The 25 best Nintendo 3DS games

Pokémon X and Y brought 3D textures to the series of Pokémon games with fantastic results. The gameplay was streamlined, the online component was robust, and it felt like the kick in the pants that the Pokémon franchise needed in order to stay on top. With Pokémon Sun and Moon, developer Game Freak wasn’t content with simply copying and pasting their previous work onto a new area. The new Alola region ushers in new forms of classic Pokémon that sport different strengths, weaknesses, and appearances, and the game even tackles issues like the consumption of Pokémon by humans. It isn’t all doom and gloom, however. Pokémon Sun and Moon also bring back Mega Evolutions and introduce new Z-moves, which are powerful attacks that are capable of changing the course of a battle in just a few seconds. If your Pokémon Go-obsessed sibling is looking to get another fix, Sun and Moon are the perfect companion gifts. Given that there are Pokémon exclusive to each version, as well as different day-night cycles, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to pick up both versions, either.

Majora’s Mask is somewhat of a misfit within The Legend of Zelda series. It’s both incredibly dark for a Nintendo game and also features one of the riskiest mechanics in the series. Taking place in Termina, a parallel to Hyrule, Majora’s Mask sees Link search for his fairy Navi following the conclusion of Ocarina of Time. He quickly finds himself in a weird predicament: He has three days to save the world before the moon crashes down and destroys everything. The three-day cycle mechanic, representing about one hour in real time, turns the exploration and progression on its head. If the moon hits, you lose all the progress you made since the last collision. You can avoid this by playing songs on the ocarina to manipulate time. But minor progression will always be lost, as well as characters’ knowledge of Link. The mask system is inventive, expanding on the feature in Ocarina of Time in surprising and fun ways. What makes Majora’s Mask stand out, besides the constant stress of beating the clock, is the world itself. Out of all of the alternate worlds in the Zelda series, Termina still feels the most real. The N64 port plays brilliantly on the 3DS. Keep in mind, though, it plays best on New Nintendo 3DS hardware due to the C stick and increased processing power. If you missed the lesser-known N64 Zelda the first time around, do yourself a favor and play it on 3DS.

Considered by Nintendo of Europe as the “rightful successor” to Super Mario Bros. 3, New Super Mario Bros. 2 took the franchise back to its 2D roots. With nine worlds to play through, Nintendo treated gamers to a title that felt familiar but featured its own set of unique upgrades. Understandably, the visuals received a massive uptick in quality, each of which further capitalized on a wealth of vivid colors and gorgeous 3D backgrounds. New Super Mario Bros. 2 also featured co-op gameplay, which players unlocked after successfully completing the game’s Solo mode. With its addictive gameplay, beautiful visuals, and high level of replay value, New Super Mario Bros. 2 is no doubt one of the finest titles available on the 3DS.

Few gaming franchises remain as consistently fun to play as the Mario Kart franchise, and the 3DS’ Mario Kart 7 continues this impressive trend for Nintendo. With 16 playable characters and 32 total tracks — 16 unique tracks and 16 classic tracks — gamers have access to a massive amount of content directly at their fingertips. With new additions, such as the ability to use hang gliders and special underwater sections of popular tracks, Mario Kart 7 is more than just a watered-down version of its big console brethren. Like so many of those other titles in the series, however, Mario Kart 7‘s crown jewel rests with its multiplayer modes, which allow players to participate in battles or races with up to seven different challengers through the Nintendo Network. Mario Kart 8 might overshadow this previous entry in sales and popularity, but there’s still a lot to love in this portable racer.

The instant success of Monster Hunter Generations for the 3DS is proof that the Monster Hunter franchise is popular on just about every platform. This game upholds the standard set by the series for its capacity for collaborative gameplay and endless opportunities for monster combat. The game’s Hunting Styles allow for customized gameplay based on user preferences, such as using more ground-based or aerial attacks. Hunter Arts expand over time and help you land particularly devastating attacks on your prey. One additional perk is Prowler mode, in which you can play as a cat. When you take on the character of a cat, you will obtain special equipment and questlines that are exclusively kitty-specific. Taking the role of your favorite four-legged pet, you’ll get unique gear and quest lines only available to felines. 3DS users can take advantage of the built-in C-stick and extra shoulder buttons, controlling the action even more efficiently. The 3DS’ touchscreen can also work to lock onto new enemies quickly. Up until the recent Monster Hunter Rise, this was the latest game in the series to hit a Nintendo console and is still a great introduction to the formula before upgrading to the latest edition.