The Best of the Best on 3DS

We at Nintendo Love Affair have scoured the Internet to bring you the very best of the best for Nintendo 3DS. After reviewing multiple top 10 and top 5 lists and calculating results we bring you the top 5 most consistently chosen titles for the Nintendo 3DS.  Before we get started, let's take a look at three honorable mentions. These titles also repeatedly showed up on the charts but not enough to make it into the top 5!

Top 5 Honorable Mentions

Animal Crossing: New Leaf

This series has been a fan favorite since Animal Crossing first came out on the Gamecube (in the states).  With New Leaf being this generation's only true Animal Crossing offering, it was sure to become quite possible with Nintendo owners.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

A Link Between Worlds' reception was mixed.  For every player that loved it, there was one that despised it for being a clone of Zelda: A Link to the Past.  While this game induces a sense of déjà vu in players who are steeped in Zelda history, it remains a great entry level tale for new fans of the series as well as an iconic example of 3D capabilities on the system.

Fire Emblem: Awakening

We can hear the hate now... people don't just like Fire Emblem: Awakening, they love it! Fire Emblem has been commended as a game with an amazing story to tell and fun strategic game play.  It's a deep strategy game that managed to entice many casual gamers into putting dozens of hours on their systems.  While no one here at Nintendo Love Affair challenges how great Fire Emblem: Awakening is, it simply didn't show up in enough lists to make it to the top 5.

Now, for the top 5 most consistent Nintendo 3DS games to appear on top 10 lists placed in order by Metacritic metascore. 

5. Mario Kart 7

Until Mario Kart 8 came out, 7 was simply the best kart racer to date.  Even with the Wii U's entry being the total package for Kart fans, 7 still holds strong as the racer of choice to carry in your pocket.  

4. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

Monster Hunter 4 is a huge RPG that requires a lot of time and skill to improve at... its a merciless hardcore title and in spite of all that it has sold 4 million copies world wide.  A very impressive feat for such a niche title.

3. Pokemon XY

It shouldn't come as surprise that Pokemon have made their way onto this list.  With the popularity of the franchise holding solid and the monster steadily growing, the Pokemon franchise is here to stay.  With it being the sole focus of The Pokemon Company, the quality is also sure to stay high.  

2. Shovel Knight 

Shovel Knight has been an amazing cross-platform freshman effort from Yacht Club games.  This title took the world by storm and continues to dig at players free time but regularly providing new content.  Plague Knight is already available for free with two more Knights, King and Specter, coming this year.  Amiibo interactivity unlocks even more!  There is perhaps only one other character in the gaming industry who could stave off Shovel Knight's popularity.....

1. Super Mario 3D Land

Would you have it any other way?  Shovel Knight put up a great fight for the number one spot though.  Shovel Knight and SM3D Land showed up on the same amount of lists and they both had a Metacritic metascore of 90.  However, the champ was decided with the Metacritic user score.  Shovel Knight had an 8.2 and SM3D Land had an 8.4.

With an amazing 2016 3DS lineup on its way in the coming months this list is sure to change!

What do you think?  What is your top 5 for the 3DS?