The Best New Nintendo 3DS Compatible Games Enhanced by the C-Stick

The New Nintendo 3DS hardware revision introduced several new features, but the most significant for gameplay is the C-stick. Located above the face buttons on the right-hand side of the console, this small analog nub provides the same functionality as the Circle Pad Pro accessory for the original 3DS and 3DS XL. It allows for dual-analog control, primarily for managing the in-game camera or aiming, which was a cumbersome experience in many third-person action games on the original hardware. Without a second stick, players often had to rely on the touchscreen or awkward button combinations to adjust their view.

The Circle Pad Pro was a bulky add-on that required its own battery, making the handheld less portable. By integrating its functionality directly into the New Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo provided a much-needed quality-of-life improvement that makes a substantial library of existing and upcoming games more playable. The following titles are some of the most notable examples of games that are significantly enhanced by the addition of the C-stick.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D

Nintendo’s decision to remake The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask for the 3DS was the result of a long-standing fan campaign. The original Nintendo 64 title was known for its dark themes and a complex, fully-realized world operating on a 72-hour time loop. The 3D remaster brought not only a graphical overhaul but several key changes to make the experience more accessible for a modern audience. One of the most welcome was an improved save system, allowing players to permanently save their progress at any point, rather than only when resetting the time loop.

While the original game’s camera could be restrictive, Majora’s Mask 3D was designed with the New Nintendo 3DS in mind. The C-stick grants players full, free control over the third-person camera. This seemingly small addition has a major impact on gameplay. Navigating the intricate environments of Termina, solving spatial puzzles, and engaging in combat with enemies like the Skulltulas and bosses becomes far more intuitive. The ability to look around freely while moving Link with the Circle Pad brings the game’s controls in line with contemporary 3D action-adventure standards. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D was scheduled to be a launch title for the New Nintendo 3DS, making it a key showcase for the new hardware’s capabilities.

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

After gaining immense popularity on the PSP, the Monster Hunter series found a new home on Nintendo handhelds. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate built upon the foundation of its predecessor, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, by introducing more verticality in its level design and refining its combat mechanics. The core of the series involves hunting massive, dangerous monsters, where precise movement, positioning, and camera control are not just helpful but essential for survival. Players must constantly track their colossal prey, dodge powerful attacks, and target specific body parts to break them and gain valuable materials.

On the original 3DS, controlling the camera was the game’s biggest hurdle. Players had to either use a virtual D-pad on the touchscreen, which was imprecise, or adopt the uncomfortable “claw” grip to use their index finger on the physical D-pad while keeping their thumb on the Circle Pad. The C-stick on the New Nintendo 3DS completely resolves this issue. It provides fluid, responsive camera control that allows players to keep their eyes on the monster and their thumbs on the main controls. This is especially crucial in the game’s full-featured online cooperative multiplayer, where situational awareness is key. Like Majora’s Mask 3D, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate was set to launch alongside the New Nintendo 3DS.

Resident Evil Revelations

Released in 2012, Resident Evil Revelations remains one of the most technically impressive titles in the 3DS library, showcasing console-quality graphics on a handheld device. The game returned to the survival-horror roots of the series, blending tense exploration with third-person shooter combat. A crucial part of the gameplay involves aiming at specific weak points on enemies to conserve scarce ammunition and dispatch threats efficiently. On the original 3DS hardware, this could be a frustrating endeavor.

The C-stick makes the game feel entirely different. It allows players to move with the Circle Pad and aim with the C-stick simultaneously, a standard control scheme for the genre. This makes combat feel more natural and responsive, removing a layer of awkwardness that could detract from the game’s tense atmosphere. For anyone who enjoys survival-horror and wants to experience one of the best examples on a portable system, playing Resident Evil Revelations on a New Nintendo 3D is the definitive way to do so. The game was first released on February 7, 2012.

Other Notable Titles

Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D Many fans consider Metal Gear Solid 3 to be the pinnacle of the series, serving as the origin story for Big Boss. The 3D version on Nintendo’s handheld brought the classic stealth-action game to a portable format, even adding unique features like using the system’s camera to create custom camouflage patterns. Stealth gameplay is fundamentally about observation and planning, which requires complete control over the in-game camera. The C-stick provides this control, allowing players to peer around corners, track enemy patrols, and navigate the jungle environment without fighting a cumbersome camera system. The game, released on February 21, 2012, is far more enjoyable on the New Nintendo 3DS.

Kid Icarus: Uprising Developed by Masahiro Sakurai’s team between Super Smash Bros. projects, Kid Icarus: Uprising is a fast-paced action game split between on-rails aerial combat and third-person ground missions. Its default control scheme was highly controversial, requiring players to move with the left Circle Pad while aiming with the stylus on the bottom screen. This setup was effectively impossible for left-handed players, who would need to aim with their non-dominant hand. The Circle Pad Pro was the original solution, and the New Nintendo 3DS’s C-stick serves the same purpose. It provides a viable control scheme for left-handed gamers, making a celebrated exclusive accessible to a wider audience. The game first came out on March 23, 2012.