We round up the best Nintendo 3DS games that will be released in the UK in the second half of 2017 or the start of 2018. From remakes of Nintendo classics like Metroid and Mario & Luigi, to fresh new entries in the Monster Hunter Stories, Pikmin and Brain Training series, these are the essential 3DS games yet to arrive.
Ever Oasis
From gaming legend Koichi Ishii, a Square Enix stalwart who had a hand in the Mana and Final Fantasy series, comes this epic adventure RPG for the Nintendo 3DS. Ever Oasis sees you nurturing your very own miniature paradise deep within a deadly desert. Of course, you’ll have to venture out to explore your surroundings, which means battling against dangerous foes and navigating your way through a variety of funky dungeons.
Best of all, you won’t be alone on your quest. By forging alliances, you can explore and do battle in a team of three. Which of course gives the game some unique combat and puzzle-solving mechanics.
Ever Oasis is actually just about to hit the 3DS download store, as well as high street stores. You should be able to play a demo too, if you want to try before you buy.
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Hey! Pikmin
We’re big Pikmin fans here at Recombu Towers, which is why we’re super jazzed that the little tykes are invading the Nintendo 3DS on July 28.
The Hey! Pikmin title features very different gameplay to the older entries in the series. This side-scrolling platform adventure has you guiding the multicoloured munchkins through a variety of levels, using the touch screen to solve puzzles and batter any foes that try and get in your way. You can actually try out the demo already by heading to the Nintendo eShop.
Dr Kawashima’s Devilish Brain Training: Can you stay focused?
Fancy stretching that fat old muscle in your head, with a variety of challenging puzzles and tests? Everyone’s favourite nerd, Dr Kawashima, is back on the Nintendo 3DS on July 28 with yet another Brain Training game.
You get 30 different minigames to choose from, with 18 fresh new challenges that haven’t been seen in prior titles. Some of them – such as the Devilish Calculations test – sound downright fiendish. In that one, you not only have to solve mathematical problems; you have to provide the answer to the previous problem, rather than the one you’re currently working on. Nasty!
The game can automatically adjust its difficulty level based on your performances, so shouldn’t prove frustrating. You can also trade scores with strangers using StreetPass, to see if you’re the brainiest boffin on your block.
Metroid: Samus Returns
One of the big announcements at the E3 2017 conference was this 3DS remake of the original GameBoy title, Metroid II.
A lot of love and affection has been pumped into this game by Nintendo, so don’t just expect a graphical overhaul – although the crisp and colourful visuals are seriously gorgeous. You also get new weapons, new moves and abilities and a redesigned map, making this pretty much a fresh new title in the Metroid series.
Definitely one to look forward to when it hits the 3DS in September 2017.
Monster Hunter Stories
We all love a bit of Monster Hunter action and the latest entry in the series for 3DS already looks suitably epic.
Rather than simply hunting down monsters, the Stores title has you adopting your very own beasties and training them up, before riding them across the vast map. You can soar into the skies or take to the seas in order to discover eggs to hatch. Monster Hunter Stories even allows you to team up with up to four other fighters, to battle foes.
You can get hunting from September 8, when the game hits 3DS.
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions
If you’ve owned any of Nintendo’s portable consoles in the 21st Century, chances are you’ve played one of the excellent Mario & Luigi RPGs. We’ve already had Dream Team and Paper Jam on the 3DS, and now Nintendo is remastering the original title in the series, Superstar Saga, as the third 3DS entry.
Superstar Saga first emerged on the GameBoy Advance back in 2003 and was an absolute joy to play, with ridiculous humour, clever battle mechanics and side-quests galore. This remake boasts a whole new side-story, starring Bowser’s minions as they hunt for their grumpy overlord – as you might have gathered from the updated title.
You also get fresh new controls geared towards the 3DS’ touchscreen, plus various other gameplay upgrades to make things fresh for fans of the original game.
You can dive back into Mario and Luigi’s shoes on Nintendo 3DS on October 6.
Pokémon Ultra Sun & Pokémon Ultra Moon
Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are new Pokemon adventures that take place at the same time as the original Sun and Moon games, in the tropical Alola region. So far, very little is known about these 3DS titles, other than the fact that they boast fresh adventures, with new gameplay elements and – crucially – new Pokemon to catch that weren’t in the first two games.
We’ll hopefully know more before the games are released on November 17.
Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology
Wre haven’t personally played the original Radiant Historia game, which hit the standard Nintendo DS console back in the day. However, this beloved RPG adventure has quite the following and this new and improved version of the game already looks rather spiffing.
You can expect an updated story, fresh new presentation and improved gameplay, making this an early contender for best 3DS game of 2018.
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux
The Shin Megami Tensei games are well known for being a bit mental, so we’re obviously thrilled at the prospect of Strange Journey Redux.
This remake of the original Strange Journey title changes up the plot and adds in some ‘fun surprises’, or so says Nintendo. You’ll even get some all-new endings to discover, as well as a whole new dungeon. Don’t get too excited however, as the game won’t be released for the 3DS until early 2018.
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