When was the last time you were eager to boot up your 3DS and play something? Perhaps you were interested in playing Pokémon Alpha Sapphire or a game of Mario Kart 7. The point is, there aren’t many people who are out looking for the Nintendo 3DS anymore, and if they are, they are most likely Nintendo collectors who want to own every Nintendo console on the market. Sure, some feel the pull of nostalgia take them, but those are surprisingly few. So, why is it that Nintendo 3DS prices of skyrocketed recently?
3DS Prices are on the Rise
We would not have called for a price increase on any of the 3DS models this year. Around a year ago, you could have bought a 3DS used for around $100, and maybe less depending on the seller. Not bad, considering the handheld console was discontinued back in 2020. Not, however, the same handheld device will cost you upwards of $350. That is a 300% increase from last year.
User Pirat_Nation on X pointed out this price increase recently, saying, “3DS prices are spiking. This decade-old Nintendo handheld is not worth almost as much as a Switch 2. New 3DS XL models are often selling for $200 to $350 used.” They went on to say that prices are likely to keep climbing.
Some in the comments were reminded of when they could buy a New Nintendo 3DS model for around $80. Others claimed that nostalgia is hitting everyone hard during the holidays, but there is no clear-cut answer as to why these consoles are suddenly spiking in price. If you have one lying around in a drawer somewhere, now might be the time to post it if you need some extra cash. If not, hang onto it and see where the prices go from here.
