As we continue our trip back to memory before the 3DS (and Wii U) Electronics Stores close for new purchases, activating our old consoles recently reminded us that How big of a gaming pleasure the 3DS brings every time you open that clamshell. What a great little console! (Payment procedures Our ‘Countdown’ series if you’re looking for eShop recommendations before new purchases stop working March 27, 2023.)
It’s not only great software library, or — it’s the entire ecosystem. While we can comfort ourselves that the Switch’s lack of menu themes keeps things snappy and focused on what’s going on. Actually important (games), there’s something to be said for the personality and personalization that the 3DS series gives you by being able to customize everything with a theme that changes the look and sound of your game. Your home screen. Put in the badge and your console starts to feel unique and personal in a way the Switch never will.
Yes, 3DS is absolute business and we’re sure many companies have done well putting their themes on it for up to £1.79 a time. But which one is your absolute favorite? Which 3DS theme is the best™? Perhaps you bought a theme to match your new 3DS console or mask? Does your favorite theme come with only one game? Or perhaps you’re happy not knowing that themes are even a thing?
Well, no need to end the article right now by giving the right answer on which question is best (that’s Sega’s question), we talked to different members of the NL Team to Find out their favorites – come polls and comments to share yours!
Ollie Reynolds
I’m a big fan of superman.
I love everything about the original series: the simple NES visuals; smooth, rock-solid battle; precise foundation; amazing music. It all comes together to create an unforgettable experience.
So naturally, my favorite 3DS theme is Mega Man “Choose the stage!”. It pays homage to the classic stage selector screen from the original series, with a dark blue background and lighter blue beams shooting horizontally across the bottom touchscreen. If you set your gaming tiles to the right size, they will match exactly where the stage was in the original games. Heck, there’s even a cute little image of Mega Man right in the center.
On the top screen, the background is a simple starry sky with a single blue bar in the center, through whatever game logo you happen to be displaying at the time. It looks really lovely when you increase the 3D effect to the maximum.
If there’s anything to complain about on this one, it’s probably the repetitive music. It’s an induction grating, but visually, it’s simply perfect. I love it.
Alana Hague
I’m a very simple person when it comes to subjects, and I like cute and spooky things, so you know that must be Rich boos.
I know it’s not the most creative answer, but much of it stems from nostalgia for me. I love the Haunted House levels from super mario world. Music is the main reason I’ve never changed this one as it reminds me of speeding through those levels while jumping through hoops or scrambling to escape the loud boos. I also just think the boos are adorable. Their red, embarrassed faces when you look at them, the strange little noises they make when they get close to you, and their small teeth – I Love Surname. And you’ve got a number of different positions and expressions with this theme.
Not the most colorful or flowery choice – which is unusual for me – but the boos will always win my heart.
Jim Norman
Ok, time to confess: I never that thing into 3DS themes.
I know, I know, I’m a plain Jane when it comes to these things but I’ve always liked seeing the panels in their default settings. There’s something about “the way it should be” that works for me and takes away the tension I used to feel around personalization – “what if I later changed my mind and decided not to? like this topic somewhere else?” (Yes, just change it back is a reasonable solution, but I can’t pretend that I was thinking rationally about this the other day).
For that reason, I never buy a theme. The money I spent would play in my mind and cause more stress than I needed.
However, what I did was get every freeware and Special Platinum Points I could. Suggest My Nintendo Theme 3: Link. This ticked all the boxes for me. It can be obtained with Platinum Points so no money worries, it continues to be my Zelda obsession, And it emits a small Zelda jingle whenever you tap on a cell – a welcome change from the admittedly annoying menu music that accompanies it.
Does it look good on my 3DS Metallic Red? No way. But it fits me to the ground.
Gemma Smith
My favorite has to be Kirby’s 25th Anniversary theme, released to celebrate pink ball’s 25th birthday!
The cool “Welcome to Dreamland” theme will play and as you scroll along you’ll see different characters from the Kirby universe in a super bright and vibrant art style. The best part about this theme is that when you open the console from sleep mode, you will be greeted with “Hello!” Kirby’s lovely.
Gavin . Alley
The Mega Drive was my first proper console, and when it comes to the 16-bit era, I still tend to lean towards Sega. There are several Sega themes for the 3DS, each with their own sound effects, folders, and characteristics that make them the top of the pointless 3DS peripherals for your money. And I say it as someone who pumped an alarming amount of cash in Nintendo badge game to complete all classic panel pixel sets!
If I had to pick one… well, I’ve never had to pick one, because I’ve loaded them all into ‘Shuffle Favorites’ via Settings, so every time I go back to the Home screen, I see another one. As much as the heart is for the Mega Drive, the folders are a bit bland. I think I prefer the Game Gear with the bezel of the panel on the top screen. However, you can’t go wrong with any of them.
There’s still time to head to the 3DS Theme Store and download the stuff you want. Some of them are even free. That’s right, there’s no better time than now to take the ‘Kirby Copying Global Poll’ with a grand total of ‘nada’, so hurry up!
While you’re at it, feel free to let us know which of the options above you liked best, or — more likely — let us know your personal favorites in the comments. In the meantime we head to the Theme store to download that gorgeous Mario Hanafuda and more cool wood effect Fits great with wood effect visors we never bought but may have one day. Maybe.
