Kirby Triple Deluxe ($34.99)
One of the more overlooked games of the year, Kirby Triple Deluxe was yet another quality entry in the long running Kirby franchise. Introducing the new Hypernova technique, Kirby often feels unstoppable as he moves throughout the number of fun stages. The game is quite short and easy, so this is one that would be better gotten on sale possibly, though it still is cheaper than many 3DS games at retail.
Tomodachi Life ($34.99)
Actually releasing in Japan a good while ago, Tomodachi Life finally released in the US early in the summer this year. Offering another life simulation style game for the handheld to complement Animal Crossing, this game is very good to be able to just pick up and play in spurts, making it perfect for the Nintendo 3DS.
Ultimate NES Remix ($29.99)
The most recent release of the bunch, Ultimate NES Remix overall pales in comparison to its Wii U counterpart, which offers both NES Remix 1 and 2 together for the same price. However, for those that do not own a Wii U and have the option to get that, this is an excellent game to get. Taking many classic NES games and making little mini-games out of them was a genius idea and is perfect for on-the-go gaming sessions.
Mario Golf: World Tour ($29.99)
Mario Golf has always been one of the more interesting Mario sports titles, as it didn’t offer just a straight sport experience, but also a RPG element to mix the gameplay up. We don’t quite get that this time around, but the game’s Castle Club mode can be very addicting. With a variety of courses and very solid golf gameplay, this is a really fun game to pick up, especially with the number of online tournaments available.
Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney ($29.99)
Azran Legacy was not the only Professor Layton game to hit the US in 2014, as we also got the much anticipated Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney on 3DS. Combining the two popular series that have come to prominence on Nintendo handhelds, the two mesh extremely well together in a game with a mix of both gameplay styles. The mysteries are very intriguing, taking a very supernatural approach on the surface, which leads to many twists and turns. Just like Azran Legacy, this is a must own for anyone that loves puzzles.
Pokemon Art Academy ($29.99)
Probably the least talked about game on the list, Pokémon Art Academy served as something very different from the typical video game. Taking the Art Academy franchise and infusing it with Pokémon was a wise move to appeal to that fanbase and luckily it works exceptionally well here. The lessons are quite solid and go a long way into teaching the basics and even some advanced drawing techniques, though this one is very hard to play on the go, even on a handheld.
Yoshi’s New Island ($39.99)
Yoshi’s New Island may not have been quite as good as many had hoped it would be, considering how amazing the classic game was. However, the game is still a very solid platformer on the Nintendo 3DS. With a unique artstyle that looks as if it was made by crayons or something, this game adds some new gameplay mechanics, including the giant eggs, that make this one a game worth checking out.
The next page will cover a few of the must own games for 3DS that released prior to 2014.
