Hello fellow bipeds? Are you considering buying a Nintendo 3DS? Do you want to know how expensive 3DS gaming will be? Are you already a 3DS owner, looking for cheap yet fun experiences?

Well, look no further! I'm updating last year's similar thread in order to give you the run-down on how to be a 3DS gamer while pinching pennies!

Note: I will be using GameStop as a guide for prices. Sites like Amazon offer lower prices on a regular basis, but these fluctuate constantly and supplies are often short. GameStop, meanwhile, usually has a decent number of any one notable game in an area, or at least available for ordering online. If you can find a better deal than I post here, congratulations. Consider this a base guide, to be deviated from whenever it helps.

!. Systems

The 3DS hardware ecosystem has gotten moderately complex since launch. As of October, there will be three main 3DS systems available for purchase.

1. The Original - $170 -The standard "balanced" model of the 3DS. Offers the trademark 3D, the best speakers, and the lightest weight of any of the three models. However, it only comes with a 2 GB SD card (as opposed to the others' 4 GB), and has a slightly worse battery life.

2. 3DS XL - $200 - This "Deluxe" version has 90% larger screens than the regular 3DS, though pixel count is identical. Not easily portable, but probably the definitive version of the 3DS if you mostly play at home. Plus, the 3D effect works best on this version.

3. 2DS - $130 - The "Basic" version, which sacrifices 3D effects and has the worst speakers. Plus, it can't be folded shut, making it the least portable. However, this is not only the cheapest model, but apparently the most durable.

Here's a link to a more in-depth comparison:

Some 3DS's also come bundled with software, either in a cartridge or preinstalled onto the SD card. Bundled games include Super Mario 3D Land and Nintendogs + cats on the regular model and New Super Mario Bros 2 and Animal Crossing: New Leaf on the XL model.

My Advice: Try to get either the regular or XL version bundled with a game. All of the widely bundled 3DS games are well worth your money, and the systems they're bundled with are more portable and offer better speakers and actual 3D. That said, the 2DS is not only a good fit for kids, but also for people who are only interested in a few games that don't make great use of 3D. So if you're just buying a 3DS for Pokemon, for example, consider getting the 2DS and saving $40.

2. Cheaper Retail Games

The typical launch price for a 3DS game is $30 to $40. Some games will come out at $20, and one or two have cost $50, but $30 or $40 is the norm.

However, the 3DS launched over two years ago. Many games have gone down in price, and many of those games are worthwhile.

The following list does not aim to capture every worthwhile game on the 3DS. Instead, it highlights games that are sold for slightly less that really ARE worth your money. .

Good Games for under $30

• Angry Birds Trilogy
• Dead or Alive: Dimensions
• Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
• Harvest Moon: A New Beginning
• Kingdom Hearts 3D
• Metal Gear Solid 3D (Note that this is the worst version of an awesome game)
• Samurai Warriors Chronicles
• Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked
• Tales of the Abyss
• Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy

Good Games for under $20

• Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy
• Adventure Time
• Etrian Odyssey 4
• Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars
• LEGO (series)
• Naruto: Powerful Shippuden
• Nintendogs+cats
• Pilotwings Resort
• Pro Evolution Soccer (series)
• Resident Evil Revelations (Highly Recommended)
• Ridge Racer 3D
• Scribblenauts Unlimited

Good Games for under $10

• Crush 3D
• Nano Assault

3. More Expensive Retail Games with Loads of Value

A lot of the 3DS's best games still cost over $30. Some of these games (coughSuperMario3DLandcough) are not worth your money if you want to limit your handheld budget. Other more expensive games, however, are both high quality AND contain a fountain of content.

The following is a list of more expensive 3DS games and about how much playtime you'll likely get out of them.

• Animal Crossing: New Leaf - Potentially 100's of hours, especially since some events only happen in real time calendar dates.
• Fire Emblem: Awakening - 30 hours for the main story, plus another 10 hours of sidequests and the like
• Kid Icarus: Uprising - Story can be beaten in 10 to 12 hours, but the extreme amount of content (91 difficulty levels per each stage!) and multiplayer can make this last for 100's of hours
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - 25 hours to beat the story, 10 hours of sidequests, and an unlockable hard mode
• Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate - Over 60 hours to get an overview of what the game has to offer, 200 to 300 hours of content
• Shin Megami Tensei - These games in general are more expensive, with SMT4 costing $40, its about as long as a single-player RPG gets.

4. eShop Goodness

Since its (late) launch in 2011, the 3DS eShop has developed a library of notable games. Here, we'll focus on those price at $10 or less that might be worth your time.

• Cave Story - $10
• Gunman Clive - $2
• Marvel Pinball 3D - $8
• Mighty Switch Force - $6
• Mutant Mudds - $9
• Pushmo - $7
• Sakura Samurai - $7
• VVVVVV - $8
• Zen Pinball 3D - $7

5. Virtual Console

Virtual Console games are worth $3 to $6, so none of them are really expensive. So I'm just going to highlight a few classics.

• Castlevania (NES)
• Donkey Kong (GB)
• Kirby's Dream Land (GB)
• Kirby's Dream Land 2 (GB)
• The Legend of Zelda series (GBC)
• Mega Man series (NES)
• Metroid 2 (GB)
• Shantae (GBC)
• Super Mario Bros (NES)
• Super Mario Land 2 (GB)
• Tetris (GB)
• Wario Land 2/3 (GBC)

6. Peripherals and Such

The 3DS has a variety of peripherals and acessories. You may or may not be interested in such things, but I thought I might as well cover them.

Battery packs are essentially acessories that snap into the 3DS to improve the batterry life. Considering how the 3DS battery is less than ideal (though far from the nightmare predicted in early 2011), this could be worth looking into. A decent battery pack can cost $20 and double or triple your playtime. Typically, the main drawback of these things is the increased bulkiness. In general, this is a fair option for people who play for extended periods of time without a chance to recharge. Another option is USB and Car chargers, which shouldn't cost over $10.

If you lose your stylus, they come in packs of about 4 or 6 for $8. A replacement power adaptor shouldn't cost over $15. System cases, which decorate and protect your 3DS from harm, cost as little as $10. For $5, you can buy a box to keep a dozen or so 3DS games in one container, whhich is great when travelling light or when trying to save space around the house.

The controversial Circle Pad Pro is rare nowadays, but costs $20. Honestly, only about 6 games are compatible with it, and none require it. I can't honestly recommend it.

Conclusions

The last time I did this feature, I gave myself the goal price of $300 to "buy" a system and some games and make it seem worthwhile. Since then, the 8th generation of consoles was announced.

The PlayStation 4 will cost $400. The Xbox One will cost $500. Neither of these systems will be backwards compatible. Even the Wii U is $300.

For $400, you can not only get a 3DS, but build a massive library of games, from a variety of styles and genres. You can play retail DS games going back nearly a decade, you can play new major titles coming out five years from now, you can play retro classics, and you can play the already existing very impressive 3DS library.

Sample 3DS "Bundles"

The follwing are theoretical "Bundles" for new 3DS purchasers, all costing $300 or less. They are meant to display what the 3DS has to offer to different kinds of gamers.

• Adventure Bundle - Ocarina of Time 3D System Bundle ($200), Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon ($40), Resident Evil: Revelations ($20), Adventure Time ($20), LEGO Pirates of the Carribean ($20)
• Casual Bundle - Nintendogs 3DS Bundle ($170), Animal Crossing: New Leaf ($35), Professor Layton 5 ($33), Scribblenauts Unlimited ($20), Pushmo ($7), Cooking Mama 4 ($20), Tetris Axis ($15)
• eShop Bundle - Generic 3DS ($170), 16/32 GB SD Card ($30), Cave Story ($10), Pushmo ($7), Crashmo ($9), Gunman Clive ($2), SteamWorld Dig ($9), Mutant Mudds ($9), VVVVVV ($8), Mighty Switch Force ($6), Denpa Men ($10), Mario & Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move ($10), HarmoKnight ($15)
• JRPG Bundle -2DS System ($130), Pokemon X/Y ($40), Shin Megami Tensei 4 ($40), Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate ($40), Kingdom Hearts 3D ($30), Etrian Odyssey 4 ($20)
• Mario Bundle - Mario Kart 7 XL Bundle ($200), Super Mario 3D Land ($40), Sticker Star ($33), $27 of eShop goodies
• Platformer Bundle - Super Mario 3D Land Bundle ($200), Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D ($35), Shinobi ($20), Crush 3D ($10), $45 dollars worth of eShop and Virtual console games

Anything I missed? I'll be working on this post for a while, so be sure to nominate or deride cetain games, strategies, etc.

Thanks for your help in advance!

It's fun, and if you don't have a smart phone, its a decent way to play the game.

Its not really on the cheap when you compare it to PSN sales.

Its my one gripe with the 3DS. Games are way too expensive for what they are.

this is an awesome topic! great work salnax!! maybe you could have a head line called "up coming games worth keeping an eye on"?

I'm guessing that you think that RE: Revelations HD is too expansive as well then? Or that Mario 3D Land isn't worth $40-50? And paying $40-50 for a Mario Kart just won't do...?

I'm guessing you're trying to pick a fight for no good reason. Its up to each one of us wich games are worth full price. It depends on each people's own tastes.

The problem i have is these 3DS games stay at full price for years after. Personally, no i dont think a Mario 3D Land is worth 50. Would i consider getting it for say 20? Yeah i would, but its likely it will never get to that price. Unfortunely, this is the rule with most 3DS releases. Look at castlevania for example. Still at full price, it flopped and its getting ported in HD for much cheaper bundled with another game. How does that make sense? How does MGS3D for 50 make sense when you can get HD collection on Vita and PS3/360 for 20?

The game pricing on the 3DS does not make sense. They are losing money.

I'm sorry if I come off as angry/wanting to pick a fight, I just find that statement ignorant. I can absolutely agree that Nintendo should lower the price on their games after a few years, but the fact that they don't do that doesn't mean the game isn't worth the original $50.

And I agree that Castlevania shouldn't be full price since it flopped so hard, and remakes are on their way. And the same goes for MGS3D as well.Bottom line is that it's the individual companies that set the prices for their games; Nintendo doesn't tell Capcom what to charge for RE Revelations.

And Nintendo isn't losing money on 3DS anymore... Just take a look at Mario 3D World/Mario Kart or NSMB2... they'll all end up above the 10 mil limit...

When i say they are losing money i mean potencial sales, not actual losses. :)

haha my bad xD I kinda have to agree with you on that one as well. I actually agree with about everything you've said, except that the games aren't worth their price.

You were even interested in SMT IV and missed out on the Club Nintendo $30 e-credit offer you did yourself an injustice, the game is great besides that bit with the Tokyo map and well worth the price. Add in the Gamestop version that came with a soundtrack, art/mini strategy guide/manual and you got crazy amount of value for that really comes down to $20 to $25.

That $30 for me was going toward Phoenix Wright Dual Destinies anyway...