The 3DS and Wii U have both been home to many great titles during their lifetime. They’ve bought us the likes of Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Super Smash Bros., and hours of competitive fun. But as the countdown to closing their online store begins, players are frantically reconsidering what nostalgia they can. As much as we love roaming around our island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons or visiting the ancient land of Hisui in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, sitting with an old console brings any Nintendo fanatic back to its first experience.
Wii U and 3DS eShops will close in late March 2023, until then you’ll be able to purchase and download games from those digital stores. However, you only have until August 29, 2022 to use your eShop cards.
So, with that in mind, what should you be sure not to miss once the 3DS and Wii U eShop are retired? We have compiled a list of our top 10 players to make sure no blacksmith is left empty-handed.
1. Pokemon Crystal
Platform: 3DS
Even though the physical version of this game was released on the Game Boy, the ridiculous labels of retro Pokemon titles are enough to put any die-hard fan away. So, when Pokemon Crystal was announced digitally released on the 3DS, trainers alike re-visited one of the best Pokemon titles to date.
Sure, recent releases of Pokemon are great – with the likes of Pokemon Legends: Arceus showing a new side of the series’ mechanics that no ’90s kid expected to see. But for those days when you miss random encounters and linear stories, Pokemon Crystal on the Nintendo 3DS always has your back.
2. Harmoknight
Platform: 3DS
Rhythm games that focus on rhythm-based combat are easily one of the most satisfying methods of beating your enemies. No matter what your musical talent is, they are able to meet everyone’s needs.
Harmoknight is a rhythm based platformer in which the player uses two buttons across scrolling maps automatically. Sounds easy enough, right? But with vivid colors and an unexpectedly comprehensive story, Harmoknight is more than meets the eye. Plus it’s made by Pokemon developer, Game Freak!
Of course, the Nintendo Switch is equipped with a backlog of rhythm games. But having this little pocket-sized arcade treasure ready to run on your 3DS whenever you need it makes it something to grab before it’s too late.
3. Monsters Attack Friday! Tokyo tale
Platform: 3DS
Collecting a series of cards decorated with colorful creatures is not a new concept for any player at this point. From casting spells and competing among friends (although it sounds like a glorious game of rock paper scissors) to facing towering terrors every Friday, Attack of the Friday Monsters is a fascinating story.
Although upon its first release, this game was referred to as a “Tokyo Life sim”, there are elements of a strong age story as you roam the map, meet the locals, and interact with a new home. For anyone looking to hide out in the Tokyo countryside for a while without feeling the threats of crushing enemies, Friday Monsters Attack won’t disappoint.
4. Affordable space adventures
Platform: Wii U
Sometimes you don’t have to cash in to go on some epic quest. Affordable Space Adventures is exactly what it says on the tin. This stealth adventure game uses the Wii U gamepad to guide your spaceship through a wide variety of unexpected environments.
This game also supports up to three crew members so you and your friends can embark on exploration together. It offers some useful and serious fun while keeping the price on the cheaper side of things. Even after rated the Wii U as Nintendo’s worst console release, titles like this remind you why it was fun while it lasted.
5. Duck Hunt
Platform: Wii U
Duck Hunt is very similar to Pokemon Crystal, one of the classic Nintendo titles that has been given a new lease on life. The concept is still as simple as you can remember it on the NES, but it makes for some fast-paced nostalgia and fun. It is a shooting game in its simplest and most memorable form for all the right reasons. Plus, the Wii U supports two players – making sure no duck is safe from a piercing eye.
Hard to get NES these days. Getting this title while it’s still available on the Wii U, especially with no advertising, is worth every penny to the Switch port.
6. Paul Bloks
Platform: 3DS
Pullblox is one of the most amazing games ever released in 3DS, it combines platform and puzzle elements in simple yet sweet gameplay. There are more than 200 puzzles to solve and friends to help out, which can be increased by creating your own levels in Pullblox Studio. It’s a stress-free experience for anyone who catches it.
It’s unique character design and cheerful soundtrack make it one of those titles you’ll undoubtedly struggle to put down. It works well on the 3DS because you can literally pick it up a bit, complete some puzzles and save some kids before putting it away again. Nice to say goodbye.
7. 3D Cave Story
Platform: 3DS
Discovering the history of the apocalyptic land now paves the way for a huge number of games nowadays. It’s a concept that hundreds of developers have taken up and run in every possible direction, but it’s very hard to get bored of it. No matter how many times you start a game and have some twisted tale of conflict carved into stone – you’ll keep coming back to it. Cave Story 3D on 3DS is pretty much the same.
Using the 3D ability of the Cave Story console really comes to life. While metroidvania games take up a lot of the Nintendo Switch eShop, this title takes things back the way they should be and balances the challenge with its story to deliver some very engaging games. Cave Story showcases what the 3DS was famous for while also offering a very useful game.
It’s also available on the Nintendo Switch as Cave Story+.
8. The Rebel
Platform: 3DS
If you are looking for some competitive fun, Renegade is the best game to choose. Even with fighting games embracing realistic graphics these days, sometimes all you need is a scrolling pixel-sized side smash to satisfy your fighting cravings. It’s as simple as fighting games can get. Beat some bad guys, snack on the street-side hamburger you easily find and get back to skimming.
What Renegade lacks in complexity, it gains in charm – arcade style based in graphics and controls. It’s simple, fun, and it could be any amount of time before you realize it.
9. AeternoBlade
AeternoBlade feels as if Castlevania just got a reboot of the anime before Castlevania got a reboot of the anime. After it was first released in Japan, it became a sought-after title for any Metroidvania fanatic. It’s a challenging game but a beautiful one at that.
Encountering monsters in a medieval setting is familiar to anyone who’s recently played Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night or Ender Lilies on Switch. It’s not uncommon for the metroidvania genre but has charm in terms of story and characters. Not to mention the haunting sound design and character.
10. Shin Megami Tensei: Overclocked Demon Survivor
Platform: 3DS
This intense RPG takes place in a demon invasion of Tokyo that has been abandoned by its government. It’s a fast, tense, action-packed story where every decision you make affects the outcome. The art style is absolutely beautiful, and some terrifying demons are introduced during a fully detailed turn-based combat system.
This game is well worth picking up without a question, with the retail price of the physical version only increasing over time. For anyone seeking justice against an abandoned civilization, this title really has it all. Plus, what’s not to love about you adopting your own army of hell-bent Destroyers in order to fight what gave you up in the first place.