📱 Why Did Nintendo Discontinue the 3DS?

The Nintendo 3DS was once the king of portable gaming. Released in 2011, it introduced glasses-free 3D, dual screens, and a huge library of beloved titles like Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Pokémon X & Y, and Fire Emblem: Awakening. But by 2020, Nintendo officially discontinued the 3DS family, leaving fans wondering—why?

Let’s break down the reasons behind the end of this iconic handheld console.

📉 1. Declining Sales and Interest

Although the 3DS sold over 75 million units worldwide, its popularity peaked years before its discontinuation. With the rise of smartphones and tablets, fewer people were buying dedicated handheld consoles.

From 2017 onward, 3DS sales dropped dramatically year over year as gamers and developers shifted attention to newer platforms.

🎮 2. The Nintendo Switch Took Over

The Switch, launched in 2017, blurred the line between handheld and home consoles. For the first time, players could enjoy full-sized games like Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the go—something the 3DS couldn't match.

Nintendo began pushing the Switch as its main platform for both portable and home gaming, leaving little reason to keep producing the 3DS.

💾 3. Lack of New Games

By 2019, very few new 3DS titles were being released. Nintendo and third-party developers had mostly abandoned the platform in favor of the Switch and mobile gaming. Without a steady stream of new content, the system’s relevance faded.

⚙️ 4. Aging Hardware

  • Low resolution (240p)

  • Underpowered for modern games

  • Limited multiplayer and online support

Compared to even budget smartphones, the 3DS had outdated specs. Maintaining production lines for such old tech no longer made business sense.

🧭 5. Strategic Focus

Nintendo made it clear: “Our future is Switch.”

In 2020, the company quietly removed 3DS consoles from their official website and confirmed to multiple media outlets that production had ended. They also focused all marketing and development resources on expanding the Switch’s reach, especially with the Switch Lite, a purely handheld version that essentially replaced the 3DS.

🛍 Where Can You Still Buy a 3DS?

Although new systems are no longer being made, you can still find 3DS consoles and games through:

Keep in mind: prices for mint or special edition models (like the Pikachu Yellow 3DS XL) are rising fast due to collector demand.

🎮 Top 3DS Games Worth Revisiting

Title Genre Why Play It?
Pokémon Ultra Sun/Moon RPG Final 3DS Pokémon mainline games
Animal Crossing: New Leaf Life Sim Cozy, relaxing fun
Fire Emblem: Awakening Strategy RPG Revitalized the franchise
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Action-Adventure Classic Zelda feel with modern design
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon Puzzle/Horror Spooky and charming

💬 Final Thoughts

The Nintendo 3DS was discontinued not because it failed, but because its time had passed. It had a 9-year run, introduced millions to portable gaming, and left behind a legendary library of games.

If you're a retro gaming fan or looking to start a collection, the 3DS is still one of the best handhelds to own today. Just be quick—they’re only getting rarer.

✅ Nintendo 3DS Collector’s Game Checklist (2025 Edition)

🎮 Must-Have First-Party Nintendo Titles

Game Title Edition Status Notes
✅ The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Standard ⬜ Owned ⬜ Wishlist Must-play top-down Zelda
✅ Super Mario 3D Land Standard ⬜ Owned ⬜ Wishlist Iconic 3D Mario for handheld
✅ Mario Kart 7 Standard ⬜ Owned ⬜ Wishlist Top-tier multiplayer racing fun
✅ Animal Crossing: New Leaf Welcome Amiibo Edition ⬜ Owned ⬜ Wishlist Best-selling life sim on 3DS
✅ Fire Emblem: Awakening Standard ⬜ Owned ⬜ Wishlist Highly praised strategy RPG
✅ Pokémon X / Y Standard ⬜ Owned ⬜ Wishlist First 3D mainline Pokémon games
✅ Pokémon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire Standard ⬜ Owned ⬜ Wishlist Gen 3 remakes, popular with fans
✅ Metroid: Samus Returns Legacy Edition ⬜ Owned ⬜ Wishlist Remake of Metroid II

💎 Rare & Valuable Games (Hard to Find)

Game Title Rarity Score Status Notes
✅ Fire Emblem Fates: Special Edition 🔥🔥🔥 ⬜ Owned ⬜ Wishlist All 3 paths in 1 cart. High resale value
✅ Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse 🔥🔥 ⬜ Owned ⬜ Wishlist Niche, now pricey JRPG
✅ Dragon Quest VIII 🔥🔥 ⬜ Owned ⬜ Wishlist Physical version becoming harder to find
✅ Yo-Kai Watch 3 🔥🔥🔥 ⬜ Owned ⬜ Wishlist Late release, low print run
✅ Culdcept Revolt 🔥🔥 ⬜ Owned ⬜ Wishlist Rare strategy game

👾 3DS eShop Exclusives (now GONE!)

Since the 3DS eShop closed in March 2023, these digital-only games are no longer available officially. If you own them, treasure them!

Game Title Status Notes
✅ Pushmo / Crashmo ⬜ Owned ⬜ Wishlist Puzzle games by Intelligent Systems
✅ BoxBoy! Trilogy ⬜ Owned ⬜ Wishlist Minimalist puzzle platformers
✅ Dylan’s Rolling Western ⬜ Owned ⬜ Wishlist Cult hit action tower defense
✅ Pocket Card Jockey ⬜ Owned ⬜ Wishlist Solitaire horse racing—yes, really!

🌍 Region-Exclusive / Import-Worthy

Game Title Region Status Notes
✅ Daigasso! Band Brothers P Japan Only ⬜ Owned ⬜ Wishlist Rhythm/music game
✅ Inazuma Eleven Go Series EU / Japan ⬜ Owned ⬜ Wishlist Soccer + RPG combo
✅ Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 3 Japan Only ⬜ Owned ⬜ Wishlist No localization but fan-favorite

👶 Great for Kids / Family

Game Title Status Notes
✅ Kirby: Planet Robobot ⬜ Owned ⬜ Wishlist Unique mech-based Kirby gameplay
✅ Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon ⬜ Owned ⬜ Wishlist Spooky but family-friendly
✅ Yo-Kai Watch 1 & 2 ⬜ Owned ⬜ Wishlist Pokémon-style collecting
✅ Nintendogs + Cats ⬜ Owned ⬜ Wishlist Still cute, still fun

🛍 Where to Buy 3DS Games in 2025:

📝 Printable Version

Would you like a printable PDF checklist to mark off your collection? I can generate one for download — just say the word!

Let me know if you want to focus the list on a specific genre (RPGs, Zelda-only, Pokémon-only, etc.) or if you're collecting sealed games, variants, or special editions.

Happy collecting! 🎮✨