Despite launching in 2011, the Nintendo 3DS remains one of the best handheld game consoles of all time. There's a wide range of amazing 3DS games for you to enjoy, from series like Professor Layton, Ace Attorney, Zelda, and Mario.

While the 3DS supports physical game cartridges, the best way to get 3DS games is virtually through the Nintendo eShop. This means you can store the games directly on your console and always have your entire collection with you.

We're going to show you how to buy games from the Nintendo 3DS eShop, along with explaining why you only have a limited time left to do so.

How to Buy Games from the Nintendo 3DS eShop

You can buy from the Nintendo eShop through the 3DS itself. Here's how:

  1. Launch your 3DS and open the Nintendo eShop app.
  2. Find the game you want to buy. You can use the search box at the top or navigate through the categories.
  3. Once on a game page, you'll see the cost at the top. Scroll down for details, trailers, screenshots, and more.
  4. To buy the game, select Proceed to Purchase.
    1. If you don't have funds in your account to cover the purchase, you'll need to select Add Funds. Follow the wizard through to add funds from a Nintendo eShop card or your debit/credit card.
    2. If you don't have enough space on your system or SD card, you'll need to select Freeing Up Blocks and follow the data management wizard.
  5. Note the age rating and select Next.
  6. If you agree to Nintendo's cancelation policy, select Agree.
  7. Review details of your purchase. When ready, select Purchase.
  8. Choose to Download Later or Download Now. Once the download is complete, it appears as a present on your home screen for you to unwrap.
nintendo eshop website professor layton

Alternatively, in some regions, you can buy digital 3DS games on the web directly from Nintendo (the My Nintendo Store in the US and the Nintendo eShop in the UK, for example). The games are sent to your console after purchase. For this, you'll need to link your Nintendo Network ID (NNID) to your Nintendo Account.

You can't gift someone a game from the 3DS eShop. Your best choice is to send them a Nintendo eShop gift card.

The Nintendo 3DS eShop Is Closing in 2023

Unfortunately, Nintendo is closing the 3DS eShop in March 2023. After this time, you won't be able to buy any 3DS games from the eShop. Your only way to legally obtain games will be through purchasing physical cartridges.

In the build up to this closure, Nintendo is limiting how you fund these purchases:

  • You can add funds to your Nintendo Network ID (NNID) via credit/debit card until May 23, 2022.
  • You can add funds to your NNID via a Nintendo eShop card until August 29, 2022.

Though you can spend the funds from those methods any time until March 2023, you won't be able to add via them after those respective dates.

nintendo account user information

After August 2022, you can't add funds to your NNID wallet using any method. Instead, you must use a separate system called the Nintendo Account wallet (which is primarily used for the Nintendo Switch). If you haven't already, go to your Nintendo Account and link your NNID. This will enable you to spend your Nintendo Account wallet funds on the 3DS eShop.

Then, from March 2023, you can only spend those Nintendo Account wallet funds on the Nintendo Switch.

Related: Is the Nintendo 3DS Still Worth Buying?

As such, if there's a game that you want to buy and download from the Nintendo 3DS eShop, don't wait around because it won't be available after March 2023. Download codes, perhaps obtained through other retailers, will also be irredeemable after this date.

However, you'll still be able to redownload previously purchased games and DLC, receive software updates, and play online for the foreseeable future.

Don't Wait to Buy Your 3DS Wish List

It's a shame that Nintendo is closing the 3DS eShop. Though the 3DS is no longer the company's focus, it's an unnecessary limitation to a console that still brings joy to plenty.

Nevertheless, until March 2023, you can use our guide for stocking up on all those great games.