Super Monkey Ball 3D

 3DS
  • Publisher: Sega
  • Release Date: Mar 27, 2011
User Score
5.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 43 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 43
  2. Mixed: 24 out of 43
  3. Negative: 13 out of 43
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  1. BlogDog123
    May 25, 2011
    5
    The gameplay that Monkey Ball that has made it so "good" (tilting a stage to roll your ball-encased monkey to the goal) gets old, and the two minigames are complete rip-offs of Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart.
  2. MJ_Luigi_9
    Mar 11, 2019
    7
    This game is alright, however it is lacking a lot of content that other games in the franchise had. This game is worth $20 and can be a fun time.
  3. Wormoid
    May 7, 2011
    6
    Generally Super Monkey Ball boasts fun family games and nice multiplayer games. Not much more, especially presuming the lack of storyline length and really any depth.
  4. Jellyape
    Apr 5, 2011
    6
    The game is fun, very fun, but over in about 2hours. The 3D is fantastic but melts your eyes (this is why Nintendo say only have it turned on for 15mins at a time) I actually had to alternate 3D on and off to stop my eyes from exploding. The controls are amazing, both the circle pad and gyro controls are very precise and the gyro controls calibrate each time you use them so there's noThe game is fun, very fun, but over in about 2hours. The 3D is fantastic but melts your eyes (this is why Nintendo say only have it turned on for 15mins at a time) I actually had to alternate 3D on and off to stop my eyes from exploding. The controls are amazing, both the circle pad and gyro controls are very precise and the gyro controls calibrate each time you use them so there's no issues there. The main game has 8worlds and is very easy. The other mini games I found are good enough to be worth my time though, the monkey fight is a dumbed down smash bros that plays ok but is ridiculously easy (my first time playing I finished with 143 bananas,while all 3 computers had 0) and the monkey ball kart I found painful to play the drifting is poor, and when you get hit by a weapon you stop for a ludicrous amount of time. On the upper hand though the courses are fine. If you like repeatedly playing a few levels to better your score this is a good game for you otherwise, pick it up if you find it really cheap it is fun but its not worth the money 3ds cost right now.… Expand
  5. skyminster
    Jan 6, 2016
    6
    Super Monkey Ball 3D is a disappointing game filled with flaws and a moderately sized dosage of crap, but it still manages to be briefly decent with the underwhelming Challenge mode. I wouldn’t recommend buying this, but it isn’t the worst game in the world. Just don’t play Race or Fight mode.

    57/100 (rounded to 6/10).
  6. WhiteTalpa
    Jan 13, 2013
    5
    This game was ok... there is nothing much more to say. The new features which they added (mario kart clone) were bad, but the main campaign was good but just nothing special.
  7. knifeandfork
    Jul 17, 2013
    6
    As in any other Super Monkey Ball game, you roll a ball to the goal in short stages. The gameplay is fun, but it is so easy it'll be over in an hour. Seriously? An hour! It's a shame because this is otherwise the most fun monkey ball yet. Typically, super monkey ball games usually contain six party games as well, but here there are only two. One is a fun but short-lived racing game, andAs in any other Super Monkey Ball game, you roll a ball to the goal in short stages. The gameplay is fun, but it is so easy it'll be over in an hour. Seriously? An hour! It's a shame because this is otherwise the most fun monkey ball yet. Typically, super monkey ball games usually contain six party games as well, but here there are only two. One is a fun but short-lived racing game, and the other is a fun but short-lived fighting game. On top of the already too short main mode, the absence of many minigames ruins Super Monkey Ball3D. Just this for thirty-five pounds?… Expand
  8. Skywire01
    Nov 7, 2013
    7
    Although this game is cheap for an average of $15, it does have a lack of several abilitys. This game only has 3 modes to play. Fight, race, and get you monkey to the goal. The challenge (goal) game is fun and has added the new "world" idea to the game, but is not challenging at all. The fight is much like Super Smash Brothers and the Race is exactly like Mario Kart. You aren't in you ballAlthough this game is cheap for an average of $15, it does have a lack of several abilitys. This game only has 3 modes to play. Fight, race, and get you monkey to the goal. The challenge (goal) game is fun and has added the new "world" idea to the game, but is not challenging at all. The fight is much like Super Smash Brothers and the Race is exactly like Mario Kart. You aren't in you ball at all during these 2 games. Monkey Ball 3D does all kill some of the fun out of multiplayer also. It is terrible how this game only has 3 modes, because you get bored in a matter of 5 10 min. This game has a whole new idea though, if some gamers like that. Instead of saying "fallout" it says "out of bounds" which many gamers think it stupid. Although this game is exciting and can be fun at some points, it should of included all 15 minigames and new unlockable characters like the past games had, meaning its a new version of Monkey Ball some people wanted to look up to… Expand
  9. IcedCoffee
    Apr 22, 2014
    5
    A mediocre, bargain bin title at best, that is one quarter traditional, fun Monkey Ball and two quarters bland and forgettable. This game could have easily been one of my favorites for the 3DS system, having the developers devoted more of their time to expanding the blatantly short, but fantastic Monkey Ball mode, as opposed to tacking on a soulless kart racer and an uninspired fighter.
  10. spinnes
    Jul 6, 2015
    6
    The game is fun since you can use the motion control, otherwise is very easy, the minigames that should prolongue the game are very boring, the kart is broken and the fighting is just not interesting, the game is just not that fun...
  11. GamecubeLover
    Jul 27, 2016
    6
    I thought this game would be the savior of super monkey ball while his games were still good but not as good as they USED to be and this one let me down but the game is okay.
  12. MrTacoBob
    Sep 16, 2017
    7
    I wish this game was better. I thought it would be amazing but, it was a bit of Super Monkey Ball and a bunch of other decent minigames. This is not really a Super Monkey Ball game.

Awards & Rankings

57
#57 Best 3DS Game of 2011
16
#16 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2011
27
#27 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
55

Mixed or average reviews - based on 57 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 57
  2. Mixed: 33 out of 57
  3. Negative: 16 out of 57
  1. DailyGame
    Dec 12, 2011
    65
    It's tough to recommend this game to newcomers to the Monkey Ball world based on the two rough game modes, and the otherwise decent Challenge mode likely isn't long enough to justify the high price tag of 3DS titles. The use of 3D is novel, but completely unnecessary – as we've all played these games at home since the Gamecube launch.
    Read full review
  2. Pelit (Finland)
    Oct 20, 2011
    62
    Technically sound, but the gameplay is way too easy and unimaginative. [May 2011]
  3. GamingExcellence
    Aug 7, 2011
    57
    Overall, there's just not enough content in Super Monkey Ball 3D to justify the purchase. The only mode worth playing is Monkey Ball, and although it is fun, it doesn't last very long. Both the 3D effect and motion sensor controls work great, but they can't be used at the same time. And no online functionality really strips the game of any prolonged use. Unless you're a Super Monkey Ball fanatic, this one's a pass.
    Read full review
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