30 best 3DS & Wii U games on Nintendo eShop to get before purchases stop

Ed Farish

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Starting on March 27th, 2023, you will no longer be able to make purchases on Nintendo eShop for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. So, whilst we still can, let’s take a look at the best games to get for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U before you no longer can.

Additionally, you will not be able to download any free content, including game demos. As we approach this date, related services will also cease to function. No more time-wasting! Let’s get started.

Read more: What GPU beats Nintendo Switch?

Top 10 best eShop exclusive 3DS games to buy before you no longer can

Here’s a list of the top 10 best Nintendo 3DS games that are exclusively available on the Nintendo eShop, along with their prices and why they are worth playing:

1. BoxBoy! – $4.99 – BoxBoy! is a charming and creative puzzle-platformer that uses a simple yet innovative game mechanic. Players control a box-shaped character named Qbby, who can produce chains of boxes to overcome obstacles and reach new areas. With over 150 levels and multiple sequels, BoxBoy! is an addicting and satisfying game that will keep you coming back for more.
2. Dillon’s Rolling Western – $9.99 – Dillon’s Rolling Western is a tower defense game with a twist. Players control Dillon, a cowboy armadillo who must defend his town from invading monsters. The game features a unique mix of action and strategy, with fast-paced combat and a variety of upgradeable weapons and skills. With its colorful visuals and quirky characters, Dillon’s Rolling Western is a must-play for fans of the genre.
3. SteamWorld Dig – $9.99 – SteamWorld Dig is a platformer with a mining twist. Players control Rusty, a steam-powered robot who digs through the earth to uncover treasures and fight enemies. The game features a procedurally generated world, so no two playthroughs are ever the same. With its tight controls and addictive gameplay, SteamWorld Dig is a standout title on the eShop.
4. Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse – $19.99 – Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is a Metroidvania-style platformer with a focus on exploration and item collecting. Players control Shantae, a half-genie who must team up with a pirate to stop an evil sorcerer. The game features beautiful 2D graphics, catchy music, and plenty of secrets to uncover. With its charming characters and satisfying gameplay, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is a must-play for fans of the genre.
5. Pushmo – $6.99 – Pushmo is a cute and colorful puzzle game that challenges players to push and pull blocks to create a path to the top of a tower. The game features over 250 levels and a level editor that allows players to create and share their own puzzles. With its clever puzzles and charming visuals, Pushmo is a great game for puzzle fans.
6. Gunman Clive – $1.99 – Gunman Clive is a 2D side-scrolling shooter with a Wild West theme. Players control Clive, a cowboy who must fight his way through hordes of enemies to rescue the mayor’s daughter. The game features stylish black and white graphics and a variety of weapons to choose from. With its fast-paced action and challenging gameplay, Gunman Clive is a steal at its low price.
7. Mutant Mudds – $8.99 – Mutant Mudds is a retro-style platformer with a unique 2.5D perspective. Players control Max, a boy with a water gun who must navigate through a series of challenging levels filled with mutant mudds. The game features tight controls, catchy music, and plenty of secrets to uncover. With its charming visuals and challenging gameplay, Mutant Mudds is a great choice for fans of classic platformers.
8. Pocket Card Jockey – $6.99 – Pocket Card Jockey is a quirky mashup of horse racing and solitaire. Players must use their solitaire skills to control their horse’s speed and position in the race, while also managing their horse’s stamina and mood. The game features a variety of races and a deep breeding system that allows players to create their own champion horses.
9. BoxBoxBoy! – $4.99 BoxBoxBoy! is a puzzle-platformer game developed by HAL Laboratory, the creators of Kirby. Players control Qbby, a small box-shaped character who can create and link chains of boxes to solve puzzles and navigate levels. The game has charming visuals, relaxing music, and over 100 levels of challenging puzzles to solve. It’s a fun and addictive game that’s perfect for fans of puzzle games.
10. HarmoKnight – $14.99 HarmoKnight is a rhythm-action platformer game developed by Game Freak, the developers behind the Pokemon games. Players control Tempo, a boy who must save the world of Melodia by running, jumping, and attacking to the beat of the music. The game features a wide variety of music genres, from classical to rock, and each level has its own unique soundtrack. The gameplay is fast-paced and challenging, and the colorful visuals and catchy tunes make it a joy to play.

Read more: Pikmin 4 Release Date, File Size, Cost, Pre-order details & more

Top 10 best eShop exclusive Wii U games to buy before you no longer can

Here are the top 10 Wii U eShop exclusive games along with their prices and why they are good:

1. Shovel Knight – $14.99 Shovel Knight is a 2D side-scrolling platformer developed by Yacht Club Games. The game features a charming retro art style and an amazing chiptune soundtrack. Players control Shovel Knight, a knight armed with a shovel, as he battles his way through various levels and bosses. The game has tight controls, fun gameplay mechanics, and a lot of replay value.
2. Affordable Space Adventures – $19.99 Affordable Space Adventures is a puzzle game developed by KnapNok Games and Nifflas. Players control a small spaceship and must navigate through various environments while managing the ship’s systems and solving puzzles. The game has a unique and engaging art style and a lot of depth in its gameplay mechanics.
3. Fast Racing Neo – $14.99 Fast Racing Neo is a racing game developed by Shin’en Multimedia. The game features high-speed racing through futuristic environments, with tight controls and a lot of replay value. The game has a great sense of speed and a lot of depth in its gameplay mechanics.
4. Teslagrad – $14.99 Teslagrad is a 2D puzzle platformer developed by Rain Games. Players control a young boy with the ability to manipulate electromagnetic fields. The game features beautiful hand-drawn graphics and a lot of puzzle-solving, with a great sense of exploration and discovery.
5. Stealth Inc. 2: A Game of Clones – $14.99 Stealth Inc. 2 is a puzzle platformer developed by Curve Digital. Players control a clone who must navigate through various environments while avoiding traps and solving puzzles. The game has tight controls, a great sense of humor, and a lot of depth in its gameplay mechanics.
6. Runbow – $14.99 Runbow is a platformer developed by 13AM Games. The game features fast-paced action and a lot of multiplayer modes, with up to 9 players able to play together. The game has a lot of replay value and a great sense of humor.
7. Swords & Soldiers II – $19.99 Swords & Soldiers II is a real-time strategy game developed by Ronimo Games. Players control armies of Vikings, Aztecs, and Chinese soldiers as they battle for supremacy. The game has beautiful hand-drawn graphics and a lot of depth in its gameplay mechanics.
8. Axiom Verge – $19.99 Axiom Verge is a Metroidvania-style game developed by Tom Happ. Players control a scientist who becomes trapped in an alien world, with a lot of exploration and puzzle-solving. The game has beautiful pixel art graphics and an amazing soundtrack.
9. The Wonderful 101 – $29.99 The Wonderful 101 is an action game developed by PlatinumGames. Players control a group of superheroes as they battle through various environments and bosses. The game has a unique art style and a lot of depth in its gameplay mechanics, with players able to control their heroes in a variety of different ways.

Best games for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U on the eShop

According to a recent analysis by VGC, the impending shutdown of the Wii U and 3DS eShops will result in the loss of approximately 1,000 digital-only games. This is a concerning development, as VGC has also reported that about 530 of these games are Virtual Console titles, with approximately 335 of them not even being available through Nintendo Switch Online as of yet.

This shutdown represents a significant setback for video game preservation, as it not only eliminates some games from history, but also makes it more difficult for people who still use and enjoy the Wii U and 3DS to access certain games, even if they are available as physical copies.

Unfortunately, the prices of physical versions of some games, like Phoenix Wright vs. Professor Layton on 3DS and The Legend of Zelda: The Windwaker HD, have skyrocketed due to the used game market, while the digital versions have remained at their original price.

Therefore, let’s take a look at the best of these titles you can by for a reasonable price right now from Nintendo’s eShop.

Here’s a list of 10 great Nintendo 3DS and Wii U games that you can find on the Nintendo eShop. The prices mentioned are in US dollars and may vary depending on your region:

1. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (3DS, $19.99) – This game is a direct sequel to the classic game A Link to the Past and features the same top-down perspective. It’s a fantastic adventure game with a unique mechanic that allows you to merge into walls and move along them. The puzzles are challenging and the story is engaging.
2. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (Wii U, $59.99) – This fighting game features a huge roster of characters from Nintendo’s various franchises. It’s a blast to play with friends and has a ton of content, including online play and a single-player campaign.
3. Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS, $19.99) – This life-simulation game has you living in a town populated by anthropomorphic animals. You can fish, catch bugs, decorate your home, and interact with the other residents. It’s a relaxing and charming game that you can sink hours into.
4. Super Mario 3D World (Wii U, $59.99) – This Mario game is a 3D platformer that can be played solo or with friends. It features a ton of levels with different objectives, and the power-ups are inventive and fun to use. The multiplayer mode is chaotic and hilarious.
5. Shovel Knight (3DS and Wii U, $14.99) – This retro-style platformer is a love letter to classic NES games. You play as the titular Shovel Knight, who uses his trusty shovel to defeat enemies and dig up treasure. The levels are well-designed and the music is fantastic.
6. Fire Emblem Awakening (3DS, $39.99) – This turn-based strategy game is known for its engaging characters and intense battles. You play as a tactician leading a group of soldiers through a fantasy world. The story is emotional and the gameplay is addictive.
7. Mario Kart 8 (Wii U, $59.99) – This racing game is the latest in the long-running Mario Kart series. It features new tracks and characters, as well as anti-gravity sections that allow you to race on walls and ceilings. The online multiplayer is a blast, and the game is full of unlockables.
8. SteamWorld Dig (3DS, $9.99) – This indie game has you playing as a robot who digs through underground caves to find treasure. The gameplay is addictive and the upgrade system is satisfying. It’s a great pick-up-and-play game.
9. Pikmin 3 (Wii U, $59.99) – This strategy game has you controlling a group of plant-like creatures called Pikmin. You use them to solve puzzles and battle enemies in a colorful, fantastical world. The game is challenging but rewarding, and the co-op mode is a lot of fun.
10. BoxBoy! (3DS, $4.99) – This puzzle-platformer has you playing as a small box-shaped character who can create other boxes to solve puzzles. The game is simple but challenging, and the art style is adorable.

Read more: Will there be a Nintendo Switch 2? Everything we know about Switch Pro

All of these games are great picks for Nintendo fans looking for some fun on their 3DS or Wii U.