Everything You Need To Do Before The Nintendo 3DS eShop Closes

It’s the beginning of the end, as the Nintendo eShop closes down for good in just one week. On March 27, Nintendo will close the Nintendo eShop to all purchases, and it will only be possible to redownload games and updates for titles you already own.

Whilst you cannot natively make purchases with credit cards anymore, there are workarounds to still buy new digital games on your 3DS. We don’t want you to miss out on some great games, as well as some freebies and essential software, so here’s a quick list of things you need to do before the 3DS eShop closes on March 27!

Upgrade your 3DS storage

 

3DS systems
The 3DS is a great system, but its default storage is lacking.

You can adjust the storage in your 3DS at any time, but now is a particularly good time to do it. Before the eShop closes, you’re likely going to be downloading a lot of stuff to ensure that it remains safe on your console. The native storage of the 3DS isn’t particularly big, so it’s recommended to upgrade the SD card included.

It can be pretty complicated to upgrade your storage, especially on New 3DS and New 3DS XL models. It’s still a quick process though, especially if you’re following instructions. We’ve got a full guide for that you can view right here, so consider doing it soon!

Add (and spend!) 3DS funds

Nintendo eShop 3DS
Once the eShop closes, you’ll no longer be able to buy digital games.

Whilst you can no longer add money to the 3DS eShop with a credit card or gift card, you can instead use a different method. Using this guide, you can merge the funds from your Nintendo Switch with your 3DS, allowing you to top-up your account with a credit card or PayPal online.

It’s also worth checking – if you have any leftover balance on your 3DS – that you spend it. If there’s money leftover after March 27, you will no longer be able to spend it on anything. All digital purchase options will be removed, so open the eShop and check if you’ve got anything left to be spent.

Grab some freebies

Pokemon Shuffle
The free-to-play Pokémon Shuffle has hundreds of levels.

There’s a bunch of free content on the 3DS eShop that you can download now without spending a penny. For example, you can grab the Nintendo Badge Arcade to catch some free badges every single day to decorate your home screen with. Your badges will still be saved even after the eShop closes, so now’s the time to get your hands on the claw machines!

There are also a few free-to-start games on the 3DS eShop. Pokémon Shuffle is a puzzle game that’s also available on mobile, but the 3DS version is much more player friendly in my opinion, and free with optional microtransactions. There’s also Team Kirby Clash Deluxe, a fighting game for up to four players starring everyone’s favorite Pink Puffball, Kirby!

Flipnote Studio 3D
Make animations for free with Flipnote Studio 3D.

If you want even more freebies, then check out Stretchmo, Pokémon Rumble World and Pokémon Picross. Additional free games in your region can be found by navigating to the “free to start” tab along the bottom of the 3DS eShop home screen.

You can also pick up the iconic Flipnote Studio 3D for a limited time, completely free. The game can only be purchased through the My Nintendo site, and costs 200 Platinum Points which are free to earn. You can then redeem them on a digital code for Flipnote Studio 3D, which you can activate on the eShop before it closes.

Buy some games

monster hunter generations ultimate art feature
There are some big closing sales on the 3DS eShop right now, including Capcom titles.

This seems obvious, but it’s a little deeper than that. Whilst you should certainly consider buying games you know you’ll love, there are some deep sales going on right now on the 3DS eShop that may just feature some games you’ve never considered.

The publisher sales vary by region, but the deals are great wherever you live. In the US, you can grab Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove with all four campaigns for less than $5 right now. You can also grab games in the Steamworld series on deep discount. Even Capcom’s in on the action, with Monster Hunter Generations and Mega Man Legacy Collection available to purchase for just $3!

Open up the 3DS eShop and head to the sales tab and browse the heavily discounted games. You may even find your next favorite, for a fraction of the cost of a cartridge copy.

There’s only a week left, so don’t delay doing what you need to do now before it’s too late. Got any questions about the eShop closure? Ask away in the comments below! As always, keep your eyes on GameLuster for more gaming news.

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