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[Spieler Eins]

Virtue's Last Reward is the best game on the system, but you shouldn't play it on that system.

Other than that, it has arguably the worst 3rd party content of any Nintendo handheld, which makes it the most shallow library in that line. You can't dig deep like on the DS, where every developer in Japan sneaked some game on it when you weren't paying attention. If you kept up with the big releases on 3DS, there isn't too much you could have possibly missed.

By only counting 1st party games you might have had a point, but you added 3rd party titles into the OP - so no.

 

[sixteen-bit]

What a great system. Still a ton of software in the pipeline too.

Can't wait for Culdcept Revolt.

 

[Orniletter]

OP says Nintendo libraries. No GBA. No N64. No GC. A small selection of SNES.

Besides, can you tell me with a straight face a 3DS game would land in anyone's top 10 list? The barebones online functionality should disclose most already.

Monster Hunter 4U is one of the best action games ever made and in my top 5 GOAT. Kid Icarus is a top 10 title.

The online bit seems like you are just pulling random things out of your arse.

 

[Mafro]

It probably does legitimately have the best library ever (not just in terms of Nintendo games), especially when you factor in the VC and the DS compatibility.

 

[Spieler Eins]

It probably does legitimately have the best library ever (not just in terms of Nintendo games), especially when you factor in the VC and the DS compatibility.

If you factor in legal BC (which one shouldn't in this argument tbh), that would be PS3 phat.

 

[Spiritwalker]

It's right behind the DS as my favourite handheld library of all time. It's not quite on par with the PS2 though, which is still my #1 pick overall.

 

[Licas1355]

To me it felt like a step down from the DS since third party support was rather small compared to its predecessor.

 

[Balb]

Between the retail, eShop and Virtual Console releases, the 3DS has amassed a pretty damn impressive library over the years. As someone who bought a 3DS at launch and was pretty disappointed initially, the 3DS pulled through and ended up being a really good system.

 

[isaacnukem]

Sure, if you count the DS library but I honestly prefer the DS.

 

[Lasthope106]

Bought mine shortly after release and remember only having a couple of good games that I really wanted to play. For years it sat in a drawer because I have never been a handheld gamer. Ocarina of Time changed that. I played the game for the first time and was blown away both by the game and the system. At that point I realized how much fun the 3DS was. In the years that followed I have been blown away by the surprising number of amazing games that the system has collected.

The 3DS is one of the best systems ever, and I hope support continues for a while. Playing Metroid shows quite clearly that Nintendo and other developers have mastered the hardware and can squeeze all the performance out of the system.

 

[Firemind]

Why would online stuff matter? Can't say it factors into many of my favourite games, but then I mainly play RPGs. A focus on online elements is more likely to stop me playing a game than the other way around.

The only online features I use on it is free multiplayer on Monster Hunter and streetpass/spotpass, both of which are pretty good (although obviously streetpass is dialling down now that few people carry them outside conventions etc any more).

Still waiting for an Animal Crossing MMO lite, really.

 

[Egida]

I agree. One of my favourite consoles ever. Its only fault was missing a Metroid game, but now it's perfect.

 

[Ruud_Luiten]

I love the platformers on 3ds sooooo relaxing

 

[Famassu]

It's a good library but I dunno, something is just missing. A huge disappointment in comparison to DS, which is my favorite handheld of all time. There's very little in its library I find as interesting or good as I did Canvas Curse, Meteos, Ouendan, Mario & Luigi 3: Bowser's Inside Story, The World Ends With You, Daigasso! Band Brothers, Advance Wars: Dual Strike & Days of Ruin, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow & Order of Ecclesia, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, the Ace Attorney trilogy, Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes, Space Invaders Extreme, Bangai-O Spirits, Contra 4, 999, Trauma Center, Monster Tale, Hotel Dusk, Another Code, Mega Man ZX, Infinite Space, Rhythm Heaven, Mario Kart DS, Animal Crossing: Wild World, Puzzle Quest, Tetris DS, Rune Factory, The Legendary Starfi, Solatorobo, Kirby: Mass Attack, Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime, Nanostray, Alien: Infestation, Radiant Historia, Retro Game Challenge, Super Scribblenauts, Jump Superstars etc. at the time DS was around.

3DS has sequels to some but they just don't feel as fresh and some are inferior to their DS offerings. In addition, I feel like 3DS has a lack of originality. Etrian Odysseys are good games but it already started on DS and 3DS has, like, the 70th one at this point. The only weakness of DS are the shitty-ass Zeldas. ALBW isn't shitty like the DS Zeldas but I still find it one of the weakest games in the franchise.

Out of the 3DS library, there are only a few (non-ports) that give me the same vibe as my favorite DS games, like, Super Mario 3D Land, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars, Bravely Default, Luigi's Mansion 2, Fire Emblem Awakening, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Metroid 2: Samus Returns, Ever Oasis, Pushmo and Theatrhythm FF: Curtain Call. But that's mostly it.

 

[FairXchange]

It's the console I own the most games for. It's an essential part of any gaming collection. I'll be playing games on it for years to come.

 

[Daymos]

If you put a cyber gadget grip in a new 3ds XL with a 32GB sdcard it's as comfortable as a ps4 controller and (with a couple $100 and an internet connection) fully has the ability to take you to heaven and keep you there for years.

I've got like 90 games across all genres on my 3ds now and it's nearly taken over the super Nintendo as my all time favorite platform. In addition to 3ds games I play a ton of ds and nes/snes/game boy VC.. if only it had gba and n64 VC I could exist with just a 3ds and switch.

My favorite games on it would be-
Monster Hunter 4
Zelda.. what is there like 10 of them including VC
Starfox 64 3d
Bravely second
Shovel knight
Mega man legacy


My bedtime routine usual includes 20 mins of Mario kart7, fzero snes VC, Tetris gba VC, or Dr Mario express.

 

[panama chief]

Was a great console. Started slow but in the end it had a great serving of first party games and indie support.

But yeah DS > 3DS.

 

[Novocaine]

It's become my favorite Nintendo system ever. Good VC, backwards compatible with DS. Picross for days. Good installments of all of their franchises.

You can play almost every Super Mario game on it.

 

[Funkybee12]

My dream is for someone to put 3DS innards in an actual comfortable form factor with good quality screens. So many good JRPGs that I can only play for 20-30 minutes at a time because the damn thing is so uncomfortable.

There's plenty of comfort grip cases on amazon which makes the 3ds very comfy to play for hours if u can.
I got a silicon case for my 3ds xl because i had the same problem like you in the beginning when my hands would start to hurt in only 20 mins. But this case which cost me 15$ has the shape of a gamepad which makes it super comfy. The only downside is that trigger buttons might feel less responsive when u press them, but that depends on how much u might need to press them depending on the game. Still totally worth.
Here's the link of the one i own.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UJ9LB6Y/?tag=neogaf0e-20

 

[ckaneo]

Yall literally say this about all of Nintendos libraries

 

[Jonneh3003]

Yall literally say this about all of Nintendos libraries

Don't think we have a thread about Virtual Boy

 

[redcrayon]

Still waiting for an Animal Crossing MMO lite, really.

Ah, I see, fair enough.

 

[Narpas Sword0]

The best games might be better, but I had a whole lot more DS games than 3DS ones. Especially third party. And I feel like I'm not missing many must-have 3DS games.

I feel like any great collection of 3DS games will include almost all the same stuff, whereas three different people could each have 20 great DS games and many of them would be different.

 

[jay]

I vastly prefer the DS. 3DS is fine but kind of a disappointment for me. The large number of middle tier games the DS had made it feel like the successor to the PS2.

 

[Aters]

I will mention Rune Factory 4 in every 3DS thread.

 

[PsionBolt]

Besides, can you tell me with a straight face a 3DS game would land in anyone's top 10 list? The barebones online functionality should disclose most already.

Listing my 10 favourite games would be a tremendous challenge, but if I did, that list would absolutely include Gunvolt 2 and Fire Emblem Echoes.

I vastly prefer the DS. 3DS is fine but kind of a disappointment for me. The large number of middle tier games the DS had made it feel like the successor to the PS2.

Luckily, you can slot those mid-tier DS games right on in to your 3DS!

 

[Polygonal_Sprite]

People like me cry about it's 240p screen but there's no denying it has possibly the best collection of exclusive games ever. It's the best handheld ever in terms of it's library, maybe even the best ever Nintendo console depending on your personal tastes.

 

[boiled goose]

Slowly working my way through it's library.

Played albw, kid ikarus, 3d land, animal crossing, Luigi's mansion 2.

Currently playing bravely default and metroid.

Next probably fire emblem awakening.

Also interested in shadow wars, etrian oddessy, smt.

I never played mgs3 so that also intrigues me
Maybe monster hunter but dunno.

To me the library doesn't touch the amazing wackiness of the ds library. Not bad though.

 

[Cody_D165]

My dream is for someone to put 3DS innards in an actual comfortable form factor with good quality screens. So many good JRPGs that I can only play for 20-30 minutes at a time because the damn thing is so uncomfortable.

Can't do anything about the screens but have you considered trying a grip? Can get some decent ones for 10-15 bucks.

 

[Plinko]

OP says Nintendo libraries. No GBA. No N64. No GC. A small selection of SNES.

Besides, can you tell me with a straight face a 3DS game would land in anyone's top 10 list? The barebones online functionality should disclose most already.

Animal Crossing New Leaf and Zelda: ALBW are both entrenched in my top 10.

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

The DS beats it out in terms of the sheer number of amazing games, but the 3DS has an amazing lineup, and probably a few more games that are at the absolute highest level.

 

[iceblade997]

I love it for two reasons.

Firstly, the games are different to what I usually play (usually western AAA releases). It's exposed me to so much stuff I wouldn't have played otherwise (I missed out on Nintendo platforms for a really long time), and just one example would be sRPGs, which I'd never touched before Fire Emblem: Awakening and now want to play whenever I can. I've played a lot of great games this year, and even so, several of the standouts have been 3DS games.

Secondly, it's so comfortable! I have a 2DS and despite the looks it's actually extremely comfortable, not that heavy, and fits in the pocket of several of my jeans. That makes it extremely easy, tempting, and convenient for doing little bits of gameplay - 15 or 20 minutes at a time, while being fine for longer stretches too. Indeed, one of my favorite gaming periods has now become playing while travelling around town, or just in the recliner.

I love this handheld, and should really have bought one a lot sooner than this year.

OP says Nintendo libraries. No GBA. No N64. No GC. A small selection of SNES.

Besides, can you tell me with a straight face a 3DS game would land in anyone's top 10 list? The barebones online functionality should disclose most already.

Yes. Bravely Default.

 

[Dangansona]

When comparing the 3DS to the Vita, many claim the formers success is due to its far superior catalog. Obviously this is largely subjective, but I don't really see it tbh. My Vita got way more use than my 3DS.

That said, the DS absolutely shits on both. What a catalog.

 

[boiled goose]

The library would be more amazing to me if I ofelt comfortable buying digital on consoles. Lots of cool games I want to play, but I have to vote with my wallet against inadequate digital content management by Nintendo

When comparing the 3DS to the Vita, many claim the formers success is due to its far superior catalog. Obviously this is largely subjective, but I don't really see it tbh. My Vita got way more use than my 3DS.

That said, the DS absolutely shits on both. What a catalog.

You're right. The 3ds was successful because of its amazing hardware.

 

[themagicalkitsune]

I never realized that...

* Non-japanese 3DS can't play 1, 2, 3, 10 or 11.

 

[boiled goose]

The 3ds library seems weaker if you have other systems. Many games are ports, remakes, multiplats, or have been ported over to other systems.

The exclusive must play games for me are like 10 or so. I've played through about half of those already.

The first year of switch is almost more appealing to me than the entire 3ds library.

For 3ds only gamers though there's certainly a ton there. Things like smash would be of interest if I didn't have a wiiu

 

[Throwaway123456789]

The list in the OP is so random. I can pick out 20 or so of those as mediocre games or horrible/semi-bad ports. Like come on? Resident Evil Mercenaries 3D is considered so good it goes on a "best of" list? Nintendogs + Cats? Cave Story 3D?

 

[Donniewahlberg]

Alongside Animal Crossing and maybe ALBW (that would maybe get pushed out by another game in the franchise though) I'd put Fantasy Life up in my top 10 *with a straight face*. Playing through that game alongside my partner was one of the best game experiences I've ever had.

 

[Teletraan1]

Sadly for me the entire library is locked away on a device I could never play for more than a few minutes. Hate the ergonomics of handheld gaming due to an old lingering injury. I bought a switch with the hopes it will see similar software support to the DS/3DS that I can play on my TV. Octopath Traveller is the kind of game I am talking about. I hated missing out on games like Bravely Default. My favorite genre found a home on devices I couldn't really stand playing for more than 30m at a time.

 

[entremet]

I agree since you used Nintendo 1st party as the conditional.

 

[Yukinari]

Sadly for me the entire library is locked away on a device I could never play for more than a few minutes. Hate the ergonomics of handheld gaming due to an old lingering injury. I bought a switch with the hopes it will see similar software support to the DS/3DS that I can play on my TV. Octopath Traveller is the kind of game I am talking about. I hated missing out on games like Bravely Default. My favorite genre found a home on devices I couldn't really stand playing for more than 30m at a time.

I dont have an injury but there are some games that really hurt my hands on the OG 3DS, i assume its only slightly better on the XL.

My hand gets cramped playing Samus Returns but Kid Icarus Uprising is even worse.

 

[bionic77]

I don't like the hardware and it was too expensive, but it had some of the best portable games (and some like Kid Icarus that were amongst the best games I have ever played on any platform).

 

[MrSaturn99]

Best handheld ever made. It's been getting a ton of shit lately, but honestly I don't ever want it to end.

New Leaf, StreetPass, Smash and Omega Ruby are always making me come back.

 

[Stone Ocean]

It's library doesn't even compare to any of Nintendo's former portables, let alone one of the best ever lol

Whatever the 3DS did, the GBA and the NDS did three times over.

 

[Servbot24]

Fitting thread since I just bought a 3DS. I owned one a few years ago, but I believe Fire Emblem Awakening was the last game I played so I have some things to catch up on.

 

[horkrux]

I disagree. It certainly has a good number of great titles, but I think previous handhelds had even more.

 

[entremet]

It's a good library but I dunno, something is just missing. A huge disappointment in comparison to DS, which is my favorite handheld of all time. There's very little in its library I find as interesting or good as I did Canvas Curse, Meteos, Ouendan, Mario & Luigi 3: Bowser's Inside Story, The World Ends With You, Daigasso! Band Brothers, Advance Wars: Dual Strike & Days of Ruin, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow & Order of Ecclesia, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, the Ace Attorney trilogy, Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes, Space Invaders Extreme, Bangai-O Spirits, Contra 4, 999, Trauma Center, Monster Tale, Hotel Dusk, Another Code, Mega Man ZX, Infinite Space, Rhythm Heaven, Mario Kart DS, Animal Crossing: Wild World, Puzzle Quest, Tetris DS, Rune Factory, The Legendary Starfi, Solatorobo, Kirby: Mass Attack, Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime, Nanostray, Alien: Infestation, Radiant Historia, Retro Game Challenge, Super Scribblenauts, Jump Superstars etc. at the time DS was around.

3DS has sequels to some but they just don't feel as fresh and some are inferior to their DS offerings. In addition, I feel like 3DS has a lack of originality. Etrian Odysseys are good games but it already started on DS and 3DS has, like, the 70th one at this point. The only weakness of DS are the shitty-ass Zeldas. ALBW isn't shitty like the DS Zeldas but I still find it one of the weakest games in the franchise.

Out of the 3DS library, there are only a few (non-ports) that give me the same vibe as my favorite DS games, like, Super Mario 3D Land, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars, Bravely Default, Luigi's Mansion 2, Fire Emblem Awakening, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Metroid 2: Samus Returns, Ever Oasis, Pushmo and Theatrhythm FF: Curtain Call. But that's mostly it.

Reading your list and it seems the DS was the last bastion of cart-based sprite based. Kinda sad.

 

[Keinning]

dunno, the iterations for four of my favourite series were all horrible to me (FE, Ace Attorney, Pokemon and Persona) so

I respectfully disagree.

 

[BanjoLayleeYookaKazooie]

It's library doesn't even compare to any of Nintendo's former portables, let alone one of the best ever lol

Whatever the 3DS did, the GBA and the NDS did three times over.

The DS and GBA had a Super Smash Bros game 3x as good as the one on 3DS?!

Spill the deets I'm on eBay right now ready to type in its name and buy it at a high price!

 

[Revolutionary]

Nah.