If you are an ardent gaming fan who's looking to find a new console to get into, Nintendo's portable console, the 2DS XL, is excellent because it has such a long and extensive list of fantastic games. While having variety is a very good thing, it is also hard deciding which games you should pick up for that new Nintendo 2DS XL of yours. We've picked the best ones.
The masterpiece
Often considered Nintendo's masterpiece, Ocarina of Time was a marvel when it originally released for Nintendo 64. Explore the dreaded Water Temple and defeat Gannon as you restore peace to Hyrule.
Catch them all
Pokémon games have been a staple of Nintendo's portable consoles dating back to the Gameboy Color. Pokémon: Ultra Sun is another addition in the illustrious line, where you'll unravel the mysteries of the Alola region while encountering over 400 Pokémon along the way.
Start your engines
Mario Kart 7 is the latest kart game available for the Nintendo 3DS line. It may be a bit long in the tooth having come out in 2011, but that doesn't negate the fun you'll have playing as your favorite character and taking on the different tracks and modes.
Action adventure
Metroid: Samus Returns is a modern retelling of Metroid II: Return of Samus for the original Gameboy. The remake breathes new life into the storyline with a few twists. Samus Aran is tasked with traveling to Planet SR388 and taking out all of the Metroids with newfound abilities she unlocks along the way.
Ready, set, fight!
Super Smash Bros. was always a marquee Nintendo game reserved for the at-home consoles, but Super Smash Bros. 3D changed that by coming to the Nintendo 3DS. You can play as several characters from Mario to Pikachu through various levels that borrow inspiration from multiple Nintendo franchises.
Who you gonna call?
This is a sequel to the Gamecube original and better in every way. In Dark Room, players control Luigi as he goes on a ghost-hunting adventure full of puzzles and spooky challenges.
Wahoo
Super Mario Land 3D brings the expansive and three-dimensional Mario world to the Nintendo 3DS line. Much like Super Mario 64, Super Mario Land 3D opens the door to the vast universe of Mario. To go along with the fun adventure, Tanooki Mario is available letting you use Mario with a whole new set of powers.
Underrated classic
Another port of a Nintendo classic is The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, the classic Zelda game that came out for the N64 and found a second life on the Nintendo 3DS. As Link, you have 72 hours to save the land of Termina from a tragic end.
Life simulator
Shape your village, catch bugs, and go fishing in Animal Crossing: New Leaf, a delightful simulator where you can create your own paradise.
A hero returns
Go back to the world of A Link to the Past where you can slide within walls and between two dimensions at war. A Link Between Worlds beautifully utilizes the 3DS's 3D functionality and brings Hyrule to life.
Here we go!
Go on an adventure with Luigi to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser and the Koopalings. The 2D side-scrolling platform title features fantastic graphics and some of the best levels in a Mario title.
8-bit throwback
Shovel Knight is a throwback to the 8-bit era, with handcrafted pixel art, detailed animation, and multilayered parallax backgrounds. Not to mention it features some of the best platforming we've ever experienced.
The best of the best
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The Nintendo 2DS XL is absolutely still worth buying right now. It might seem like it's too late to get into the Nintendo 3DS ecosystem, but it's not. If you pick one up, you'll get a fantastic console that still holds up. It is no longer Nintendo's marquee portable, but it still very much has a place in the gaming world today.
One of our favorite picks is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, a fantastic adventure that redefined what an adventure game can be. It features a wonderful story, great puzzles, and some of the best music you'll ever hear, video game or otherwise.
After that, you should definitely check out The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D. The underrated adventure is just as good as Ocarina of Time, if not better, and is one of the most rewarding experiences out there.
