The Best Nintendo 3DS eShop Sales to Buy Before It’s Too Late

About a year ago, I wrote a list of Nintendo 3DS games to pick up before the announced closure of the eShop. Well, that deadline is getting awfully close now, so I hope you didn’t leave it all to buy at once. There’s good news if you happen to be on a budget and have been procrastinating, however. Some really great closing sales are happening right now, and I figured I would collect ten-ish of the best-ish for you to consider. Don’t dawdle too long, as the Nintendo 3DS eShop closes forever at the end of the day on March 27th, and these sales and games will go with it.

Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove ($4.49 from $29.99)

What an incredible value this is. The Nintendo 3DS version of Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove includes everything except the multiplayer battle game that most people don’t care for anyway. That means you get Shovel of Hope, Plague of Shadows, Specter of Torment, and King of Cards for under a fiver. This version of the game runs really well and the 3D effect is well-implemented. Definitely worth having on your little discontinued handheld.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies ($2.99 from $29.99)

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice ($2.99 from $29.99)

All of the Ace Attorney games are on sale for like 90% off right now, and if you don’t have them they are all worth grabbing at such nonsense prices. These two in particular should be picked up simply because they aren’t available in English any other way except for mobile devices, and we all know how quickly those versions can disappear. I’m not as big on Dual Destinies as I am on Spirit of Justice, but for three dollars each this is a no-brainer.

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate ($2.99 from $29.99)

Here is another one where I’ll nudge you towards all of the Monster Hunter games on 3DS, as they’re all 90% off. Well, not Monster Hunter Stories. That one was published by Nintendo in the West and they don’t really do closing sales, it seems. Anyway, if you’re only going to grab one, this is the one to pick up. Generations has a better version on Switch, and I generally prefer Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate to it anyway. In some ways, this was the last of a particular style of Monster Hunter and it pushes the Nintendo 3DS like few other games do.

Gunman Clive ($0.99 from $1.99)

Gunman Clive 2 ($0.99 from $1.99)

There are certainly bigger savings to be had on the eShop, but the Gunman Clive duo of games really ought to be in any 2D run-and-gun fan’s library. The Nintendo 3DS versions have some nice 3D effects that give them at least one selling point over others, and the games just feel nice to play on the hardware. One of the early break-out games of the eShop and a fitting way to close it if you somehow missed them.

SteamWorld Dig 2 ($3.99 from $19.99)

I’ll do what is quickly becoming the usual thing here and say that all three Nintendo 3DS SteamWorld games are on sale and worth grabbing, but I’ll highlight this one in particular because it’s kind of wild that it runs as well as it does on the 3DS and there just aren’t a whole ton of quality Metroidvania-style games on the system. Hard to believe that it wasn’t so long ago we weren’t swimming in games of this sort, but there you have it. Great game, plays great on 3DS, and a wild value at just four bucks.

Mighty Switch Force ($2.99 from $5.99)

Mighty Switch Force 2 ($2.99 from $5.99)

Another case where you can get these games on other consoles, but they play best on the 3DS. Why? Because the 3D effect makes a difference here. It makes it clear when blocks are in or out, and with how precise your timing needs to be at times every little hint helps. They’re great puzzle-platform games, and the usual WayForward style ensures they look as good as they play.

Adventure Bar Story ($2.39 from $5.99)

From the developer behind the Mercenaries series of tactical role-playing games, Adventure Bar Story is one of those mash-ups of crafting, simulation game, and RPG. You’re running your own pub in a fantasy world and need to explore, gather materials, find new recipes, and raise your bar’s rank by making sales and winning cooking competitions. Your goal is to stave off a hostile takeover from a noted jerk, and that’s a feel-good story we can all get behind. You can find fancier games of this type, but the smaller scope of this one might be just what you’re after.

Mutant Mudds ($4.49 from $8.99)

Mutant Mudds Super Challenge ($4.99 from $9.99)

A pair of platformers that also lean heavily on the 3D slider’s functions, and thus are best played here over other consoles. I’m not as big on these games as some are, but I can’t deny that they’re decent romps with lots of meat on the bone for those who are looking to feast. They’re also pretty much the only naked homages to the Virtual Boy Wario Land game I’ve ever seen, and they get bonus points for that alone.

The Legend of Dark Witch ($1.99 from $3.99)

The Legend of Dark Witch 2 ($2.79 from $6.99)

The Legend of Dark Witch 3 Wisdom & Lunacy ($3.99 from $9.99)

I’ve banged my drum for these before, and I’ll do it one last time. The first game is available on Switch but the rest of the trilogy remains locked to the Nintendo 3DS so far. These are basically a cross between a Mega Man-style run-and-gun and a Gradius-like power-up system. They play very well, and the challenge is nice and spicy. Some of my favorite small-scale homages to the Blue Bomber and well-worth picking up at these prices.

Go! Go! Kokopolo 3D ($2.39 from $5.99)

I’ll finish up with a great little indie game that has some strong arcade action vibes. You play as the wildcat Kokopolo and need to harass creatures to get them to chase you, then lead them into traps. There are eighty levels to play in total, which is an impressive amount. It has a lot of that Pac-Man feeling to it, but it’s certainly its own thing. Indeed, I can’t say I’ve played anything else quite like it, which makes it a shame it will be disappearing along with the eShop. Make sure you pick it up while you can.

And that’s my list of the best of current sales. I’m hoping we’ll see a few other companies get in on these last couple of weeks, but I’m not expecting a lot. I’ll miss the Nintendo 3DS eShop; I found a lot of cool indies there that I followed to the Switch and other places, and the selection of classic games was also quite impressive. Well, easy come, easy go. Get those deals while you can.