Is my Nintendo 3DS worth money?

The 3DS family was made from 2011 to 2020 and plays both 3DS and Nintendo DS games. The eShop closed in 2023, so consoles and game cards in hand are what people buy now. Six models exist; the "New" models are the most wanted.

Which 3DS do you have?

Model	Years	How to tell
Nintendo 3DS, CTR-001	2011	The original.
Nintendo 3DS XL, SPR-001	2012	Larger screens.
Nintendo 2DS, FTR-001	2013	One flat piece, no 3D effect.
New Nintendo 3DS XL, RED-001	2015	The larger of the two "New" models.
New Nintendo 3DS, KTR-001	2015	The smaller "New" model.
New Nintendo 2DS XL, JAN-001	2017	Folds shut; no 3D effect.

The model number is printed on the back of the system.

What adds value

Tick what applies to yours:

A New model (KTR-001, RED-001 or JAN-001), tested, with the charger.
Hinges tight, both screens clean without scratches, and the stylus included.
Games still installed on the console, which you can no longer buy from Nintendo.
Special editions with printed covers, and the box.

Red flags

A cracked hinge or a loose top screen.
Scratches on the bottom screen from years of stylus use.
A console the seller has not reset: ask them to remove their account and data first.

Good to know about the 3DS

Nintendo eShop purchases for the 3DS ended on March 27, 2023. Games already bought can still be downloaded again, and updates still arrive.
Online play on the 3DS ended on April 8, 2024.
A 3DS also plays Nintendo DS and DSi game cards, in 2D. DS games that needed the Game Boy Advance slot do not work on it.
What a "New" model adds: a faster processor, a small C-Stick on the right, ZL and ZR buttons, a built-in amiibo reader and a steadier 3D effect. It takes microSD cards instead of SD.
A few games run only on the New models, such as Xenoblade Chronicles 3D (2015): older 3DS consoles are not powerful enough for them.

Live listings on eBay

A few 3DS consoles listed now, United States, from $50. Asking prices, not sold prices: the price a console actually sells for can be lower.

Nintendo 3DS is a product name of Nintendo. We are not affiliated with Nintendo, and we do not appraise anything.

Sources: 3DBrew, Peripherals (model numbers); Cyberpost, What version of 3DS do I have (model numbers, label on the back); Wikipedia, Nintendo 3DS (dates, eShop, DS games) and New Nintendo 3DS; Engadget, Nintendo unveils 'new' 3DS, 3DS XL; Pocket Gamer, Xenoblade Chronicles 3D heads exclusively to New Nintendo 3DS; Nintendo Support, Wii U and Nintendo 3DS eShop Discontinuation Q&A (eShop and online dates); all read October 15, 2026.