Tiny Cartridge’s favorite tiny cartridges of ‘11
Now that 2011 is a couple weeks behind us and most other sites have published their “best games of the year” articles, we can put out the true list — real talk, the only one that matters: our favorite tiny cartridges of 2011!
Despite predictions of handheld gaming’s death, this was an exciting year for portable fans: we saw two new platforms launched (3DS, eShop), plenty of free digital releases, and developers showing what the DS is capable by putting out some of the finest releases for the system.
To prove how great last year was for tiny cartridges, here are ten of them (well, some aren’t technically tiny carts) from 2011 that you absolutely should have played.
- Super Mario 3D Land - This is a platformer worth playing, then replaying, then re-replaying to get all the Star Medals. It’s also the Avatar of 3DS games apparently, except way more fun.
- Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars - One of the best handheld tactical RPGs ever released, like an X-Com Lite with plenty of modern touches.
- Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective - One of the best adventure games of the year, one of the best puzzle games of the year, and easily one of the best-looking games of the year.
- Solatorobo: Red The Hunter - We are fortunate to exist in one of the few quantum realities where this beautiful DS game actually released in North America. All is forgiven, Xseed.
- Pushmo - Intelligent Systems saw what Skip Ltd. produced on DSiWare with addictive games like BoxLife and PictoBits, then matched those efforts with this eShop puzzler (QR code sharing is tops!).
- Mario Kart 7 - After seven Mario Kart games, this really shouldn’t be this fun, nor should it still inspire these intense reactions. But we cannot stop playing this stupid thing online. And losing every time.
- Cave Story 3D - Nothing will replace the original look, but this is a totally valid, totally interesting way to experience a game that is still great.
- Swapnote - Every couple of days, we both get a goofy drawing and a random rap verse about chili, etc. from Mister Raroo. As a free service, it’s hard to beat that.
- Mighty Switch Force - Fabulous soundtrack by Virt, levels filled with clever puzzles, and an amazing final stage that we wish we could have seen more of.
- Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition - It’s impressive enough that they fit this into a handheld, but its implementation of quick, lag-free online matches is the best we’ve seen for any DS/3DS release.
Other great 2011 games we couldn’t/didn’t include for various reasons: Bit.Trip Saga (one of our sponsors this year), Aliens Infestation, Balloon Fight (can’t get enough of this Ambassador Program release), For the Frog the Bell Tolls (actually released in 1992, but the fan translation appeared this year), VVVVVV, and Pokemon B/W.
Buy: Nintendo 3DS (Flame Red, Black, & Blue)
Find: Nintendo DS/3DS release dates, discounts, & more
See also: Tiny Cartridge’s 2010 game favorites, Tiny Cartridge’s favorite tiny cartridges of ‘09
[Images via Inaktiv Wol, MasaBowser, & Cory Godbey]
tags / gaming / nintendo 3ds / 3ds / nintendo ds / ds / meta / 2011 / ec
