It's going to happen again: another blackout of online services for old Nintendo consoles. Approximately one year after the closure of the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShops, Nintendo is going to close the online services of all the games on these two consoles.
That is to say: from April 8, 2024you will no longer be able to enjoy online play of games on 3DS and Wii U (games that, of course, you have to have physically or have purchased in the eShop, because they can no longer be purchased).
This includes online play, online rankings, and data distribution, with the sole exception of Pokémon Bank. Hence There are only weeks left to enjoy the online experience of some Wii U and 3DS games. And although many have versions or sequels on Nintendo Switch, the original experience will be lost…
Wii U and 3DS online games worth playing again before the online services of both consoles close:
Super Mario Maker the Wii U
The first Super Mario Maker, released on Wii U in September 2015, was surpassed in almost everything by Super Mario Maker 2 years later on Nintendo Switch. However, on Wii U some playful details remained, as well as the dozens of skins of other characters pixelated with the amiibo.
But the most important thing, of course, These are the Super Mario Maker levels that will be lost forever starting April 8. Nintendo didn't release any tools to import them to Switch, so you can only replicate them.
This game (unlike Maker 2) did not have online multiplayer, but The fun was in playing other players' levels and downloading them from the Internet, a function that will disappear. And that means that they will miss some levels that were never beaten: the community is trying to pass them all, can you help them?
Super Mario Maker Analysis
The Legend of Zelda Tri Force Heroes en Nintendo 3DS
The Legend of Zelda_ Tri Force Heroes – The Princess’s Tell-All Trailer
It's hard to believe that the latest experiment Zelda with multiplayer date from 2015: Despite the multiple Zelda games on Switch, none have had multiplayer, which makes this successor to Four Swords even more unique, but only for three players, with specifically designed dungeons.
Although you could play the entire game alone, alternating control of the three Links, and local multiplayer will still work (which is the best way to enjoy it, honestly), Zelda Tri Force Heroes is one of the games that will lose the most after the blackout of the 3DS servers.
Tri Force Heroes is from the same fifth as Metroid Prime Federation Force, another attempt by Nintendo to enhance cooperative multiplayer in 3DS games… although that one ended up much worse.
Analysis of The Legend of Zelda Tri Force Heroes
Super Smash Bros. para Wii U y Nintendo 3DS
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, on Nintendo Switch, is the definitive Smash Bros. game, as it has all the fighters from the saga (and many more, although most were DLC).
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U was where the saga evolved, after the Brawl installment on Wii, which was somewhat controversial among many fans due to the speed of movement.
Unlike Mario Kart 8 (the Wii U game is the same as the Switch, but “less”), Smash is its own game that is worth it for its exclusive modes: Smashventura on 3DS and “Party” mode on Wii U. These modes are local, so you won't miss them, but for old times' sake, it's worth taking one last Smash on Wii U or 3DS.
Super Smash Bros. Analysis for Wii U
Kid Icarus Uprising de Nintendo 3DS
Kid Icarus Uprisingthe “AAA” from Nintendo and Masahiro Sakurai that (still) remains exclusive to 3DS, had an extensive online mode, one of the most complete on the console.
If in the campaign you controlled Pit in third-person shooting levels, in the online you controlled a series of angels in “desthmatch” modes but full of power-ups and crazy mapswhich almost made it a “Smash” if it were a 3D shooter (and with weird touch controls).
Kid Icarus Uprising is one of the best games on the console, one of the most unique and ambitious and that is why It deserves a farewell in style, before the servers close..
Análisis de Kid Icarus Uprising
Splatoon and Wii U
The first Splatoon of 2015 is now far behind: two sequels have been released on Switch, which have added many new maps and modes… but they have not changed the formula too much either.
Today it is almost trivial, but Splatoon was the defining Wii U game of 2015, year in which the irreparable failure of the console was confirmed. Its sales were not picking up, but the most loyal Nintendo fans, after receiving deliveries of Smash Bros. and Mario Kart, received a new IP from Nintendo.
And the truth is that Splatoon was played differently on Wii U: the GamePad, so bulky, nevertheless made motion control more natural, while its screen allowed you to see in real time all the time which parts of the map are being painted.
Splatoon analysis
Animal Crossing New Leaf en Nintendo 3DS
Animal Crossing New Horizons reached new heights on Switch, sales figures never before seen in this saga, during the best possible worst time, the pandemic. But Animal Crossing New Leaf already paved the way… and for many fans, it is the best AC in the saga.
Animal Crossing: New Leaf came out at a time when the “we'll add it later by update” thing didn't work, and the result is that the game came out with more content than ever, important news such as being mayor, setting up municipal projects… and online functions such as being able to visit strangers' houses through the Dream House.
Now, New Leaf will be left isolated, without the possibility of visiting towns or connecting with unknown players on the desert island, one of its new online functions in the saga. Maybe it's time to visit your town again… and visit your friends', or meet someone you don't know online to hunt beetles at night, or play the minigames added in the Welcome amiibo update, completely absent in New Horizons .
Analysis of Animal Crossing New Leaf
Fantasy Life en Nintendo 3DS
Fantasy Life is one of the 3DS' “hidden” gems, which has thankfully returned to the news now that Level-5 has announced a Switch-exclusive sequel.
This RPG appealed to Animal Crossing players looking for a similar experience (living your life, talking to characters and neighbors, decorating your house) but with some action, RPG elements, dungeons, bosses…
And the best thing is that the entire game could be played with other friends, invite them to your world or go to theirs, to do almost the same thing you can do in Animal Crossing… and much more, this being a role-playing game. That made it one of the most popular 3DS online games.
Fantasy Life Analysis
Mario Kart 7 on Nintendo 3DS
Mario Kart 8 from Wii U was adapted as is to Switch, but Mario Kart 7 on 3DS will lose its entire online world starting in April.
Like Mario Kart DS, Mario Kart 7 had a great online life: it was the multiplayer game par excellence on the console, and the best thing is that it has many exclusive circuits.
The two circuits of Wuhu Island, Wario Galleon, Shy Guy Bazaar… in addition to others as well-remembered as Luigi's Mansion or Air Fortress: There are only days left to be able to enjoy online races on the circuits of this version which, in some cases, are not even in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
Analysis of Mario Kart 7 for Nintendo 3DS
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate en Nintendo 3DS
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate – Tr__iler atuendo Metroid (Nintendo 3DS)
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate It was a blow to the table for Capcom, which gave the 3DS the exclusive of the last numbered Monster Hunter. The next one would be Monster Hunter World on PS4, Xbox One and PC, which was when it became the best-selling game in the company's history…
But in the days of 3DS, Monster Hunter was still a local thing, almost exclusive to Nintendo portables, just as it was before to PSP (although Monster Hunter 3 came out on Wii and Wii U).
Both this and Monster Hunter Generations (a kind of “greatest hits” of the saga to date), released a year later, continue to have hunters who take advantage of the last weeks before the hunting ground closes…
Analysis of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate for Nintendo 3DS
Pokémon Sun and Moon on Nintendo 3DS
Pokémon Sun and Moon – Final Evolutions of the Starter Pokémon
Pokémon had two generations on 3DS, true Internet.
The key was Pokemon Banka paid service where you can save Pokémon from Black and White on Nintendo DS, to all Pokémon on 3DS, including the remakes of Ruby and Sapphire.
Although the service evolved into Pokémon Home for Switch (and the indefinite future, we hope), Pokémon Bank is the only 3DS (or Wii U) service that will not lose its online functionalities starting April 8. Of course, you can no longer download it (the eShop was closed last year).
Analysis of Pokémon Sun and Moon for Nintendo 3DS
This is our selection of the best 3DS and Wii U games with online modes that will stop working on April 8, 2024, but the truth is that there is much more. With these consoles a curious situation arose: since there were so few online games, those that did have them had more traffic than usual.
In Wii U In particular, games like Watch Dogs, Call of Duty Black Ops 2, Assassin’s Creed 3 y 4 o Splinter Cell Blacklist (many of whose servers have already closed) had small but dedicated online communities that continued playing even when these sagas had already turned the page on other consoles…
Will you take advantage of this week to dust off your 3DS y Wii U and play some of their online games, as a tribute? Good luck finding a game!