Well, sort of…three of those are Gameboy Color games, two are GameCube games that have HD remakes on Wii U, one GBA game, two DS games, and one 3DS game. So if you have access to a Gameboy Color, and GBA, and a DS, six of those games are covered.
But wait the GBA can play GBC games. So you don’t need a physical GBC if you have a GBA. Right?
Right. Unless you’re a purist, of course.
Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons have a special shop that can only be accessed if you play on a GBA instead of a GBC, so you’ll want to do that anyway.
My point was, the article says we’re losing access to half of the Zelda games when the two eShops shut down, but there are plenty of other options for most of them.
The beginning of the article mentions the best option is to hang onto original hardware, but most people don’t have that option. So this is the latest hardware that you need to have all the Zelda games.
Okay, here’s the list I’ve made of 3DS titles that will be unavailable after the eShop shuts down. I’ve compiled these games from various online lists of interesting games that either won’t be available anymore, or are preferable on the 3DS. I’ve broken them up into a few different categories.
One other piece of advice I read: Search for “update” on the eShop, because a lot of games have 1.1 or 1.2 updates that fix bugs in the games. They’re all free, but will be unavailable once the eShop is gone. Even if you’re planning to buy the game later, you can still download the update now!
Series:
- Boxboy series (Boxboy, Boxboxboy, Bye-Bye Boxboy)
- Pushmo series (Pushmo, Crashmo, Stretchmo)
- Dillon series (Rolling Western, The Last Ranger, Dead-Heat Breakers)
- The Denpa Men series (They Came By Wave, Beyond the Waves, The Rise of Digitoll)
- Phoenix Wright exclusives (Ace Attorney Trilogy, Apollo Justice, Dual Destinies, Spirit of Justice)
- Professor Layton exclusives (Miracle Mask, Azran Legacy, Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright)
Nintendo Games
- WarioWare Gold
- Rhythm Heaven Megamix
- Ultimate NES Remix
- Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move
- Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars
- Poochy & Yoshi’s Wooly World
Other Games
- Gotta Protectors
- Harmoknight
- Moon Chronicles
- Inazuma Eleven
- Siesta Fiesta
- Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword
- Fluidity: Spin Cycle
- River City: Knights of Justice
- Mighty Switch Force
- Noitu Love: Devolution
- Ketzal’s Corridors
- Tokyo Crash Mobs
- Ikachan
- Cave Story
- The Legend of Kusakari
- Wakedas
- Kokuga
Level-5 Guild games
- Liberation Maiden
- Aero Porter
- Crimson Shroud
- Weapon Shop de Omasse
- Attack of the Friday Monsters!
- Bugs vs. Tanks
- The Starship Damrey
3D Classics:
- Kirby’s Adventure
- Out Run
- Streets of Rage 1/2
- Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
- Xevious
- Twinbee
- Sonic the Hedgehog 1/2
- Gunstar Heroes
- Urban Champion
Picross:
- Picross e through e8
- Picross 3D Round 2
- Sanrio Characters Picross
I’m not even bothering listing out the SNES Virtual Console games, since most of those are also on the Switch. And I skipped the games that have a retail version, but physical copies might go up in cost over time.
I hope this helps someone!
Awesome, that helps, thanks for taking the time to put that together!
I think some of those might be available in various bundles or other ways. I know there’s a Mighty Switch Force collection on the Switch (which I highly recommend, I loooove Mighty Switch Force).
I think there’s also cartridges of Ultimate NES Remix, but maybe there are multiple different versions?
I have a copy of Project Steam sitting around, and I should probably download the updates for that in case I ever want to play it even a little, since that’s apparently kind of unplayable pre-patches.
In what sense is the Ace Attorney trilogy exclusive? It’s on multiple other platforms. There are some games in the series that are more limited, mind. just not those three.
Pretty sure those are all on iOS.
Thanks for noting that about Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. I have that also and never played it so should get the updates.
I highly recommend every 3D classic, especially if you have a New 3DS XL. They are all great games (except Urban Champion…) and look amazing with the 3D effect. I play OutRun on my Switch often, but still go back to that 3DS version because the 3D is so freaking cool.
The entire list of 3D Classics is here…
Also, the G-Rev shooter Kokuga is another superb use of 3D in a really great game that’s a ton of fun to play with a decent challenge. Highly recommended.
Thanks for pointing this out! Yes, there is a Mighty Switch Force collection on the Switch, and Ultimate NES Remix does have a retail cartridge.
That’s true, I kind of included Ace Attorney Trilogy just for completeness. But I think at least the third one uses some of the touchscreen functionality, and of course you can’t beat holding down Y and yelling “OBJECTION!” into the microphone to object. But I believe the last three games are exclusive to the DS/3DS for consoles. (They are also on iOS, but I don’t count that.)
Oh, and the last two games have DLC on the 3DS, so if you’re obsessive like me, make sure to log on and buy any DLC that you want before the eShop closes.
Thanks for the full list! Yeah, I didn’t include them all, but some of the 3D Classics have special modes that make them kind of unique. Besides the 3D effect, Kid Icarus has improved gameplay that makes it more accessible, and I believe Shinobi III has an additional game mode not available anywhere else.
There are a number of games that are really special with 3D on if you have a New 3DS XL. If people are still playing on a regular 3DS or a 2DS, I do also highly recommend upgrading to a “New” platform because the eye tracking 3D is superb. It makes stuff like Ridge Racer 3D, which I thought was great without it, into something phenomenal. There are plenty more like that too.
Also, if people do get into the 3D Classics, the Sega package…
…is absolutely worth owning. A physical cart exists for that one as well.
I vaguely remember one of those Ace Attorney games being 3DS exclusive (or maybe having 3DS-exclusive content?).
I distinctly recall loving the simple-but-effective use of 3d for VVVVVV on 3DS, might be another one to add onto the list if it’s not available with a 3d mode elsewhere.
Thanks! I left it off the list because it’s so widely available elsewhere, but I will definitely get it just for the 3D.
Are there any plans to port those later Phoenix Wright titles? I’ve been working through the original trilogy with my partner, who hadn’t played any of them before, and I think we’ll probably keep going… but the Switch is a helluva lot easier to play together on the TV than a tiny 3DS.
With the latest Switch announcement, you can remove the GBC and GBA games off that list. So for Zelda games we’re losing, that leaves two GameCube games, two DS games, and a 3DS game.
Now if they start supporting DS games on the Switch, we’re getting somewhere!
That sounds like a natural thing to do, I’d reckon.