Can 3DS and DSi Play Together?
If you’re a Nintendo fan with multiple handheld consoles, you might be curious whether you can play games across different devices. Specifically, can the Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo DSi systems play together?
Yes, 3DS and DSi Can Play Together…
According to Nintendo’s support pages, the 3DS can support local wireless multiplayer with the DS family of consoles, including the DS and DSi systems. This allows users to play multiplayer games together using these systems.
Wireless Game Play
For this, both players need to use their 3DS and DSi respectively. One player must use the game title to start a multiplayer session while the other player uses their system to enter the multiplayer mode. Then, they both connect wirelessly using a network environment. Note that not all 3DS games are compatible with multi-platform play.
Game Card Interoperability
If you’re excited to play old DSi games on your 3DS, the good news is that the 3DS is capable of playing most DSi titles. The DSi has specific features, like touch-based games, which can’t be translated directly to the 3DS without additional hardware support.
Here’s a table showing some compatible 3DS games and their wireless multiplayer capabilities:
| Game Name | Wireless Multiplayer Supported? | Description |
|---|---|---|
| New Super Mario Bros., Mario Kart DS | Yes | Iconic racing and platforming titles. |
| Pokémon DS, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl | Yes | Catch and battle with Pokémon in iconic RPGs. |
| Bioshock and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night | No | Specific game compatibility limitations apply to these titles. |
| Pikmin, Ecco the Dolphin and others | Yes/No | Compatibility varies among different 3DS and DSi game titles. |
3DS Online Play with DSi-Exclusive Games
Regarding compatibility, note that 3DS systems are unable to receive game data directly from the 3DS system through DS games or vice versa. You won’t find specific support for 3DS-exclusive games like Super Smash Bros. 4 on DS systems. The same rule applies for 3DS-to-Switch compatibility; we recommend consulting the relevant gaming documentation if you have any specific questions!
Trading 3DS Pokémon with DSi Owners
In case you wonder if you can trade 3DS games like Pokémon between DSi console and 3DS system, you can transfer your 3DS Pokémon data using Pokémon Bank, though! For that, simply head to Pokémon Bank, go to "Migrate," then type the moving key to connect to DSi systems for the move.