In February 2022, Nintendo announced that the eShop for Nintendo Wii U and Nintendo 3DS would be closing in March 2023. While this was an expected move, it's a move that never feels like the right time to enact. Players are never ready to part with the ability to make digital purchases. Sony previously attempted a store closure for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in 2021, but walked back on those plans after a furious uproar. Unlike Sony, Nintendo is not expected to walk back on its plans.
The eShop closure means that digital-only titles, DLCs, and subscriptions will soon no longer be able to be purchased or downloaded. That doesn't mean that the Wii U and 3DS will become physical-only systems. Players still have time to purchase and download digital-only titles. So long as these titles are downloaded and installed, players will continue to be able to enjoy their purchases long past March 2023. The 3DS, in particular, has a vast library of digital-only titles that avid players should pick up if they haven't already.
10 The First Two Generations Of Pokémon Games Are Among The Many Virtual Console Titles On The 3DS
The 3DS has an impressive collection of Virtual Console titles from the NES, SNES, Gameboy, and Gameboy Color libraries. All of these titles will no longer be able to be purchased digitally on the 3DS after the eShop closure. The most noteworthy of these Virtual Console titles are the first and second-generation Pokémon titles. What's great about these Gameboy-era Pokémon titles is that they're fully compatible with Pokémon Bank, which will allow players to transfer their Pokémon to later games (something that wasn't possible prior to this Virtual Console release). Not to mention this is the first time Celebi is available for Pokémon Crystal outside of a previously Japan-only event.
Pokémon Bank itself will cease service after March 2023, and players will no longer be able to download or purchase Pokémon Bank or a subscription. However, Pokémon Bank subscriptions will become free for an undisclosed period after March 2023.
9 There Are Other Pokémon Games That Are Digital-Only As Well
The first two generations of Pokémon aren't the only digital-only Pokémon titles. Pokémon Shuffle is a free-to-play match-three puzzle game, though there is a mobile version for those who prefer to play on their mobile devices. Another Pokémon matching puzzle game is Pokémon Battle Trozei, which is a sequel to the Nintendo DS' Pokémon Trozei.
Lastly, Pokémon Dream Radar is an augmented reality Pokémon title that allows players to connect with Pokémon Black 2 and Pokémon White 2. Once connected, players can transfer over Pokémon with their hidden abilities to Pokémon B2W2. In Pokémon B2W2, this is the only way to obtain the Therian forms of Landorus, Tornadus, and Thundurus.
8 BoxBoy! Is An Adorable Puzzle-Platformer That's Boxed-In By Its Digital-Only Release
BoxBoy! was developed as an experiment during the production of Kirby: Triple Deluxe and Kirby and the Rainbow Curse over at HAL Laboratory. BoxBoy! would enter full development shortly after and be released in 2015. In BoxBoy!, players will have to use Qbby's ability to make boxes to proceed in the many puzzle and obstacle-filled levels.
BoxBoy! was followed up with BoxBoxBoy! in 2016 and Bye-Bye BoxBoy! in 2017, both for the 3DS. All three titles are digital-only and will be unavailable to purchase after the eShop closure. A Nintendo Switch sequel in BoxBoy! + BoxGirl! was released in 2019.
7 The Pushmo Series Still Hasn't Made Its Way To Switch
To add to the run of digital-only puzzle games is the Pushmo series developed by Intelligent Systems. Pushmo tasks players with saving children from the top of a structure by pulling out blocks from the structure to create steps. Fans of Atlus' Catherine will be sure to find similarities in Pushmo's gameplay.
Pushmo was followed up by three digital-only sequels. Crashmo and Stretchmo were released for the 3DS. Pushmo World was released for the Wii U. Over the course of these Pushmo sequels, players will see an evolution of Pushmo's gameplay, such as the ability to rotate the camera and to stretch block (as opposed to simply pushing and pulling).
6 The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth Is One Of The Best Roguelikes Ever Made
One of the most iconic indie roguelike titles to date is The Binding of Isaac. The Binding of Isaac is loosely inspired by both the gameplay of The Legend of Zelda and the biblical story of the same name. Isaac is faced with the wrath of his mother's excessive abuse. Isaac's mother believes she is hearing voices from God to purify and ultimately sacrifice her son. Isaac flees his mother and is faced with nightmarish series of procedural dungeons.
The 3DS would see The Binding of Isaac with an updated version titled The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, which includes new characters, items, bosses, and many other new additions. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is only available for the New Nintendo 3DS.
5 Dillon's Rolling Western Can't Defend The 3DS From Its Closure
Dillon's Rolling Western tells the tale of an anthropomorphic armadillo named Dillon who is tasked with building up defenses to protect villages from upcoming onslaughts. Dillon is able to amass materials by rolling around surrounding lands and destroying sources for those materials such as rocks. Dillon then buys and sells materials used to create defenses through tower-defense gameplay.
A sequel in Dillon's Rolling Western: The Last Ranger was released in 2013 and is also a digital-only 3DS exclusive. A third game in Dillon's Dead-Heart Breakers was released in 2018. While Dead-Heat Breakers did receive a physical version, it was released as a digital-only title in North America.
4 Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure Is Just What The Doctor Ordered
Back in the realm of puzzle titles is Nintendo's classic Tetris-like, virus eliminating, Dr. Mario series. Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure was released in 2015 and is meant to be the ultimate Dr. Mario experience by bringing the best aspects of previous Dr. Marios. At the center of Miracle Cure is the Miracle Cure ability, which allows players to use a special ability once their Miracle Cure meter is full.
Miracle Cure features different modes, such as Dr. Luigi (who naturally utilizes L-shaped capsules) and Virus Buster, which is played vertically using the touchscreen. Miracle Cure also features an online battle mode.
3 The Mario vs. Donkey Kong Rivalry Continued On The 3DS
In 2004, Nintendo revived the long-dormant arcade Donkey Kong series under the new name Mario vs. Donkey Kong. The structure of Mario vs. Donkey Kong is the same as before, where Mario must rescue the mini-Marios, and in later games, the returning Pauline, from the clutches of Donkey Kong through elaborate puzzles.
The 3DS has two Mario vs. Donkey Kong titles in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move and Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars, the latter of which also released for the Wii U. For fans of the classic arcade Donkey Kong titles, these Mario vs. Donkey Kong games are a must-buy.
2 The SteamWorld Series Took Off On The 3DS
The critically acclaimed SteamWorld series initially found its start in the Nintendo DSi in 2010 as SteamWorld Tower Defense. Image & Form would follow up Tower Defense in 2013 with the platform-based Metroidvania sequel SteamWorld Dig: A Fistful of Dirt, which tasks the player-controlled Rusty with mining ores through mines underneath Tumbleton.
A turn-based strategy follow-up titled SteamWorld Heist was released in 2015, as well as a direct sequel in the award-winning SteamWorld Dig 2 in 2018. Both titles were released for the 3DS as digital-only titles. SteamWorld Dig and its direct sequel are easy recommendations for any fan of Metroidvania games.
1 Many Would Object To Missing Out On The Ace Attorney Series
For over 20 years, players have been able to get an exaggerated and bizarre sense of what it's like to be a lawyer through the Ace Attorney series. Players take on the role of Phoenix Wright and later his disciples Apollo Justice and Athena Cykes as they pursue justice for their accused clients.
Each of Ace Attorney's six mainline games are available as digital-only titles on the 3DS outside of Japan. While the first three Ace Attorney titles have since been released outside of Nintendo handhelds, the latter three are still confined to the 3DS and mobile devices. This may not be an issue for the first four entries of the series, which are available physically for the DS, but Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice are bound by their digital-only status. Until these two Ace Attorneys are ported elsewhere, if they ever are, the only opportunity to buy them will soon be mobile devices.