The Minecraft Nintendo 3DS Edition is a quirky little time capsule that very few people are still talking about. It runs only on New 3DS models, ditching the 3D effect entirely just to squeeze out enough power to work.
It has its charm, a stripped-back, almost retro way to play the blocky classic that feels like stepping into the early YouTube Let’s Play days. Here’s what I learnt after sinking an entire weekend into this handheld port.
What Makes the 3DS Version Different?
This edition is essentially a fork of Pocket Edition, but heavily modified for the 3DS. It just never caught up to the main versions, its last update was the Discovery Update in 2019. That means no Aquatic, no Village & Pillage, no Nether update.
Just the barebones foundation of Minecraft with some limitations on world size, render distance, and features. The sprites feel like they have been churned through a blender and then boiled in a kettle.
Despite the cuts, it still delivers most of the core loop. You mine, you craft, you can even raid Woodland Mansions and face off against the Ender Dragon. The catch is that everything feels a little clunky. Load times are painfully long, framerate dips are common, and sometimes blocks don’t render in The End.
How Does It Play in 2025?
Controls are surprisingly solid once you adjust, with the extra buttons on the New 3DS making it manageable. But the missing online play is a dealbreaker for many, you’re limited to local multiplayer only. If your friends don’t own a 3DS as well as a copy of the game, you’re stuck playing solo.
That said, if you were big on multiplayer, you’d find the mobile ports for iOS and Android to be a hop, skip, and a leap above. If you are going into this vintage nugget of a game, you must steel your mind and remember the limitations of the 3DS as a console.
Remember how difficult sitting through the first hour of cutscenes was for Pokémon Sun and Moon?
Performance hasn’t aged well either. My mid-range 2019 phone runs Minecraft smoother than this edition ever did. And since the 3DS eShop closed in 2023, you can’t buy it digitally anymore. Physical copies still work, but they’re more of a collector’s item now than a go-to way to play.
Mods and Community Fixes
For those determined to keep this version alive, a few mods can be a good way to make it more playable. While there isn’t much in terms of community support, here’s what helped me make the game much more fun.
Mods Keep It Alive
Thanks to the small but passionate modding scene, Nintendo 3DS’ Minecraft isn’t as dead as it seems. The Modernization MegaPack adds textures, a cleaner GUI, modern fonts, and UI upgrades, even some Bedrock-style visuals.
Beyond that, mods on the Minecraft 3DS Community Unistore include shaders, maps, better menus, and even new mechanics created by a host of creators. Installing is easy with universal tools like Universal-Updater.
Why It Feels Like a Reset Button
Firing up Minecraft on the 3DS is like going back to an older era of the franchise, before constant patches and expansions.
It strips Minecraft back to its basics, and in doing so, reminds you of why those early Let’s Plays in 2011 were so addictive. It’s clunky, outdated, and limited, but that’s also its charm.
Why Minecraft on the Nintendo 3DS Is Not Worth It
Minecraft New Nintendo 3DS Edition isn’t the best way to experience Minecraft today. Its framerate, old update, and hardware limits make it a clunky ride.
If you want a slow, retro feeling of discovery, or a project to revamp with mods, it’s not half bad. That said, the game is a pain to run, and if it’s handheld Minecraft you need, the Switch and your mobile phone can deliver a much better experience.
Minecraft for Nintendo 3DS FAQs
Q. When did Minecraft 3DS come out?
A. Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Edition was released on September 13, 2017, in North America and Japan. It launched in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand on September 20, 2018, and got its final update in January 2019.
Q. How to get Minecraft on Nintendo 3DS in 2025?
A. You can’t buy it from the eShop anymore since it shut down in March 2023. Your only option is finding a physical copy, which still works on New 3DS and New 2DS systems.
Q. How to play Minecraft on Nintendo 3DS?
A. Insert the cartridge (or redownload if you purchased it digitally before the eShop closed) and launch. Controls are mapped to the New 3DS inputs. Expect slower load times and limited render distance compared to modern Minecraft versions.
Q. Do they make Minecraft for Nintendo 3DS?
A. No. Development stopped years ago, and the game has been discontinued. Only used physical copies or redownloads for previous owners exist today.
Q. Can you get Minecraft on Nintendo 3DS?
A. You can only play it on New 3DS or New 2DS models. It won’t run on the original 3DS hardware because it needs the extra processing power.
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