Studying abroad obviously involves a lot of traveling. Lots of time spent in cramped buses and planes. After a while it gets a bit boring, but as you might have guessed, games make that time pass a lot quicker.

Flying with Mario

While I’ve been using my 3DS for the past 4 years when traveling, with the release of the Nintendo Switch, I recently had my first in-flight home console experience. It felt like the future. But the thing that made me even happier was looking at all the families around me, laughing and having a blast on their DS/3DS family portable consoles. This is why I often find myself thinking that I’m traveling on ‘Nintendo airplanes’.

Connecting people…offline

Behind the hypnotizing hum of the engines I can always spot Pokémon and Mario Kart sound effects. The atmosphere instantly brightens up. Say what you will about Nintendo’s supposedly outdated online platform and strategies, but you can’t deny that when it comes to making real-life connections, they are kings.

The joy of gaming

Kids, parents and complete strangers meet 30.000 feet in the air through something that I can only characterise as ‘the joy of gaming’. Satoru Iwata’s vision for Nintendo has succeeded. 2 years after his passing, his influence and legacy continues to drive Nintendo and the gaming industry forward. We are forever grateful.

The post Traveling on ‘Nintendo airplanes’ appeared first on BadFive.

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: A LINK BETWEEN WORLDS

One of the best Zelda games to date, brimming with style and features that make the gameplay feel fresh. The dungeons, distribution of items are all re-worked for this modern Zelda experience which makes it a must-play for 3DS owners that love a good 20+ hour adventure on the go. If a more classic Zelda game is what you’re looking for, Ocarina of Time or Majora’s Mask are equally amazing experiences to own on the system.

RESIDENT EVIL REVELATIONS

A technical marvel and a return to the franchise’s roots. Despite a slightly confusing storyline this game is perfect for fans that want to immerse themselves in a chilling survival horror game and enjoy a simple but fun multiplayer component. Play with headphones!

ANY OF THE 3DS POKEMON GAMES

I was personally re-introduced back to the Pokemon franchise with Pokemon Y, re-igniting my love for the series and what if has to offer. But I cannot deny that Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire are also magnificent choices to add to your 3DS library. There’s nothing to say here really. They’re great games to play on the go, you get your money’s worth with 80+ hours of gameplay and a well-made battling/trading system. Go get it now, I’ll wait.

FINAL FANTASY EXPLORERS or MONSTER HUNTER SERIES

The most controversial entry on this list. Most people would argue that Monster Hunter should take this spot. Both are essentially beast-killing games with RPG elements and solo/online play. The thing is, I downloaded the demo for every MH game and found myself lost in its learning curve. If you are ready to invest a lot of time into learning Monster Hunter’s mechanics and want to play a fun, visually striking game, then that’s your game. But if you’re a fan of Final Fantasy and want a game that’s easy to get into and play with your friends without them giving up in the first hour, then FF Explorers is what you need.

SUPER SMASH BROS FOR 3DS

Packed with features, extras, levels and characters. This game will keep you busy for years with its fun gameplay both solo and online. The ultimate 3DS fighting game, easy to jump in, hard to master. I still get my ass kicked online and feel bad after, but I love it nonetheless.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

These are games I couldn’t add to this list because of my limitation of 5 games or simply because I do not own them.

Mario Kart 7
Fire Emblem Awakening
Bravely Default & Bravely Second
Metal Gear Solid 3D: Snake Eater
Star Fox 64 3D
Shovel Knight
Super Mario 3D Land
Luigi’s Mansion 2
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate

What do you believe is the ultimate 3DS game collection in order to get the most out of the system?

The post Top 5 3DS games to play before the NX is released appeared first on BadFive.