I remember saving up for one, an XL model, for a while until I got one in 2014. I ended up not using it as much as I'd like, but there's a lot of great stuff for it, like A LInk Between Worlds which is now one of my favorites in the series. Being able to play GBA, DS, and 3DS games on it nativly now that it's homebrewed basically makes it my go-to if I'm bringing a handheld with me somewhere. I love it.
Gonna miss the era of handheld + home console software working together. From GBA -> GameCube support all the way to 3DS -> WiiU, I always admired how creative Nintendo was when it came to linking their two active systems together
This just makes me want to cry. I was 9 when the 3DS came out and I remember being so excited because I was a GBA and DS kid (Still very much am) and I got one Christmas of 2011 and I loved it, having PS2 quality games essentially on the go was nuts to me. I can easily say MGS3: Snake Eater 3D is my most played game on the system. This system did a lot for me, it was my first venture into having a system of my own that could do so many things on the internet, it was my first venture into buying DLC myself as well as various Virtual Console games (Did so on the Wii too). I love the 3DS, and sure by like 2018 or 2019 I started using mine less simply because I had a good enough phone by then to emulate N64, PS1 and the like so for me I stuck to doing that, the fate 100% being sealed when I got a clip for my PS4 controller to hold my phone up. But I still love the 3DS and I would sometimes occasionally go back to play it and I'd just sit back and want to cry with how much time has passed. I can't believe it's been almost 15 years since this thing came out, and while I knew it had to eventually be shut down, I'm still heartbroken that it's finally dead. To me I'll never forgive Nintendo for essentially abandoning the 3DS and not even really giving it one final hurrah. Instead it just died quietly until they started looting the corpse to take all that was left. I don't like the Switch or Nintendo as a company anymore for various reasons and haven't for years. The 3DS was my last Nintendo system, and it was a special one, I feel like handhelds are a thing that shouldn't have just died out, but sadly it looks like that's the case. I'll always love the 3DS, it may not be my favorite handheld ever (That goes to the GBA), but it still brought me lots of joy and memories. I just find it insane how I was 9 when this came out, and now I'm 21 going on 22 this year..time really does fly. RIP 3DS, you will be missed very dearly.
Man I love the 3DS and remember fearing it was the end of an era as soon as the Switch was announced. Back then we didn't know stuff like Streetpass wouldn't be carried over and when that turned out to be the case that was the true moment of realization. Despite the rocky start of the 3DS it's great to see it being so well remembered now.
This is something i've been passively thinking about for the last couple of months too. With the release of the Nintendo Switch, I don't think there is a way back. They really hit the sweet spot with the Switch's hybrid console ability, and going back to only handheld or only home console would hurt the number of sales, and the general public would probably see it as a downgrade. Like releasing the Nintendo 64 after releasing the Gamecube. That's why I think that atleast for mainstream gaming, the time of handhelds is indeed over with the Nintendo 3DS being the last of it's kind.
I have such nostalgia for the 1st month or so i had the 3DS, i miss that pure childlike-wonder, i kept playing games in 3D mode long after everyone had turned it off, and i miss streetpass everyday. I wish the Switch had streetpass 😭
3DS is more fun than playing a game on a smartphone. You have far more variety in games on the 3DS with DS/3DS game library whereas phone games only fall into a small handful of categories.
Discovered this channel recently, which blew my mind because I vaguely remember watching and loving your really old videos lol. At least I think they were you? I remember a glitch video on Super Mario Sunshine. Anyways, great video, keep it up haha
Thank you! Yeah I did do some SMS glitch videos years ago. In fact I even did 2 more recently (idk what the deal is with doing 2 vids for that game lmao). Glad you enjoyed it! :)
I’d argue the Vita was the last true handheld since it came out the year after the 3DS. But yeah, the 3DS is the last true handheld in terms of official support going by its final mainstream games in 2019, store support until 2023, and online support until 2024. I hadn’t started playing my Switch out of the house (or really any games on any system at from 2017 on) until I fell in love with Xenoblade/Xenoblade 2 in 2022 and committed to fitting the Switch my back-pocket because I just loved those games so much I needed to take my switch everywhere (without further investing in a Switch Lite which would’ve defeated the point of the original Switch). While I’ve since gotten a Steam Deck and plenty of games in my library that drive me to want to bring it everywhere, its on-the-go play was largely limited to my car until very recently getting a 3rd party shoulder-strap case for it. Really, my grieving of the loss of **pocket** game consoles had a lot more to do with my experience that 3DS-exclusive franchises were really only ever fun on those systems and don’t carry over well to the Switch moreso than the actual form factor of the Switch being “too big” and I needed to open up to better franchises that really leveraged the fact that the Switch is a handheld *home* console that brings all the benefits of home console gaming on the go. I was just too focused on franchises that were DS/3DS only and their underwhelming Switch entries really harmed the Switch’s appeal for me until I started to get into real console franchises like Xenoblade and Persona. They helped me to also quickly realize the Steam Deck’s appeal of being able to bring along games I like that the Switch couldn’t handle, such as Stray, Hi-Fi Rush, and the Yakuza franchise. I do miss pocket consoles; it’s why I’ve struggled to enjoy indie games that have pixelated art styles (unless they’re hyper-stylized, well animated high-energy action games like Freedom Planet, Pizza Tower, or Anton Blast). I’ve always felt that if a company could make a device about the size of a 3DS that could run Steam games at about a PS Vita graphical level, I’d be in gaming heaven as I could play Nintendo’s best on the Switch, play more-demanding titles with the Steam deck, or leave both the Deck and the Switch at home to binge all the more simple/pixel indie games on a theoretical 4”/5”-screened miniature handheld PC.
Me personally, I prefer any of the DS consoles over a switch any day, for a number of reasons that matter to me. First and foremost, personality. There's so much personality you can add onto the exterior and interior of the 3DS consoles, from themes to cases to skins to icons and badges on the home screen. It's endlessly customizable, and becomes even more fun once you add modding and CUSTOM custom themes that you make yourself. I will power on my system from time to time JUST to see the theme and hear the bgm, just because it gives me so much joy seeing a console that's tailors to my interests specifically and perfectly. Second, low-demanding games. Now, I wouldn't call myself a gamer, but I would much rather sit down and play a game than scroll Tiktok for hours, which I've done my fair share of both in the last few years. With the switch, and other home consoles I own, I don't find myself wanting to play any of the games solely because of how demanding they are in attention and time, to me anyways. I feel like I have to be in a certain mood or willing to dedicate a certain amount of time when playing a home console game. While worth it for some games, I can't do it for all of the main titles I want to play. However, with the DS, I don't have to worry about whether or not I'm going to invest 10 minutes, 30 minutes or even an hour because most, if not every, games are crafted to fit an "on the go" lifestyle of gaming, while also giving you the option to continue playing for hours on end. Not to mention the extensive library of games that can range from laid-back roleplay story-driven games to intense platformers and battling games, some can even fit as both. Third, portability. I feel like, with the switch and even switch lite, I need to be carrying around so many things in order to play it outside my home because of how expensive the consoles were. Minimum, it needs a case or protective cover. Plus, it just doesn't feel very discreet or personal. But a DS is very discreet and durable, making it easy to just plop in your pocket or backpack without worrying about it breaking. Unless you carry a bunch of drinks in your bag, I suppose. Lastly, freedom. Now with the Eshop closure and online connectivity being dunked, it's easier now than ever before to mod your DS, giving you access to any and every game on the system you could ever imagine* and even backwards compatibility with other consoles like GBA and NES *Some emulations aren't possible with the older models of the DS, and 3DS games cannot play on those models. If you only really care about retro gaming and don't care much for the DS library in general, then I would recommend an Anbernic console rather than a DS anyways. Personally though, I grew up playing the DS and most games and titles I want to play are available on the DS
I remember the cowards saying the DS was not the GB replacement until it sold well enough, just as the cowards reassured the Switch wasnt meant to kill the DS until it was successful enough to make the call.
phones are great and everything, but they are not gaming devices. Touch screen games are horrendous to play most of the time. (mouse only games like solitaire are ok, virtual gamepads are the worst thing ever)
This guy did not just put his 3DS camera to the eclipse on "3DS end online support". that was perfect.
I remember saving up for one, an XL model, for a while until I got one in 2014. I ended up not using it as much as I'd like, but there's a lot of great stuff for it, like A LInk Between Worlds which is now one of my favorites in the series. Being able to play GBA, DS, and 3DS games on it nativly now that it's homebrewed basically makes it my go-to if I'm bringing a handheld with me somewhere. I love it.
Me too but i Got the new nintendo 3ds xl because i think its the best
Gonna miss the era of handheld + home console software working together. From GBA -> GameCube support all the way to 3DS -> WiiU, I always admired how creative Nintendo was when it came to linking their two active systems together
This just makes me want to cry. I was 9 when the 3DS came out and I remember being so excited because I was a GBA and DS kid (Still very much am) and I got one Christmas of 2011 and I loved it, having PS2 quality games essentially on the go was nuts to me. I can easily say MGS3: Snake Eater 3D is my most played game on the system. This system did a lot for me, it was my first venture into having a system of my own that could do so many things on the internet, it was my first venture into buying DLC myself as well as various Virtual Console games (Did so on the Wii too). I love the 3DS, and sure by like 2018 or 2019 I started using mine less simply because I had a good enough phone by then to emulate N64, PS1 and the like so for me I stuck to doing that, the fate 100% being sealed when I got a clip for my PS4 controller to hold my phone up. But I still love the 3DS and I would sometimes occasionally go back to play it and I'd just sit back and want to cry with how much time has passed. I can't believe it's been almost 15 years since this thing came out, and while I knew it had to eventually be shut down, I'm still heartbroken that it's finally dead. To me I'll never forgive Nintendo for essentially abandoning the 3DS and not even really giving it one final hurrah. Instead it just died quietly until they started looting the corpse to take all that was left. I don't like the Switch or Nintendo as a company anymore for various reasons and haven't for years. The 3DS was my last Nintendo system, and it was a special one, I feel like handhelds are a thing that shouldn't have just died out, but sadly it looks like that's the case. I'll always love the 3DS, it may not be my favorite handheld ever (That goes to the GBA), but it still brought me lots of joy and memories. I just find it insane how I was 9 when this came out, and now I'm 21 going on 22 this year..time really does fly. RIP 3DS, you will be missed very dearly.
Man I love the 3DS and remember fearing it was the end of an era as soon as the Switch was announced. Back then we didn't know stuff like Streetpass wouldn't be carried over and when that turned out to be the case that was the true moment of realization. Despite the rocky start of the 3DS it's great to see it being so well remembered now.
This is something i've been passively thinking about for the last couple of months too. With the release of the Nintendo Switch, I don't think there is a way back. They really hit the sweet spot with the Switch's hybrid console ability, and going back to only handheld or only home console would hurt the number of sales, and the general public would probably see it as a downgrade. Like releasing the Nintendo 64 after releasing the Gamecube. That's why I think that atleast for mainstream gaming, the time of handhelds is indeed over with the Nintendo 3DS being the last of it's kind.
Maybe for some, but I think it's lacking still.
I have such nostalgia for the 1st month or so i had the 3DS, i miss that pure childlike-wonder, i kept playing games in 3D mode long after everyone had turned it off, and i miss streetpass everyday. I wish the Switch had streetpass 😭
3DS is more fun than playing a game on a smartphone. You have far more variety in games on the 3DS with DS/3DS game library whereas phone games only fall into a small handful of categories.
Another problem with phone games I feel is the lack of physical buttons. It hinders the enjoyment imo
Discovered this channel recently, which blew my mind because I vaguely remember watching and loving your really old videos lol. At least I think they were you? I remember a glitch video on Super Mario Sunshine. Anyways, great video, keep it up haha
Thank you! Yeah I did do some SMS glitch videos years ago. In fact I even did 2 more recently (idk what the deal is with doing 2 vids for that game lmao). Glad you enjoyed it! :)
I don’t get why nintendo would consider a switch lite to be an improvement compared to an updated 3ds for the same price. 😔 :/
Great video, Mr Doctor
There are modders and a good community keeping it alive forever still
I’d argue the Vita was the last true handheld since it came out the year after the 3DS. But yeah, the 3DS is the last true handheld in terms of official support going by its final mainstream games in 2019, store support until 2023, and online support until 2024.
I hadn’t started playing my Switch out of the house (or really any games on any system at from 2017 on) until I fell in love with Xenoblade/Xenoblade 2 in 2022 and committed to fitting the Switch my back-pocket because I just loved those games so much I needed to take my switch everywhere (without further investing in a Switch Lite which would’ve defeated the point of the original Switch). While I’ve since gotten a Steam Deck and plenty of games in my library that drive me to want to bring it everywhere, its on-the-go play was largely limited to my car until very recently getting a 3rd party shoulder-strap case for it. Really, my grieving of the loss of **pocket** game consoles had a lot more to do with my experience that 3DS-exclusive franchises were really only ever fun on those systems and don’t carry over well to the Switch moreso than the actual form factor of the Switch being “too big” and I needed to open up to better franchises that really leveraged the fact that the Switch is a handheld *home* console that brings all the benefits of home console gaming on the go. I was just too focused on franchises that were DS/3DS only and their underwhelming Switch entries really harmed the Switch’s appeal for me until I started to get into real console franchises like Xenoblade and Persona. They helped me to also quickly realize the Steam Deck’s appeal of being able to bring along games I like that the Switch couldn’t handle, such as Stray, Hi-Fi Rush, and the Yakuza franchise.
I do miss pocket consoles; it’s why I’ve struggled to enjoy indie games that have pixelated art styles (unless they’re hyper-stylized, well animated high-energy action games like Freedom Planet, Pizza Tower, or Anton Blast). I’ve always felt that if a company could make a device about the size of a 3DS that could run Steam games at about a PS Vita graphical level, I’d be in gaming heaven as I could play Nintendo’s best on the Switch, play more-demanding titles with the Steam deck, or leave both the Deck and the Switch at home to binge all the more simple/pixel indie games on a theoretical 4”/5”-screened miniature handheld PC.
Look up the Ayaneo Flip Ds. Just wish it was cheaper.
As well as the vita yes
I also tried to record the eclipse on my 3ds camera
Still playing my DSi XL and 3DS every day!
Me too ❤
And always
Me personally, I prefer any of the DS consoles over a switch any day, for a number of reasons that matter to me. First and foremost, personality. There's so much personality you can add onto the exterior and interior of the 3DS consoles, from themes to cases to skins to icons and badges on the home screen. It's endlessly customizable, and becomes even more fun once you add modding and CUSTOM custom themes that you make yourself. I will power on my system from time to time JUST to see the theme and hear the bgm, just because it gives me so much joy seeing a console that's tailors to my interests specifically and perfectly.
Second, low-demanding games. Now, I wouldn't call myself a gamer, but I would much rather sit down and play a game than scroll Tiktok for hours, which I've done my fair share of both in the last few years. With the switch, and other home consoles I own, I don't find myself wanting to play any of the games solely because of how demanding they are in attention and time, to me anyways. I feel like I have to be in a certain mood or willing to dedicate a certain amount of time when playing a home console game. While worth it for some games, I can't do it for all of the main titles I want to play. However, with the DS, I don't have to worry about whether or not I'm going to invest 10 minutes, 30 minutes or even an hour because most, if not every, games are crafted to fit an "on the go" lifestyle of gaming, while also giving you the option to continue playing for hours on end. Not to mention the extensive library of games that can range from laid-back roleplay story-driven games to intense platformers and battling games, some can even fit as both.
Third, portability. I feel like, with the switch and even switch lite, I need to be carrying around so many things in order to play it outside my home because of how expensive the consoles were. Minimum, it needs a case or protective cover. Plus, it just doesn't feel very discreet or personal. But a DS is very discreet and durable, making it easy to just plop in your pocket or backpack without worrying about it breaking. Unless you carry a bunch of drinks in your bag, I suppose.
Lastly, freedom. Now with the Eshop closure and online connectivity being dunked, it's easier now than ever before to mod your DS, giving you access to any and every game on the system you could ever imagine* and even backwards compatibility with other consoles like GBA and NES
*Some emulations aren't possible with the older models of the DS, and 3DS games cannot play on those models. If you only really care about retro gaming and don't care much for the DS library in general, then I would recommend an Anbernic console rather than a DS anyways. Personally though, I grew up playing the DS and most games and titles I want to play are available on the DS
I remember the cowards saying the DS was not the GB replacement until it sold well enough, just as the cowards reassured the Switch wasnt meant to kill the DS until it was successful enough to make the call.
There will never be another Nintendo console like the 3DS
I’m young and the 3ds (og) is older then me but i still prefer my 3ds over my switch
Its so sad. this console was my childhood! I used to play with my sister everyday and make fun videos. its soooo nostalgic.😭
phones are great and everything, but they are not gaming devices. Touch screen games are horrendous to play most of the time. (mouse only games like solitaire are ok, virtual gamepads are the worst thing ever)
the only thing i like to play on my pohone are rhythms games that it lol
1:10 why are the colors of the joy cons switched?
I legitimately have been saving up to buy a 3ds now because i recently got into pokemon
We should go back to wii and Ds Upgrades as opposed to the switch
Dude the evercade exists
Dual Screens were really useful
I still have Nintendo 3DS
Man, isn't it great that we won't let this superior gen die then?
(Here's a hint: Pretendo.)
Vita came after it, and would thus be the last true handheld
pocket console would be a better term
2:45 what fl game is this is it on 3ds?
3DS and PS Vita were the last great battle, even tho Sony screw it up early with their scummy sd cards.
Truly was an end of an era but can we not do the clickbait thumbnail. the 3ds was not the last "true handheld"
It’s not wrong, unless you’re counting vita I guess lol
Switch lite.
I love the DS/3DS series! It’s so sad to see it discontinued. 😢🫡
Modders still support it and lots of people play it ❤