The Best 3DS and DS Games of All Time

The 20 best Nintendo 3DS / DS games

24 votes

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl

RPG Monster Taming Turn-Based

Survey scores · avg 4.4/5

Story4.4

Gameplay4.6

Graphics4.0

Music4.7

Character4.7

Pokemon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum is the mainline games for the series' Fourth Generation, and features one of the most overarching plotlines that can take up to 50 hours to complete the main story and post-game. Pokemon D/P/PT's main appeal is that it breathed new life into Pokemon from previous generations by giving them new evolutions, on top of its iconic new Pokemon like Garchomp and Lucario. Pokemon Platinum also has one of the longest Post-Game content, giving players a whopping total of 15 Post-Game Legendaries to catch, along with trainer rematches which features one of, if not the hardest Trainer Battle against Champion Cynthia.

Survey voice

あっきー / 30代 / 男性
A Pokémon title for the DS, where the DS's signature touch pen was used for gimmicks like underground exploration and systems like the Pokétch, nostalgic. It's a work where many Pokémon that are still popular today appeared, like "Garchomp," "Lucario," "Leafeon," and "Glaceon," and the designs were good overall. Many of the Legendary Pokémon are based on mythology with grand backgrounds, and including urban legends, it remains a highly popular work even now.
Show original (日本語)
DS用のポケモンタイトルであり、DSの特徴であるタッチペンを使ったギミックが活かされた地下の探索やポケッチ等のシステムが懐かしい。今も人気が高いポケモンである「カブリアス」「ルカリオ」「リーフィア」「グレイシア」など数多くのポケモンが登場した作品であり、全体的に見てもデザインが良かった。伝説のポケモンも神話をモチーフに壮大な背景を持つポケモンが多く、都市伝説等を含め今でも人気が高い作品となっている。

Ozzy / 20s / Male
My top Pokemon mainline game. The lore feels rich and something you can sink into. The Pokemon designs during this generation are so inspired and the post game content they added make it feel more expansive. Also best Champion ever Cynthia. Music is also really immersive.

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19 votes

Fire Emblem: Awakening

RPG Tactical RPG Strategy

Survey scores · avg 4.6/5

Story4.5

Gameplay4.6

Graphics4.6

Music4.7

Character4.7

Fire Emblem: Awakening was supposed to the franchise's last hurrah but it became the entry that saved it. Fire Emblem: Awakening is a tactical RPG where you have to fight against the evil of another time, trying to save a future that was once doomed. It defined the modern Fire Emblem formula with a playable avatar making you more connected to the story and its characters. There was endless possibilities with unit-building as when you paired units together romantically, their children will show up later to be recruitable with their parent's traits. It was also accommodating to new players with a casual gamemode.

Survey voice

Cass / 30s / Female
This game was so exploitable with the learnable skills and job change. I was able to put just 4 characters in the map and block all incoming enemies with them. But what I loved about this the most is the story, at least in this game the children makes sense (unlike fe fates). It still has that old Fire Emblem games feel, unlike the new ones now.

Sicat / 20s / Male
First FE game that I played and what a great game that is supposed to be the swan song for the series. I absolutely liked the marriage system and having children inherit the parent skills. Story is typical time travel change the past stuff but still enjoyable. Character designs are top notch. Gameplay is great

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19 votes

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

RPG Monster Taming Turn-Based

Survey scores · avg 4.6/5

Story4.4

Gameplay4.8

Graphics4.4

Music4.6

Character4.7

Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire returns to the Hoenn region with improved visuals, an expanded roster of Pokemon, and the Mega Evolution system giving it a refreshing change from the originals. It still provides enough nostalgia for veterans of the original Ruby and Sapphire while having enough changes to make it different on its own. Recommended for fans of the Hoenn region and players who prefer Mega Evolution over the other released gimmicks of modern Pokemon games.

Survey voice

Lucas / 20s / Male
Pokemon Sapphire was my first Pokemon game, so this remake was highly anticipated. I can remember being excited to go through the world again and trying to predict and anticipate which Pokemon were getting Mega Evolutions this time. I'm skeptical of remakes in general, but I could confidently say Omega Ruby was a good one.

Jet / 30s / Male
I had to have a Pokemon Title on here. Going with ORAS because of how well it remade RSE. Welcome inclusions such as the PokeNav Plus, the Soar Mechanic, and then mechanics that have been series staples already such as EXP Share, Fairy Type, reusable TMs, Phys/Special Split and of course Mega Evolution.

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18 votes

Pokémon Black and White

RPG Monster Taming Turn-Based

Survey scores · avg 4.1/5

Story4.2

Gameplay4.2

Graphics3.9

Music4.1

Character4.0

Pokémon Black and White, the mainline entries of the franchise's Generation 5, surprised fans by featuring a regional dex filled exclusively with new Pokémon. Alongside setting the events in the Unova region, inspired by New York City rather than Japan as in previous games, the storyline, complementing the games’ unprecedented nature, is a fan favorite that questions the morality of Pokémon: the servitude of Pokémon and the stripping of their agency. Regarded by many as the height of Pokémon's 2D pixel charm, Black and White chart Hilda/Hilbert's journey through Unova, where they collect gym badges and challenge the Pokémon League while confronting Team Plasma's radical crusade against the exploitative bond between humans and Pokémon. Legendary Pokémon Reshiram (White) and Zekrom (Black) serve as the games’ central figures, embodying the contrasting concepts of truth and ideals, respectively.

Survey voice

葉桜
The first Pokémon I played on release day. Made under the theme "giving Red/Green players who've become adults a fresh experience like Red/Green all over again," almost all information was cut off until the game's release. The Pokémon that appear were completely renewed, and until you reach the ending, there wasn't a single returning Pokémon from past titles. That excitement of not knowing what would jump out of the grass was, I think, an experience only those who played it in real time could get.
Show original (日本語)
初めて発売日に遊んだポケモンです。「大人になってしまった赤緑プレイヤーに、もう一度赤緑と同じ新鮮な体験を」というテーマで作られた本作はゲーム発売までほとんどの情報が遮断されていました。出現ポケモンも一新され、エンディングを迎えるまで過去作からの続投ポケモンは一切ありませんでした。草むらから何が飛び出してくるのか分からないあのワクワク感はリアルタイムで遊んだ人にしか得られない体験だったと思います。

Kevin
For me, rather than Diamond/Pearl, this is the DS-era Pokémon masterpiece. The story is subtly dark, and N's words, hero or villain, ambiguous, make you wonder, "Is training Pokémon really a good thing?" With the bold premise that every Pokémon is new, many people dislike the new designs, but I think the ice-cream Pokémon and the garbage Pokémon are more Pokémon-like than the Digimon-ish Lucario. It's plenty fun as is, so a remake is OK not to make.
Show original (日本語)
私の中でダイパよりこちらはポケモンのDS時代名作。ストーリーが微妙に暗くて、ヒーローか悪者か曖昧なNの言葉で、ポケモントレーナーは本当に良い存在なの？と考えさせられる。全てのポケモンが新しいという大胆な設定で、新デザインが嫌いな人は多いが、デジモンっぽいルカリオより、アイスのポケモンやゴミのポケモンの方がポケモンらしいと私は思う。このまま十分面白いので、リメイクはしなくてもOK。

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16 votes

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate

RPG Action RPG

Survey scores · avg 4.0/5

Story3.4

Gameplay4.4

Graphics4.1

Music4.2

Character3.9

For many longtime fans, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate represents a unique era of the franchise. It took everything that made Monster Hunter Tri great and made it bigger, tougher, and far more rewarding. The addition of G-Rank dramatically extends the endgame, introducing harder versions of monsters that demand mastery of the game's combat mechanics. The game's most memorable feature is underwater combat. While it divided the playerbase, it remains one of the boldest mechanics the series has ever introduced. Combined with the impressive monster roster, rewarding progression, and hundreds of hours of content, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate remains one of the franchise's defining classics.

Survey voice

しろあん / 20代 / 男性
Since it was the first Monster Hunter series game I ever touched, I was able to fully enjoy even the underwater combat that was unpopular among players who'd played through the series. The high customizability of the Bowgun and the fun of crafting gear were good points too. It was also my first online game, so there's quite a lot of nostalgia bias.
Show original (日本語)
初めて触ったモンスターハンターシリーズだったのもあるためシリーズを通してプレイしているユーザーには不評の水中戦まで楽しみきれる作品でした。ボウガンのカスタマイズ性が高く装備作りが楽しいのも良い点でした。初めてのオンラインゲームでもあったためかなり思い出補正があります。

しろあん / 20代 / 男性
As a sequel to Monster Hunter 3 it was really fun. The feel of the weapon I was using had changed, so I only played up to clearing the story, but the graphics were good, and even though it was a bit heavy, it was my first Monster Hunter you could play on a handheld screen, so I enjoyed it.
Show original (日本語)
モンハン3の続編として非常に楽しかったです。使用していた武器の使用感が変わってしまったものがありストーリークリアまでしか遊んでませんがグラフィックもよく少し重いながらも手元画面でできるモンハンが初だったため楽しめました

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15 votes

Pokémon X and Y

RPG Monster Taming Turn-Based

Survey scores · avg 4.4/5

Story4.0

Gameplay4.7

Graphics4.5

Music4.3

Character4.7

Pokemon X/Y introduces the Mega Evolution system and improved 3D graphics that fit the 3DS system, drawing in droves of newcomers and veterans alike. Featuring a region based on France, a beginner-friendly adventure, and a modern look compared to older Pokemon games, X/Y is a good, accessible start for new players to the franchise.

Survey voice

Lucas / 20s / Male
I can remember keeping myself up to date with new Pokemon news from Japan and waiting for all of it to get translated to English. I also remember watching Japan get the latest release first then waiting a year for its international release. I'll never forget when they announced it would all change with X and Y. I remember being in line with my brother waiting to get it when they trailer showed on screen and everyone cheered. I remember finding a shiny Pokemon 20 minutes into the game. Pokemon Y was flawed but a really fun entry that dared to start introducing new mechanics to really change how battles are fought.

Yui / 20s / Prefer not to say
Ik people dunk on this for being the weakest 3DS Pokemon game, but the fashion was always fashioning, I spent more hours dressing up my MC than actually playing the main story lmao. And because of this game, I wanted to be a Pokemon Trainer who lives in a Berry Farm (or at least make my OC as such)

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9 votes

Dragon Quest IX

RPG JRPG Turn-Based Multiplayer

Survey scores · avg 4.1/5

Story4.0

Gameplay4.4

Graphics3.6

Music4.2

Character4.1

Dragon Quest IX is the 9th mainline entry in the traditional turn-based RPG series, Dragon Quest. You play as a Celestrian, an angelic race, tasked to investigate the disaster in your homeland and recover the scattered fruits of the World Tree called Fyggs. However, fate has not been kind to you, and you wake up as a mortal soon after you fall from your homeland. This is the first entry in the series that features a customizable protagonist and multiplayer, where players can form a party of 4 to tackle a huge endgame content after the main story. Take on a journey alone or with your friends to reclaim your role as a guardian of the mortal realm and save the world.

Survey voice

葉桜
The title that became my biggest gateway to getting hooked on games. The weighty story of course, but also grind elements you could call playable forever are, I think, this game's appeal. Even now, new maps are being discovered among enthusiasts, making it a game with deep-rooted popularity.
Show original (日本語)
ゲームにハマる最大のきっかけになったタイトルです。重厚なストーリーはもちろん、永遠に遊べるとまで言えるほどのやり込み要素もこのゲームの魅力だと思います。いまだに有志の間では新しい地図が発見されており、根強い人気を誇るゲームです。

Ray / 20s / Male
We really need more mainline Dragon Quest entries where you can customize your character instead of an established one.

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9 votes

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (4G)

RPG Action RPG

Survey scores · avg 4.1/5

Story3.8

Gameplay4.9

Graphics3.9

Music4.0

Character3.9

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, the fourth generation in the series, takes the hunter on a journey with a travelling caravan to explore new lands and towns. Adding new verticality to the hunt, the game adds the ability to jump off of ledges and walls to execute the new mounting action, allowing the hunter to deliver attacks while holding on to the monster. With the addition of two new weapons, the Insect Glaive and Charge Blade, the hunter will take on new monsters like Gore Magala as they journey with the Caravan to help towns and grow as a new and upcoming hunter!

Survey voice

しげぽよ
- An excellent Monster Hunter playable on the 3DS - The Insect Glaive and Charge Blade were featured for the first time - As grind elements there's careful selection of excavated gear and charm selection, but if you start selecting even the weapon's appearance, you'll never have enough time - Monsters' Apex state basically deflects your attacks unless you carry a dedicated item, so that one point is hard to praise - Among the Monster Hunters you can play on a handheld, it has very large grind elements and is enjoyable
Show original (日本語)
・3DSで遊べるモンハンの秀作・操虫棍やチャージアックスが初搭載された・やりこみ要素として発掘装備の厳選とお守り厳選があるが、武器の見た目まで厳選しだすと時間がいくつ合っても足りない・モンスターの極限状態は専用のアイテムをもってないと基本攻撃を弾かれるため、そこだけは評価しがたい・携帯機で出来るモンハンの中ではやりこみ要素が非常に大きく、楽しめる

Stu / 30s / Male
Among the MH games, I've likely put the most hours into this game. This was very enjoyable while it was out and the two new weapons were refreshing to play with.

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8 votes

Pokémon Black 2 and White 2

RPG Monster Taming Turn-Based

Survey scores · avg 4.7/5

Story4.4

Gameplay4.8

Graphics4.8

Music5.0

Character4.6

A sequel to the original Pokemon Black and White, these games are the first and only games in the series that aren't just remasters oif the original, but builds upon the Unova Region after two years have passed. Keeping the QoL and adding even more from the base games, Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 adds more to its beastiary with the inclusion of the older Pokemon in the Regional Dex, making feel fuller and caters to both new and old fans alike!

Survey voice

Sicat / 20s / Male
Best game in the series aside from Emerald, also has some of my favorite character designs in the series. Was also the last time that I enjoyed a Pokemon game immensely before Pokemon XY disappointed me lol. They say that a sequel is rarely better than the first one but this is one of those games imo

Stu / 30s / Male
This is my favorite Pokemon game of all time (played Black 2 specifically). I was impressed by how much they were able to fit in a DS game, so there's always something to do. I still revisited it while Pokemon X and Y were already out.

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7 votes

Pokémon Sun and Moon

RPG Monster Taming Turn-Based

Survey scores · avg 4.1/5

Story4.0

Gameplay4.1

Graphics3.7

Music4.7

Character4.4

Pokemon Sun and Moon is the 7th generation of the Pokemon series, set in the tropical Alola region. Travel across different islands as you take on the Island Challenge, encounter new Pokemon, and uncover the mystery surrounding the legendary Pokemon Solgaleo and Lunala. The game also introduces unique Alolan forms of classic Pokemon, giving some of the Pokemon new appearances.

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Isa / 20s / Female
Many people have different opinions of Sun and Moon, but Pokemon Sun and Moon holds a place in my heart as my favorite 3DS era of Pokemon games. It was fun to customize make character, and I loved the characters and antagonist in this game. It was the first time in a while that a Pokemon game made me feel the same that I did playing Pokemon for the first time.

Lucas / 20s / Male
As the 20th anniversary title for the franchise, Pokemon Moon introduced some fresh concepts and even some of my favorite Pokemon to date. Changing the gym system was refreshing and playing this game with friends got me through college.

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6 votes

The World Ends With You

RPG Action RPG

Survey scores · avg 4.7/5

Story4.6

Gameplay4.8

Graphics4.6

Music4.8

Character5.0

Set in modern-day Shibuya, The World Ends With You is an action RPG that immerses you in its setting through the stylish visuals and music. Its unique battle system perfectly makes use of the Nintendo DS's two screens, allowing you to control two characters at once in combat. One the bottom screen, you can use the pins that you obtain throughout the game to attack. To use these pins and eliminate your enemies, swipe, tap, and press with your stylus. On the top screen, you will be able to play as another character by pressing inputs on the D-Pad in a certain order. While you can let the game auto-play the top screen for you, it is also satisfying to get into the rhythm of getting both characters in sync. The story also tells a heartfelt story about human connection. You play as Neku, who lost his memories and refuses the company of others. As he is dropped into the life-or-death Reaper's Game, he is forced to cooperate with others to survive. Follow his quest to regain his memories, as well as to discover what Shibuya and its people mean to him.

Survey voice

Ervin / 30s / Male
Addicting combat system and has enough of the Square Enix flair beneath is urban graffiti flavor of anime.

Chad / 30s / Male
Super unique gameplay on the DS that's completely lost in the ports

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6 votes

Fire Emblem Fates

RPG Tactical RPG Turn-Based

Survey scores · avg 4.5/5

Story4.0

Gameplay5.0

Graphics4.3

Music4.7

Character4.8

Fire Emblem Fates splits into three paths, with each path choosing a family to side with in a war that tears the region apart. Each path leads to a different story that also indirectly determines the difficulty of the game, with the third path combining the units of both families. With Fire Emblem's traditional grid-based strategy mechanics, Fates is great for fans of the franchise and also for newcomers that want a strategy game that incorporates moral choices with varying degrees of difficulty.

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Sicat / 20s / Male
Despite how badly they handled the multiple routes (just sell all 3 routes in one package on standard edition tbh and not some scam special edition where everything is on one cartridge) and how bad the localization is, I still had fun with this game and probably my fave FE gameplay. My Castle is fun and the character designs are some of my fave

Dee / 30s / Male
I get the hate, but as someone who prefers building more than story, I love Fire Emblem Fates for the many pairings you can do to create and optimize offspring characters.

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6 votes

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

RPG Monster Taming Turn-Based

Survey scores · avg 4.3/5

Story4.0

Gameplay4.5

Graphics4.3

Music4.5

Character4.5

A remake of the original Gold and Silver, these games keep the spirit of the original while building upon it with all the bells and whistles that come in the fourth generation opf Pokemon. The game is more of an experience as the game pushed interactivity to a different level, like with the included Pokewalker. letting you braing a Pokemon with you and rewards you for doing so! Not to mention the Pokeathlon and the Johto Safari Zone, new additions that bring more to the table than just battling and training!

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Yuri / 20s / Male
Pokémon SoulSilver on the DS is probably my favorite Pokémon game of all time. To this day, I consider it the most beautiful sprite-based game in the series.

Yui / 20s / Prefer not to say
I absolutely love how your Pokemon's world sprite can follow you here. It makes my heart melt every time!

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6 votes

Animal Crossing: Wild World

SimulationSocial SimulatorCozy

Survey scores · avg 3.8/5

Story2.3

Gameplay4.3

Graphics3.7

Music4.7

Character4.5

Animal Crossing: Wild World further established the cozy life sim we know today as the second main installation of the series. Customizable paths reimagined personalization, and for the first time, Wild World allowed players to visit each other and share the spectacle of their own little worlds. Along with new characters well-loved today such as Brewster, Celeste, Pascal, and villagers still sought-after, Wild World reinforced the relaxed yet quirky and delightful identity of Animal Crossing.

Survey voice

ばたし / 30代 / 男性
Even with new titles out, playing the older one has a different atmosphere and its own flavor. At the time, it was a rare piece of software where you could play between each other's homes via Wi-Fi. It had a chat feature too, and it was the first work where I communicated even with strangers and traded furniture.
Show original (日本語)
新作が出ていても、旧作をやると雰囲気が違っていて味がある当時はwi-fiを経由して各々の家同士で遊べる貴重なソフトだったチャット機能もあり、知らない人ともコミュニケーションをとって家具の交換などもした初めての作品

あやっぺ
In elementary school, I forced myself to stay awake, fighting off drowsiness, to watch the New Year's fireworks.
Show original (日本語)
小学生のとき、眠気に耐えながら年越しの花火を見るために頑張って起きていました。

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5 votes

Animal Crossing: New Leaf

SimulationSocial SimulatorCozy

Survey scores · avg 4.5/5

Story3.8

Gameplay5.0

Graphics4.2

Music5.0

Character4.8

Animal Crossing: New Leaf lets you play as the mayor of a town you were originally supposed to visit, albeit by mistake. With this role, you're in charge of improving the town, from planning its layout and keeping your villagers happy to developing facilities like the museum, where you can display the fish and bugs you catch as part of your daily routine. It also introduced the ability to dive and visit a distant island, giving you access to new critters and fruits, such as mangoes and bananas, to bring back to your town. There are also plenty of villagers to meet throughout the game, with even more available through amiibo and collaboration characters, giving your town a greater sense of uniqueness.

Survey voice

Kei / 30s / Female
Animal Crossing: New Leaf doesn't really have a "story" but it's special to me cause it's what accompanied me during doctor and hospital visits when I was sick. It helped me calm down before tests and before I talk to the doctor. It's really relaxing and I love the village I built along with its villagers. I especially loved going to the island, hearing Kapp'n sing his silly little songs, grab mangoes, and catch those colorful beetles so I can pay off my home loan.

Dee / 30s / Male
My first Animal Crossing game! It’s also the reason I have a soft spot for Genji, Gigi, and Colton since they were my villagers there. I actually used to hate Gigi a lot, but she grew on me to the point that she became my favorite.

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5 votes

Bravely Default

RPG JRPG Turn-Based

Survey scores · avg 4.4/5

Story4.4

Gameplay4.4

Graphics4.0

Music4.8

Character4.4

Bravely Default is a turned-based JRPG revolving around the unique Brave and Default system. It uses Brave Points, which dictates how many actions you can take in one turn. Gain Brave Points and defend against foes using Default, or use up Brave Points and attack multiple times with Brave. You may use different gameplay styles on your characters using the Job system. Defeat bosses to gain access to their Jobs, and freely customize your party to fit your playstyle. Follow the four protagonists, Tiz, Agnès, Ringabel, and Edea, as they journey to save the four elemental crystals from the darkness. As they attempt to restore balance to the world, they will face an army in pursuit of Agnès, and to possibly uncover a greater threat waiting for them in the end.

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Ralph / 30s / Male
Spoilers: During the final battle where Ouroboros announces his intent to invade the Celestial Realm. The 3DS' camera turns on, revealing your face in the background of the final fight. It basically confirms that the "celestial entity" helping Tiz is none other than you, and that the Celestial Realm is the real world. Probably the best 4th wall break in any videogame since Psycho Mantis in Metal Gear Solid.

Sicat / 20s / Male
Best FF game that isn't FF. Story is a bit generic but the characters carried especially Edea and Ringabel. Job system is awesome and the music is hype. 2nd half of the game could've been better but the true end is peak

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5 votes

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

AdventureVisual Novel

Survey scores · avg 4.3/5

Story4.8

Gameplay4.2

Graphics3.8

Music4.6

Character5.0

An iconic visual novel pitting hapless defender Phoenix Wright against a gallery of wacky criminals in the courtroom, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney and its sequels showcase the power of good characterization and the enduring legacy of strong, creative localization choices. Given the fact that a game translated more closely to its Japanese original would likely fail to communicate the material's charm, the choice to thoroughly adapt the setting and characters to the target audience and language brought the experience to a receptive audience, translating its spirit as much as its source.

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Jowi / 20s / Prefer not to say
I first played this game on my older sister's DS, and I did not realize that she actually put a bunch of cheats in it. Because of that, it always baffled me, as a dumb kid, as to how Phoenix Wright was somehow still in court even though I failed the cross examination like ten times. The Ace Attorney series was great then, and it's still great for me now. If only there was a new game...

Kei / 30s / Female
Not the typical action game most people like to play but I love the deduction and stories. Of all the Ace Attorney games, my favorite would have to be Trials and Tribulations because of its plot twists and well-written characters The cases are great too!

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5 votes

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

Action-Adventure

Survey scores · avg 4.2/5

Story4.2

Gameplay3.8

Graphics4.2

Music4.4

Character4.8

Phantom Hourglass is a direct sequel to 2002's Wind Waker. It's a largely overlooked title in the legendary franchise, but it definitely deserves some love and attention. The game is centered around the Nintendo DS's touchscreen. The prime example of this is having players chart their routes at sea in advance instead handing over direct control of the ship. It sounds gimmicky for the sake of it, but Phantom Hourglass is able to create an immersive and worthwhile experience despite its reliance on a bygone novelty in the DS's stylus-reliant touchscreen.

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Marco G / 30s / Male
My first ever Legend of Zelda game

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5 votes

Monster Hunter 4

RPG Action RPG

Survey scores · avg 3.9/5

Story3.2

Gameplay4.8

Graphics3.4

Music4.2

Character3.8

Despite the challenge of compressing the Monster Hunter formula into the Nintendo 3DS, Monster Hunter 4 managed to defy all odds and came out as a complete package, with fans even calling it and its successor, MH4U, the pinnacle of the series. It set the standard for the franchise’s storytelling, letting each monster you fight advance the narrative and the mystery of the Gore Magala. While it retains the interconnected, closed-off area sections of the classic entries, the environments feel more dynamic, with more sections you can climb and jump on. This adds a layer of strategy to the gameplay loop when you pair it with the new mechanic–mounting and attacking monsters–granting you a huge advantage when you successfully execute it. This interaction between the mechanics and environment would even continue to be iterated upon well into the future entries of the franchise, like World and Rise.

Survey voice

ひも
The first Monster Hunter work I played. I bought it because it was popular among the employees at my part-time job at the time. For a while, I fought believing the Insect Glaive's Kinsect marker did damage.
Show original (日本語)
初めてプレイしたモンハン作品です。当時のバイト先の従業員間で流行っていたため購入しました。しばらくの間、操虫棍の印弾にダメージがあると思い込んで戦っていました。

りんた / 20代 / 男性
The series that first added a jump element to Monster Hunter. Very novel and fun.
Show original (日本語)
モンハンにジャンプ要素が始めて追加されたシリーズ。とても斬新で楽しい。

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4 votes

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

RPG Monster Taming Turn-Based

Survey scores · avg 4.3/5

Story4.0

Gameplay4.8

Graphics4.2

Music4.2

Character4.2

Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are the definitive version of Sun and Moon in many ways, improved UI, new Pokemon frms, the Rainbow Rocket Storyline, and new Totem Pokemon and Trial Captains! The 7th generation of Pokemon was the start of the significant QoL changes that made getting rarer Pokemon much more accessible to players with items like the Bottle Caps, passing down Poke Balls, SOS Chaining, and many more. The story is also a bigger element to the gameplay comapred to past Generations, making these a good starting point for any aspiring Pokermon Trainers!

Survey voice

Jords / 30s / Male
Best games in the 3DS when it comes to Pokemon.

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Hidden gems on Nintendo 3DS / DS

Lesser-known Nintendo 3DS / DS games our players loved.

Radiant Historia

Hidden Gem

Radiant Historia

4.1/5

A small-sized game with a powerful gimmick, Radiant Historia was underappreciated in part due to its initial release at the tail end of the Nintendo DS' lifespan. Nevertheless, the saga of Stocke and his quest to save his home by navigating multiple timelines through the power of his Historia hit home, and warranted an enhanced rerelease on the 3DS. Charming and operatic, Radiant Historia uses its inventive structure to allow players to feel like they're genuinely influencing the world's history by traveling back and forth through different points along parallel timelines, with their actions influencing the ending. This is backed by its clever grid-based party combat system, which queues actions and uses mechanics to shift party members' positions in the sequence of attacks and special techniques.

Fossil Fighters

Hidden Gem

Fossil Fighters

3.8/5

Fossil Fighters is a JRPG where you uncover fossils, restore their dinosaur form, and battle with them. This game makes full use of the DS's properties, with the stylus being a prominent feature during the fossil excavation part, and the added touch of using the microphone to blow away the dust off the fossil. The battle system is a turn-based system complete with animations, perfect for dinosaur fans seeing their favorite dinosaur in action.

Pokemon Picross

Hidden Gem

Pokemon Picross

3.8/5

It's Picross, but with Pokemon! Puzzle enjoyers will be familiar with the usual rules of the nonogram, but Pokemon introduces abilities to give power-ups that can be used for more difficult puzzles, and completing each puzzle rewards you with a cute pixel-art illustration of that Pokemon. In-game timers hold back how much you can play without an in-app purchase, but that limitation also made it an easy game to fold into a daily routine.

Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan

Hidden Gem

Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan

5.0/5

Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan is a quirky rhythm game where you cheer for people down on their luck. To get their spirits up, you need to cheer for them by tapping, sliding, and spinning circles to the beat of the music. The game introduces the plight of each person in a humorous manga-style format before a hyper trio of gakuran-clad cheerleaders swoop in to save the day.

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

Hidden Gem

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

4.8/5

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective follows the story of a recently deceased person with no memories prior to his death, working to uncover the mistery, while also being entangled with Ray, who enlists your help to prevent the assasination of Lynne, a young female detective. With the ability to rewind time to up to four minutes prior to a person's death, as well as the ability to possess inanimate objects, Ghost Trick introduces various puzzles that you must solve to help Lynne and learn the truth behind your death and identity.

FAQ

How were these best Nintendo 3DS / DS games chosen?

From a survey of 241 players who recommended Nintendo 3DS / DS games. Available five-axis ratings and curated comments are shown. Titles are ranked by mention count, then average score.

What is the top Nintendo 3DS / DS game?

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl ranks #1 with 24 votes.

How to find the best Nintendo 3DS / DS games

The best Nintendo 3DS / DS games according to 241 surveyed players — ranked by votes with average score as the tie-breaker, with the survey scores and curated player comments available in the source data.

Already cleared the Top 20? Check the hidden gems above — lesser-known Nintendo 3DS / DS titles our players rated highly.

Still thinking about a game we missed?

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