Best games
Best Nintendo 3DS games of 2011
The 11 best Nintendo 3DS games released in 2011, ranked from 5,747 critic and player ratings.
The best Nintendo 3DS game of 2011 is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, with a critic score of 92/100 — updated September 2026.
How this ranking is built
- Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
- A game only enters the ranking with at least 80 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
- Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
- Release window covered: 2011.
- 11 games are listed on this page, carrying 5,747 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 28 September 2026.
Top 11
01
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D is a remake of Ocarina of Time with more up-to-date graphics, streamlined UI and different additional game modes. Most textures are significantly more detailed, and many models are more faithful to the game's concept and promotional art. In addition, the frame rate has been increased to 30 FPS compared to the original's 20 FPS.
92
/100
02
Super Mario 3D Land
Super Mario 3D Land is the second 3D Super Mario platformer for a handheld device, and the successor to Super Mario Galaxy 2. The game is closely based on side-scrolling Mario games, as it combine elements from both traditional 2D Mario games and modern free-roaming 3D Mario games. It also introduces elements into the series, including power-ups and gameplay mechanics.
90
/100
03
Rayman Origins
Bubble Dreamer, Rayman, his best friend Globox, and some Teensy friends are chilling out at the Bubble Dreamer's resting grounds, the Snoring Tree. However, their snoring disturbs an old granny from the Land of the Livid Dead, who retaliates by sending an evil army of horrendous creatures and the Darktoons across the world, capturing the Electoons that inhabit the world, imprisoning Betilla the Nymph and her sisters, and plunging the Glade into chaos. As a result, the ensuing disaster causes the Bubble Dreamer to go crazy and have nightmares. Although they are captured, Rayman and his friends are able to escape the Darktoons. They are then tasked by the Magician to gather enough Electoons to cure the Bubble Dreamer and restore the Glade of Dreams. Their efforts to locate the Electoons allow them to gain access to the various lands of the Glade, rescuing the Nymphs along the way.
89
/100
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D is a remake of Ocarina of Time with more up-to-date graphics, streamlined UI and different additional game modes. Most textures are significantly more detailed, and many models are more faithful to the game's concept and promotional art. In addition, the frame rate has been increased to 30 FPS compared to the original's 20 FPS.
92
/100
02
Super Mario 3D Land
Super Mario 3D Land is the second 3D Super Mario platformer for a handheld device, and the successor to Super Mario Galaxy 2. The game is closely based on side-scrolling Mario games, as it combine elements from both traditional 2D Mario games and modern free-roaming 3D Mario games. It also introduces elements into the series, including power-ups and gameplay mechanics.
90
/100
03
Rayman Origins
Bubble Dreamer, Rayman, his best friend Globox, and some Teensy friends are chilling out at the Bubble Dreamer's resting grounds, the Snoring Tree. However, their snoring disturbs an old granny from the Land of the Livid Dead, who retaliates by sending an evil army of horrendous creatures and the Darktoons across the world, capturing the Electoons that inhabit the world, imprisoning Betilla the Nymph and her sisters, and plunging the Glade into chaos. As a result, the ensuing disaster causes the Bubble Dreamer to go crazy and have nightmares. Although they are captured, Rayman and his friends are able to escape the Darktoons. They are then tasked by the Magician to gather enough Electoons to cure the Bubble Dreamer and restore the Glade of Dreams. Their efforts to locate the Electoons allow them to gain access to the various lands of the Glade, rescuing the Nymphs along the way.
89
/100
04
Mario Kart 7
The seventh installment of the fan-favorite Mario Kart franchise brings Mushroom Kingdom racing fun into glorious 3D. For the first time, drivers explore new competitive kart possibilities, such as soaring through the skies or plunging to the depths of the sea. New courses, strategic new abilities and customizable karts bring the racing excitement to new heights.
84
/100
05
A
Terraria
Dig, Fight, Explore, Build: The very world is at your fingertips as you fight for survival, fortune, and glory. Will you delve deep into cavernous expanses in search of treasure and raw materials with which to craft ever-evolving gear, machinery, and aesthetics? Perhaps you will choose instead to seek out ever-greater foes to test your mettle in combat? Maybe you will decide to construct your own city to house the host of mysterious allies you may encounter along your travels? In the World of Terraria, the choice is yours!
81
/100
06
Sonic Generations
Celebrate 20 years of Sonic in an all new adventure that delivers a definitive experience to Sonic fans new and old!
77
/100
07
C
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
The game will whisk you away to familiar locations from books 5-7 Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince and The Deathly Hallows, including Grimmauld Place, the Ministry of Magic and Godric's Hollow.
76
/100
08
LEGO Star Wars III - The Clone Wars
The Saga continues. Build, battle and laugh your way across the Star Wars universe like never before! Play as Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi through a story spanning the entire Clone Wars era. LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars combines epic space battles, challenging puzzles and of course, the imaginative gameplay of LEGO. The Sith and their allies have declared war on the Jedi Council with an army of droids, and it’s up to you to stop them. With the Dark Side gathering power and entire star systems in turmoil, galactic freedom hangs in the balance.
76
/100
09
Edge
74
/100
10
LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game
73
/100
11
Need for Speed: The Run
66
/100
Mario Kart 7
The seventh installment of the fan-favorite Mario Kart franchise brings Mushroom Kingdom racing fun into glorious 3D. For the first time, drivers explore new competitive kart possibilities, such as soaring through the skies or plunging to the depths of the sea. New courses, strategic new abilities and customizable karts bring the racing excitement to new heights.
84
/100
05
A
Terraria
Dig, Fight, Explore, Build: The very world is at your fingertips as you fight for survival, fortune, and glory. Will you delve deep into cavernous expanses in search of treasure and raw materials with which to craft ever-evolving gear, machinery, and aesthetics? Perhaps you will choose instead to seek out ever-greater foes to test your mettle in combat? Maybe you will decide to construct your own city to house the host of mysterious allies you may encounter along your travels? In the World of Terraria, the choice is yours!
81
/100
06
Sonic Generations
Celebrate 20 years of Sonic in an all new adventure that delivers a definitive experience to Sonic fans new and old!
77
/100
07
C
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
The game will whisk you away to familiar locations from books 5-7 Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince and The Deathly Hallows, including Grimmauld Place, the Ministry of Magic and Godric's Hollow.
76
/100
08
LEGO Star Wars III - The Clone Wars
The Saga continues. Build, battle and laugh your way across the Star Wars universe like never before! Play as Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi through a story spanning the entire Clone Wars era. LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars combines epic space battles, challenging puzzles and of course, the imaginative gameplay of LEGO. The Sith and their allies have declared war on the Jedi Council with an army of droids, and it’s up to you to stop them. With the Dark Side gathering power and entire star systems in turmoil, galactic freedom hangs in the balance.
76
/100
09
Edge
74
/100
10
LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game
73
/100
11
Need for Speed: The Run
66
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Nintendo 3DS game of 2011?
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D currently tops the ranking with a score of 92/100 across 522 ratings. Ranking updated September 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.