When the Nintendo Switch was released to huge success, I assumed that was a death knell for the 3DS. But the 3DS era isn’t quite over yet, and here in 2019, we still have several upcoming 3DS games to look forward to.
Etrian Odyssey Nexus – February 5
Etrian Odyssey has been a mainstay ever since the first game in the series came out in 2007 for the original DS. This dungeon crawler series makes use of the dual-screen design to let players draw their own maps, a feature that makes the series stand out and has left fans wondering what will happen to it without a 3DS successor. Etrian Odyssey Nexus will be out on February 5th to close out the series on the 3DS before moving on to the next stage. Designed as a culmination and celebration of the series, Etrian Odyssey Nexus aims to bring together everything fans love about Etrian Odyssey.
Yo-kai Watch 3 – February 8
The localization of the Yo-kai Watch Blasters spin-off games in September 2018 renewed hopes that the west might see Yo-kai Watch 3 after all, and sure enough, Yo-kai Watch 3 came to Europe in December and will reach North America on February 8th. Although multiple versions were released in Japan, Level-5 combined them into a single definitive version for the west. Yo-kai Watch 3 features over 600 yo-kai, a new grid-based twist on the combat system, and a storyline featuring two playable characters. And since we’ll finally be caught up on the main series, maybe that means the localization of Yo-kai Watch 4 won’t take quite as long…
Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn – March 8
It wasn’t a big surprise when Nintendo announced an updated version of Kirby’s Epic Yarn, especially since this side-scrolling platformer had already been re-released on the Wii U. What was a surprise, however, was that Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn wasn’t announced for the Switch, but for the 3DS. With a release date set for March 8th, Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn will bring the full content of the original Wii game along with six new power-ups, the new “Devilish Mode,” and sub-games featuring Meta Knight and King Dedede.
Shovel Knight: King of Cards – April 9
The side-scrolling platformer Shovel Knight has released numerous expansions since its release, and the final expansion King of Cards will be released for every platform Shovel Knight is available on, including the 3DS, on April 9th. Shovel Knight: King of Cards is a prequel following King Knight through four worlds and 30 new stages on his quest to overcome the Three Kings. This will conclude the Shovel Knight story, and it sounds like they’re aiming to go out with a bang. It will be available both as a standalone purchase on its own or as a free update if you own Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove.
Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth – June 4
As one of the last major 3DS games released in Japan, fans had high hopes Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth would be localized, and now its western release date has been set for June 4th. As a follow-up to 2014’s Persona Q, which also released for the 3DS, Persona Q2 is a dungeon crawler spin-off featuring characters from Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5, including the female protagonist from Persona 3 Portable, although there is an emphasis on the Persona 5 cast. This crossover adventure will see the characters exploring labyrinths based on movies as they attempt to uncover the secrets of the strange new world they’ve found themselves in.
Silver Falls – 3 Down Stars – Early 2019
While many indie developers have moved on to the Switch, there are still a few indie games slated for the 3DS, including a horror title called Silver Falls – 3 Down Stars. Set in a remote town frozen in time after three strange objects fell from the sky, Silver Falls is a New 3DS exclusive title that features limited resources, a time loop that plays into puzzle-solving, and all the trappings of traditional survival horror games. It is planned for early 2019. Silver Falls – 3 Down Stars is pretty ambitious for an indie game planned for the 3DS, but since it’s inspired by PS1-era survival horror, I’ll be keeping my eye on it.
Shakedown Hawaii – Early 2019
Back in 2015, Shakedown Hawaii was announced as a successor to the popular open world action-adventure game Retro City Rampage. Set 30 years after its predecessor, Shakedown Hawaii follows three playable characters as they build up a massive business and will feature an open world and destructible environments. When it missed its original 2017 release windows, fans worried the 3DS (and Vita) might be off the table, but Shakedown Hawaii is still on its way and should be out in the first quarter of 2019.
Conclusion
The 3DS is slowing down, and these games are probably the final heavy-hitters we’ll see for it. On the other hand, I said that a year ago, only for Nintendo to announce several new 3DS games. Who knows what the future might hold?
