pokemon 3ds game so that i could love that too
My top three:
1. Mario Kart 7
2. Kid Icarus Uprising
3. Super Mario 3D Land
Did they really call Ridge Racer 3D better than Pilotwings Resort? Pilotwings was a great game! Sure it was light on modes and content, but the gameplay was solid and the graphics were beautiful!
I'm Sorry but guys, Kid Icarus: uprising has got to be Number 1. As much as I love LOZ OOT, Uprising is brand new adventure with soooo much to offer. It has it all, online, collectibles and a fab solo mode, not to mention the highly addictive trading card collection. Uprising has not only got me wanting more but it's also got my star points in on the action and we all know how much action they usually get!
OoT is the best N64 game, not the best 3DS game: that goes to SM3DL or Kid Icarus.
Couldn't disagree more on the Sonic Generations point. The only downside to it is that the main story mode too short. Otherwise, the game is solid.
Kid Icarus Uprising is the future of Nintendo.
Is it just where I live (Up North) or are 3ds games really hard to find in shops? In the game in Preston, They hardly have any, with the ones they do have either being big 1st party games or launch games... No Cave story, no bit trip, no rhythm theif... What is the reason for this?
Kid Icarus and Resident Evil deserve a higher place, Mario 3DLand shouldn't even be on there
true but zelda ocarina of time shouldnt be in the top 10 at all.
I agree, Star Fox was utter crap. Also, Kid Icarus is obviously the best 3DS out, a million times better than OOT 3D. Ocarina 3D was just too boring and nowhere as epic as Twilight Princess.
Tales of the Abyss deserves a place in my opinion
I think Kid Icarus Uprising should have been in 1st, Although Oot has better gameplay, It does not use any of the 3DS's wireless features.
That they are. That they are.
super mario 3d land has been far too highly ranked in this, as onm seem to do with all mario games.
it's not as good or even close to resident evil: revelations or kid Icarus: uprising.
> 9. Sonic Generations (3DS)
That's hilarious, ONM. Seriously though, where's the game that's actually supposed to be there?
... Oh, you were being serious.
i have the top 4
If anything it should be higher in my opinion. Sure it's short but its loads of fun, and the missions and online mode add loads of longevity.
If I made this list, it wouldn't be on there. At all.
It's short, definitely. It's not fun, though. Generations seems to suffer from the same flaws Sonic Rush had, where enemies pop out from nowhere, leaving you no time to react because you gotta go fast, and having bottomless pits everywhere to imply a false sense of difficulty. The pits are a joke; I think it's rather embarrassing when you have to point out to the player where these are, especially when they're several metres long. Whatever happened to good level design in Sonic games? They seem to just fade away during Sonic & Knuckles, and only ever resurface again for Sonic Advance. Also, this game can take the cake with Goddamn QTEs. One example is in Mushroom Hill Act 2, where if you don't respond to it within 0.25 seconds you die. Remember when these moments would be more forgiving, and simply just lead you to a slower route? Sonic Team seems to have forgotten this, though to be honest they've simply just forgotten how to make a decent title for the blue blur. I was about to say how I hope Sonic 4 Episode II could prove me wrong, but every time I make a statement like that I regret saying so.
Same with Samurai Chronicles >.> and uses pretty much all the 3DS has to offer.
Im a huge Zelda fan, its joint 1st of my favourite franchises with pokemon.
But I agree. Ocarina is the same, just in 3D...and thats all it offers really.
Icarus covers everything brilliantly (sept the wifi doesnt seem to like me much and disconnects alot..and I do think its a bit repetative).
Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater should be in the top 10.
Here's my top ten 3DS games.
1.Kid Icarus Uprising
2.Ocarina Of Time 3D
3.Mario 3D Land
4.Mario Kart 7
5.Star Fox 64 3D
6.Dead or Alive Dimensions
7.Resident Evil Revelations
8.Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater 3D
9.Rhythm Thief and the Emperors Treasure
10.Sonic Generations.
What happened to snake eater????
i love that game im stuck on THE END boss though
For me top 5 are kid icarus, snake eater, oot, resident evil rev and tales if abyss. Not that you could walk into a shop and get it but tales of abyss is epic.
Thermal goggles and shoot his bird asap.
at number 8 Dead Or Alive Dimensions
"It's hard to separate Dead Or Alive and Super Street Fighter IV 3D. Both games are classics of the beat 'em up genre, both do their best to get the most out of 3DS with StreetPass and online fighting but in the end the extra character of Capcom's brawler means it wins on points."
at number 7 Super Street Fighter IV 3D
perhaps I misunderstood what you mean by "the extra character of Capcom's brawler means it wins on points."?
1. Ocarina of Time 3D
2. Mario Kart 7
3. SM3DL
Why did mk7 be lower than 3D land when Mario Kart has online and local multiplayer
Let's be honest, this shouldn't be called "Top ten best 3DS games", this should just be titled "3DS games". These games are all there is to the console, 2 of which are remakes, and some being okay but not great.
Tut tut, guys - there were no Star Fox games for the GBA at all!
Anyway, if I had to name my top ten retail 3DS games so far (bearing in mind that many games to my taste that I'm waiting for aren't out yet), they'd be;
10: Rayman 3D
9: Ridge Racer 3D
8: Rabbids 3D
7: Super Mario 3D Land
6: Pilotwings Resort
5: Cave Story 3D
4: Star Fox 64 3D
3: Mario Kart 7
2: Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure
1: Kid Icarus: Uprising
Some of them were pretty close and it was difficult to decide their order, but I think that I'm happy with the list.
How is Mario 3Dland better than MK7?
1 Mario kart 7
2 Star fox 64
3 Kid icarus uprising
4 Zelda ocarina of time
5 Super Mario 3D Land
Firstly, Sonic Rush is great so that's not much of an arguement. Second, I've never been hindered by an enemy popping out of nowhere, so I don't what you're talking about. Besides even if that was the case, that's what the Boost is for. You just plow straight through them anyway.
I hate this arguement that pitfalls = bad level design. It used to mean that games were hard, requiring photographic memory of the layout so that you didn't fall for those traps. Take Mega Man for example, inparticular that level in Mega Man 2 where the room fills with death-lasers as you plummit. Now, there's only two ways of clearing that: 1) stupid luck, or 2) using your brain to memorise where the openings are so that you don't get caught. It's a mental challenge and as far as I'm concerned should never be called "a joke".
Maybe you're just a little bit rubbish? Just putting it out there.
Or quick reflexes (how I got through it the first time I ever set foot in that level), or, much much easier, using the correct weapon to freeze the beams.
Anyway, please pardon me! I'm a Mega Man nut, and I just wanted to point out that there are two other methods of clearing it.
Sonic Rush is okay, the main problem with the game is that you can literally just boost through everything. Until some enemy which, for some reason, is impervious to something running into it at a few hundred miles an hour and knocks a few rings out of you. This practically destroys any sense of challenge the developers wanted to make, and also makes the game less exciting that it could have been.
Pitfalls are okay when they're implemented well, but they rarely are in recent Sonic games. Remember that in the earlier games, bottomless pits barely showed up until either later levels, or when they suited the zone. Notice how in Classic Sonic's Mushroom Hill there are no pitfalls, but in Modern's there are. Why? Surely they should share similar attributes due to being in the same environment?
Nice. Try and mock my gaming abilities because you know you can't make a decent argument for QTE's. I don't see why I should bother when the other person realises, "Oh God, I don't know how to respond to that. I know, I'll claim he's crap at the game. Problem solved!"
No, no, your right. I completely forgot about the time-freezing strategy. My bad.
I'm not trying to mock your gaming abilities. I'm being quite blatant. I mean, I had no problem with it what so ever with the QTEs. There are a number of them in the game, and I've never failed any of them and they are not at all unforgiving. Like Diddy ZX mention, quick reactions are a legitimate and key skill to have. That's why they're called Quick Time Events. So I stand by my remarks.
I rarely fail them either, only on some of the first times I encounter them. I just dislike the idea of "Press X to not die" style gameplay when it can be easily avoided.
Anyway, I forgot to mention things other than the gameplay. Level choices make no sense to me; the 3DS version is supposed to celebrate the handheld history somewhat, yet the console rendition does that simply by having more music from these games. You have Water Palace from Rush, and technically Tropical Resort from Colours (though it seems to be more like the Wii version's), but why not include levels from the Advance series? Moving on from that, Sonic Adventure 2's level wasn't even Sonic's in the first place, but rather Shadow's. My guess was this was so it fitted in with the boss fight with him, but if that's the case, why the heck do you fight Metal Sonic in Casino Night? And why, when you don't include a stage from Sonic Heroes, do you use a boss from that game? Why not one from Sonic Rush?
I was thinking of mentioning the short length, but realise someone would mention the missions. But then I realise I'll just ask the question of what is the point. So I can look at some more pictures that can be found on the internet? It's not like the missions in the console versions, which unlock you news skills and items such as the elemental shields. I appreciate some people like that sort of content, being able to see the concept art and so on, but I prefer it when the unlockable content can affect the game, e.g. in Mario Kart 7, where new kart pieces unlocked can allow you to devise a better vehicle for time trials and so on.
Ocarina of Time may well be a top ten 3DS game, but it is certainly NOT the best.
I differ from ONM take - I feel that they didn't improve it enough - its the exact same OOT engine right down to the slow down - the difference being the new assets, higher resolution textures, a few added frames of animation and 3D - it's running on emulation. Grezzo didn't even bother upgrading a number of NPCs or their textures.
Hyrule field is a disappointment, they could've done more with it, added a bit more life, vegetation, texture to spruce it up - as are the the lack of camera control options.
@ Targey - With regard to the level choices, I'm not sure the game is geared towards being a handheld tribute. I always saw the inclusion of Water Palace as a refernce to it being a Nintendo exclusive. Also with regard to Radical Highway's inclusion, you may not be aware of this, but early in Sonic Adventure 2's development there were screenshots of Sonic in Shadow's exclusive levels, and Sonic was playable in the stage in the 2 Player mode. For me, being able to play as Sonic in one of my favourite SA2 stages is a fan-boy's dream come true. Sure I would have prefered City Escape, but I'm happy with the alternative.
I agree with you that it would have been nice to include stages to represent the Advance games and Heroes. I think Egg Emperor was includes to reprent that game, like Big Arm represents Sonic 3, and Metal Sonic and Silver represent CD and '06 respectively.
And yeah, I'm one of those people that like seeing the development material, but I would have liked the Missions even if there was no unlockables. I like them for the challenge and variety.
Whilst I agree that yes this probably is the general top ten, my personal number one is Kid Icarus. Ocarina of time lost me quickly and Kid Icarus kept me hooked
yeh Mario 3dLand is Second! Im glad you put it there! I think its most likely the most undderated Mario game imo
Got 1-6 of those
seems like my tastes match those of ONM 
lol in this and best e shop games i have 5 of the ten games
I think LoZ: Ocarina of Time definitely deserves it's top spot but I do think Resident Evil should have been higher up.