Summary
Looking for the best simulation games on Nintendo 3DS? You’re in luck. The system is home to a diverse library of stellar simulators ranging from action-packed adventures to cozy games.
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The simulation genre thrived on the 3DS largely thanks to the success of major series like Animal Crossing and Story of Seasons, leading to many simulation games being published on the system. Whether you want a strategy-based management simulator, a relaxing farming sim, or a quirky life simulator, the Nintendo 3DS has your back with high-quality simulation games that will keep you busy for countless hours.
10Disney Magical World Was The Precursor To Dreamlight Valley
Picture Animal Crossing mixed with dungeon crawling and Disney characters. That’s Disney Magical World in a nutshell. If you like Disney Dreamlight Valley, this game has a similar concept. It’s a life simulator where you immerse yourself in the whimsical world of Disney and mingle with your favorite characters.
The game has you running a café where you develop new recipes and decorate the place to attract customers. Outside your job, you can explore various Disney worlds, take on quests, and venture into dungeons to fight monsters and earn rewards. It’s a great pick for a cozy simulation game on Nintendo 3DS.
9Pilotwings Resort Is A Cozy Flight Simulator
The Pilotwings series has always been Nintendo’s way of showing off what their hardware is capable of. Pilotwings Resort looks stunning in 3D, fully displaying what makes the 3DS special. It’s a laid-back flight simulator where you create a Mii and take to the skies with either a plane, glider, or jet pack.
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If you want a relaxing experience, you can freely fly around the tropical Wuhu Island and find secrets that unlock new features. If you’re looking for a challenge, there are plenty of missions that test your skills with obstacle courses, shooting minigames, and more.
8Punch Club Is A Strategic Management Simulator
Playing Punch Club feels like being transported back to the SNES era, thanks to its gorgeous 16-bit art style and quirky characters. Ever wished you could fight a giant ninja alligator? You can in this game. It’s a strategic management simulator where you train your avatar to become a fight club champion.
What makes this game special is its use of RPG elements. To boost your fighter’s stats, you need to find him a job, nurture his social life, plan a workout routine, and balance his diet. Developing a strategy isa tough challenge, but it’s worth it when you finally annihilate the competition.
7Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning Is A Delightful Farming Simulator
If you’re looking for a cozy farming simulator on Nintendo 3DS, Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning is a solid choice. You move into a ghost town called Echo Village. Your goal is to revive this once-thriving place back to its former glory. To do so, you plant and harvest crops, raise animals, interact with businesses, and form relationships with the townsfolk.
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The best part of this farming sim is its extensive customization options. Your character, farm, and even the entire town are fully customizable, letting you put your own creative spin on every aspect of the experience.
6Steel Diver Is An Action-Packed Simulation Game
In a world where a power-hungry nation has taken over most of the land, it’s up to a secret organization to set things right again. Welcome to Steel Diver, a submarine simulator and one of the lesser-known games by Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto.
Thishidden 3DS gemhas you navigate dangerous waters in side-scrolling levels where you destroy as many enemy ships as possible. It even comes with a first-person mode that simulates looking through a periscope while you blow up battleships, making for one of the most creative simulation games on 3DS.
5Cooking Mama 5: Bon Appétit Offers Fast-Paced Cooking Simulation
Can’t cook in real life? No problem!Cooking Mamais here to show you the ropes. Cooking Mama 5: Bon Appétit is a fast-paced minigame collection where prepare meals while trying to beat the clock.
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No other simulation game on 3DS makes use of the touchscreen like this cooking simulator. You swipe the stylus across the bottom screen to chop veggies, grate cheese, crack eggs, etc. If you want a break from cooking, you can help run the restaurant by serving customers and working the register.
4Nintendogs + Cats Is The Cutest 3DS Simulation Game
Cuteness alert! Nintendogs + Cats is unbelievably adorable. It’s a real-time pet simulator where you play with your fluffy companions, teach them tricks, and enter them in competitions.
Each puppy and kitten has a personality, and thanks to the 3DS’s microphone, they’ll even respond to things you say. There are three versions of the game to choose from: French Bulldog, Golden Retriever, and Toy Poodle. Each one determines which dog breed you start with. It’s the perfect 3DS game if you’re looking for a pick-me-up.
3Story Of Seasons: Trio Of Towns Is A Cozy Farming Simulator
Story Of Seasons: Trio Of Towns stands out from other farming sims thanks to its twist on the genre. Not only do you manage a farm. There are three other towns you can explore, each with a unique culture and real-time events.
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The more time you spend in any given town, the more the villagers will trust you, and the shops will have more items for sale. This adds an element of strategy since you’ll need to decide which town you want to focus on the most. It’s a must-play if you like cozy games or farming simulators.
2Tomodachi Life Is Perfect For Sims Fans
Tomodachi Life is a great life simulatorif you like The Sims. The game has you creating Miis and placing them in a town where they can follow their dreams and interact with each other. The goal is to keep them as happy as possible by building and managing a thriving community.
You’re free to design the Miis any way you want. You can base them on a famous character, someone you know, or something completely original. The customization options are endless. Ever wondered what it would be like if Waluigi and Walter White from Breaking Bad were in a boy band? You can make that in Tomodachi Life.
1Animal Crossing: New Leaf Is The Best Simulation Game On Nintendo 3DS
Everyone knows that Animal Crossing: New Horizons is amazing. However, its predecessor,Animal Crossing: New Leaf, still holds up well and is definitely worth revisiting. You’re the mayor of a town, and it’s your job to spruce up the place to attract new villagers.
On top of the series' usual bug-catching, fishing, and friend-making, you have mayoral duties like passing laws and designing new structures. There’s a mind-boggling amount of content and plenty ofadorable villagersthat will keep you entertained for endless hours. It’s the best simulation game on Nintendo 3DS and a perfect choice if you want a cozy game.
