Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

 3DS
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 922 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 756 out of 922
  2. Mixed: 116 out of 922
  3. Negative: 50 out of 922
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  1. lesiuML
    Jan 6, 2023
    7
    It's hard to compare this version to wii u smash, or to Ultimate on switch. It's little bit bare bone in comparison to those two. There is not much to do and it's becoming boring after really short time. There is quite a nice roster but lot of great characters are hidden behind pay wall. Generally it's a nice alternative to switch ultimate, but it is not even close in terms of what you canIt's hard to compare this version to wii u smash, or to Ultimate on switch. It's little bit bare bone in comparison to those two. There is not much to do and it's becoming boring after really short time. There is quite a nice roster but lot of great characters are hidden behind pay wall. Generally it's a nice alternative to switch ultimate, but it is not even close in terms of what you can do in it.… Expand
  2. DolphinReviews
    Jul 20, 2022
    5
    Smash 4 is okay... It is by far the worst entry in the series. It's smash at it's most basic, slow, clunky form. It's impressive it was able to run as well as it does on the 3DS hardware but the game is pointless now that Smash Ultimate exists. I still find myself revisiting other entries but this one I can safely say I've retired.
  3. ElCaptain
    Jul 19, 2020
    6
    Look, it's a good smash game, but it is probably the weakest smash game personally
  4. Biggleboi
    Jul 14, 2020
    7
    Super Smash bros for 3DS is probably the weakest by no means a 'bad' game but not the best. This one is on a smaller scale then most smash games since the 3DS screen is so small. Nintendo pulled a move that EA would do and created DLC which would also be in WII U and Ultimate.The core gameplay is what you'd want from smash on the go,yes you can't use a Gamecube controller unlike in BrawlSuper Smash bros for 3DS is probably the weakest by no means a 'bad' game but not the best. This one is on a smaller scale then most smash games since the 3DS screen is so small. Nintendo pulled a move that EA would do and created DLC which would also be in WII U and Ultimate.The core gameplay is what you'd want from smash on the go,yes you can't use a Gamecube controller unlike in Brawl and Ultimate (also Melee but I mean it's on the Gamecube so it'd be kinda dumb to bring it up but I don't wanna die.)Overall Super Smash bros for 3DS is an alright game.Final sentence:go for WII U… Expand
  5. FortniteSteve
    Jan 25, 2020
    7
    Now that ultimate has been out for over a year this game is worthless. but at its core is still smash with a few draw backs ( specificly the 3ds joy pad not being made for intense fighting games) and with all of that OF COURSE its not as good as alvin and the chipmunks for WII , nothing can top it!
  6. bonsai
    Nov 25, 2019
    7
    This is not a bad game, it's a very good one, but compared to previous title of the serie this is probably the worst one.
  7. Bbplayer
    Mar 11, 2019
    7
    I gave the Wii U version an 8. The only reason this gets knocked down a peg, was because of the fact that your hands just start to hurt over a longer play session. Play it on the Wii U if you can.
  8. MadnessisRising
    Mar 6, 2019
    7
    If you buy this game, you will get what you expect. Compared to the N64 version, it hast better visuals (obviously) a bigger move-set, more areas (sadly not longer hyrule castle) and of course more fighters. Only 7 /10 because i don't like the controls of this game. Moving/walking around with the joystick on the 3DS felt totally wrong and uncomfortable.
  9. CyberRobotnix
    Sep 25, 2018
    5
    I enjoy the smash hell, thanks for this beautiful mastahpiece Nin10doh. Must play again.
  10. QuacksonjaMeme
    Aug 29, 2018
    7
    I have almost 30 hours in this game. Its really not great. It is really suffering form a lot of lag. And yes I do know this is a 3DS game. The Menus are really confusing. All of the characters control well and the design of them, and the levels are outstanding. Cant wait for Super Smash Bros Ultimate!

    7/10
  11. Da3_who_knows
    Jul 4, 2018
    6
    Ok, so can anyone please explain me what is so special about this game? Oh yeah it has all the Nintendo characters in it, and so what???? I payed it for 15 hours and forgot it ever existed. Not that I am a big fan of the genre but I can not say that playing this game was that fun. So no I am not gonna advise it to anyone.
  12. SortOfCritic
    Jan 1, 2018
    7
    Super Smash Brothers for 3ds is nothing like its brothers, but its still great fun to experience smash on the go with your friends
  13. zoob_m
    Jul 11, 2017
    6
    does not have adventure mode or proper match making. (at least it didn't have those when I played it.) missing these especial features brings down the game dramatically.
  14. GaryFaulkDoesIt
    Jul 31, 2016
    5
    Largely the weaker of the two Smash 4 versions, as its graphics seem kind of rough by 3DS standards and the stage choices felt weaker.

    The only advantage this game really has over the Wii U version is that Smash Run is a much better mode than Smash Tour, although even then it feels a bit lackluster and not particularly well thought out. Other than that, the 3DS and Wii U versions    Largely the weaker of the two Smash 4 versions, as its graphics seem kind of rough by 3DS standards and the stage choices felt weaker.

    The only advantage this game really has over the Wii U version is that Smash Run is a much better mode than Smash Tour, although even then it feels a bit lackluster and not particularly well thought out.

    Other than that, the 3DS and Wii U versions have very little difference from each other. Their choices for new characters was, in general, a bit questionable at times. The stages were sometimes poorly designed and they didn't seem to understand the desires of competitive or casual players, as almost every stage is extremely over-complicated, with gimmicks and movement directly affecting the gameplay, whereas the "Omega" version that is offered overly simplifies the stages into generic, flat planes. The Fire Emblem and especially Kid Icarus franchises are over-represented to the arguable detriment of other franchises.

    Overall, it's not hard to get the impression that this 3DS version was only made for the purpose of selling more copies on the historically more popular handheld system.    … Expand
  15. LuigiBro04
    Sep 10, 2015
    6
    Pros:
    -Portable Smash Bros!
    -Great character roster
    -Insane multiplayer
    -Excellent soundtrack

    Cons:
    -Most of the new stages are awful
    -Awful online
    -weak single player content
    -Feels awkward to play on a 3ds
    -Too many clones!
  16. AriseAndBe
    Aug 5, 2015
    5
    Super Smash Bros. is definitely a game that's meant for the big screen. I didn't get nearly as much satisfaction in this game than the previous game on the Nintendo WII. Also there's not story mode which kinda sucks
  17. ilikecamperz
    Feb 22, 2015
    7
    Ok I have been dreaming for a SSB game but this one I like. Smash run is a great challenge, but its lacks modes and the photo's you share are low quality but the 51 characters are great and balanced for sure. Using the amiibo on the NN3DSXL is a great mechanic as it can beat you later. This game lacks its mode as the WII U version has more, and the Solo also lacks just like the WII UOk I have been dreaming for a SSB game but this one I like. Smash run is a great challenge, but its lacks modes and the photo's you share are low quality but the 51 characters are great and balanced for sure. Using the amiibo on the NN3DSXL is a great mechanic as it can beat you later. This game lacks its mode as the WII U version has more, and the Solo also lacks just like the WII U version but this game still has more unlock-ables which makes it a great challenge. The final thing I like is the handheld power of this, fun to play anywhere anytime.… Expand
  18. Zyromkiru
    Feb 21, 2015
    6
    It's fun and has new things but the key bindings aren't great with little customization. The singleplayer feels solid but the multiplayer is horrid which is why i bought the game in the first place is to fight other people. We are talking about lag that makes it feel like you are running the game in 8 FPS even on the new 3DS just released in 2015.

    Great game but falls short on multiplayer.
  19. EvilstuffGaming
    Feb 7, 2015
    7
    It's a nice game with good graphics, especially considering we're talking about the 3ds. However, with no adventure or event mode like Brawl, the game does lack a bit of content. Still a nice game to play when you're bored.
  20. Vyrotix
    Jan 12, 2015
    7
    While the Wii-U version might be slightly better in terms of stages, and more replay value, this is a great game for the 3DS.

    If you don't own a Wii-U on the other hand, this is a must have for the 3DS.

    7.9/10
  21. chideraokoye
    Dec 21, 2014
    7
    With a launch worse than BF4:Beta, and lag worse than your parent watching Netflix on 1080p, It's a solid game with new characters, no suprises however worth checking out
  22. benbenius
    Nov 28, 2014
    7
    It lacks greatly in content, and is not worth the purchase. The online is bad. The gamemodes are bad. But, after a long day, you can look at it and say, "Hey. It's Smash Bros. The fighting is the core gameplay. I don't NEED these other gamemodes." It also lacks challenge, similar to the Wii U version. The graphics aren't good either, but I guess it's pretty cool to see Donkey Kong's faceIt lacks greatly in content, and is not worth the purchase. The online is bad. The gamemodes are bad. But, after a long day, you can look at it and say, "Hey. It's Smash Bros. The fighting is the core gameplay. I don't NEED these other gamemodes." It also lacks challenge, similar to the Wii U version. The graphics aren't good either, but I guess it's pretty cool to see Donkey Kong's face squished up against you in 3D.… Expand
  23. spi280
    Nov 27, 2014
    7
    An enjoyable smash bros title but a its definitely a step down from brawl or the wii u game that game after. You have one great massive roster and tons of options for customization which I ended up using more then I thought I would. the problem is that smash 3ds has a lot of weak stages and lacks many of the modes that could get me to play brawl for hours.
  24. aasecr14
    Nov 18, 2014
    7
    The latest installment in the Super Smash Brothers series looks brand new and exciting, but it doesn't quite bring everything to the table that we were hoping it would. There is no doubt that the game is fun. It is mind-numbingly fun. But there are a few small details that bugged me about it. You can't change the item frequency. The special battles from smash run can't be accessed outsideThe latest installment in the Super Smash Brothers series looks brand new and exciting, but it doesn't quite bring everything to the table that we were hoping it would. There is no doubt that the game is fun. It is mind-numbingly fun. But there are a few small details that bugged me about it. You can't change the item frequency. The special battles from smash run can't be accessed outside of smash run.
    Overall, this game is extremely fun to play, and aside from some of the smaller issues, a great buy.    … Expand
  25. rhaynes7
    Nov 18, 2014
    7
    Why portable Smash Bros. didn't happen sooner, I'm not sure, but one thing I know is that I'm so glad to have it now. With one of Smash's largest rosters, this game features a very diverse set of fighters and contains all the modes one would generally expect in Smash. Although I'm very happy to have Smash on the go, there are several things I'm not so much a fan of.

    Playing on the    Why portable Smash Bros. didn't happen sooner, I'm not sure, but one thing I know is that I'm so glad to have it now. With one of Smash's largest rosters, this game features a very diverse set of fighters and contains all the modes one would generally expect in Smash. Although I'm very happy to have Smash on the go, there are several things I'm not so much a fan of.

    Playing on the original 3DS screen, the action is rather small. The major problem this provides is that when things get spread out, it can be hard to determine exactly what actions are taking place, and it can make it hard to calculate your next move. Also, Smash Run is not too interesting at all. A mad dash for power ups that sometimes makes my character's movements feel unnatural (especially jump) does not justify the trip through nostalgia (especially when there is so much geared to Kid Icarus, which I don't have particularly care for). StreetSmash is nothing to write home about, and the mini games are never really worth it in my estimation. As always, the greatest fun comes in playing Smash, but the small selection of stages is quite noticeable. I could do without the mini games if that meant more stages. Online play works well enough. With a handheld system, lag is inevitable. Several of the new characters also feel overpowered compared to the old (but a patch is supposedly going to fix this).

    It's understandable that you can't cram as much into a handheld though. This is a great entry for the first portable Smash, and I hope the trend continues. The same solid fighting action is here, with several improvements to the mechanics over Brawl. Whether you want a copy or not depends on how much you want Smash on the go.    … Expand
  26. FrannyFantastic
    Nov 15, 2014
    7
    As polished as this new instalment of Super Smash Bros. is, I don't feel there is enough variation in the single-player modes to warrant a higher score. Without any challenge or story modes there is only classic and all-star campaigns, and these are both very repetitive fare.

    The Smash Run mode is a great addition, and despite being a breeze to clock through on your own it's still a    As polished as this new instalment of Super Smash Bros. is, I don't feel there is enough variation in the single-player modes to warrant a higher score. Without any challenge or story modes there is only classic and all-star campaigns, and these are both very repetitive fare.

    The Smash Run mode is a great addition, and despite being a breeze to clock through on your own it's still a load of fun. A huge roster of characters also gives the player an array of fighting styles to experiment with, but for me, the dearth of any solid, single-player modes really puts a black mark on this.    … Expand
  27. ELBOWSELBOWSKNE
    Nov 13, 2014
    6
    First, the bad.

    As of writing, there are ~5 characters played in for glory mode - 90% of the characters are useless for online play. Unplayable lag in all online 4v4 modes means that if you want to play online you're pigeonholed into these terribly unfun 1v1 matchups (you'll be matched up against the same 3 or 4 wildly overbalanced characters every game). There is no place to use your    First, the bad.

    As of writing, there are ~5 characters played in for glory mode - 90% of the characters are useless for online play. Unplayable lag in all online 4v4 modes means that if you want to play online you're pigeonholed into these terribly unfun 1v1 matchups (you'll be matched up against the same 3 or 4 wildly overbalanced characters every game). There is no place to use your custom characters/mii's online (not even a "custom arena"?) so that feature might as well not be included.

    Onto the good stuff!
    The wide array of characters, fun stages, and the single player modes are excellent, not much to say.

    Summary: Terrible character balance ruins what might have otherwise been a fun game. Lag in 4v4 matches is out of Nintendo's hands, as I'm sure there are people trying to play on public wifi ruining the connection, so I'll give that one a pass. I don't intend to play the game any more unless the balancing is addressed.

    6/10    … Expand
  28. Tobi_Whatever
    Nov 13, 2014
    7
    This is Smash Bros so I'm going to make this short.

    Balancing is great. Character variety is great, aside from some **** clones. Content is a bit lacking. Controls are bad. Online lags sometimes and the 3DS connection is easily negatively influenced by phones, to many 3DSes and other Wifi sources. The game is fun and it's nice to have a portable Smash but the Wii U version will heavily    This is Smash Bros so I'm going to make this short.

    Balancing is great. Character variety is great, aside from some **** clones.
    Content is a bit lacking. Controls are bad. Online lags sometimes and the 3DS connection is easily negatively influenced by phones, to many 3DSes and other Wifi sources. The game is fun and it's nice to have a portable Smash but the Wii U version will heavily improve on basically everything.    … Expand
  29. Hierolax
    Oct 28, 2014
    6
    Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS is the 4th installment of the Smash. series. Having waited 6 whole years I feverishly downloaded this title from the eShop after enjoying the Demo for a week or two. After playing 50~ hours and being a veteran of the series from the N64 days, I felt it was high-time I reviewed this game. If I could summarize in advance for those who don't want to read aSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS is the 4th installment of the Smash. series. Having waited 6 whole years I feverishly downloaded this title from the eShop after enjoying the Demo for a week or two. After playing 50~ hours and being a veteran of the series from the N64 days, I felt it was high-time I reviewed this game. If I could summarize in advance for those who don't want to read a lengthy review, it would be this:

    Super Smash Bros. has taken a step forward only to take a drastic step back. While it's an improvement from previous title, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, it also removed a lot of features both fundamental and superficial to the point it negates the improvements' efforts. Slap an overly sterile and rather surgical presentation over it and you have this title. Sm4sh as it has been dubbed.

    Now I'd like to articulate as to what it is I'm getting at. Right off the bat it's important to understand that the Smash. bros community is split between two types of enthusiast: The casual player and the tournament player. Something Nintendo alludes to with their 'For fun' and 'For glory' mode(s). This contrast of player-base has been with the series right from the start.

    However, a defining tension has been drawn since the days of Brawl when the changing and removing of integral mechanics occurred.
    To save the reader with a separate issue entirely, I'll put it bluntly. Casual players are happy no matter the title. Tournament players are more responsive to change. Sm4sh has made further removal of key features enjoyed by this demographic, disenfranchising this part of the audience which Nintendo aimed to appease with the inclusion of 'For glory'.

    The inclusion of infinite air-dodges, the removal of wave-dashing and edge-guarding, and of course, the higher/further kill-zones and floatier launch making for a lengthy match that makes opponents harder to kill. These are all fundamental changes that have been made that has contributed to the taking of a step back. As said above, casual players by their nature are impartial to either removal or inclusion, and therefore there is no benefit, only an alienation of one half of the audience. As I touched upon before, the fundamental mechanics did not only take a blow. The content has too. One might argue that as it is a 3DS title, it is inherently limited. And you would be right. But this only adds to the reasoning that the series has taken a step back and not forward.

    This title is unique in the sense that it's the first Smash. game to be a multi-platform title. Normally this implies minor difference in any other game, but in this case it is severe. It is a console game (Wii U) that is optimized to deliver a similar experience with the handheld (3DS). The margin of difference is massive, and it's seen in what I'm talking about. The removal of content. From the gross lack of cut-scenes, to the rather simplicity of stages, all the way to the changes of characters (Diddy Kong's banana limit, Olimar's Pikimin limit) and ultimately, the removal of characters entirely. (Ice Climbers). All of the mentioned were removed/changed to suit the multi-platforming approach.

    Most importantly, the netcode leaves a lot to be desired. Whether or not Nintendo will refine their connection quality in the future via patching remains to be seen. But in closing, I'd like to drive home the point that Sm4sh is prettier and boasts a larger roster than it's contemporary titles - yes - but it commits to the sin of clone-characters more than it's previous iterations. As far as fundamental and content changing goes, it's a step back.

    The stand-alone game is good, but as a Smash. title it certainly does not live up to the legacy. to quote my previous summary, it is lack-luster, surgical, and sterile. Giving the illusion that it's a breath of fresh-air and 'new' only to the consumer's dismay that it has removed more than what it's added. And although the Wii U version will offer the Smash veteran more, the fact will always haunt us that whatever it is we get on the console COULD have been better if it had not been multi-platform.

    I give it a 6/10. It's a good game, but a poor Smash game.    … Expand
  30. Peeko
    Oct 27, 2014
    5
    This game has two halves. single player and multiplayer. the singler player is fine but for me, the multiplayer is laggy to the point where it is no longer playable. and this is not an issue with my internet, this is a Nintendo issue. smash 4 is the only game i own where online is like this, and until it is fixed, i would advise against buying this game.
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Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best 3DS Game of 2014
1
#1 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2014
6
#6 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 76 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 71 out of 76
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 76
  3. Negative: 0 out of 76
  1. CD-Action
    Jan 9, 2015
    80
    If you’re a fan of Nintendo, you will be delighted with Super Smash Bros. [13/2014, p.69]
  2. Hyper Magazine
    Dec 2, 2014
    80
    On its own merits, it's an utter joy...but it's also pretty clearly a primer for the Wii U version. [Issue#255, p.68]
  3. Pelit (Finland)
    Nov 15, 2014
    85
    The new Smash overcomes its biggest challenge by actually being very playable on the portable 3DS. The online side is mediocre at best, but there is nevertheless a lot of fun to be had here. [Nov 2014]
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