The Last, Best Bargain of the 3DS Era
By 2017 the Switch was out and the 3DS was winding down. So it's a surprise that one of the best ways to play the whole 3DS library arrived that summer. The New Nintendo 2DS XL launched in July 2017, and it quietly became the handheld to recommend to anyone who wanted the games without paying a premium.
Take the power and controls of the New Nintendo 3DS XL, remove the 3D effect, slim it down and lower the price, and you have the New 2DS XL. It folds like the classic 3DS models, has large screens, and plays every 3DS game, including the handful of New 3DS exclusives, plus almost the whole Nintendo DS library.
Everything From the New 3DS, Minus the 3D
The upgrades from the New 3DS are all here: the faster processor, the C-Stick for camera control, the ZL and ZR shoulder buttons, and a built-in reader for amiibo figures under the lower screen. Games load faster than on an original 3DS, and exclusives like Xenoblade Chronicles 3D and the Super Nintendo Virtual Console run on it.
What's gone is the 3D. Every 3DS game was designed to work in 2D, so you lose nothing in gameplay, and plenty of players turned the 3D off anyway. Without it, the console is lighter, cheaper and sharper-looking in 2D.
Small Details Done Right
Nintendo made some thoughtful changes. The cartridge slot and the microSD slot sit together under a flap at the front, so you can swap a card without a screwdriver, which is a welcome fix after the New 3DS hid its card under the back cover. The stylus slots into the front edge, the design is flatter and more modern, and the two-tone colour schemes, from black and turquoise to white and orange, look great. Special editions like the Pikachu model are popular with collectors.
There are trade-offs. The screens aren't quite as bright as the New 3DS XL's, and the build feels a little lighter in the hand. For the price, though, it's a remarkable machine.
A Cheap Way Into a Great Library
The 3DS library is one of Nintendo's best: Super Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7, Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Fire Emblem Awakening, Pokémon Sun and Moon and A Link Between Worlds. The New 2DS XL plays all of it, plus the DS back catalogue, in one comfortable package.
Like every 3DS-family console it's region-locked, so match your console to your games. Region Locked: A Collector's Guide to Importing Nintendo explains what works across regions. The eShop closed for new purchases in 2023, so physical cartridges are the way to build a collection.
Buying One Today
Check both screens for scratches, test the hinge, the C-Stick and all the shoulder buttons, and make sure the battery holds a charge. It uses the same charger as other 3DS models, which wasn't included in the box in some regions.
If you want the 3DS library without fuss or expense, this is the console to buy. Fold it shut, drop it in a bag, and enjoy one of the deepest libraries Nintendo ever made.