7 Nintendo 3DS Games That Really Need a Switch 2 Port

There is no denying that the Nintendo 3DS had a lot of great titles. Although the system initially struggled to take off, Nintendo was eventually able to turn things around with a price drop, and obtained exclusives that made the console worth owning. While some of these games like Monster Hunter Generations, Resident Evil Revelations, and Luigi's Mansion 2 were eventually brought to other platforms; many still remain locked to the 3DS, with no other way to play them. With the 3DS eShop now being closed, and physical copies becoming more difficult to obtain, many greats have almost completely fallen out of the eyes of the public... But there is still a chance to change that.

With the announcement of Bravely Default Flying Fairy coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, it got us thinking. What other 3DS exclusives could also get remakes for the console? 

Well there were a lot to choose from, but we have came up with a short list of 7 exclusives we feel would be perfect. Of course we ignored games that have already been brought to other platforms, and we've limited our list leaving out games that have viable alternatives. Monster Hunter Generations for example was a follow up to Monster Hunter 4 with more content, so we took Monster Hunter 4 out of being considered. (Despite MH4 being my personal favorite.) Additionally we've limited our list to one game per series, but will make a side note in one case.

With all of that being said, here are the games we chose in no particular order!

Kid Icarus: Uprising

Kid Icarus: Uprising was directed by Masahiro Sakurai, and one of the earliest 3DS games to make full use of the console's features. The levels contained on-rail shooting sections similar to games like Star Fox, the on foot segments were a mixture of third person shooting, platforming, and high speed action combat, and there was an in-depth customization and loot system that allowed players to customize Pit to their liking. The game also featured a difficulty slider which offered more rewards the higher it was set, and these rewards were often better weapons with better abilities attached. While better weapons and skills allowed players to take on even harder challenges in the story mode, it wasn't the only game mode they could be used in. In fact, they became key to winning in the game's online multiplayer.

Using the 3DS's online capabilities, Uprising featured an in depth PvP mode which allowed players to test their skills against one another. Similar to other online shooters, players were broken up into teams, and would compete against each other to come out on top. With a wide variety of weapons being offered in game, with many possible skills and customization options for each, no two players would fully be the same, and that allowed for some truly unique online matches. Of course those who had better gear would have more of an advantage, but that also encouraged players to go back and work on getting better gear for themselves. 

It was this mixture of loot drops, single player challenges, and multiplayer that made the game so addicting, and it has sadly never left the 3DS... But would be perfect for a Switch 2 release.

There are multiple reasons Kid Icarus: Uprising would be a perfect Switch 2 title. First of all, the game featured a unique control scheme which used the touch screen like a mouse. This allowed for pinpoint accuracy while playing, which cannot fully be mimicked by using simple right analog stick controls. Of course that could still be an option, but the Joy-Con 2's mouse mode and motion controls could be used instead. Additionally, the new Chat functions built into the Switch 2 would allow for easier communication between friends and online teammates, with the screen share having uses as well. These are all functions the original 3DS version would've benefited from greatly, as even the original stylus controls proved to be a challenge while holding the 3DS with one hand (the game actually came with a 3DS stand to help with the weight), and the lack of online communication did hold back teamwork.

Either way, Kid Icarus: Uprising was a fun game, and it really does deserve to see the light of day again.

Fire Emblem Awakening

There are many Fire Emblem games that deserve to be on the Switch 2 as a remake. With Fire Emblem Path of Radiance coming to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Service, thankfully at least one of these deserving games are being brought forward. However, strictly looking at the Nintendo 3DS offerings, there is one above all that deserves a Switch 2 version.. And that is Fire Emblem Awakening.

Now, let's be blunt here. Fire Emblem Awakening is not the greatest Fire Emblem of all time. Many original fans are not a fan of the generation system or the world map (which allows grinding), and technically Fire Emblem Fates is a much larger game. However, Fire Emblem Awakening is the game that brought the series back, and finally helped make it popular in the West. It is where popular characters such as Lucina made an appearance, and it has multiple difficulty modes for long time fans and newcomers alike. It is a great starting point for those interested in getting into the series, and it has an interesting story with plenty of content; not to mention DLC expansions which cannot be accessed if they were not purchased before the 3DS eShop closed. It is a beefy game with plenty of replay value, and sadly the 3DS is the only way to play it.

Function wise, a Switch 2 version wouldn't be able to bring too much more to the table, unless it were to be a complete remake. The game could be converted to full 3D following the style of newer entries, or the classic 3DS character models could always be updated to the detail seen in other 3DS titles Fire Emblem Fates and Fire Emblem Echoes... Or it could be left as is. Either way, Awakening was a Fire Emblem title worth playing back in the day, and that has not changed over the years. It didn't make everyone happy, but it paved the way for a future that almost never was.

Kirby Planet Robobot

Kirby Planet Robobot is easily one of the funnest Kirby games on the market. As a huge Kirby fan, I personally avoided playing it for nearly seven years, and I quickly regretted it...

The game was a follow up to Kirby Triple Deluxe, which was a follow up to Kirby's Return to Dreamland. All three titles were side scrolling platformers, created in the classic Kirby style, with 3D graphics and different unique gimmicks. They captured the original Kirby gameplay, and those who enjoyed one title would more than likely enjoy the others as well. While Return to Dreamland is playable on the Switch 2 thanks to the Switch release, Triple Deluxe and Robobot remain 3DS exclusive, and that really should change.

Although both titles are deserving of being ported forward (maybe a collection?), for the sake of this list we are going with Robobot. What might initially seem to be "more of the same," is actually a game that brings together the best aspects of the previous titles, cranks up the level design, and introduces a transforming robot that offers new unique gameplay sections, that are extremely fun to play. Thanks to this, Robobot is familiar, yet different enough to completely stand on its own, and doesn't get overshadowed by what came before. While Triple Deluxe felt like an expansion to Return to Dreamland, Robobot is simply Robobot.

While Kirby Planet Robobot wouldn't need a lot of alterations to make it work on Switch 2, Nintendo could always go the route of Return to Dreamland and update the art style, and introduce additional content. Sadly the game would lose the 3D effect, which was used in sections where Kirby moves into the background or foreground, but it wouldn't be a huge loss overall. Especially considering many players already played the game in 2D without the 3D effect enabled. 

As for why it should be on the Switch 2? That is simple. It is a great game!

Metroid: Samus Returns

With the upcoming release of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and the Nintendo Switch release of Metroid Dread, Metroid: Samus Returns is a game that should really be brought forward as well.

This game was a remake of the original Metroid II, and is the very same game that Metroid Dread was built off of. It included 3D visuals, retained the 2D sidescrolling, and introduced new gameplay mechanics to the long running series. All of these changes and improvements were brought forward into Metroid Dread, but the games themselves are still very different.

While Dread focuses on avoiding deadly encounters, Metroid: Samus Returns focuses on actually finding them. The goal here is to locate and take out all of the remaining Metroids on the planet, and players must navigate Samus through a complex labyrinth to do so. The world is packed full of upgrades and secret items to find, but even the Metroids themselves need to physically be located; it isn't a linear path from target to target. Although all Metroid titles have a large focus on exploration, the way it is handled in Samus Returns is unique, and it gives players a reason to come back to the game from time to time. But to be fair, the same can be said about the entire Metroid series, as no game truly ever replaces the previous entry. Everyone has their favorite game, sure, but each title offers something different, and always remain relevant moving forward. Even the original version of Metroid and Metroid II have their unique aspects, and are not fully "replaced" by their remakes.

Again, Metroid: Samus Returns isn't a game that can greatly benefit from the Switch 2's power, but it is a game that really shouldn't be restricted to the Nintendo 3DS. Even a standard Nintendo Switch version would be perfect for this one, and it is honestly surprising it hasn't happened yet.

Shin Megami Tensei IV

Shin Megami Tensei IV was the long awaited followup to Nocturne, and was one of the largest RPGs to release on the Nintendo 3DS. The game fully adapted the classic SMT style into a 3D world, complete with large recreations of Tokyo to explore, underground towns, dungeon crawling, an extensive side quest system, and the series famous alignment system. It featured a wide range of demons to capture and fight along side, and featured countless callbacks to the days of first person dungeon crawling. It was quite a bit different from Nocturne, sure, but it was nearly everything a SMT fan could ask for.

Sadly this gem of a game is Nintendo 3DS exclusive, and so is the followup Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse. Both games have their own identity within the overall series, and feature gameplay design not seen in other entries. Instead of being a ruined wasteland, Tokyo is a modern day setting mixed with cyber-punk elements, where demons and monsters roam the streets. The dungeon crawling is also more focused on exploring the city, rather than solving puzzles, and the side quest and hunt system provides a wide variety of challenges. With three different story paths to take for the end game, the game isn't small by any means, and it gives players plenty of reasons to return to it even after the credits roll.

With Nocturne and Shin Megami Tensei V already existing on the Nintendo Switch, and with Raidou set to release later this year on Switch and Switch 2, Shin Megami Tensei IV is one of the great entries in the series that is currently out of the picture. The game could use updated textures and models to make it look nicer, but overall it really doesn't have a lot of improvements that need to be made. Extra difficulty options could always be added for those who struggle with the first boss (the game gets easier after), but overall the game is fine how it is. It already featured voice acting, and the classic turn-press battle system is here in full force. It really is a game that shouldn't be locked to the 3DS, and hopefully one day ATLUS will let it shine once again.

Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology

Sticking with RPGs and ATLUS, Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology is another gem that has remained exclusive to handhelds.

Originally released on the Nintendo DS, Perfect Chronology was an enhanced 3DS port which included new character artwork, full voice acting, and a third timeline that ran alongside the game's main story. In this RPG time travel was the main focus, with two main timelines to progress through at the same time. Events in one timeline would tip players off on what to do in another, and going back to different key points allowed the main character to slowly sort things out, and ensure the "best possible outcome." Of course these two different timelines also told two very different stories, with characters and their roles being very different depending on which side they were on. This made the game very unique, and adding a third route changed things up even more.

On the gameplay side of things, battles were turn based, and featured a grid system where enemies could be stacked. Attacks would either push, pull, or knock enemies to the side, and using that system allowed players to plan out their attacks in greater detail. Characters at the start of a turn could be used to position the enemies in place, while the next character could knock everyone into a single square, and then the last two party members could unleash attacks to hit all of the enemies at once. It made battles feel a bit more like a puzzle, and ensured nearly every skill and ability had a use. It was a fun classic styled battle system, with some unique twists, and it captured nearly everything great about classic JRPGs.

As with everything else on this list, currently the only way to play Radiant Historia is to track down either the DS or 3DS copy, and both are quite rare. The 3DS version also contained some DLC content that can no longer be accessed, so those who find the game in today's world will not have access to everything.

Again, an original Switch version would work for this game as well, but that doesn't change the fact that it is another game that really shouldn't remain 3DS exclusive. It is a solid JRPG, and one more fans should be able to experience for themselves. 

Dragon Quest VIII

The final game on our list for today was yet another toss-up. Both Dragon Quest VII and Dragon Quest VIII are amazing on the 3DS, and both are insanely hard to get your hands on. While Dragon Quest VIII does have a mobile version that exists, thus making it easier to play, we still decided to choose it over VII for this list. Dragon Quest VIII is an absolute classic loved by many, and it would be a perfect game for new fans to jump into after finishing Dragon Quest XI.

Similar to Dragon Quest XI, VIII was the first entry in the series to fully embrace a 3D world, and they jammed it packed full of content. Massive open world map sections, countless towns to explore, dungeons to uncover, a day and night cycle that changes the world, a Monster Arena, unique and memorable characters, a story filled with twists and turns, an extensive post-game story, and much, MUCH, more. This game is a beast, and there is a reason so many people loved it when it first came out on PlayStation 2.

The 3DS version of VIII is mostly the same as the original PS2 release, but includes some changes. Monsters are now physically seen on the world map (as they are in XI), two new party members were added, there is additional new story content, new items, new side content, and general quality of life improvements across the entire game. Graphically it was a down grade from the original PS2 release, but this is something that could be fixed with a console port.

While this game isn't technically locked to the 3DS, this "enhanced version" is, and even the original PlayStation 2 copy is difficult to come by. Again, the mobile port exists, but this version is based off of the Japanese original, and lacks the updates made for the original English release. (This also means there is no voice acting.) Either way, Dragon Quest VIII is loved for a reason, and it is a shame that it hasn't been seen since the 3DS release.

And there you have it! Our list of 7 Nintendo 3DS Games that should really be brought to the Switch 2! But what do you think? Are there other games that are more deserving? Feel free to let us know in the comments below!