3DS Virtual Console
Following the precedent of the Nintendo Wii, the 3DS has its own Virtual Console feature. This Virtual Console was launched with the 3DS's eShop several months after the 3DS's release on June 6th, 2011 (the 7th in some areas of America as well as Japan and the PAL regions). Like the original Virtual Console, the 3DS Virtual Console features a library of classic games that could be bought and downloaded to be played on the 3DS, with the library being updated on a weekly basis. The original Virtual Console featured Nintendo's main systems up until the Nintendo 64, while the 3DS focuses instead on games from Nintendo's handheld systems as well as Nintendo-based arcade games and some third party handheld systems. It also featured a new 3D Classics line which features new versions of games from various consoles which are updated with 3D.
New games are added to the 3D eShop every Thursday, with occasional exceptions. In Japan, the eShop is updated on Wednesdays.
First Party games on the 3DS Virtual Console
Games
Game Boy
| Name | Publisher | North America | Japan | Europe & Australia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adventure Island II | Hudson Soft |  |
|
 (2011/07/13)
| |
| Alleyway | Nintendo | (2011/06/06) |
(2011/08/03) |
(2011/06/07)
| |
| Avenging Spirit | Jaleco | (2011/08/11) |
(2011/06/07) |
(2011/08/11)
| |
| Baseball | Nintendo | (2011/07/14) |
(2011/06/07) |
(2011/07/28)
| |
| BurgerTime Deluxe | G-Mode | (2011/09/14) |
(2011/10/27) |
(2011/10/27)
| |
| CatTrap | G-Mode | (2011/10/13) |
|
(2011/10/06)
| |
| Donkey Kong GB | Nintendo | (2011/06/16) |
(2011/06/15) |
(2011/06/16)
| |
| Double Dragon | Arc System Works | (2011/10/20) |
(2011/06/22) |
(2011/06/23)
| |
| Downtown Special: Kunio-Kun no Jidaigeki deyo Zenin Shuugou | Arc System Works | |
(2011/06/07) |
| |
| Dr. Mario | Nintendo | |
(2011/06/27) |
| |
| Fortified Zone | Jaleco | (2011/07/07) |
(2011/06/15) |
(2011/07/07)(2011/07/28)
| |
| Game & Watch Gallery | Nintendo | (2011/07/14) |
(2011/06/22) |
(2011/07/21)
| |
| Gargoyle's Quest | Capcom | (2011/08/25) |
(2011/06/29) |
(2011/08/25)
| |
| Golf | Nintendo | (2011/09/08) |
(2011/06/29) |
(2011/10/13)
| |
| Heracles no Eikou: Ugokidashita Kamigami | Paon | |
(2011/08/24) |
| |
| Kirby's Block Ball | Nintendo | |
(2011/10/26) |
| |
| Kirby's Dream Land | Nintendo | (2011/06/30) |
(2011/06/07) |
(2011/06/30)
| |
| Mario's Picross | Nintendo | (2011/08/04) |
(2011/09/21) |
(2011/07/14)
| |
| Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge | Capcom | (2011/09/15) |
(2011/06/07) |
(2011/09/15)
| |
| Metroid II: Return of Samus | Nintendo | |
(2011/09/28) |
| |
| Nekketsu Koukou Dodgeball Bu: Kyouteki! Doukyuu Senshi no Maki | Arc System Works | |
(2011/08/03) |
| |
| Pac-Man | Namco | (2011/09/01) |
|
(2011/08/04)
| |
| Pitman | ASK | |
(2011/07/27) |
| |
| Qix | Nintendo | (2011/07/07) |
(2011/06/15) |
(2011/07/07)
| |
| Radar Mission | Nintendo | (2011/06/06) |
(2011/10/05) |
(2011/06/23)
| |
| Side Pocket | G-Mode | (2011/10/06) |
(2011/09/07) |
| |
| Super Mario Land | Nintendo | (2011/06/06) |
(2011/06/07) |
(2011/06/07)
| |
| Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins | Nintendo | (2011/09/29) |
(2011/10/12) |
(2011/09/29)
| |
| Tennis | Nintendo | (2011/06/23) |
(2011/07/21) |
(2011/06/07)
| |
| Zoids Densetsu | Takara Tomy | |
(2011/08/31) |
| |
Game Boy Color
| Name | Publisher | North America | Japan | Europe & Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balloon Fight GB | Nintendo | |
(2011/10/19) |
|
| The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX | Nintendo | (2011/06/07) |
(2011/06/08) |
(2011/06/09)
|
| Trade & Battle: Card Hero | Intelligent Systems | |
(2011/08/10) |
|
Ambassador Program
The ambassador program was a special program that Nintendo announced shortly after announcing a price drop for the 3DS. As the price drop was coming just months after the system was released, the ambassador program was launched as an attempt of compensation for those gamers who bought the 3DS at full price. To participate, someone who bought the 3DS at full price would have to register their system prior to the date of the price drop.
The program consists of two sets of ten Virtual Console games that can be downloaded to the 3DS for free. The first set consisted of ten NES games and was released on August 31, 2011:
- Balloon Fight
- Donkey Kong Jr.
- Ice Climber
- The Legend of Zelda
- Metroid
- NES Open Tournament Golf
- Super Mario Bros.
- Wrecking Crew
- Yoshi
- Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
A second set would consist of Game Boy Advance games and will be announced for a later release.
3D Classics
Upon the launch of the eShop, Excitebike was offered a free download for a limited amount of time: until July 7th in all regions except Japan, where it was available for free until July 31st.
| Name | Publisher | Original System | North America | Japan | Europe & Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excitebike | Nintendo | NES | (2011/06/06) |
(2011/06/07) |
(2011/06/07)
|
| TwinBee | Konami | NES | (2011/09/22) |
(2011/08/10) |
(2011/09/22)
|
| Urban Champion | Nintendo | NES | (2011/08/18) |
(2011/07/13) |
(2011/08/18)
|
| Xevious | Namco | Arcade | (2011/07/21) |
(2011/06/07) |
(2011/07/21)
|