Ok, so I was recently looking at the upcoming games for the 3DS and I was impressed by how good it was this late in its life cycle. I'll do an overview of the 3DS line-up in this thread. If a Vita fan can do the same for the Vita then that would be great. I'd do it myself, but I don't own a Vita and I don't have enough knowledge of the upcoming games. I heard the Vita gets a lot of third party support in Japan despite its abyssmal sales, so this should still be an interesting discussion.
Fire Emblem: Fates
The second Fire Emblem game to hit the 3DS, after the succesful Fire Emblem: Awakening. This game takes a new approach in the series: there isn't one, but two main versions. You can chose between the Nohr kingdom or the Hoshido kingdom. Hoshido is very similar to Awakening, so it can be considered the "easy" version. Nohr resembles the more traditional Fire Emblem games with a more complex story and harder gameplay. If you buy one version you can later buy the other version at a reduced price on the e-shop. There will also be a third campaign added as DLC in the future. This is the first game in the series to introduce same-sex marriage and it also includes a lot of sexualized content (fanservice if you will). My only complaint about this game are the bad graphics. Can't wait for a next-gen Fire Emblem game...
Hype meter: 9/10.
Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
The second Mario & Luigi game to hit the 3DS, after the somewhat controversial Mario & Luigi: Dream Team. Why do I say controversial? Well, Dream Team was filled to the brim with tutorials and the game dragged on for a long time. In other words: it overstayed its welcome. Ar its core it was still a decent game however. In the newest Mario & Luigi title two worlds collide, namely the worlds of Mario & Luigi and Paper Mario. This could provide a lot of new gameplay elements and humor to the Mario & Luigi series. I just hope this game fixes the problem Dream Team had with tutorials.
Hype meter: 9/10.
Yo-kai Watch
Yo-kai Watch released in 2013 in Japan and quickly became a phenomenon because of cross-media exposure (anime, toyline, game, etc.). What exactly are Yo-kai you ask? They're neither ghosts nor spirts, they're simply Yo-kai. The Yo-kai can cause a lot of problems by simply being in the vicinity of humans and they're only visible to the naked eye with a Yo-kai Watch, hence the name of the franchise. The main character of this series battles and befriends Yo-kai to solve problems in his hometown. Japan will already be getting Yo-kai Watch 3 in 2016 while the first game in the franchise will be brought to North-America this holiday season. I'm looking forward to playing this Pokémon inspired game.
Hype meter: 9/10.
Monster Hunter X
One of the biggest third party games in Japan is coming to the 3DS next year! Monster Hunter has been thriving on the 3DS and is becoming more popular in the West. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate became the fastest selling Monster Hunter game in the West this year. There's no doubt that this game will be localized as well. Monster Hunter is an action rpg where you fight monsters to collect special resources. You can use these resources to upgrade your gear and weapons. This is the only way you'll become more powerful into this game as there is no level-up system. Monster Hunter also has a heavy emphasis on online co-op.
Hype meter: 8.5/10.
Monster Hunter Stories
What? Another Monster Hunter game? Yep! This spin-off game makes great use of cel-shading to deliver some truly impressive graphics for the 3DS. I'm actually more excited for this game than the mainline Monster Hunter games. I'm not sure what exactly this game is about, but I think this game will focus more on a single-player adventure because of the word "Stories" in the title. It has already been confirmed to be an RPG though. You can also ride on a little Rathalos, how cool is that?! Hopefully this game gets localized as well, although I think the chances of this happening are lower than Monster Hunter X. Capcom would be dumb not to bring it over to the West though!
Hype meter: 9/10.
Dragon Quest VII & Dragon Quest VIII
A lot of people seem to think Dragon Quest VIII on the 3DS will be a mere port or even worse a "demake". Don't be fooled by the ignorance of these people though. Dragon Quest VIII on the 3DS will include new dungeons, new bosses (see picture), new party characters, improved controls, voiced cutscenes, new story scenarios and Streetpass functionality. This will definitely be the definitive version of Dragon Quest VIII. And these two games are apparently coming over to the West!
Hype meter: 9/10.
Bravely Second: End Layer
Bravely Default, the first game in this franchise, was a new IP created by Square Enix for the 3DS. It managed to sell over one million copies and surprised Square Enix. Yes Square, Nintendo owners like(d) your games, too bad you treat them like crap most of the time. Bravely Default is a lot like the older and more traditional Final Fantasy games. It has a unique combat system, at the beginning of the turn you can chose to either "Default" (i.e. defend) or "Brave" (attack). If you chose default you will receive less damage when you get hit and you'll gain one "Brave" point. You can store up to 4 brave points at once. What do these brave points do exactly? It's simple, they allow you to perform extra attacks! Beware though, you can also go into the red with your brave points. And if one of your party members is in the red he or she is a sitting duck for any enemies until she's back in the green. The game also had a very beatiful artstyle that made use of drawings and 3D polygon models. There was one major flaw though: chapters 5-8 have you replay the entire game over and over again but on a much faster pace. It still far outstayed its welcome however, it was some of the worst padding I've ever seen. Let's hope the sequel improves on this one big flaw!
Hype meter: 8/10.
The Legend of Zelda: Triforce Heroes
This game came as quite a surprise at E3, I don't think anyone expected a succesor to Four Sword's Adventure on the 3DS. Yet here it is. This game revolves around co-op play with two other players. The central gimmick of this game will be the "Totem Pole" mechanic where the Links will climb on top of each other, this will be used to solve puzzles and defeat bosses. It has online play as well as local multiplayer. You'll also be able to play the game by yourself: the two other players will be replaced by puppet Links in this mode. My major complaint about this game is the fact that it re-uses many of the assets from A Link Between Worlds, but it somehow manages to look quite a bit worse than that game. It also won't have voice chat which will make online play very frustrating. I'd have rather seen a true Zelda game on the 3DS, but at least this game stays somewhat true to the franchise.
My hype meter: 6/10.
Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice
What?! They made a sequel to Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice? Yep. And you included it in your list? Again, yep. I know what you're all thinking, but I thought the trailer looked promising. Sanzura Games will be developing this and it appears they have learned from their mistakes in the first game: Sega Producer Omar Woodley has stated both Sega and developer Sanzaru Games have been learning from their experience with Shattered Crystal, which received mostly negative reviews upon release. One of the problems they identified was how, even though the game was targeted towards children aged 7-11, fans of the classic Sonic games picked up the game and a harder time getting into Shattered Crystal's lengthy exploration-based levels. As such, levels have been made shorter and include paths to better suit gamers who prefer speeding through levels, in addition to explorational elements. Still not convinced? Click here for footage from a demo level.
Hype meter: 7/10.
Hyrule Warriors Legends
On June 10, 2015, a leaked trailer revealed a port for Hyrule Warriors on the 3DS, titled Hyrule Warriors Legends. The game was officially anounced six days later during Nintendo's Digital Event at E3. The port includes all previously-released DLC, features the ability to switch characters on the fly, and adds a new story chapter featuring characters from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker that serves as an epilogue. Tetra and King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule (King of Red Lions), both from The Wind Waker, will be added as new playable characters, with others to be announced leading up to the game's launch. The new characters can also be transferred to the Wii U version.
Hype meter: 6/10.
Written by Skullwaker:
Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer
The second Animal Crossing title to hit the 3DS, this one is focused on designing homes for the villagers. As you progress in the game, you can unlock new furniture that you can use in your projects or even decorate restaurants, schools, libraries, laboratories and more! Additionally, this game will be the first to support amiibo cards, with which you can directly insert any villager you desire and remodel their home. The game also features a hub world similar to Animal Crossing: City Folk for the Wii, and you can choose the season of the town. Unlike the mainline games, bells do not need to be spent on furniture or anything, so the only limit in the game is your imagination (and the floor space)! The game is set to launch in September/October in the west.
Hype: 8/10
Project X Zone 2
The second title in the series for 3DS, Project X Zone 2 is an RPG crossover between Sega, Capcom and Bandai Namco. New characters that will be playable in the game include Ryu and Ken from Street Fighter, Phoenix Wright and Maya from Ace Attorney and Axel Stone from Streets of Rage, with characters such as Mega Man and Chris Redfield returning from the previous game. This new entry will address criticisms of the original, such as the story, and will launch in early 2016 in the west.
Hype: 8/10
The Legend of Legacy
A new IP from developer Furyu, The Legend of Legacy is a spiritual successor to the Saga series, and plays like a JRPG. However, it will allow the player to freely progress through the game without anything directing them in a straight line. The player is able to choose from seven playable characters in the game, each with their own special abilities and personalities. Atlus will be publishing the game in the west later this year.
Hype: 9/10
Rhythm Heaven: The Best+
The first in the Rhythm Heaven series to be on the 3DS, The Best+ features over 100 levels. For the first time in the series, the game has an overarching plot, in which the player helps the main character return home after falling from the sky by completing minigames across a map. Additional modes include Challenge Land, Perfect Campaign, Challenge Train and more! Although the game hasn't been confirmed for the west just yet, it's part of a franchise that has always localized since the entry on the DS and it's developed/published by Nintendo themselves, so the probablity of it going overseas is very high!
Hype: 9/10
The Great Ace Attorney
The newest entry in the Ace Attorney series, TGAA is a prequel featuring the characters Sherlock Holmes and Watson. The game features the classic courtroom style of previous games with new twists such as Joint Reasoning, which allows the player to view witnesses from different angles to deduce contradictions in their testimonies. Furthermore, trials in this game will feature a jury, not just one judge, so majority will rule as it did in one of the cases in the original game. Localization has not been announced by Capcom, but considering all but one of the Ace Attorney titles have made it over, it's likely this will also (even if it's just a digital release).
Hype: 10/10
Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon
Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon is the follow-up to Gates to Infinity, which also released on the 3DS. However, SMD looks to improve upon that game with changes such as more playable Pokemon, relationship building, more dungeons and a better story. The game launches this holiday in the west!
Hype: 8/10
Etrian Odyssey V
Details on EOV are few and far between, having only been announced by Atlus somewhat recently. The game will feature the same dungeon-crawling gameplay of previous titles, and Shigeo Komori, the director of II and III, will return to direct this game. As others in the series, this game will more than likely be localized. More information is on the horizon!
Hype: 8/10
Style Savvy 3
Style Savvy 3, known as Girls Mode 3 in Japan, is a fashion simulator which allows you to design outfits and manage your own clothing store. The game also features accessories and clothing from a variety of Nintendo franchises, including Kirby, Splatoon and Mario, and allows for amiibo support. Localization has not been announced, but like the previous installments and considering it's developed/published by Nintendo, an announcement is surely underway.
Hype: 10/10
Stella Glow
The last game to be developed by Imageepoch, Stella Glow is an SRPG in the same vein of Luminous Arc for the DS, and features chibi-styled characters. The theme of the game appears to be magic vs sword, with different classes falling according to that. It will be published by Atlus in the west later this year.
Hype: 9/10
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If you think I forgot any important games, let me know and I'll be sure to add them if I think they deserve to be on the list. And like I said in the beginning of the thread, I'd like Vita fans to make a similar list, you don't have to go as in-depth as me though (unless you want to of course).
"The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must" - Thoukydides
