If you’re looking for some great games for your favorite handheld, you’ll be happy to know that there are tons of great strategy games to choose from. Nintendo handhelds have always been the place to go for some of the most underrated games around, and theNintendo 3DSis no different.
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You could have gone for any other type of game, but you’re someone who craves a deeper experience in which you have to think through every move you make. With lots of different ways to utilize strategy, you’ll have a ton of fun picking up any of these games for your 3DS.
10Fire Emblem Fates
If you were wonderingwhere Corrin came from in Super Smash Bros Ultimate, it’s Fire Emblem Fates that you have to thank for that unique character. Releasing physically as two games, the different versions are quite distinct from one another, at least on a gameplay difficulty level.
The game plays exactly like you might expect if you know anything about theFire Emblemseries, with a fun and somewhat unique story to experience. Depending on your version, you can pick or have already chosen the family that you will side with in a massive war.
9Code Name S.T.E.A.M.
Code Name S.T.E.A.M. might be one of the most unique-looking games on the list. The entire thing functions as a unique turn-based strategy game in which your forces must take on hordes of aliens, and the unique comic book steampunk graphics make it a joy to experience every time.
It’s not one of the more difficult games around, but it is something refreshing. Rather than the usual top-down perspective that comes with strategy games, this one requires you to control and move your characters in the third person.
8Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked
Initially, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked and its sequel may just seem like the standard RPGs, but they are far more than that. More so than many other entries in the Shin Megami Tensei series, this tactical RPG will require youto come up with a strategy for every fight.
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How successful you end up being will completely depend on how much effort you put into learning the mechanics of the game. The strategy elements of this game can’t be understated, because if you don’t have one or you’re not willing to rework it, you will fail a lot.
7Culdcept Revolt
It’s really hard to explain the concept of Culdcept Revolt simply without it sounding bizarre. The gameplay essentially boils down to you controlling your character as you fight your way through a board game-style map using a card system.
That may sound a bit complex, and it might be tough for some people to wrap their heads around while playing, but it is an absolute joy. This unique take on familiar gameplay ideas keeps the whole experience fresh from the start to the thrilling conclusion.
6Steamworld Heist
You’ll find that a lot of tactical games, especially on handhelds, tend to be from a top-down perspective, but not Steamworld Heist. In this strategy game, you’ll have to think through each move to eliminate your robotic foes.
You’ll find yourself battling on various spaceships, but the idea never gets old. The gameplay is simple, and you’ll have no issue coming to grips with the mechanics, so don’t forget to think about your movements to avoid getting obliterated.
5Project X Zone
If you’re someone who favors spectacle over sheer difficulty, Project X Zone is likely for you. This game sees a ton of popular characters from various properties coming together to engage in strategic battles.
You’ll see tons of surprising characters like Mega Man, Chris Redfield, Dante, Ryu, and even Heihachi Mishima. The gameplay isn’t as thrilling as some others, but you’ll love to see how every battle plays out as you make your way through the game with all the various incredible characters.
4Project X Zone 2
Much like the first game, Project X Zone 2 is much more thrilling for the novelty of seeing your favorite characters come together to kick some butt than anything else. You get a fairly basic strategic experience, but it is a unique one.
The story is a lot more fun than the first game, and overall, the game seems to realize that the entire idea behind it is bizarre. It’s that very thing that allows you to have much more fun with it as you blast through enemies with people like Jill Valentine and Yuri Lowell.
3Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars
There are a lot of ways to describe Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars, but the easiest might be to call it a less deep XCOM 2 on a handheld device, which should give you an idea of the strategy required to be successful in the game.
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You get the kind of action you’d expect from the Ghost Recon series, but from a different perspective. If you want a bit more strategy in all of your Ghost Recon games, this is far from a bad choice.
2Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows Of Valentia
Whether you were aware of it or not, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is a remake of a classic game from the series, Fire Emblem Gaiden. Striving to be true to the original while making modern improvements, the game can be deceptively difficult for newcomers to the series.
This game doesn’t throw too many twists at you, as the game plays like the rest of the series for the most part. It does a good job of splitting your attention between two sets of forces for some time, getting you further invested in an underrated story from the series.
1Fire Emblem Awakening
There is a reason why Fire Emblem Awakening is one of the most beloved games in the series. It may be fairly easy, and it may play like any other Fire Emblem game, but it also introduced a ton of newer fan-favorite characters as well.
Without this game, there would be no Chrom and no Lucina. Despite how easy it can be, the game is still loved because of the sheer volume of characters, interesting level design, and unique mechanics that are found within.
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