You just bought a Nintendo 3DS, the latest portable console from Nintendo before Switch / Switch Lite, and you have already begun to explore the myriad of possibilities offered by the latter and its immense range of titles. However, your budget is currently tight and, having learned that games can be obtained for free, you would like to have some more information on the subject. That's the way it is, am I right? Then I am happy to announce that you have come to the right place at the right time!
In fact, in today's tutorial, I'll just show you how to download free games on Nintendo 3DS first of all explaining how to prepare the console and the memory card that you will need to use to download the games: from formatting the SD to the Internet connection of the console, through to creating the account necessary to access the online functions of the 3DS. Obviously, then, I will not fail to provide you with all the details of the case regarding what content you can get completely free (and legal).
What do you say? Are you ready to go ahead and start playing Nintendo 3DS at no cost? In my opinion, yes, since you are reading this guide with interest and you seem particularly motivated in wanting to reach your goal. Come on then, all you have to do is take some time off, get comfortable and follow the instructions below. Having said that, there is nothing left for me to do, except wish you good reading and have fun!
Index
Preliminary operation
Prima di enter the dettaglio della procedura su how to download free games on Nintendo 3DS, it is of fundamental importance to describe the preliminary operations necessary for the correct functioning of the console. Below you will find everything you need to know.
Prepare the SD card
Nintendo 3DS and all associated models (such as Nintendo 2DS) allow you to download games from the Internet, but to do so you need to go through a SD/SDHC schedule.
However, there are some limitations: you can use SD cards from maximum 32GB and the latter must be formatted in FAT:. If you don't know which model to buy, I suggest you take a look at my guide on which SD card to buy, obviously paying attention to respect the parameters I indicated above. For more information on which cards you can use, I also recommend that you take a look at Nintendo's official guidelines.
To format the SD card in FAT, you might think about using the tools implemented "as standard" by the operating systems. However, my advice is to use the free program SD Card Formatter, available for both Windows that for MacOS and distributed directly by SD Association (an association made up of the world's leading SD card manufacturers). In fact, this software allows you to format SD cards more effectively and securely than “standard” tools.
To install SD Card Formatter on Windows, just connect to the official website of the program, scroll down the page and click on the blue button For Windows. At this point, read i terms and conditions that will appear on the screen and press the button Accept present at the bottom of the page, to start the download for free of the program.
Then open the file SDCardFormatter [version] .zip obtained and extract its content in any folder. If you don't know how to do it, I invite you to consult my tutorial on how to unzip a ZIP file. Once this is done, launch the file SD Card Formatter [versione] Setup.exe, tap on the item Next, check the box I accept the terms in the license agreement and click successively on Next, Next, install, Yes, Finish e Yes to complete the installation.
As for the procedure for MacOS, you can download SD Card Formatter by connecting to this web page, reading the terms and conditions e premendo sul pulsating Accept. Once the download is complete, it will be enough for you to extract the contents of the file SDCardFormatter [version] .zip obtained and open the file Install SD Card Formatter[versione].mpkg.
At this point, you need to click successively on Continue, Continue, Accept, Continue e Install. Now, you just have to enter the password locale and press successively on Install software, Close e Move, but I will complete the installation.
Next, you need to enter the SD card to be formatted in the computer. If your terminal does not have a dedicated slot, you can remedy the problem by purchasing a SD / microSD to USB adapter. Usually, the cost of these products is less than 10 euros.
Vedi offers your Amazon
In the alternative, it is available Mac equipped with doors only Thunderbolt format USB-C, you may be thinking of purchasing a SD / MicroSD to USB-C adapter or USB-C hub with integrated card reader. Again, the price is usually less than 10 euros.
Vedi offers your AmazonOnce started SD Card Formatterselect l 'SD card drive give menu to tendin Select card, type il name you want to assign to the volume in the field volume label and press the button first Size and later on that OK. If you are using MacOS, you may need to type the password locale.
In short, SD Card Formatter is pretty easy to use, but if you need more information you can find them in my guide on how to format an SD card. After completing the formatting of the SD card, remember to insert the SD card into the appropriate one slot del Nintendo 3DS / Nintendo 2DS.
Connect the console to the Internet
After preparing the SD card, it is necessary connect the console to the Internet. Fortunately, this is a simple procedure. I'll explain immediately how to do it.
To start, turn on the 3DS and press thewrench icon (that of Settings), present in the main console menu. Then, press the button Internet settings and, if necessary, activate the wireless support, pushing the appropriate toggle which is on the right side.
Now, press the blue button Connection settings, select one of the three slot available (Connection 1, Connection 2 o Connection 3) and presses the button New connection. Then press the button Guided, in order to follow the procedure provided by the console, and respond to questions that appear on the screen: the console will ask you if you are at casa or out, if you have a access point, if you have one wireless connection and if you own a router that supports technologies AOSS e WPS.
Clearly, the answers you need to give vary depending on your configuration, but often just press on the item first I don't know / none of these and later on that OK, in order to start the search for wireless connections available.
At this point, select the network name you want to connect to and type the relative Password. Therefore, he presses on his voice OK and a will be performed connection test. If everything went well, the message will appear on the screen Successful connection and the Nintendo 3DS / Nintendo 2DS will start downloading any software updates. At this point, press the button Go back of the console and returns to the main menu of Settings.
Create a Nintendo ID
Your goal now is to configure the Nintendo Network ID, which is the profile needed to access the Nintendo eShop (the digital store of the Japanese company), from which to download the games.
Then press the button Nintendo Network ID Settings present at the top and first presses on the item OK and later on that NEXT (many times). Now, select the item Create a New ID I awarded her NEXT. Next, you need to fill in the form which appears on the screen with all the required data, such as date of birth, sex of belonging e country of residence.
You will also need to type the Nintendo Network ID, that is the username, and the Password to be used to access the online services of the Japanese company. You will also be prompted to enter a valid email address and press on Confirmation. Finally, you will have to choose if you want restrict the use of your Nintendo ID on one device and validate the account by clicking on confirmation link received by email.
Perfect, you have now successfully configured your console to access Nintendo's online services. For more details on the profile involved, I recommend that you consult my tutorial on how to create a Nintendo Account.
How to get free games on Nintendo 3DS
After explaining how to configure the Nintendo 3DS / Nintendo 2DS to be able to download games for free, I'd say you're ready to take action.
Then go to the main console screen and press the icon Nintendo eShop (the shopping bag). You may be prompted to enter the username and Password of the account you set up earlier.
Once you enter the large digital, you will be able to browse all downloadable games on your console. You will immediately notice that there are several subdivisions and that there are both titles paid what you play free: you are clearly interested in the latter.
Well, the first section you should consider is that of demo, that is, the trial versions of the games. To access this part of the Nintendo eShop, simply press the green icon Demo present below.
Here you will find free reduced versions of some of the most successful titles released for Nintendo 3DS / Nintendo 2DS, from Pokémon Sun and Moon a Detective Pikachu, Via WarioWare Gold e Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate. In short, with these games you already have several hours of free fun for your gaming sessions.
However, few people know that the eShop also includes gods full titles downloadable for free. In fact, several are available giochi free to play for Nintendo 3DS. These are not listed in any section of the shop and therefore must be searched for manually. This is why many people are unaware of this possibility.
In any case, as indicated on the official Nintendo website, the free to play (or free-to-start, as they are called by the Japanese company) titles available for 3DS / 2DS are fullblox, IRONFALL Invasion, Mario Party: Star Rush – Party Guest, Metroid Prime: Blast Ball, Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge, nintendo badge arcade, Pokemon Picross, Pokémon Rumble World, Pokémon Shuffle, Steel Driver: Sub Wars, pictoposta e Team Kirby Clash Deluxe. In short, there is no shortage of free downloadable games and there are also solutions for various tastes.
To install one of these titles, simply use the search function of Nintendo eShop. To give you a concrete example, I will examine the game Pokémon Rumble World. Well, to download the latter, once you have entered the Nintendo digital store, you have to press on the item Search present at the top right, type "pokemon rumble world”And press on OK.
After that, scroll through the list of results until you find Pokémon Rumble World (Pikachu icon) and select it. Perfect, now you just have to press the buttons in succession Proceed to download, NEXT, Download e Complete the download now, to start the game installation. Once the download is complete, you will find the game on the main page of the console and just press the icon of Pokémon Rumble World, to start it.
If you are interested in paid titles, I recommend that you also consult my guide on how to download games on Nintendo 3DS. Have fun!
