Summary
TheNintendo 3DSis home to a huge library of games. Thanks to its extended lifetime, the system saw constant releases from 2011 all the way to 2020, with over nine years on the scene, even co-existing with the Nintendo Switch for a short period of time.
The touch screen feature made the console a perfect match forvisual novels,so it’s no wonder that players can find a great selection of visual novels on the 3DS, with many sequels coming from the DS era and some new IPs thrown in as well. But which visual novels are the very best to play on the 3DS?
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirits of Justiceis the sixth, and at the moment also the last, mainline title in theAce Attorneyseries. While the Nintendo DS added a huge selection of games to the franchise, the 3DS only got two (at least in the West), those beingDual DestiniesandSpirits of Justice. Both games seePhoenix Wright make a return as the primary protagonist of the games, after Apollo Justice having his own solitary adventure in the fourth mainline game, butSpirits of Justiceis widely considered the overall better game of the two.
The game doesn’t necessarily add much to the already established formula - apart from a few new gimmicks. What makes it a strong entry in the series is its plot and writing, which are some of the best the series has offered in later games. While this probably isn’t the best title in the series, fans will want to ensure to play through it to give a proper conclusion to Phoenix’s storyline. Luckily for players who don’t own a 3DS, the game will be released in a new collection in the near future for current systems.
4Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward
Metascore: 84
Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Rewardis the second chapter in theZero Escapetrilogy, and it was also the only one to be released on the 3DS, beingwidely considered as one of the best games on the system. While this might turn some players off, it’s worth noting that all three games are playable on their own: even if they’re indeed connected, each game also feels like a complete story without the need to play the other games as well, although players who have done so will indeed get a more complete experience out of it.
The game plays like a classic visual novel,with the plot resembling the popularBattle Royalebook and manga to some degree, but there are many branching paths and multiple endings, which make playing through the adventure multiple times necessary in order to get the full experience. Thankfully, the game uses a smart flowchart that allows players to just replay some sections of the adventure without the need to start from scratch every time.
3Professor Layton And The Miracle Mask
Metascore: 82
Professor Layton and the Miracle Maskis the fifth mainline game in theProfessor Laytonseries, and it was the first one to be released on the 3DS. The developers took advantage of the new hardware, with new 3D models for the characters and an overall graphical improvement, without changing much of the gameplay formula. Unfortunately, the plot is somewhat weak, especially when compared to earlier titles in the series.
This, however, is a common problem of the secondProfessor Laytontrilogy,which never managed to capture the same thrills and excitement of the first three games in the franchise, so it’s not surprising that even the best chapter in the second trilogy has its share of faults. Hopefully, the development team will be able to steer the franchise in the right direction with the new game coming out for the Nintendo Switch.
Pokemonhas no shortage of weird spin-offs, butDetective Pikachuhas to be one of the weirdest of all time. This point-and-click adventure features a talking Pikachu as a co-protagonist, alongside player character Tim Goodman. The game plays like a very basic adventure-puzzle game set in the world of Pokemon, and it makes for a fantastic introduction to the genre for new players.
While the gameplay is very formulaic, the game offers a solid plot, something that’s quite unexpected from a spin-off Pokemon game (although it also happens in other instances as well). Also, there’s something incredibly charming in being able toexplore the world of Pokemon from a completely different perspective.The game was successful enough to warrant the release of a sequel,Detective Pikachu Returns, which hit the Nintendo Switch in 2023.
1Corpse Party: Blood Covered
Metascore: 77
Corpse Party: Blood Coveredis the remake of the second game in the popular horror visual novel series, and it’s also the only one to ever be released on the 3DS, which is the reason why the franchiseis more closely associated with the PSP. While the game plays mostly like a classic visual novel, removing the RPG elements found in the original version, there are a few notable gimmicks, like characters having HP, which is something hardly found in the genre.
The game features multiple protagonists, and a very compelling plot revolving around a haunted high school. Horror fans will have a great time playing this game, but it’s a solid choice for any visual novel fan, really.
