What You Should Buy From the Wii U and 3DS Online Stores Before They Close

Today can be a holiday for fans of heroic plumbers, as Nintendo celebrates another Mario Day (March 10th or March 10th), but it will also be a sad reminder for some gamers that the Wii U and 3DS/2DS online stores will be closed in just a couple of weeks. officially closes.

Nintendo eShop, an online store where games can be purchased and downloaded directly to the company’s game consoles, first debuted in June 2011 on the Nintendo 3DS and later on the Wii U when it launched in November 2012. Nintendo first online storeHow both the Wii Store Channel and the DSi Store predate the Online Store (and hello to anyone who remembers Satellaview). BBut these services only offered a limited amount of content, including exclusive WiiWare games for the Wii and retro Nintendo games via Virtual Console.

The online store, by comparison, allows Wii U and 3DS/2DS owners to buy most titles in digital form at launchwhich was beneficial to gamers who did not want carry around a mountain of cartridges, and it is beneficial for Nintendo, which does not need to worry about digital games existence resold later. The online store is still alive and well (though it can be frustratingly slow at times) on the Nintendo Switch, but according to nintendo“As of March 27, 2023, it will no longer be possible to make purchases from Nintendo eShop for the Wii U system and Nintendo 3DS family systems.”

However, while new software cannot be purchased, after March 27, 2023 and for the foreseeable future“Nintendo will still allow users to re-download games they already purchased, and get access to software updates and DLC. Considering how expensive old and retro Nintendo games can be purchased physically, and since we will lose access to digital games entirely, it’s worth making sure your library is up to date before the online stores close.

You can still buy Wii U and 3DS games The shopsIf you jump through some hoops

You have a little over two weeks to buy last-minute Wii U and 3DS/2DS handheld games, but got a little complicated at the finish line. Last year, effective May 23, 2022, Nintendo disabled the ability to fund a Wii U/3DS/2DS online store account using a credit card, and then, effective August 29, 2022, disabled the ability to fund an account. using an online store gift card.

Download codes still work, so if you manage to buy an unopened Wii U or 3DS/2DS that came with the games, you’ll still be able to download them from the online store until the 27th. But really buy games for the next twoo weeks with an online store account that does not yet have funds, users will need to link their Wii U/3DS/2DS Nintendo Network ID Wallet to their Nintendo Switch Account Wallet (which can still be funded with credit cards and gift cards). kart). cards), then use the total balance to make purchases. Nintendo has a simple tutorial how to do it in their support section.

Which Wii U games Really worth buying?

While the Wii U isn’t considered Nintendo’s biggest success, it still helped lay the foundation for the incredibly popular Switch.and includes a respectable list titles. Some like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildare available for both consoles and offer the best experience on Switch while others are still struggling. on Wii U, including original versions platoon And Super Mario Creator.

Our sister site Kotakucollected The 12 Best Wii U Gamesbut the most tempting reason to go to an online store might be to get a copy The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Wakes HD, Nintendo’s Zelda sea adventure. The remaster is the ultimate way to play, and it’s a pity that it not yet re-released on Switch. There is also an HD remaster The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess it’s currently limited to the Wii U if you want to check out the sharp years.

I also know that io9 editor James Whitbrook will skin me alive if I don’t yell about the Wii U. Xenoblade Chronicles X, which he desperately hopes will someday come to Switch. It’s possible, but if Do you like british anime boys and robotsYou maybe it’s best to get one for the Wii U before it’s too late.

Which 3DS games should you grab before it’s too late

In comparison, the 3DS family of handheld computers, which includes the New Nintendo 3DS, New Nintendo 3DS XL, New Nintendo 2DS XL, the original Nintendo 3DS, the Nintendo 3DS XL, and the non-folding Nintendo 2DS, is home to some of the finest handhelds Nintendo has ever made and delivers superb 3D gaming on a device that fits in your pocket.

Our sister site Kotakualso collected The 12 Best 3DS/2DS Games Ever Releasedincluding Animal Crossing: New Leaf which definitely overshadows Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp on iOS and Android. Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, is a decent mobile version of this series, while The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds without a doubt one of the best Zelda games of all time, second only to Breath of the Wild And Link’s awakening.

The 3DS is also home to a slew of retro games that have been released digitally only for it. (Retro Wii U selection is there, but slightly less reliable). They will be especially difficult to acquire after the closure of the online store. the original physical versions of these games require navigating a cutthroat second-hand market. And let’s not forget digital indies like Shooter Clive.

last minute Wii U and online store sales

Ahead of the online store’s closure, several developers are offering big discounts on their 3D and Wii U titles. Kid Tripp And Digger Dan X from the developer four horses now available as a free download for 3DS/2DS consoles at the European eShop and hopefully soon at the North American eShop. Also. Capcom also delivered most games for 3DS/2DS and Wii U on sale for just $2.99 ​​each including Generations of monster hunters, Phoenix Wright games, several resident Evil titles and several editions Street Fighter.