Well, I took some time to jot down some thoughts on the one handheld that everyone seems to agree was the bee’s knees: the Nintendo 3DS (and all its various iterations thereafter!)
It’s one I’ve gone through a few ‘phases’ with - collecting, modding, selling, then buying a ‘perfect’ one, then…the pattern just repeats and repeats. I love how truly customizable it is now that it is…essentially an abandoned generation. The community took things to great new heights (those themes!!!), 3D printed docks and displays, vinyl stickers…it makes me so happy to see how very few 3DS consoles look like anyone else’s.
The market is getting crazy though. Prices are only going up (and special editions are going waaaay up), but it’s nice to see options like the Thor, Pocket DS and Anbernic’s RG DS coming up to give modern users some solutions to playing.
Anyway
Don’t expect anything wonderful here, I wasn’t even sure what to write for this article. I guess while I call it a retrospective, it just touches on some key points in the lifetime of the 3DS system.
I really liked my 3DS and especially StreetPass and getting all those puzzles pieces. I’d take it to work with me everyday but once I lost all my progress I eventually just stopped playing on it.
I’m keeping an eye on the new dual screen handhelds but will wait a bit longer and see how it fares.
I didn’t realize there were alternate hardware options available. I have the custom firmware installed on mine, but I had two of them crap out of me in the past so it’s crossed my mind that if that happened again the resale market for them might force this one to be my last.
Some ds and 3ds games tried to shoehorn in touchscreen usage, which was annoying because there’s no shame in a good game not making use of the stylus. With that said, the ones that made good use of both screens were spectacular. Shoutout to Yo-Kai Watch 3.
One thing I’ll add, since reviewing the AYN Thor, I have been playing a LOT of 3DS games. Upscaled and looking so beautiful. I just love the games they made for this console. I wish the Switch had more…pocketability? But seeing how the size increased for the S2, I don’t expect that will come about again :(
I have a feeling that a Switch 2 Lite is on the horizon, Nintendo loves a console variant. Not that the S1 lite is pocketable, but maybe they will shrink it more this time.
I went down a somewhat similar path, only for me it was GBA and emulation on my Steam Deck that really made me realize I missed having pocket games that are real games and not mobile bullshit. I modded my old GBA with a modern screen and battery and it’s been my goto device for portable games.
The OG DS dropped as I was graduating highschool and going into college, and the 3DS completely passed me by. I keep thinking about getting a used one but their prices are still a little high for me.
I just realized my Z-fold with controller case could make a truly excellent DS emulator.
Anyone know if there’s an emulator out there that supports folding phones in landscape mode as a DS, similar to the way YouTube will split the video and the controls when partway folded in landscape more?
My magic 8 ball says they’ll release an oled refresh to up the price $50-100 and not much else before switch 3, which is still many years away for either to happen.
As-is the thing has sold a ton despite no new games existing really.
As-is the thing has sold a ton despite no new games existing really.
Their numbers were announced, it’s sold 10.36m units so far, but these stats were from before the new Pokemon game was released. So…I’d hazard far more than this!
I’d recommend keeping an eye on something like Buyee (or one of several others that do the same thing!). Keep an eye on Mercari on there, sort by ‘newly listed’ and you’ll get a deal. I’ve bought a lot of Nintendo consoles using that method, and have got some amazing deals!
Switch games emulated on the Retroid Pocket 5 have been amazing. A pocketable console with full Switch 1 games and an amazing screen. It’s been such a good purchase.
It’s been able to play everything I throw at it. There can be minor slow down initially while it’s compiling shaders sometimes. The Retroid Pocket 6 is open for pre-orders now and that’s going to easily be able to play all Switch and many modern PC game too. Worth having a look out anyone is interested, especially now that Steam games work with cloud save game sync. The Steam Deck could hardly be taken anywhere with how bulky it is. The RP5 for this much gaming power into the jeans pocket.
Exactly this, I’ve modded out 3DS and sold them for a while as a fun project. But it wasn’t until I got the Thor that I could really get into the games. I’m 16 hours deep into my first time playing Pokemon Y and looking forward to the dragon quest titles
I’ve never really been into any Pokemon games before, but I am getting closer to wanting to try sink into one! How beautiful is the upscaling for 3DS games on the Thor?! The games just sparkle. I have gotten slightly distracted by Metroid Prime 2 though…
Leave Pokémon behind, play some Shin Megami Tensei, thank me later.
There’s a pipeline of former Pokémon fans thinking “Huh, these games have kind of gone to crap, I wish I had this same monster-collector style game but with a real plot and interesting characters” and then SMTIV falls from the sky like manna from heaven unto them.
I don’t think IV is actually the best SMT game, I think that honor goes to Nocturne - which is available on the Switch - but SMTIV is a good showing of the series that is available for 3DS. If you have the option, pick up SMTIV-Apocalypse, it’s an expanded “GOTY-style” re-release of IV, but the base game is also fine.
It’s beautiful, yeah, I’m definitely one of the buy and sell devices people and I have a hard time seeing me give this one up. The only other consistent has been the ROG Ally with SteamOS and a 4tb ssd. But the buttons, screen, pocket-ability and clamshell have made this a prime handheld and that’s before even talking about how well the dual screen works
Metroid: Samus Returns (I’m obsessed with Metroid)
But I’m also playing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D for the very first time on the AYN Thor at the moment. I’ve never stuck with it, and I’m enjoying it so much. What a game! I’d have expected the ancient age would make it less of a game, but nope. It’s perfect!
There’s so many more, but that’s a nice little cross-section of GREAT games :)
I loved my 3DS. And yeah it’s actually pocket sized, unlike the Switch or Steam Deck. I’m still not sure about the choice of the 3D screen instead of just making it higher resolution lol. The 3D effect was cool but kind of a gimmick.
Like most, it never really interested me. I just liked the clamshell self-protecting design. The 3D slider was firmly set to the ‘off’ position for me!
I so love the DS and 3DS and want these new devices like the Thor to succeed, but the one thing I would see them improve before being called true successors is stylus compatibility.
I don’t know how touchscreen tech works, but the plastic tipped stylus for the DS just feels so much better than the rubber tipped ones meant for modern screens
Modern touch screens work well enough to not really require styluses to feel good though. So modern styluses feeling annoying isn’t as big of an issue for most uses.
Different touch detection methods. The squishy DS screens work by physically making contact. Glass phone screens work by detecting electrical capacitance differences.
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I really liked my 3DS and especially StreetPass and getting all those puzzles pieces. I’d take it to work with me everyday but once I lost all my progress I eventually just stopped playing on it.
I’m keeping an eye on the new dual screen handhelds but will wait a bit longer and see how it fares.
I didn’t realize there were alternate hardware options available. I have the custom firmware installed on mine, but I had two of them crap out of me in the past so it’s crossed my mind that if that happened again the resale market for them might force this one to be my last.
Some ds and 3ds games tried to shoehorn in touchscreen usage, which was annoying because there’s no shame in a good game not making use of the stylus. With that said, the ones that made good use of both screens were spectacular. Shoutout to Yo-Kai Watch 3.
One thing I’ll add, since reviewing the AYN Thor, I have been playing a LOT of 3DS games. Upscaled and looking so beautiful. I just love the games they made for this console. I wish the Switch had more…pocketability? But seeing how the size increased for the S2, I don’t expect that will come about again :(
I have a feeling that a Switch 2 Lite is on the horizon, Nintendo loves a console variant. Not that the S1 lite is pocketable, but maybe they will shrink it more this time. I went down a somewhat similar path, only for me it was GBA and emulation on my Steam Deck that really made me realize I missed having pocket games that are real games and not mobile bullshit. I modded my old GBA with a modern screen and battery and it’s been my goto device for portable games. The OG DS dropped as I was graduating highschool and going into college, and the 3DS completely passed me by. I keep thinking about getting a used one but their prices are still a little high for me.
Recently got an r36s to scratch this itch. I love the little thing.
I just realized my Z-fold with controller case could make a truly excellent DS emulator.
Anyone know if there’s an emulator out there that supports folding phones in landscape mode as a DS, similar to the way YouTube will split the video and the controls when partway folded in landscape more?
My magic 8 ball says they’ll release an oled refresh to up the price $50-100 and not much else before switch 3, which is still many years away for either to happen.
As-is the thing has sold a ton despite no new games existing really.
Their numbers were announced, it’s sold 10.36m units so far, but these stats were from before the new Pokemon game was released. So…I’d hazard far more than this!
https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/hard_soft/index.html
I’d recommend keeping an eye on something like Buyee (or one of several others that do the same thing!). Keep an eye on Mercari on there, sort by ‘newly listed’ and you’ll get a deal. I’ve bought a lot of Nintendo consoles using that method, and have got some amazing deals!
Switch games emulated on the Retroid Pocket 5 have been amazing. A pocketable console with full Switch 1 games and an amazing screen. It’s been such a good purchase.
I’m surprised Retroid Pocket 5 is a reliable Switch emulator - are there games that don’t run at native speed?
It’s been able to play everything I throw at it. There can be minor slow down initially while it’s compiling shaders sometimes. The Retroid Pocket 6 is open for pre-orders now and that’s going to easily be able to play all Switch and many modern PC game too. Worth having a look out anyone is interested, especially now that Steam games work with cloud save game sync. The Steam Deck could hardly be taken anywhere with how bulky it is. The RP5 for this much gaming power into the jeans pocket.
Exactly this, I’ve modded out 3DS and sold them for a while as a fun project. But it wasn’t until I got the Thor that I could really get into the games. I’m 16 hours deep into my first time playing Pokemon Y and looking forward to the dragon quest titles
I’ve never really been into any Pokemon games before, but I am getting closer to wanting to try sink into one! How beautiful is the upscaling for 3DS games on the Thor?! The games just sparkle. I have gotten slightly distracted by Metroid Prime 2 though…
Leave Pokémon behind, play some Shin Megami Tensei, thank me later.
There’s a pipeline of former Pokémon fans thinking “Huh, these games have kind of gone to crap, I wish I had this same monster-collector style game but with a real plot and interesting characters” and then SMTIV falls from the sky like manna from heaven unto them.
I don’t think IV is actually the best SMT game, I think that honor goes to Nocturne - which is available on the Switch - but SMTIV is a good showing of the series that is available for 3DS. If you have the option, pick up SMTIV-Apocalypse, it’s an expanded “GOTY-style” re-release of IV, but the base game is also fine.
Apocalypse is a sequel to the neutral route of iv
It’s beautiful, yeah, I’m definitely one of the buy and sell devices people and I have a hard time seeing me give this one up. The only other consistent has been the ROG Ally with SteamOS and a 4tb ssd. But the buttons, screen, pocket-ability and clamshell have made this a prime handheld and that’s before even talking about how well the dual screen works
What are your game recommendations?
But I’m also playing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D for the very first time on the AYN Thor at the moment. I’ve never stuck with it, and I’m enjoying it so much. What a game! I’d have expected the ancient age would make it less of a game, but nope. It’s perfect!
There’s so many more, but that’s a nice little cross-section of GREAT games :)
+1 for Bravely Default I love how much Revo cooked with OST
Thanks for this list.
I played the Metroid game and I love that series.
I’m not sure I liked smt4 too much, but I’m not familiar with the others. I’ll check them out.
I got a 3dsxl about 6 months ago for some Pokémon action, now I need something new.
I loved my 3DS. And yeah it’s actually pocket sized, unlike the Switch or Steam Deck. I’m still not sure about the choice of the 3D screen instead of just making it higher resolution lol. The 3D effect was cool but kind of a gimmick.
Like most, it never really interested me. I just liked the clamshell self-protecting design. The 3D slider was firmly set to the ‘off’ position for me!
I still use mine. I modded it and it can play a ton of games. The Pokemon romhacks are fun
I so love the DS and 3DS and want these new devices like the Thor to succeed, but the one thing I would see them improve before being called true successors is stylus compatibility.
I don’t know how touchscreen tech works, but the plastic tipped stylus for the DS just feels so much better than the rubber tipped ones meant for modern screens
Modern touch screens work well enough to not really require styluses to feel good though. So modern styluses feeling annoying isn’t as big of an issue for most uses.
Different touch detection methods. The squishy DS screens work by physically making contact. Glass phone screens work by detecting electrical capacitance differences.
https://www.digikey.com/en/maker/blogs/2023/whats-the-difference-between-capacitive-and-resistive-touch-screens
Fire emblem awakening