Best games
Best Nintendo 3DS games of 2013
The 13 best Nintendo 3DS games released in 2013, ranked from 3,635 critic and player ratings.
The best Nintendo 3DS game of 2013 is The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, 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: 2013.
- 13 games are listed on this page, carrying 3,635 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 28 September 2026.
Top 13
01
A
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is the first Zelda game made exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS. It is an indirect sequel to A Link to the Past with the same version of Hyrule but with new characters and gameplay elements. Unlike the series' tradition, many areas of the world are accessible from the beginning of the game and the dungeons can be visited in any order. Puzzles are encountered not only in dungeons but also in the open world, a part of them revolves around the game's 3D visual effect. The 3DS touch-screen display shows the world, dungeon or map depending on where you are.
92
/100
02
Pokémon X, Y
Your adventure in Pokémon X and Pokémon Y takes place in the Kalos region, home to beautiful skies and forests! The Kalos region is full of interesting places to visit and explore! Progressing with the game let you enter the central city of the Kalos region is Lumiose City, a thriving metropolis filled with customers checking out its variety of shops. Many roads extend from the iconic tower at the city's center.
88
/100
03
Pokémon X
An all-new 3D Pokemon adventure packed with never-before-seen Pokemon will launch worldwide in October 2013. Pokemon X and Pokemon Y will present a new generation of Pokemon, and introduce players to an exciting new adventure in a breathtaking 3D world.
87
/100
A
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is the first Zelda game made exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS. It is an indirect sequel to A Link to the Past with the same version of Hyrule but with new characters and gameplay elements. Unlike the series' tradition, many areas of the world are accessible from the beginning of the game and the dungeons can be visited in any order. Puzzles are encountered not only in dungeons but also in the open world, a part of them revolves around the game's 3D visual effect. The 3DS touch-screen display shows the world, dungeon or map depending on where you are.
92
/100
02
Pokémon X, Y
Your adventure in Pokémon X and Pokémon Y takes place in the Kalos region, home to beautiful skies and forests! The Kalos region is full of interesting places to visit and explore! Progressing with the game let you enter the central city of the Kalos region is Lumiose City, a thriving metropolis filled with customers checking out its variety of shops. Many roads extend from the iconic tower at the city's center.
88
/100
03
Pokémon X
An all-new 3D Pokemon adventure packed with never-before-seen Pokemon will launch worldwide in October 2013. Pokemon X and Pokemon Y will present a new generation of Pokemon, and introduce players to an exciting new adventure in a breathtaking 3D world.
87
/100
04
FIFA 14
FIFA 14 is a 2013 sports association football simulation video game developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts.
86
/100
05
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies
Dual Destinies continues the style of gameplay from previous installments, in which the player must utilize evidence and find contradictions in witness statements to prove their client innocent. Like previous installments, gameplay is split up between Investigations, in which players find evidence and question witnesses, and Trials, where they must use the evidence to expose contradictions. The game now features full 3D graphics and character models, allowing more dynamic camera angles during gameplay, such as quickly panning around the courtroom in the moments before a dramatic reveal. The 3D camera also allows investigation sequences to take place in 3D spaces, permitting greater investigative depth, such as being able to rotate around a room to look for clues.
83
/100
06
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
Luigi is back on a mission to remove a bunch of stubborn ghosts from some spooky mansions. Armed with his trusty Poltergust ghost-sucking vacuum cleaner, Mario's brother takes center stage to capture these pesky phantoms. Luigi's Mansion 2: Dark Moon gives players multiple mansions to explore, a variety of puzzles to solve and new ghosts to capture. Armed with the Poltergust 5000, a ghost-sucking, vacuum-like invention, Luigi must complete a number of missions assigned to him by Professor E. Gadd.
81
/100
07
SteamWorld Dig
SteamWorld Dig is 2D a platform game that revolves around mining for resources and ores. The objective of the game is to investigate the mines underneath the old Western town Tumbleton in order to unearth the secrets lurking below. The player controls Rusty who is equipped with a pickaxe but the player is given options to upgrade the tools used for digging as progression is made in the game. Besides health, the player also needs coal for light, and water for special abilities. SteamWorld Dig has platform elements in that the player runs, jumps and encounter foes, but the main objective is mining. That means that the player builds – or rather deconstructs – the game world and creates platforms that way. The player collects resources and other hidden resources which can be brought back to the surface and exchanged for cash. When the player progress in the game new abilities are unlocked. Each playthrough, the mines are randomized, making items and treasure appear in different locations. If the player gets stuck there is a self destruct function, but the players can also buy ladders in the store at the surface to get out of tricky situations. When progressing deeper down in the cave, the player encounters various enemies with different attack patterns and weak spots. The game features multiple worlds, each with a completely different environment. Dying results in a reparation penalty fee, and the player respawns back on the surface. All the loot that has been accumulated when the player dies can be picked up again.
81
/100
08
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
80
/100
09
Resident Evil: Revelations
Resident Evil: Revelations is a remaster of the 3DS game with high quality HD visuals, enhanced lighting effects and an immersive sound experience.
80
/100
10
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
Lego Marvel Super Heroes is a 2013 Lego-themed action-adventure video game developed by Traveller's Tales and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The game features gameplay similar to other Lego titles, alternating between various action-adventure sequences and puzzle-solving scenarios. The game's storyline sees various heroes from the Marvel Universe joining forces to foil the schemes of Doctor Doom and Loki, who have also recruited several villains to aid them, and seek to conquer the Earth using the Doom Ray of Doom, a device built from the shards of the Silver Surfer's board called "Cosmic Bricks".
78
/100
11
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate
72
/100
12
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate
64
/100
13
Sonic Lost World
60
/100
FIFA 14
FIFA 14 is a 2013 sports association football simulation video game developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts.
86
/100
05
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies
Dual Destinies continues the style of gameplay from previous installments, in which the player must utilize evidence and find contradictions in witness statements to prove their client innocent. Like previous installments, gameplay is split up between Investigations, in which players find evidence and question witnesses, and Trials, where they must use the evidence to expose contradictions. The game now features full 3D graphics and character models, allowing more dynamic camera angles during gameplay, such as quickly panning around the courtroom in the moments before a dramatic reveal. The 3D camera also allows investigation sequences to take place in 3D spaces, permitting greater investigative depth, such as being able to rotate around a room to look for clues.
83
/100
06
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
Luigi is back on a mission to remove a bunch of stubborn ghosts from some spooky mansions. Armed with his trusty Poltergust ghost-sucking vacuum cleaner, Mario's brother takes center stage to capture these pesky phantoms. Luigi's Mansion 2: Dark Moon gives players multiple mansions to explore, a variety of puzzles to solve and new ghosts to capture. Armed with the Poltergust 5000, a ghost-sucking, vacuum-like invention, Luigi must complete a number of missions assigned to him by Professor E. Gadd.
81
/100
07
SteamWorld Dig
SteamWorld Dig is 2D a platform game that revolves around mining for resources and ores. The objective of the game is to investigate the mines underneath the old Western town Tumbleton in order to unearth the secrets lurking below. The player controls Rusty who is equipped with a pickaxe but the player is given options to upgrade the tools used for digging as progression is made in the game. Besides health, the player also needs coal for light, and water for special abilities. SteamWorld Dig has platform elements in that the player runs, jumps and encounter foes, but the main objective is mining. That means that the player builds – or rather deconstructs – the game world and creates platforms that way. The player collects resources and other hidden resources which can be brought back to the surface and exchanged for cash. When the player progress in the game new abilities are unlocked. Each playthrough, the mines are randomized, making items and treasure appear in different locations. If the player gets stuck there is a self destruct function, but the players can also buy ladders in the store at the surface to get out of tricky situations. When progressing deeper down in the cave, the player encounters various enemies with different attack patterns and weak spots. The game features multiple worlds, each with a completely different environment. Dying results in a reparation penalty fee, and the player respawns back on the surface. All the loot that has been accumulated when the player dies can be picked up again.
81
/100
08
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
80
/100
09
Resident Evil: Revelations
Resident Evil: Revelations is a remaster of the 3DS game with high quality HD visuals, enhanced lighting effects and an immersive sound experience.
80
/100
10
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
Lego Marvel Super Heroes is a 2013 Lego-themed action-adventure video game developed by Traveller's Tales and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The game features gameplay similar to other Lego titles, alternating between various action-adventure sequences and puzzle-solving scenarios. The game's storyline sees various heroes from the Marvel Universe joining forces to foil the schemes of Doctor Doom and Loki, who have also recruited several villains to aid them, and seek to conquer the Earth using the Doom Ray of Doom, a device built from the shards of the Silver Surfer's board called "Cosmic Bricks".
78
/100
11
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate
72
/100
12
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate
64
/100
13
Sonic Lost World
60
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Nintendo 3DS game of 2013?
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds currently tops the ranking with a score of 92/100 across 700 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.