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We’ve updated this list with a handful of NIS America-published games in Europe, which includes Persona Q and some of the Etrian Odyssey games. Enjoy!
We’re one week away from the end of the Wii U and 3DS eShops. On 27th March, Nintendo is pulling down the shutters on both digital storefronts for good, meaning that you won’t be able to buy any more games on the two platforms.
In the run-up to the stores’ closure, however, multiple publishers and developers have decided to give us one last hurrah and offered discounts on some of their games for both platforms. But what on earth do you grab first? That’s what we’re here for.
We’ve gathered a list of all of the best 3DS and Wii U games on sale on the eShop in both Europe and North America. Anything that scored an 8/10 or above is eligible here — this is the cream of the eShop crop, here. Some of these are available on Switch, too, but c’mon, why pass up on a great game for a great price, especially if you’ve never played them before?
This handy list isn’t just limited to eShop exclusives, either — there are some physical games that are also getting the digital sale treatment, and they deserve to be snapped up too! Don’t forget about our own store where you can get eShop credit to spend on 3DS and Wii U — though you’ll need to link up your Nintendo Network ID with your Switch’s Nintendo account.
Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.
As sales are different per region, we’ve split this list up into two — the first pages will cover the 3DS and the last will give you the best Wii U deals.
Note: We’ll be keeping this lust up to date as we get more prices and deals on both eShops — hopefully Nintendo will also join the fray, too! Keep your eyes peeled.
Publisher: Capcom
3DS eShop Price: £19.99 (UK) / $2.99 $19.99 (US)
Wonderfully witty as ever, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies is another excellent entry into the Ace Attorney series. Bursting with humour and new extravagant personalities, Phoenix Wright fans will find much to enjoy, thanks largely to the excellent skills of the localisation and script-writing team at Capcom. The few minor gameplay additions do somewhat polish the investigation and courtroom experience, but — as with any visual novel — it’s the story, character developments and gob-smacking plot twists that you really play for, and this one will keep you screaming ‘OBJECTION’ until the gavel drops.
Also, this is the one where you get to defend an orca.
Publisher: Atlus / Developer: imageepoch
3DS eShop Price: £3.49 £34.99 (UK) / $19.99 (US)
A fitting swan song for imageepoch and another gem in the 3DS’ legendary RPG lineup, Stella Glow is smart, stylish, and seriously satisfying. Fans of SRPGs will get a kick out of the combat, characters, and strategy, the fun, fast-paced story will keep you entertained to the end, and the musical motif works wonderfully, winding its way through the gameplay and presentation with ease. A few interface wobbles keep it from being a totally perfect show, but they’re minor concerns in an otherwise spellbinding performance. Stella Glow is absolutely worth singing about.
Publisher: WayForward / Developer: WayForward
3DS eShop Price: £7.99 £15.99 (UK) / $9.99 $19.99 (US)
Whether or not you’re a platforming fan, and whether or not you’ve played any of the previous titles in this series, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is an exceptionally well-crafted game that should not be ignored. The art style and sense of humour aren’t going to appeal to everyone, but they work well together and manage to set a very specific tone that WayForward has clearly spent time perfecting. There is little reason for any 3DS owner to avoid adding this gem to their treasure collection.
Also available on Wii U eShop for £7.99 £15.99 (UK) / $9.99 $19.99 (US)
Publisher: Detune / Developer: Detune
3DS eShop Price: £9.99 £19.99 (UK) / $17.99 $34.99 (US)
KORG M01D does exactly one thing, but it does it very well: it offers as accurate an emulation of the classic M1 synth as you’re going to get for the price, even if the interface translates in quirky fashion to the 3DS. There are more fully-featured music suites out there, but the M01D’s versatility and the quality of sounds on offer more than make up for the feature gap.
Publisher: Atlus / Developer: Atlus
3DS eShop Price: £3.59 £8.99 (UK) / $19.99 (US)
For Shin Megami Tensei or Persona fans, this is a no-brainer — Soul Hackers is a fantastic entry in the series and you won’t be disappointed. Even better, it’s an excellent place for newcomers to jump in, with a relatively smooth difficulty curve and user-friendly hacks to help you out of tight spots. Its mix of a late-90’s futuristic setting with dark, mythologically-based demon designs is intoxicating, and there’s an incredible amount of substance behind its irrepressible style. If you’re looking for a deep, dark, story-driven dungeon crawler with soul, the Spookies await your call.
Publisher: Atlus / Developer: Atlus
3DS eShop Price: £3.59 £8.99 (UK) / $19.99 (US)
Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl is not only a great example of how to remake a classic, it’s also a fantastic game in its own right. Fans of the original will be thrilled with the updated graphics, sound, and gameplay — whether playing with the newly added story or keeping it simple in Classic Mode — and new players are in for a real treat: this is one of the most engrossing RPGs available on the 3DS, and the beginner-friendly Picnic difficulty and character-driven narrative make it the most accessible Etrian Odyssey yet. It lacks some of the refinements and innovations introduced in Etrian Odyssey IV, but it makes up the difference with plenty of heart and charm.
Publisher: CIRCLE Entertainment / Developer: CIRCLE Entertainment
3DS eShop Price: £0.99 £3.99 (UK) / $1.99 $4.99 (US)
Parascientific Escape Cruise in the Distant Seas is a must try for fans of the story adventure and escape genres, and maybe a good place to start for anyone else who is interested. It does exactly what it needs to do: it has a gripping story – albeit sometimes almost too fleshed out – a great visual appearance and a very enjoyable gameplay system all contribute towards an enjoyable visual novel. Sometimes the dialogue sections can feel quite draining, especially if you’ve been playing for quite some time and enter a particularly lengthy section, as it is impossible to save your progress at these points, but for the most part they work really well.
Publisher: G-STYLE / Developer: G-STYLE
3DS eShop Price: £0.89 £4.19 (UK) / $3.99 (US)
Alien On The Run is a pleasant surprise. We think it’s worth the low price of admission for dozens of shrewdly-designed levels of unique action racing gameplay; the 3D graphics and bizarre sense of humour are simply icing on the extraterrestrial cake. With intuitive controls and quick portable-friendly stages, Alien on the Run is a title you’ll have trouble putting down.
Publisher: CIRCLE Entertainment / Developer: F K Digital
3DS eShop Price: £0.99 £3.99 (UK) / $1.99 $3.99 (US)
The fact that Quell Reflect takes the “ice” mechanic and creates an experience of it that doesn’t make you want to shatter your 3DS (or Switch) against the wall is a testament to the care creator Fallen Tree Games took in the level design and ambience. Puzzle fans looking to curl up with a cup of tea and lose themselves for a while will definitely want to give it a try. While it can be found for cheaper on mobile devices and doesn’t seem to take significant advantage of the hardware, its tiny price tag on the eShop still feels very reasonable for the thoughtful and sophisticated experience it offers.
Publisher: Image & Form / Developer: Image & Form
3DS eShop Price: £2.19 £10.99 (UK) / $2.99 $14.99 (US)
SteamWorld Heist is an entirely different proposition to its predecessor SteamWorld Dig, and that’s no bad thing. Its quirky blend of a 2D perspective, allied with turn-based strategy and skill-based attacks, is a surprisingly addictive combination. There’s impressive depth to the overall mechanics, and it’s all topped off with a level of presentation that’s both charming and accomplished. Whether seeking challenging strategy or an entertaining story, this title delivers both in its own unique way and has certainly stolen plenty of our time; we haven’t even got all the hats yet. Wherever you choose to play it, you won’t regret it.
Also available on Wii U eShop for £2.19 £10.99 (UK) / $2.99 $14.99 (US)
Publisher: Mastiff / Developer: Nihon Falcom
3DS eShop Price: £14.99 (UK) / $1.99 $14.99 (US)
Gurumin 3D may be short on epic story and have a few technical blemishes around the edges of its gameplay, but its fun style and a surprising depth in collectibles and replayability make it well worthy of consideration for action-RPG fans. Did we mention there’s a pretty sweet drill? It’s adorable, fun, and addictive, and an essential and unique title on the 3DS.
Publisher: Detune / Developer: Detune
3DS eShop Price: £12.49 £24.99 (UK) / $18.50 $37.00 (US)
In the right hands, KORG DSN-12 has staggering potential as a time-sink. Packaging together a portable oscilloscope, kaoss pad and full synthesizer in one download makes for a fantastic range of possibilities at a solid price. There are more accessible music composition alternatives out there, but this title certainly delivers on what it promises; a full simulation of a classic synth. The only downside is that this simulation unfortunately seems to include all the online song-sharing capabilities (or total lack thereof) that the late 1970’s could handle, but as a piece of tech on the 3DS, its excellent.
Publisher: Image & Form / Developer: Image & Form
3DS eShop Price: £2.99 £14.99 (UK) / $3.99 $19.99 (US)
There’s no shortage of places to play SteamWorld Dig 2, but Image & Form’s sterling support of the good ol’ 3DS means you can complete the Dig duo on the same console you played the original on (well, that’s where we first played SteamWorld Dig, at least) — then you can pick it up again on Switch in one of the developer’s frequent sales! It’s a fantastic game on any platform, and owning it two or three times is not only understandable, but recommended.
Publisher: Cinemax / Developer: Cinemax
3DS eShop Price: £2.69 £8.99 (UK) / $3.89 $12.99 (US)
The Keep is not a manic rampage with 16 different flavours of battle axe exploding from slain enemies. Focused more on adventure than conquest, it hearkens back to the first-person dungeon crawlers of the ‘90s while adding a couple of fresh, touch-based elements. There are still some parts that one might consider modernizing further, such as character customization, an instant save button, or an inventory system that makes it easier to swap runes and equipment, but the overall experience is still solid and quite enjoyable once rules and style become clear. Fans of classic-style dungeon crawls who appreciate some thought with their questing should add an -er to the end of this title, whether on 3DS or Switch.
Publisher: Atlus / Developer: Atlus
3DS eShop Price: £3.49 £34.99 (UK) / $19.99 (US)
With fun, strategic battles, a roller-coaster narrative that never lets up, and a fantastic sense of upbeat, apocalyptic style, Devil Survivor 2 is a full-on blast from start to finish. If you missed out on the original release, you’re in for a treat, and if you’ve already played the DS cart to death the Triangulum scenario adds another immediately accessible full-length adventure to the experience – more than enough reason to return. Whether you’re a longtime MegaTen fan or just enjoy deep, strategic RPGs, you’ll have a great time with Record Breaker, so summon up your courage and sign in to Nicaea; you won’t regret it.
Publisher: Insane Code / Developer: Insane Code
3DS eShop Price: £0.89 £4.49 (UK) / $1.99 $4.99 (US)
80’s Overdrive really nails the presentation side of things with its eye-catching 2D visuals, superb 3D effect and pumping soundtrack. It also controls well and the Career Mode is challenging enough to keep you glued to your 3DS for quite some time. The OutRun-style Time Attack mode and the Level Editor extend the lifespan of this title further, but the occasionally cheap difficulty level has an annoying habit of ruining your race as well as your mood. This is a relatively minor complaint in the grand scheme of things however, and fans of old-school arcade racers will almost certainly forgive this issue in order to play a true tribute to the classics of old. The Switch version is available, but the 3DS is where the magic is.
Publisher: Goodbye Galaxy Games / Developer: Goodbye Galaxy Games
3DS eShop Price: £0.99 £2.99 (UK)
Tappingo 2 makes some nice improvements while retaining the same light, fun, I-said-I-was-going-to-do-just-one-more-five-puzzles-ago concept of the original, and once again it sits at a price that makes it hard not to recommend to anyone who might be interested. It’s a pure no-brainer for those who loved the first game, while newcomers should make a line for this version first.
Note: On the NA 3DS eShop, the original Tappingo is currently $1.99
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
3DS eShop Price: £39.99 (UK) / $2.99 $19.99 (US)
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate was an excellent interpretation of a home console experience that allowed hunters to invest countless hours conquering hundreds of quests on the go, although with occasional moments where its smaller home wasn’t entirely optimised; the absence of online play was a great pity, too. It was an accomplished effort, though, and a must for fans of the franchise that couldn’t access the home console versions or those that simply want to always be able to slay an almighty monster on the bus.
Publisher: Atlus / Developer: Atlus
3DS eShop Price: £3.59 £8.99 (UK) / $19.99 (US)
The turn-based series’ debut on 3DS delivered a wonderful feeling of adventure on the handheld. It offers classic, grindy combat in a world of colour that belies the dreariness conjured by the term ‘dungeon-crawler’, and its focus on character classes and team-building means it’s refreshingly light on the tropey narrative arcs you might expect from a game with this subtitle. If you’re after an old-school first-person explorer game with a great soundtrack and some modern concessions to convenience and accessibility, Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan fits the bill nicely.
