Best New 3ds games of 2016

Well, on with my 3rd list of 2016 and I know I am way late, its the 4th month of 2017 already. But better late than never I guess.

This time I'll be keeping the list list very short while only including 5 titles. This list is totally based on my opinion and it is a bit biased obviously due to my preferences in genres and franchises.

In an ascending order -

No. 5: Monster Hunter Generations

Monster Hunter Generations is an action role-playing video game developed and published by Capcom for the Nintendo 3DS.  Like other titles in the Monster Hunter series, players undertake quests that involve hunting dangerous creatures. Major additions in this installment include special attacks, new combat styles, and the ability to play as Felynes, who have traditionally only appeared as a companion to the player. Announced in May 2015, the game was released in Japan in November 2015, under the title Monster Hunter X, and was released internationally in July 2016.

[ Though I am not that much skilled in the style of the Monster Hunter series, I do like the premise and execution of this franchise. Generations seems to be the latest entry improving greatly on previous ones, tempting stuff. ]

No. 4: Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse, known in Japan as Shin Megami Tensei IV: Final, is a post-apocalyptic role-playing video game developed and published by Atlus for the Nintendo 3DS. It is set in the same universe as Shin Megami Tensei IV and forms part of the Shin Megami Tensei series, the central series of the Megami Tensei franchise. It was released in Japan in February 2016, in North America in September 2016, and in Europe and Australia in December 2016.

[ Something about the setting and game play of this series intrigues me, and I know it is a series that I will like a lot and I need to start playing. ]

No. 3: Fire Emblem Fates

Fire Emblem Fates, known in Japan as Fire Emblem If, is a tactical role-playing video game for the Nintendo 3DS handheld video game console, developed by Intelligent Systems and Nintendo SPD and published by Nintendo. It is the twelfth game in the Fire Emblem series, and the second to be developed for Nintendo 3DS after Fire Emblem Awakening. Fates was released in three versions, each following a different storyline centered around the same characters: Birthright and Conquest as physical releases, and Revelation as downloadable content. The overarching story follows the protagonist, a customizable Avatar created by the player, as they are unwillingly drawn into a war between the Kingdoms of Hoshido (their birthplace) and Nohr (their adopted home), and must choose which side to support. In Revelation, the Avatar rallies both sides against the true mastermind behind the war. The gameplay, which revolves around tactical movement of units across a grid-based battlefield, shares many mechanics with previous Fire Emblem games, although some elements are unique to each scenario. It was released in June 2015 in Japan, then released internationally in 2016.

[ While not really my cup of tea, this game just might No. 1 on many peoples list for 3ds library this year. I did play a bit (never really delved into the depth of the mechanics) and I know I need to get back in on the fun soon. ]

No. 2: Zero Time Dilemma

Zero Time Dilemma is an adventure video game developed by Chime. It is the third entry in the Zero Escape series, following Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors (2009) and Virtue's Last Reward (2012). The story is set between the previous two games, and follows nine people who are kidnapped by a masked person known as Zero. They are divided into three teams, and forced to play a death game called the "Decision Game". The player takes the roles of three of the characters, and plays through the chapters the story is made up of: these consist of animated cinematics, escape-the-room puzzles, and moral decisions for the player to make. The chapters represent 90-minute periods, and can be played out of order. The game was directed and written by series creator Kotaro Uchikoshi, and features music by Shinji Hosoe and character designs by Rui Tomono. It was released for Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita in June 2016, by Spike Chunsoft in Japan and Aksys Games in North America and Europe.

[ 999 provided me with a experience that I am doubtful I will ever forget; the suspense, the characters and the slow revealing of the story is something that I still reminisce fondly even years after I finished the game. I bought the second one for my 3ds and can hardly wait devouring the trilogy as a whole. ]  

No. 1: Pokémon Sun and Moon

Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon are role-playing video games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. They are the first installments in the seventh generation of Pokémon games. As with previous installments, each game follows the journey of a young Pokémon trainer (and the trainer's friends) as they train Pokémon. This time, the game takes place in the Alola region—based on Hawaii—with the object of the game being to thwart the schemes of Team Skull, and later the Aether Foundation, all while attempting to challenge various Pokémon trainers of gradually increasing difficulty. Sun and Moon introduced 81 new Pokémon species, and includes new features such as Alolan forms of previous generation Pokémon, powerful moves known as Z-Moves, new, powerful creatures known as Ultra Beasts, updated battle and training mechanics, and improved polygonal 3D graphics. First announced in February 2016 through a special Nintendo Direct, both Sun and Moon were released worldwide in November 2016, commemorating the franchise's 20th anniversary.

[ Pokemon has had a huge impact on my childhood, it introduced me to the joy of adventure and the pleasure accomplishment upon reaching your goal. I have played at least one game of each generation and completed some as well. Well, as a matter of fact, I bought my 3ds so that I could enjoy Pokemon as it was meant to enjoy. While Sun and Moon may not be as fun with new stuff as the last generation, it definitely adds enough new mechanics and interesting new Pokemons to keep me occupied for a long time. So, without a doubt, it is my best 3ds game of 2016. ]