One year later – N3DS XL

It’s been a full year since I bought my first New Nintendo 3DS XL, and I wanted to share what the experience has been like. The last handheld I owned before this was the original DS, which came out well over a decade ago. I remember trying a 3DS briefly when my sister had one, but the 3D effect gave me instant headaches, so I drifted away from handheld consoles. Life moved on, and I didn’t think much about them again… until last year.

I ended up finding my system brand new in box from an older gentleman who bought it at launch, stuck it in a drawer, and never used it. Unboxing it felt like stepping back in time. A wave of nostalgia hit me, even though I never actually owned this specific system before. It somehow felt familiar and new at the same time.

I downloaded all my favorite GBA-era games, all the Pokémon titles (obviously), and a few others I’d been curious about. Then I just dove in.

It’s been such a fun experience. I take my 3DS to campus pretty often and play between classes. I even got a StreetPass once, which genuinely made my day.

If anyone out there is thinking about picking one up, I really think the system still holds up incredibly well. The games look great, run smoothly, and the overall feel of the console is still something special. The battery life on my aftermarket battery isn’t amazing, but it lasts long enough for long sessions, and it charges quickly enough that it never becomes a problem.

If you’re on the fence, I honestly recommend giving it a shot. This little console still delivers.