Summary
When players attempt to think of their favoriteopen-world games, chances are they will choose something from the Xbox 360 era and beyond. The HD generation, including the Xbox 360 and PS3, is when this genre truly opened up on a whole new level. However, what most people may discount here are the Nintendo DS and 3DS, two consoles that boasted an impressive library of games despite their limited hardware capabilities.
Grand Theft AutoandThe Elder Scrollswere two series that were bigger than they had ever been in the past. That was only the beginning too, as this current generation is mind-blowing. What about the handhelds during and after the first HD generation? Do theDSand3DShave any memorable open-world games that are worth playing today? The easy answer is yes, although some of these picks do have some asterisks attached.
Updated on July 24, 2025 by Ritwik Mitra:It’s impossible to talk about the greatest video games ever made without mentioning the Nintendo DS and 3DS, two of the greatest handheld gaming consoles ever made. These systems have let many kids enjoy some amazing video games that demonstrate why Nintendo is such a master of developing and publishing great video games that show why the medium holds such a soft spot in the hearts of many fans. While gaming has transformed to become bigger and more engaging than ever before, some people felt like Nintendo’s handheld offerings failed to keep up. So, it’s impressive to see that these consoles house some great open-world games despite their handheld status, letting players explore a sandbox and interact with a wealth of engaging gameplay loops on the go.
Fantasy Lifeisan action RPGfor the 3DS that was made by Level-5. They worked onDragon Quest 8as well, but this was an original concept. Players could choose a class from a knight to a tailor and live out their fantastical life in an ever-growing kingdom.
There were plenty of monsters to fight, but half the fun of this RPG was doing menial tasks. It was more like a sim game than a straight RPG, but there is one thing that is for sure; the world is small at first, but it gets bigger as the game progresses, with plenty of locations to explore and things to do.
12Shakedown: Hawaii
Metascore: 75
Fans ofRetro City Rampagewill love the sheer insanity and chaos players can enjoy inShakedown: Hawaii’sopen world. The game is a natural evolution of the formula established in Vblank Entertainment’s previous retro open-world game.
The sheer number of things players can accomplish in the game is immense, and people will love how jam-packed with contentShakedown: Hawaiireally is. It’s one of the more underrated open-world titles around that players can check out on a wealth of consoles, including the Nintendo 3DS.
Monster Hunter Storieswas thefirst big spinoffto this giant franchise that began on PS2. This spinoff was a take onPokemonwherein hunters could choose to befriend monsters, or Monsties as they are referred to in this game, to join their party. It was a turn-based RPG with an open-world setting on the 3DS.
The idea was good even though the execution was a bit clunky in some areas, such as the slow combat speed and AI. The sequel on Switch is better, but there is still fun to be had exploring the various open biomes ofMonster Hunter Stories. It made the most of the 3DS hardware and let players enjoy a riveting turn-based take onMonster Hunter’s engaging world.
Retro City Rampageis a lovable ode to retro gaming of the past, especially when it comes to the old iteration of theGTAseries. As a result, the game actually has a pretty competent open world of its own that is a blast to explore… quite literally at times! Roaming around the city of Theftropolis and causing extreme levels of destruction and mayhem makes for a great time that doesn’t ever get tiring.
Retro City Rampage DXisthe best way to experience this amazing title, with this updated release featuring great action gameplay along with several references to the lovable facets of 80s and 90s pop culture. Fans of retro gaming should definitely giveRetro City Rampage DXa shot, especially with the many callbacks in this title that most fans of retro media will recognize. It’s like if a retro game gave players a full open-world to explore.
The 3DS is home to manyDragon Questgames that are worth mentioning.Dragon Quest 7might be the biggest deal since it remade the PS1 classic into something more accessible compared to the original release. However, overall,Dragon Quest 8is the better game, and might be the best in the series. It may look identical to its PS2 counterpart, but that is a plus.
The world in this RPG is huge, perhaps one of the biggestin the serieson both the PS2 and 3DS.Dragon Questgames are notoriously long, and it would be an achievement if players were able to finish this with less than eighty hours invested. This epic adventure is a blast to get through and makes it clear why the strong foundations ofDragon Questgames helpedDragon Quest 11blow up as one of the best games in the franchise, attracting many new fans to an iconic series that deserved way more love in the West than it had enjoyed till then.
Bravely Defaultwas like a reboot of theFinal Fantasyseries that dialed things back to the classic settings on the 3DS. The story was a more grounded fantasy tale involving princesses, evil knights, monsters, crystals, and so on. There was a job system as well as a simple-to-understand turn-based battle system.
It also saw the return of an open-world map that was dotted with places to see and side quests to do. It became more open withthe third sequelon Switch,Bravely Default 2(afterBravely Second), but this original game still counts as an epic open-world RPG. Players who want to check out a JRPG that does justice to past JRPGs while refining the gameplay to a fine point will love whatBravely Defaultbrings to the table.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3Dis an achievement beyond all reason. This game was first released on the Wii, and it pushed the system to its limits. It’s easily the biggest open-world game on both the Wii and 3DS; in fact, it’s so huge that it was exclusive to the New 3DS line of consoles.
There weren’t many exclusives for the New 3DS, but this was one of them and even that handheld barely kept things together while running it. It’s not the best way to experience this RPG classic, but again, it is like a miracle it can run on the New 3DS at all. All this is a testament to how massive and detailed the game’s open world truly is. Games like this demonstrate how Nintendo was able to get the Switch to play some incredible-looking games that should’ve never run on a portable console.
AnyLegend of Zeldagame is bound to be a riveting experience, andSpirit Tracksis no exception to this golden rule. The game makes the most of the DS’s hardware to let players enjoy a charming action-adventure game othat is absolutely brimming with style and passion.
It’s considered by many to be one of the best handheldLegend of Zeldagames, which is no small feat. This game really shows why the DS is such a special console, making the most of this handheld to let players enjoy an incredible game.
Between the DS and 3DS, there are too many gamesin this seriesto choose from. The duality ofPokemon X/Ydid make huge waves in the series, though. They weren’t quite 3D yet, but the top-down perspective of the series was adjusted to look more 3D.
Of the many sequels and remakes on 3DS, these two games still stand out as the best ones on the system. For DS fans,Pokemon Black/Whiteis where it is at. Hopefully, those two games get remakes on the Switch sooner rather than later.
4The Legend Of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Metascore: 90
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Wakeris considered by many to be one of the greatest video games ever made, so it’s a given that players loved the idea of a direct sequel to this amazing title. However, some fans were worried about the fact that said sequel would be a title on the Nintendo DS, meaning that some corners would have to be cut while developing this title.
So, it was a pleasant surprise for many thatPhantom Hourglassnot only felt likea worthy sequel toWind Wakerbut was a pretty greatZeldatitle in its own right. The game features an open and diverse world that players can traverse to their heart’s content, making it quite impressive that this game ran on the DS of all consoles!
