This is a list of Virtual Console games that were available on the Nintendo 3DS in North America prior to the eShop's closure on March 27, 2023.
The following is a list of the 192 games (203 including those available for Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors, and the promotional-exclusive Donkey Kong: Original Edition ) that were available on the Virtual Console for the Nintendo 3DS in North America, sorted by system and in the order they were added in Nintendo eShop. To sort by other columns, click the corresponding icon in the header row.
These titles were originally released for use on the Game Boy system, which was launched in 1989. The first three Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console titles were Game Boy games and debuted alongside the Nintendo 3DS eShop in June 2011. [1]
There were 51 games available to purchase, of which one ( Tetris ) was delisted before the Nintendo 3DS eShop's closure, due to Nintendo's Tetris license expiring. [2]
These titles were originally released for use on the Game Boy Color system, which was launched in 1998.
There were 31 games available to purchase.
These titles were originally released for use on the Game Gear system, which was launched in 1991.
There were 16 games available to purchase.
Title | Publisher [5] [3] | Developer(s) | Release Date | ESRB |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dragon Crystal | Sega | Sega R&D2 | March 15, 2012 | E10+ |
Shinobi | Sega | Sega R&D2 | March 15, 2012 | E |
Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble | Sega | Aspect Co. | March 15, 2012 | E |
Columns | Sega | Sega R&D1 | June 13, 2013 | E |
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine | Sega | Compile | June 13, 2013 | E |
Shining Force: The Sword of Hajya | Sega | Sonic! Software Planning | June 13, 2013 | E10+ |
Sonic the Hedgehog | Sega | Ancient | June 13, 2013 | E |
Defenders of Oasis | Sega | Sega CS2 | June 20, 2013 | E10+ |
Sonic Blast | Sega | Aspect Co. | June 20, 2013 | E |
Tails Adventure | Sega | Aspect Co. | June 20, 2013 | E |
Crystal Warriors | Sega | Sega CS2 | June 27, 2013 | E10+ |
Sonic Labyrinth | Sega | Minato Giken | June 27, 2013 | E |
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Sega | Aspect Co. | June 27, 2013 | E |
G-LOC: Air Battle | Sega | Sega R&D2 | July 4, 2013 | E |
Sonic Drift 2 | Sega | Sega CS5 | July 4, 2013 | E |
Vampire: Master of Darkness | Sega | SIMS | July 4, 2013 | E10+ |
These titles were originally released for use on the Nintendo Entertainment System, which was launched in 1985. The first 10 NES games were released on August 31, 2011, to Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors. [6] These games were later released to the general public with additional features, such as the ability to save the game at any point; the Ambassador versions were patched to add the new features. [7]
There were 64 games available to purchase on the Nintendo 3DS eShop. The Mysterious Murasame Castle and Summer Carnival '92: Recca made their first official appearances in North America when they were added to the 3DS Virtual Console. Donkey Kong: Original Edition also made its North American debut, but it was available only as a promotional bonus and was removed from availability after the promotion ended. [8]
These titles were originally released for use on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, which was launched in 1991. These Virtual Console titles are exclusively available for New Nintendo 3DS platforms (New Nintendo 3DS, New Nintendo 3DS XL, and New Nintendo 2DS XL). [10] Nintendo has claimed that the reason for this is due to technical issues regarding the CPU in older Nintendo 3DS models for rendering the emulation, [11] but some fan-made emulators compatible with the old 3DS exist that will run SNES games at full speed.
There were 30 games available to purchase on the New Nintendo 3DS platforms (New Nintendo 3DS, New Nintendo 3DS XL and New Nintendo 2DS XL).
There was one title that was exclusively available as a promotional bonus, which was removed from availability after the promotion ended on January 6, 2013. [8]
Title | Publisher | Developer(s) | Release Date | ESRB |
---|---|---|---|---|
Donkey Kong: Original Edition [lower-alpha 1] | Nintendo | Nintendo | October 1, 2012 | E |
These titles were originally released for use on the Game Boy Advance, which was launched in 2001. Like the initial NES Virtual Console games, these titles were released exclusively to Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors. Unlike the NES titles, these games were never released to the general public. [12] Additionally, since these titles run natively and are not emulated, they do not support typical emulation features, such as suspended play and restore points.
There were 10 Game Boy Advance games available exclusively for Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors.
Title | Publisher | Developer(s) | Release Date | ESRB |
---|---|---|---|---|
F-Zero: Maximum Velocity | Nintendo | NDcube | December 16, 2011 | E |
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones | Nintendo | Intelligent Systems | December 16, 2011 | E |
Kirby & the Amazing Mirror | Nintendo | HAL Laboratory | December 16, 2011 | E |
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap | Nintendo | Capcom | December 16, 2011 | E |
Mario Kart: Super Circuit | Nintendo | Intelligent Systems | December 16, 2011 | E |
Mario vs. Donkey Kong | Nintendo | Nintendo Software Technology | December 16, 2011 | E |
Metroid Fusion | Nintendo | Nintendo R&D1 | December 16, 2011 | E |
Wario Land 4 | Nintendo | Nintendo R&D1 | December 16, 2011 | E |
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames! | Nintendo | Nintendo R&D1 | December 16, 2011 | E |
Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 | Nintendo | Nintendo EAD | December 16, 2011 | E |
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, commonly shortened to Super Nintendo, Super NES or SNES, is a 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan and South Korea, 1991 in North America, 1992 in Europe and Oceania and 1993 in South America. In Japan, it is called the Super Famicom (SFC). In South Korea, it is called the Super Comboy and was distributed by Hyundai Electronics. The system was released in Brazil on August 30, 1993, by Playtronic. In Russia and CIS, the system was distributed by Steepler from 1994 until 1996. Although each version is essentially the same, several forms of regional lockout prevent cartridges for one version from being used in other versions.
Yoshi's Cookie is a 1992 tile-matching puzzle video game developed by Tose and published by Nintendo for the NES and Game Boy platforms in 1992. A Super NES version was released the following year, developed and published by Bullet-Proof Software.
Wario's Woods is a puzzle video game developed and published by Nintendo. It was released in Japan and North America in 1994 and Europe in 1995 for both the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. A spin-off of the Mario series, players control Toad in his mission to defeat Wario, who has taken control of the Peaceful Woods. Gameplay revolves around clearing each level by using bombs to destroy groups of enemies. The game also features a multiplayer mode that allows two players to compete against each other.
Donkey Kong Jr. is a 1982 arcade platform game that was released by Nintendo. It is the sequel to Donkey Kong, but with the roles reversed compared to its predecessor: Mario is now the villain and Donkey Kong Jr. is trying to save his kidnapped father. It first released in arcades and, over the course of the decade, was released for a variety of home platforms. The game's title is written out as Donkey Kong Junior in the North American arcade version and various conversions to non-Nintendo systems.
The Virtual Console is a defunct line of downloadable video games for Nintendo's Wii and Wii U home video game consoles and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
Game & Watchgames have had many different re-releases.
The Wii Shop Channel is a discontinued digital distribution service for the Wii video game console. The service allowed users to purchase and play additional software for the Wii, including exclusive games, and games from prior generations of video games. The Wii Shop Channel launched on November 19, 2006, and ceased operations on January 30, 2019.
The Japanese multinational consumer electronics company Nintendo has developed seven home video game consoles and multiple portable consoles for use with external media, as well as dedicated consoles and other hardware for their consoles. As of September 30, 2021, in addition to Nintendo Switch, Nintendo has sold over 863.07 million hardware units.
The Nintendo 3DS is a foldable handheld game console produced by Nintendo. The console was announced in March 2010 and unveiled at E3 2010 as the successor to the Nintendo DS. The system features backward compatibility with Nintendo DS video games. As an eighth-generation console, its primary competitor was Sony's PlayStation Vita.
The Nintendo eShop is a digital distribution service for the Nintendo Switch, and formerly available via the Nintendo Network for the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. The Nintendo eShop was first launched in June 2011 on the Nintendo 3DS via a system update that added the functionality to the HOME Menu. It is the successor to both the Wii Shop Channel and DSi Shop. Unlike on the Nintendo 3DS, the eShop was made available on the launch date of the Wii U, although a system update is required in order to access it. It is also a multitasking application, which means it is easily accessible even when a game is already running in the background through the system software, though this feature is exclusive to the Wii U and the Nintendo Switch. The Nintendo eShop features downloadable games, demos, applications, streaming videos, consumer rating feedback, and other information on upcoming game releases.
The video game developer and publisher Nintendo has engaged in a variety of marketing campaigns, ranging from early efforts to appeal to teenagers with "Play It Loud!" to the more open-ended "Who Are You?" campaign. Nintendo also sometimes markets its various consoles and games with lavish promotions.
The Nintendo 2DS is a handheld game console produced by Nintendo. Announced in August 2013, the device was released in North America, Europe and Australia on October 12, 2013. The Nintendo 2DS is an entry-level version of the Nintendo 3DS which maintains otherwise identical hardware, similar functionality, and compatibility with software designed for the Nintendo DS and 3DS. However, the 2DS is differentiated by a new slate form factor rather than the clamshell design used by its precursors and by lacking the Nintendo 3DS's signature autostereoscopic 3D display. The 2DS was sold concurrently with existing 3DS models as an incentive to expand the market for Nintendo 3DS games; former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé stated that the 2DS was primarily targeted towards younger players, whom Nintendo had previously advised not to use the 3D functionality on the 3DS due to potential eye health concerns. The Nintendo 2DS's successor, the New Nintendo 2DS XL, was launched in 2017.
Nintendo 3D Classics is a a first-party series of NES/Famicom and arcade games updated for the Nintendo 3DS, with added stereoscopic 3D functionality and updated features while retaining their original art style and graphics.
The New Nintendo 3DS is a foldable handheld game console produced by Nintendo. It is the fourth system in the Nintendo 3DS family of handheld consoles, following the original Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS XL, and Nintendo 2DS. The system was released in Japan on October 11, 2014, in Australia and New Zealand on November 21, 2014, on January 6, 2015 in Europe in a special Club Nintendo-exclusive "Ambassador Edition", and at retail in Europe on February 13, 2015. Like the original 3DS, the New Nintendo 3DS also has a larger variant, the New Nintendo 3DS XL, released in all three regions. In North America, the New Nintendo 3DS XL was released on February 13, 2015, while the standard-sized New Nintendo 3DS was released later on September 25, 2015.
[A]ccording to Gimmick! creator Tomomi Sakai, Tokai is just a dummy company, like Konami's Ultra and Palcom brands, created to circumvent Nintendo's rules restricting the number of games a developer could publish for the Famicom/NES in a year. Former Sunsoft programmer and Trip World creator Yuichi Ueda, Blaster Master creator Kenji Sada, and current Chief Director of SUNSOFT Shigeki Shimizu confirm this. Tokai is a dummy company.