The 10 Best Nintendo 3DS Games (so far)

The New Nintendo 3DS (left) and
New Nintendo 3DS XL (right)

 Nintendo's 3DS received massive success since its slow debut back in 2011. Games such as Mario Kart 7, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, and Animal Crossing: New Leaf had many rushing to their nearest stores and buying a 3DS system. Additionally, the next iteration of the 3DS will be launching this month as "New" Nintendo 3DS XL. In anticipation of the upcoming iteration, I've created a Top 10 list with the best games (so far). It'll have to be a 3DS exclusive (obviulsy) and these are my picks, so if you want to share some of our favorite games, you can do that in the comments section. Furthermore, the list will be updated when many games such as Code Name: S.T.E.A.M and the new Fire Emblem are released, so look forward to that. For the time being, here are the 10 best Nintendo 3DS games.

Shin Megami Tensei IV (Atlus)

The MegaTen series' long awaited entry,
Shin Megami Tensei IV.

 Serving as a successor to one of my all-time favorite RPGs, Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne, and elements from the Persona series.As a newly recruited Samurai, SMT IV has you making many decisions, some of which will influence your ending.If you've played Persona or Devil Survivor, then you'll feel at home with SMT IV; the demon fusing system as well as negotiating with them are my favorite features of the game.While not for everyone Shin Megami Tensei IV is another great entry in the series, and hopefully there is more to come.

Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (Nintendo)

 Luigi gets his second standalone adventure in Dark Moon.

 Luigi finally gets a sequel to his 2001 GameCube game, Luigi's Mansion, titled Dark Moon. Helpless, cowardly, and yet lovable, Luigi is back and this time he must retrieve the pieces of the shattered Dark Moon. Armed with the Poltergust 5000, a ghost-capturing vacuum machine, Luigi must explore the five mansions, each contain a shattered piece of the Dark Moon. The most notable aspect of the game are obviously the detailed visuals and creepy music. The puzzle-solving and ghost capturing gameplay are great, though checkpoints would have been a good addition. Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon is an oddly impressive game on the 3DS' library of games, featuring enough Luigi for you enjoy.

Mario Kart 7 (Nintendo)

Mario races its way onto the 3DS.

 Nearly every Nintendo system had its Mario Kart game and the 3DS isn't different. Mario Kart 7 has a load of new features such as kart customization, underwater racing, and first-person racing.Choosing your frame, tires, and gliders can provide various effects for your kart and the tracks are stunning in 3D.There are many things to be said about Mario Kart 7, but there's one thing for sure, its one few great racing games on the 3DS.

Animal Crossing: New Leaf (Nintendo)

The most addicting 3DS game of 2013,
Animal Crossing: New Leaf.

 There's no serious story or any core gameplay, just you as the mayor of your named town.While it may sound very simple, Animal Crossing games have always been about personalizing your town.You can choose to either go fishing or building new structure in your town.You'll be surprised by the amount of time that can be put into New Leaf.

Kid Icarus: Uprising (Nintendo)

Pit makes a glorious return onto the 3DS.

 After 20 long years and an appearance as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Pit is back and better than ever with Kid Icarus: Uprising. Despite the somewhat clunky controls, Uprising is filled with great visuals, sound, and well-written dialogue. The writing is probably the best aspect of the game due to the frequent fourth-wall breaks. From Smash Bros. to even the first Kid Icarus game, its one of the best. Kid Icarus: Uprising is filled with replay-value and  humor, and a game every 3DS owner should checkout.

Pokemon X and Y (Nintendo)

The legendary Pokemons: Xerneas  and
Yveltal

 The Pokemon series made its 3D debut on Nintendo 3DS with X and Y. Full 3D models, Pokemon trainer customization, and the new fairy-type Pokemons are few of the numerous additions in X and Y. Also, the Kalos Region, which is inspired by France is the game's setting; and its really great. There are many activities to do in the game, one of them is catching them all, obviously. With over 718 Pokemons to collect, and many new features, Pokemon X and Y are definitely of the series' best entries.

Super Smash Bros. for 3DS (Nintendo)

The 3DS' best fighter, Smash Bros. 3DS.

 The first entry in the Super Smash Bros. series to smash (pun intended) on a Nintendo handheld system. Despite its flaws, its just as great as many fighters on the system. The randomness of Smash Run had me coming back for more, and it was absolutely worth it. Also, its just as good as Smash Wii U, sharing all of the roster and having exclusive levels. In conclusion, if you're looking for a fun, faced-paced and crazy fighter on the go, look no further than Smash 3DS.

Fire Emblem Awakening (Nintendo)

The instant hit , Fire Emblem Awakening.

 Fire Emblem Awakening is by far the 3DS' best turn-based strategy game and hopefully the upcoming Fire Emblem will be just as great.Production values from music to visuals are excellent, as well as the series' signature gameplay. I've played Fire Emblem for the Gameboy Advance and it was brutally challenging; make one wrong move and you'll lose a beloved party member... forever, thus demanding careful planning. Fortunately, Awakening introduces a new Casual Mode for newcomers, in which fallen party members are present after battle. However, Awakening still provides the intensity of previous games for series loyalists. The biggest draw of Awakening are the memorable and lovable characters you'll encounter. My favorites include Chrom, Lucina, and the customize-able main character, who's canon name is Robin. There are many great things to be said about Awakening, but I'll keep it short. Check out Fire Emblem Awakening, its easily the best strategy RPG on the system.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (Nintendo)

 The SNES classic's successor,
A link Between Worlds for the 3DS.

 Many fans were excited for A Link Between Worlds, mainly because of the fact that its a successor to the Super Nintendo classic, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. The new item system, which lets you rent items from the start, is a welcome addition to the series. Also, choosing which dungeon to start with offers many levels of freedom and hopefully is implemented in later installments. Presentation-wise, its one of the best on the 3DS. The visuals are vivid and stellar, as for the soundtrack, its one of the best in the series. Also, The story is engaging and memorable, like many Zelda games.Unlike most entries, A Link Between Worlds is a bit short; I finished the game in 20 hours with side-quests and finding secrets. Overall, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is a must-play for any 3DS owner, its one of the best there is on the system.

Super Mario 3D Land (Nintendo) 

Mario in 3D.

 If you're following this blog for a while, you probably now that i'm a huge Super Mario fan. So its no surprise that in most Nintendo systems, a Super Mario game is #1. Furthermore, 3D Land was my first 3DS game that I enjoyed, which was soon followed by Ocarina of Time 3D and Mario Kart 7, and so on. Think of 3D Land as a portable version of the Galaxy games, with a mix of the New Super Mario Bros. games. The controls are tight and spot-on. Controlling Mario with a circle pad is more precise and the camera is doesn't provide any annoyances. Simply put, Super Mario 3D Land is THE game to get if your considering a 3DS.

 That's all for now, hopefully you're interested with some of the games on the list, especially with likes of Fire Emblem Awakening and Kid Icarus Uprising. Make sure to share-out your favorite 3DS games in the comments section. Until next time!