It’s been 12 years since the doors of the 3DS and Wii U eShop opened, and sadly they are shutting down for good.
Nintendo has announced that on March 27, 2023, games will no longer be available for digital purchase from that generation of consoles. But since the ability to add funds directly to an account has been revoked, it’s been months since I’ve been unable to purchase anything, so why bother with this announcement, right? It turns out that there is a perfectly valid method that allows you to add a . It’s very easy.
Here’s how to buy 3DS and Wii U games before they’re gone forever, and some game recommendations in case you don’t know what to get.
How to buy games on 3DS and Wii U.
First, you need a Nintendo Switch. This is the key to everything. Click the personal user icon on the top left of the home screen,[友達の提案]Scroll down to There are 3DS and Wii U icons on the top bar. After clicking “Next” on any tab, you will be asked to sign in to your “Nintendo Network ID account”. This was the modern-day equivalent of his MyNintendo account on the 3DS/Wii U, used to tie purchases to emails.
Once you’ve successfully linked your Switch and Nintendo Network ID accounts, you’re almost done! Then go to the Switch eShop and click the settings icon in the top right. Under the “Available Funds” section, you will see a small prompt that says “Integrate Funds with Nintendo 3DS/Wii U”. Click this and you’re done. Funds added to the Nintendo Switch eShop will also be available for use on the 3DS and Wii U eShops.But which games are worth buying and which digital games will disappear forever after the stores close on March 27? Now that we’re back on the 3DS and Wii U eShops, here are some key picks.
The best 3DS and Wii U games to buy before it’s too late
Dr. Luigi (Wii U)
Released in the Year of Luigi—remember?—this entry in the Doctor Mario franchise starred our favorite green-capped plumber. In addition to the classic pill puzzles we all know, the title included an ‘Operation L’ mode utilizing an L-shaped pill. Digital-only First As far as his Wii U games in his party are concerned, there aren’t many to choose from, but Doctor Luigi is a welcome surprise.
Fire Emblem if: Revelation (3DS)
Intelligent Systems has decided to go the Pokemon route and split the 14th entry in the Fire Emblem series into two different games, Fire Emblem Fates Birthright and Conquest. One chose Hoshito, the family from which Colin was born, and the other Noru, from the adoptive family.
However, a third, digital-only route was available. revelationThis pass was only available for purchase after completing Chapter 6. In this route, you choose neither family, instead opting to build an army out of the shadows to defeat the threat that caused both families to fight in the first place. Arguably the best way to play games, the franchise’s key titles will be unavailable to fans after the 3DS eShop shuts down.
Virtual Consoles – DS, Wii, TurboGrafx 16, Game Gear, DSi
Before Nintendo Switch Online, there was Virtual Console. A system for purchasing retro games from various consoles in an e-shop.
As of March 2023, some consoles are not yet playable on Nintendo Switch. On Wii U, there are DS, Wii, and TurboGrafx-16 games, including The Legend of Zelda Spirit Truck and Phantom Hourglass, Metroid Prime Trilogy, Animal Crossing: Wild World, Super Mario Galaxy 2, and Bomberman ’93.
3DS has game gear and DSi Ware such as Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine, Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!, Shinobi, and Dragon Quest Wars.
Pushmo (3DS)
Pushmo is a Nintendo classic from this era. Push and pull the stage itself to solve puzzles and save the top kids. Altogether he has four games in this mini-franchise, all digital only, so if you enjoyed the first entry, I recommend trying them all.
Pushmo was a unique puzzle game, but it included a lot of modern staples, like level creation, which made it a very addictive title.
Dillon’s Rolling Western (3DS)
If you like tower defense games, Dillon’s Rolling Western is for you. Monsters are invading the Old West town. Your job as Armadillo Dillon is to thwart their attempts. The game combines action and exploration and was essential for 3DS owners. There have been several sequels, and Dillon also appeared in Smash.
The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess HD (Wii U)
A few of the following games are available physically on the Wii U and 3DS, but can fetch quite a bit of money on the secondary market.
First of all, a game that has not been released on the Switch (hint hint Nintendo): The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess HD. This is a must-play for die-hard Zelda fans, especially if you’re gearing up for the release of Tears of the Kingdom.
If you manage to get your hands on Wolf Link’s amiibo, there is a special dungeon called the “Cave of Shadows”. And if you didn’t know this was possible, surprise me!
All mainline Pokemon games
Consistently, regardless of which console you’re looking at, Pokémon games will be expensive. sold at a price below the
So that you can experience Gen 6 and Gen 7 without worrying about missing out on the first mainline 3D titles in the series, you can get these titles digitally instead of hunting down the secondary market. Sorry, Colosseum and Dark Gale don’t count.
Professor Layton VS Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (3DS)
Now we are in big boy territory. When his two of the best game detectives finally come together in Professor Layton vs. the Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney. Little did they know that a physical copy on the secondary market would cost over $200.
It turns out that the biggest offense is these prices. In this game you will solve crime puzzles like Layton and prove the defendant’s innocence like Wright. If you really want to give this legendary collab a try, we recommend saving yourself the court costs and picking it up on the eShop for $30 instead.
Xenoblade X (Wii U)
All Xenoblade Chronicles games are playable on Nintendo Switch. All but one. The final list of Wii U games not ported to the Switch includes Xenoblade Chronicles X.
This game is completely separate from other entries in the franchise. That said, there are still many familiar elements. Set in the unknown planet Mira, you can create your own avatar and use it as the main character. With a physical copy currently priced at just over $60, digital may be the safer option to ensure this is in your library.
Persona Q Shadow of the Labyrinth (3DS)
If you’ve played the re-releases of Persona 3 Portable and 4 Golden, give it a go. This handheld title followed characters from both the Dungeon Crawl and Fusion Persona games in a replica of Yasogami High School. You know, a typical high school day.
The game has a super cute art style and a killer soundtrack and is only $20 on the eShop. The sequel, Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth, contains Persona 5 characters and is significantly more expensive than the first game, so you’ll have to pick these up if you need them and then buy them physically.
Finally, remember to download updates for every 3DS game you can! Even if you don’t own the title, you can download updates in case you physically purchase the game. The storage size of each update is very small, so it’s not too much of an issue. That way you are guaranteed to be able to play the latest version of any game.
Any recommended games we missed? Help your fellow 3DS and Wii U owners by speaking up in the comments below. The libraries of these two consoles are so rich in hidden gems that many good games had to be left off the list. Kid Icarus Uprising is one of my favorite games, and it has DLC too, so be sure to grab these games before the eShop closes on March 27th.
Kalani Goda Newman is an IGN producer.
