Top 10 Most-Played 3DS Games

[The Shoemaker]

Little updates on games here and there, Xenoblade added to the list. I've been playing other games, but it's tough getting on the list now that I need over 115 hours to qualify!

Haha, yeah, it doesn't help them that all the games in your list are big time-sink games. I'm surprised to see Kid Icarus with that much play time in your list. I'd also personally be inclined to get Mii Plaza out of there. I see it more as a system app than a straight-up game in its own right. (That said, I do include it in my list, but that's mainly because it's not threatening to breach the top 10.)

Oh man, I played the shit out of Kid Icarus back in 2012. Probably still one of my favorite 3DS games. Not sure how familiar people are with the game, but I beat every level on 9.0 difficulty except for 3, very nearly completed the third and treasure hunt map (100% the first two), got all the trophies, and spent a ton of time online. I would love a sequel to that game. As for Mii Plaza, I feel like now that it has over 200 hours (and that's hours of me playing it, not just leaving it on), it's an essential component of my list. Used to play it every day after school.

I didn't realize it had been so long since I've updated!

My current top 10...

01. 337:16 - Animal Crossing New Leaf
02. 264:28 - Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
03. 250:48 - Super Smash Bros for 3DS
04. 216:57 - Fire Emblem Awakening
05. 207:24 - StreetPass Mii Plaza
06. 196:46 - Kid Icarus Uprising
07. 170:59 - Mario Kart 7
08. 136:31 - Fire Emblem Fates
09. 126:12 - Xenoblade Chronicles 3D
10. 118:19 - Pokemon X

A 2016 game managed to break the ranks! Fire Emblem Fates joins the top 10, knocking Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate off the list. Technically, I have over 100 hours of that game unaccounted for on the Wii U version though. I think this will likely be it for my 3DS top 10 list. The only contender here is Monster Hunter Generations at 93 hours, which I can easily see catching up with Pokemon someday, but that depends on if we get Generations 2 over here.

Now, top 10 for 2016...

01. 118:17 - Fire Emblem Fates
02. 108:48 - Pokemon Sun
03. 093:26 - Monster Hunter Generations
04. 090:00 - Hyrule Warriors Legends
05. 028:55 - Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright
06. 026:38 - SteamWorld Heist
07. 024:09 - Mega Man Legacy Collection
08. 023:26 - Picross e6
09. 022:31 - The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
10. 022:27 - Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

Total hours: 773:24
83 Titles

While it was a pretty good year, this was actually my lowest playtime since 2011 - where I only got my 3DS half way through the year. All the other years average around 1000 hours and 110-120 titles. I'd say this was due to me buying less games, but also PS4 taking over my summer. And with Switch on the way, I'd say yearly hours will only go down from here! You did me good 3DS, but your time is almost done.

[Kong Wen]

Sunday, 4 September, 2016:

1. [01] 074:06 - パズルシリーズ Vol. 5: Slitherlink (DS)
2. [02] 059:20 - Fire Emblem: Awakening (3DS)
3. [14] 057:20 - Pokémon Picross (eShop)
4. [03] 038:24 - Picross e6 (eShop)
5. [04] 034:21 - Picross e4 (eShop)
6. [05] 034:02 - Picross e5 (eShop)
7. [06] 029:06 - Picross e2 (eShop)
8. [07] 028:48 - Theatrhythm Final Fantasy (3DS)
9. [08] 026:57 - Picross e (eShop)
10. [09] 025:32 - Picross e3 (eShop)

Total Games: 27
Total Time: 515:15
New Additions: Pokémon Picross
New Removals: Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon

11. [10] 019:29 - Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (DS)
12. [11] 016:46 - Pushmo (eShop)
13. [12] 014:42 - Shining Force: The Sword of Hajya (GG)
14. [13] 011:41 - Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call (3DS)
15. [17] 011:41 - Tetris (GB)
16. [15] 009:19 - Bravely Default Demo (eShop)
17. [16] 008:01 - StreetPass Mii Plaza (3DS)
18. [00] 004:14 - Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest (3DS)
19. [18] 002:57 - Mario Kart 7 (3DS)
20. [19] 002:33 - Etrian Odyssey (DS)
21. [20] 002:03 - Mutant Mudds (eShop)
22. [21] 001:24 - Dr. Mario (GB)
23. [22] 001:03 - Ikachan (eShop)
24. [23] 000:26 - The Legend of Zelda: A Link between Worlds (3DS)
25. [24] 000:25 - Puzzle League Express (DSiW)
26. [25] 000:15 - Crystal Warriors (GG)
27. [26] 000:13 - Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)

Unsurprisingly, all the action in this update is Picross-related. I sunk several days into fully completing Pokémon Picross, then hopped on the newest Picross e7, and finally picked up that Zelda Picross available from My Nintendo. That's all the Picross there is, so I'll be moving back to Fire Emblem, Link between Worlds, or picking up Pokémon Red Version next.

You know there's a lot of Picross out there when Picross is pushing other Picross out of the top 10.

Sunday, 4 September, 2016:

1. [03] 107:14 - Pokémon Picross (eShop)
2. [01] 074:06 - パズルシリーズ Vol. 5: Slitherlink (DS)
3. [02] 059:20 - Fire Emblem: Awakening (3DS)
4. [04] 038:31 - Picross e6 (eShop)
5. [05] 034:21 - Picross e4 (eShop)
6. [06] 034:02 - Picross e5 (eShop)
7. [07] 029:06 - Picross e2 (eShop)
8. [08] 028:48 - Theatrhythm Final Fantasy (3DS)
9. [00] 026:59 - Picross e7 (eShop)
10. [09] 026:57 - Picross e (eShop)

Total Games: 29
Total Time: 605:01
New Additions: Picross e7
New Removals: Picross e3

11. [10] 025:32 - Picross e3 (eShop)
12. [11] 019:29 - Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (DS)
13. [12] 016:46 - Pushmo (eShop)
14. [13] 014:42 - Shining Force: The Sword of Hajya (GG)
15. [15] 012:11 - Tetris (GB)
16. [14] 011:41 - Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call (3DS)
17. [00] 11:00 - My Nintendo Picross: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (eShop)
18. [16] 009:19 - Bravely Default Demo (eShop)
19. [17] 008:24 - StreetPass Mii Plaza (3DS)
20. [18] 004:14 - Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest (3DS)
21. [19] 002:57 - Mario Kart 7 (3DS)
22. [20] 002:33 - Etrian Odyssey (DS)
23. [21] 002:03 - Mutant Mudds (eShop)
24. [24] 001:26 - The Legend of Zelda: A Link between Worlds (3DS)
25. [22] 001:24 - Dr. Mario (GB)
26. [23] 001:03 - Ikachan (eShop)
27. [25] 000:25 - Puzzle League Express (DSiW)
28. [26] 000:15 - Crystal Warriors (GG)
29. [27] 000:13 - Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)

[MerlinDrazziw]

Previous top 10:

1. Professor Layton en het Masker der Wonderen - 41:36
2. LEGO® City Undercover: The Chase Begins - 35:42
3. Metroid II: Return of Samus - 27:08
4. Mario Kart 7 - 22:02
5. Metroid Fusion - 14:53
6. The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening DX - 14:01
7. Picross e - 12:30
8. Super Mario 3D Land - 9:05
9. Mario Golf: World Tour - 8:59
10. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds - 8:55

3DS didn't get much attention at all since last update, only played a few games on it in the winter months. Most time (2h) was spent on a DS game I wanted to revisit. As for this update: only posting a top 10 (even though that's almost half of the played games in 2016) for 2016 and updating the overall list.

Top 10 - 2016:

1. Metroid II: Return of Samus - 12:49
2. Metroid Fusion - 12:49
3. Mario Party: Island Tour - 4:12
4. My Nintendo Picross The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - 3:52
5. Another Code: Two Memories - 1:14
6. Mario Golf: World Tour - 1:08
7. Hyrule Warriors Legends (demo) - 0:36
8. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate - 0:29
9. Shantae - 0:28
10. Tappingo 2 - 0:25

Current top 10 overall:

1. Professor Layton en het Masker der Wonderen - 41:36
2. LEGO® City Undercover: The Chase Begins - 35:42
3. Metroid II: Return of Samus - 27:15
4. Mario Kart 7 - 22:02
5. Metroid Fusion - 14:53
6. The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening DX - 14:01
7. Picross e - 12:30
8. Mario Golf: World Tour - 9:32
9. Super Mario 3D Land - 9:05
10. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds - 8:55

Total playing time:
2011: 53:44 (45 games/demos played)
2012: 55:13 (47 games/demos played)
2013: 102:02 (42 games/demos played)
2014: 63:45 (44 games/demos played)
2015: 31:56 (29 games/demos played)
2016: 40:22 (22 games/demos played)
2017: 1:00 (2 games/demos played) +
Total: 356:47 (146 games/demos played)

[MerlinDrazziw]

Top 10 - 2016:

1. Metroid II: Return of Samus - 12:49
2. Metroid Fusion - 12:49
3. Mario Party: Island Tour - 4:12
4. My Nintendo Picross The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - 3:52
5. Another Code: Two Memories - 1:14
6. Mario Golf: World Tour - 1:08
7. Hyrule Warriors Legends (demo) - 0:36
8. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate - 0:29
9. Shantae - 0:28
10. Tappingo 2 - 0:25

Still will be playing 3DS in 2018, but not enough to keep this updated. So here's my last entry in this thread:

Top 10 - 2017:

1. Metroid: Samus Returns - 11:48
2. Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and The Millionaire's Conspiracy - 8:50
3. Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS - 3:24
4. Another Code: Two Memories - 1:21
5. AeternoBlade - 1:10
6. Hey! Pikmin (demo - 0:43
7. Metroid II: Return of Samus - 0:38
8. Tappingo 2 - 0:34
9. BOXBOXBOY! - 0:27
10. Miitopia (demo) - 0:21

Current top 10 overall:

1. Professor Layton en het Masker der Wonderen - 41:36
2. LEGO® City Undercover: The Chase Begins - 35:42
3. Metroid II: Return of Samus - 27:53
4. Mario Kart 7 - 22:02
5. Metroid Fusion - 14:57
6. The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening DX - 14:01
7. Picross e - 12:30
8. Metroid: Samus Returns - 11:48
9. Mario Golf: World Tour - 9:33
10. Super Mario 3D Land - 9:05

Total playing time:
2011: 53:44 (45 games/demos played)
2012: 55:13 (47 games/demos played)
2013: 102:02 (42 games/demos played)
2014: 63:45 (44 games/demos played)
2015: 31:56 (29 games/demos played)
2016: 40:22 (22 games/demos played)
2017: 30:13 (19 games/demos played) +
Total: 385:45 (156 games/demos played)

[The Shoemaker]

Haven't posted in a whole year! Makes sense considering Switch completely took over for me. Here are my top 10 games played in 2017

1. Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia - 68:41
2. Fire Emblem Fates - 57:31
3. Metroid Samus Returns - 18:13
4. Code Name: STEAM - 13:37
5. StreetPass Mii Plaza - 5:56
6. ????????? - 4:23 (I Guess it's such an old game my 3DS doesn't register it anymore? My guess is The Legend of Zelda)
7. Shovel Knight - 4:17
8. Picross e5 - 3:50
9. Animal Crossing New Leaf - 2:02
10. Super Mario 3D Land - 0:50

Total Hours: 185:32
Total titles: 35
Total Steps: 160 817

Amazing how much the 3DS dropped and Switch took over. I threw my steps in there for a reference, in previous years I averaged around 1 million to 2 million steps a year. I guess I had it pretty right last year:

And with Switch on the way, I'd say yearly hours will only go down from here! You did me good 3DS, but your time is almost done.

Yearly totals
2011 - 322:30
2012 - 886:24
2013 - 1062:45
2014 - 966:32
2015 - 965:37
2016 - 773:24
2017 - 185:32

Top 10 games played overall
01. 339:18 - Animal Crossing New Leaf
02. 264:28 - Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
03. 251:38 - Super Smash Bros for 3DS
04. 216:57 - Fire Emblem Awakening
05. 213:20 - StreetPass Mii Plaza
06. 196:46 - Kid Icarus Uprising
07. 175:48 - Fire Emblem Fates
08. 171:39 - Mario Kart 7
09. 126:12 - Xenoblade Chronicles 3D
10. 118:19 - Pokemon X

I'm actually surprised the rankings changed over the year! Fire Emblem moved up a spot to take over Mario Kart 7. I suspect this is the final top 10 for 3DS... it was a good one.

[The Shoemaker]

Another year, another staggering drop in 3DS playtime!

Top 10 Most Played 2018:
1. The Legend of Zelda A Link Between Worlds - 12:34
2. Luigi's Mansion - 7:31
3. System Settings - 2:14
4. VVVVVV - 1:38
5. Smash Bros 3DS - 0:52
6. Metroid Fusion - 0:33
7. Monster Hunter Gen U Save Data Transfer App - 0:26 (lol)
8. Activity Log - 0:25 (lolol)
9. Animal Crossing New Leaf - 0:24
10. Mii Maker - 0:10

Luigi's Mansion was the only new game, it was a good time. I had planned on playing Metroid Fusion on my trip to Cuba but ended up bringing my Switch. Might go back to that one this year though.

Yearly totals
2011 - 322:30
2012 - 886:24
2013 - 1062:45
2014 - 966:32
2015 - 965:37
2016 - 773:24
2017 - 185:32
2018 - 27:07

[Kong Wen]

Another year, another staggering drop in 3DS playtime!

RIP the dream!

I'll have to take a look at my play time when I get some free time at home, probably after work tomorrow.

[MerlinDrazziw]

Top 10 - 2017:

1. Metroid: Samus Returns - 11:48
2. Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and The Millionaire's Conspiracy - 8:50
3. Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS - 3:24
4. Another Code: Two Memories - 1:21
5. AeternoBlade - 1:10
6. Hey! Pikmin (demo - 0:43
7. Metroid II: Return of Samus - 0:38
8. Tappingo 2 - 0:34
9. BOXBOXBOY! - 0:27
10. Miitopia (demo) - 0:21

Played enough for another update.

Top 10 - 2018:

1. Super Metroid - 13:43
2. Azada - 5:22
3. Murder on the Titanic - 3:35
4. Metroid: Samus Returns - 2:22
5. Hey! Pikmin - 2:22
6. Luigi's Mansion 2 - 2:10
7. Luigi's Mansion - 1:48
8. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D - 1:27
9. Metroid Fusion - 1:01
10. Tappingo 2 - 1:01

Current top 10 overall:

1. Professor Layton en het Masker der Wonderen - 41:36
2. LEGO® City Undercover: The Chase Begins - 35:42
3. Metroid II: Return of Samus - 27:53
4. Mario Kart 7 - 22:02
5. Metroid Fusion - 15:58
6. Metroid: Samus Returns - 14:10
7. The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening DX - 14:01
8. Super Metroid - 13:43
9. Picross e - 12:31
10. Mario Golf: World Tour - 9:35

Total playing time:
2011: 53:44 (45 games/demos played)
2012: 55:13 (47 games/demos played)
2013: 102:02 (42 games/demos played)
2014: 63:45 (44 games/demos played)
2015: 31:56 (29 games/demos played)
2016: 40:22 (22 games/demos played)
2017: 30:13 (19 games/demos played)
2018: 40:20 (27 games/demos played) +
Total: 426:51 (169 games/demos played)

[SkyPikachu]

6th Feb 2016

Saturday 6th February 2016

1. [01] 324:27 - Animal Crossing: New Leaf
2. [00] 028:40 - Pokemon Omega Ruby
3. [02] 027:08 - Pokemon SoulSilver
4. [03] 025:47 - The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
5. [04] 024:24 - Super Mario 3d Land
6. [00] 023:34 - Fantasy Life
7. [05] 020:18 - Pullblox
8. [07] 016:43 - Yoshi Island DS
9. [06] 013:59 - Harvest Moon: The Tales of Two Towns
10. [00] 013:40 - Ghost Tricks: Phantom Detective

Total Games: 17 (+6)
Total Time: 542:02 (+82:38)
New Addition:

• Pokemon Omega Ruby
• Fantasy Life
• Ghost Tricks: Phantom Detective

New Removal:

• Might Switch Force
• Super Mario Land
• Super Mario Land 2

New Additions in Blue.
Increased Rank in Green.
Decreased Rank in Red.
Increased Time in BOLD

-----------------------------

Achievements
February 26th 2015 - 24 hours (1 day) played of Pokemon Omega Ruby
February 18th 2015 - 500 hours played overall (Just Games)
February 21st 2014 - 24 hours (1 day) played of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
September 2nd 2013 - 250 hours played of Animal Crossing: New Leaf
July 15th 2013 - 100 hours played of Animal Crossing: New Leaf
July 15th 2013 - 250 hours played overall (Just Games)
July 8th 2013 - 50 hours played of Animal Crossing: New Leaf
July 1st 2013 - 24 hours (1 day) played of Animal Crossing: New Leaf
June 15th 2013 - 100 hours played overall (Just Games)
October 7th 2012 - 24 hours (1 day) played of Pokemon SoulSilver
July 16th 2012 - 24 hours (1 day) played of Super Mario 3D Land
July 13th 2012 - 50 hours played overall (Including Apps)
March 21st 2012 - Purchased 3DS

With my list getting huge I've decided to now on show my top 10 and not anything below.

5 years with no update sorely overdue. But the list is becoming a Pokemon list at this point.

Saturday 2nd May 2021

1. [01] 324:27 - Animal Crossing: New Leaf
2. [00] 071:28 - Pokemon Moon
3. [02] 061:09 - Pokemon Omega Ruby
4. [03] 048:27 - Pokemon SoulSilver
5. [00] 038:47 - Pokemon Black
6. [00] 034:34 - Pokemon Platinum
7. [00] 033:49 - Pokemon X
8. [04] 025:47 - The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
9. [05] 024:24 - Super Mario 3d Land
10. [06] 023:34 - Fantasy Life

Total Games: 32 (+15)
Total Time: 895:55 (+353:53)
New Addition:

• Pokemon Moon
• Pokemon Black
• Pokemon Platinum
• Pokemon X

New Removal:

• Pullbox
• Yoshi's Island DS
• Harvest Moon: Tales of Two Towns
• Ghost Tricks: Phantom Detective

New Additions in Blue.
Increased Rank in Green.
Decreased Rank in Red.
Increased Time in BOLD

[MerlinDrazziw]

Previous top 10 overall (from 2018):

1. Professor Layton en het Masker der Wonderen - 41:36
2. LEGO® City Undercover: The Chase Begins - 35:42
3. Metroid II: Return of Samus - 27:53
4. Mario Kart 7 - 22:02
5. Metroid Fusion - 15:58
6. Metroid: Samus Returns - 14:10
7. The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening DX - 14:01
8. Super Metroid - 13:43
9. Picross e - 12:31
10. Mario Golf: World Tour - 9:35

Time for a small update without year listings.

Current top 10 overall:

1. Professor Layton en het Masker der Wonderen - 41:36
2. LEGO® City Undercover: The Chase Begins - 35:42
3. Metroid II: Return of Samus - 31:16
4. Mario Kart 7 - 22:02
5. Metroid: Samus Returns - 16:49
6. Metroid Fusion - 16:02
7. Super Metroid - 14:19
8. The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening DX - 14:01
9. Picross e - 12:31
10. Mario Golf: World Tour - 9:35

Total playing time:
2011: 53:44 (45 games/demos played)
2012: 55:13 (47 games/demos played)
2013: 102:02 (42 games/demos played)
2014: 63:45 (44 games/demos played)
2015: 31:56 (29 games/demos played)
2016: 40:22 (22 games/demos played)
2017: 30:13 (19 games/demos played)
2018: 40:20 (27 games/demos played)
2019: 7:01 (12 games/demos played)
2020: 1:34 (6 games played) +
Total: 437:28 (176 games/demos played)