Nintendo 2DS review: Nintendo’s wedge-shaped handheld still has it

Nintendo 2DS review: Games

The 3DS has been going from strength to strength since its launch, so there are plenty of great games available to play on a 2DS. Here’s our pick of the best. Just bear in mind that you won’t be able to play any New 3DS or New 3DS XL exclusive games, such as Xenoblade Chronicles 3D, as these have been specifically designed to take advantage of the New 3DS’s updated hardware, so they won’t run on a normal 3DS or 2DS.

READ NEXT: Best New 3DS and 2DS games

Super Smash Bros for 3DS: One of the best games of 2014 was the 3DS version of Smash Bros, which is the first portable title in Nintendo’s all-star fighting series. This isn’t simply a carbon copy of the Wii U version either, as the Smash Bros for 3DS has plenty of exclusive modes and stages that really make it its own distinct title. Super Smash Bros also supports Nintendo’s new amiibo figures, but you’ll need to buy Nintendo’s new £15 NFC Reader/Writer device in order to use them with the 2DS, so it doesn’t have built-in NFC support like the Wii U or New 3DS.

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate: One of the best Monster Hunter games in years, this hack and slash RPG is all about crafting the most outlandish weapons and armour from the surrounding dinos, insects and land-running sharks (to name just a few of the monsters you’ll find) as humanly possible. There are plenty of warrior classes to choose from, and MH4U‘s varied terrains give you plenty of opportunity for strategic battles, including rodeo-style take-downs if you manage to land a successful aerial strike. 

While the sheer scale of the game is perhaps better suited to a larger 3DS XL, 2DS owners will still be able to get plenty out of this. It’s by far the most user-friendly Monster Hunter game I’ve played, and online and local multiplayer is simply excellent, making it great to play with your friends and family.

Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire: Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire were originally released on the Game Boy Advance, but Nintendo’s given both titles a new lease of life in their 3DS remakes. Borrowing the same art style from Pokemon X and Y, both games have received numerous updates, including full 3D character models, 3D battles and a whole host of new mechanics, offering plenty of content for new and old trainers alike. 

I particularly enjoyed the new ‘creep’ feature, which lets you stalk certain monsters through the tall grass and ambush them into battle. These monsters often have special moves or better stats than your average ‘mon, too, making them all the more worthwhile to pursue.

Fire Emblem Awakening: One of the most rounded turn-based strategy games I’ve played to date. Its defining feature is its perma-death, which means that once a character falls in battle, they’re lost to your party forever. This makes each move a surprisingly emotional decision, and its detailed character development is a very addictive pastime in and of itself. Likewise, its myriad of possible fighting strategies is a very sweet process of self-discovery as you find out what works for you.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D: A 3D remake of the N64 classic, Majora’s Mask 3D is easily one of the best handheld Zelda games ever made. Here, you must save the unfortunate town of Termina from being squashed by a giant moon that’s gradually creeping closer day-by-day until the inevitable apocalypse. Luckily, your trusty ocarina lets you rewind time, allowing you to live the same three days over and over again while you work to free Termina’s guardian spirits so they can stop the evil Skull Kid from sending everyone to an early grave. While the dungeon design isn’t quite as complex as its N64 cousin, Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask has a much more fleshed out set of sidequests to help round out the game’s shorter running time and simplified levels.

Another great Zelda game for 2DS owners is The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. It may borrow the art style of its spiritual predecessor, the SNES classic A Link to the Past, but it completely revolutionises the game’s dungeon design, turning relatively flat, familiar rooms into full-bodied 3D play spaces. It’s handheld Zelda at its very best, so this is a must buy for any 2DS owner.

SteamWorld Heist: If Fire Emblem looks a little too complex for your liking, this turn-based strategy shooter is the next best thing. You lead a gang of steam-powered space pirates as you fight to gain back the universe’s limited water supply, but the game’s best trick is that you have to manually aim each shot to take down the opposition. As a result, it doesn’t feel like you’re being robbed by arbitary stat calculations when you miss. Each level is randomly generated, too, so every heist is always different on a second visit. At £15, it’s a real bargain. 

THE REST

For those who like something a little more left-field, Tomodachi Life is the game for you. This bizarre life sim sees you populate an island with your various Mii characters and then watching them live out their strange little lives as you cater for their various needs. It’s an ode to surreal comedy and its added self-awareness only adds to the game’s overall attraction. 

If you’d prefer to get a pink 2DS, you can currently get a bundle with the excellent Kirby Triple Deluxe pre-installed and a case for £130. This game is arguably better in 3D, but it’s still a great platformer in its own right that will delight old and new platforming fans alike. 

The 2DS has a fair amount of role-playing games to choose from as well, including Square Enix’s bizarrely named Bravely Default. Bravely Default is a Final Fantasy game in all but name, but its inventive battle system keeps combat feeling fresh and exciting by letting you take turns in advance or storing up your turns for later to deliver punishing medleys of attacks to your enemies. It’s a lengthy adventure as well, so there’s plenty of gameplay value here.

For puzzle fans, Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy and Professor Layton Vs Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney are both excellent choices. Each game’s story is a little daft, but with so many puzzles to solve and colourful characters to meet, a coherent plot is the least of your worries.

Nintendo 2DS review: Verdict

The 2DS the clear winner for those looking to keep costs down. There’s also the New 3DS, New 3DS XL and New 2DS XL to consider, which have a faster, more powerful CPU, allowing them to play more complex games that wouldn’t ordinarily run on the old consoles. The New 3DS is a lot more expensive, though, with prices starting from £145 and £190 for the standalone New 3DS XL. You can pick up a New 2DS XL for £130. 

Ultimately, if you’re looking for a cheap console with a great library of games to entertain your kids, then the 2DS is still a great buy. However, if you’re older, have the cash and are keen to play all the latest first-party Nintendo titles, then you’d definitely be better off investing in a New 3DS, New 3DS XL or New 2DS XL.