3ds & games as a gift for a 5yo?

Maybe the DSlite is an even better option?

They also play the old GameBoyAdvance-games, some of which are really great, and are not impaired by the lower visual settings.

It can't download games - all games are in physical cartridges - but the games are cheaper, 'round now, because it's a dying format, more or less.

There's one advice I'd like to give you (and your friend, the parent) about the games.

5 year olds are much happier if they have fewer choices. Lock his games in a cupboard, let him have three (or five) games out at a time.

Just in case you know next to nothing about Nintendo's consoles:

Game Boy

Game boy color (also plays GB games)

Game boy advance (also plays GB and GBC games)

Game Boy Advance SP (Also plays GBC games)

Game Boy Micro (Only plays GBA Games)

Nintendo DS (also plays GBA games)

Nintendo DSi (only plays DS cartridges, but also has download play)

Nintendo 3DS (also plays DS games and has Download play)

So you see, nintendo has a history of always including backwards compatibility (to the point of sticking an extra computer into the shell, actually), and if you buy a 3DS, you'll have a new console with very few (relatively) games, and backwards compatibility with the DS.

If you buy the DS, you'll get a console with a large library of games, and access to an equally large library of GBA-games.

I'd reccomend a DSi. It'll be cheaper, can play all of the great DS games, and won't have 3D, which Nintendo says not to let kids under 7 use.

If you think they'll be playing games for a long time and would want some newer ones when they come out, get a 3DS, but I think a DS lite or DSi would work just fine.

DSi has a camer which is nice, and you can download small DSiWare games for a few dollars each.

if the kid likes dogs, nintendogs is probably the best thing i can recommend.

I'd recommend a DSi. It'll be cheaper, can play all of the great DS games, and won't have 3D, which Nintendo says not to let kids under 7 use.

If you think they'll be playing games for a long time and would want some newer ones when they come out, get a 3DS, but I think a DS lite or DSi would work just fine.

DSi has a camer which is nice, and you can download small DSiWare games for a few dollars each.

At 5 years old I'd say your best bet is to go with either a Fat DS or a DS Lite. Both are incredibly durable and the games will be cheaper.

With a 7yr old cousin, I also recommend the 3DS. DS games are likely to be discontinued soon so Nintendo can put more resources behind the 3DS, plus all DS games work with the 3DS. As for recommended games, Nintendogs is great choice. My little cousin also really enjoys the Kirby games (as do I), so one of the many Kirby games currently available would be a good choice. Things like Netflix, like others have mentioned, is also a good advantage. There's also a load of cheap games to get over the Nintendo Shop Channel. It doesn't save credit card information into the system, so it's completely safe.

The 3DS is not suggested for children under 6, as the 3D function can damage their eyes.

my 4 year old plays my 3ds sometimes. the 3D annoys him a lot so he just shuts it off. My 6 Year old uses it for watching Netflix movies when he steals it out of my room.

They both have a DSi (3yo has the Mario DSi XL and the other has a DSi)

the 3yo thinks the XL is too big and heavy for him so he prefers the regular DSi

Games to get may include:

-any lego game (Batman, Pirates, Star wars. not the castle one)

• Any Kirby game (especially the new one where you get 10 kirbies)
• Mariokart
• Starfox 64

gamestop and EB games have used games.

and uhh, yeah. that's all i got!

I heard that the 3D component in 3DS is detrimental the eyes of children under 7; as such, Nintendo imposes the restriction to that age

Myself personally. I would suggest a DS VERYYYY durable, mines been dropped lots. Yeah its clunky as heck. But the amount of games you can play are doubled plus ebay, and gamestop, and second hand stores have fairly cheap games. DS, and Advance games. But, DSI's have the downloadable games. So its a toss up there, plus DSI is lighter. 3DS is not really designed for younger eyes, so if you go that way, disable that feature in the setting menu. I have a 3ds, but still have my old DS for the advance games.

I love the 3DS and it is amazing, BUT, if you cannot afford 40 dollar games, definitely go with with either the DS or DS Lite. I got a DSi and liked the DS lite and regular DS more due to its backword capability with Gba games. BTW, gba games are extremely inexpensive and are great games! I'll send you my Kirby Nightmare in Dreamland if you end up getting it for him. Just PM me :) I sometimes don't answer on Reddit so you can always hit me up on Steam (Boomerfox)

To mirror what's been said in most of the thread and put out a few of the points I've found whilst working in retail electronics sales:

If you're worried about the 3D and his health there is an option to disable it in Parental Controls, but the recommended age for the 3DS IS 7 and up. I personally don't recommend it on the basis that it may be a little too complex of a device for a 5 year old. I just got mine recently, and I'm in my mid twenties and even I'm still teaching myself the ins and outs of it, whereas with the DS Lite, you can just pick it up and go. I'd recommend one of those, and stick with DS games and GBA games. At that you're merely paying $100 and then $10-$35 for MOST of the games, if that. While a 3DS is $170 and then $40 for each new 3DS game. I don't know your son, but I know 5 year olds well enough to not feel comfortable letting them run around with a nearly $200 device. Not to mention that if or when a redesign of the 3DS comes out, I feel he should be old enough to use a 3DS well, and by then there should be a MUCH larger variety of games for him to choose from. I think with that path in mind, you could save a lot of money and work your way up to having him learn through a broad variety of games through 3 generations. I know when I have a son, I'm starting him off with an NES and letting him work his way up. Hope this helps!

Do not get your 5yo the 3DS...you need to wait til they're 7-8 years old or it will stunt their vision. Don't even consider it.