Completely ignoring our desire for NX news, and kind of ignoring the Wii U (except for a small Zelda and Nindies update), Nintendo focused on the Nintendo 3DS instead. It looks like the 3DS will still go strong in 2017, with quite some surprises and new announcements. Here is the breakdown!

Pokémon Sun/Moon

Biggest news is of course a new Aolola form Rattata, with the typing dark/normal (top percentage of course!). A special Munchlax is given out when you purchase the title before January 11th 2017. Z-moves are explained into more detail including a special Z-move you can only use if you evolve the aforementioned Munchlax.

The game is due to be released on November 23rd 2016 but special edition Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 2DS consoles will be released the week before on November 18th.

Super Mario Maker 3DS

The Wii U smash hit Mario Maker is coming to the 3DS!

Unfortunately without the online functions and the question mark block (which are exclusive to the Wii U), but with all tools and graphics. Amiibo's are also supported on the Nintendo 3DS version too!

You can play the courses made on the Wii U version, but not all of them are available and you can't search by course ID.  Nintendo has built 100 courses for the game, some of which have extra challenges (collect everything, defeat all enemies etc).

Friends can make courses together by sharing them locally before publishing and courses can be shared by local wireless and Street Pass as Nintendo is looking to focus on local play when the game launches on December 2nd 2016.

Mario Party: Star Rush

A new Toad Scramble mode sees everyone play as a Toad racing to a boss fight.  More Mushroom Kingdom characters wil of course join and two new modes change how you play the game.  Coinathon sees dice rolls removed and replaced with your success in mini-games, while Mario Shuffle sees you try and manoeuvre three pieces to theiryour opponent’s side of the board.

Mario Party: Star Rush Party Guest software available for the Nintendo 3DS will allow multiple friends to play with only one copy of the game.  Download Play is available, but it is more limited than the Mario Party: Star Rush Party Guest software.

Amiibos are of course supported and do different things in each mode.  Boo, Donkey Kong, Rosalina and Wario will launch alongside the game on October 7th, followed by Waluigi, Diddy Kong and Daisy on 4th November

Hyrule Warriors: Legends

The third DLC pack was announced, the Phantom Hourglass & Spirit Tracks pack, which includes new moves for Toon Link, the new character Toon Zelda and more maps, a new Adventure Mode and fairy costumes.  New Zelda amiibos will be released including various classic itterations of Link and a new Windw Waker Zelda one too.  These will work like existing Link and Zelda amiibos and will work with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is also now available on the Wii U eShop and if you're itching for the classic The Legend of Zelda it will of course be included in the NES Classic package coming out on November 11th.

Animal Crossing: New Leaf

As previously announced, Animal Crossing : New Leaf will receive a major update which adds amiibo support on November 11th. The Nintendo Selects version also gets the update.

A new version of the game, called Animal Cross: New Leaf Welcome amiibo! will be released on November 25th which includes the update and an amiibo card.  Select figures from other amiibo ranges will also be compatible with the game.  A new range of amiibo cards will bring new characters to the game as well.

More details will be announced in a separate Animal Crossing Direct coming in the next few months.

DRAGON QUEST VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past & DRAGON QUEST VIII: Journey of the Cursed King

This classic title DRAGON QUEST VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past has been completely remade for Nintendo 3DS, with many hours of new content for those that have played it before.  The title launches on September 16th.

The StreetPass feature allows players to swap traveller’s tablets to access special dungeons and items. Through online distributions, players can earn new classes, encounter new monsters and even explore new dungeons. Anyone who purchases the game from Nintendo eShop will also receive a HOME Menu theme for free.

Fans of the series will also be pleased to hear that DRAGON QUEST VIII: Journey of the Cursed King will be coming to Europe early next year.

Rhythm Paradise Megamix

This 3DS title provides a best of previous titles in the series alongside with 30 new challenges.  You can also choose between the European and Japanese soundtracks.

The title is released on October 21st and for the first time in the series you'll be able to play in a story mode.

A demo is available on the Nintendo 3DS eShop now if you're curious.

Picross 3D: Round 2

In this game blocks can be painted with two colours, providing new challenges to the popular puzzle title.

Amiibos can be used to unlock new challenges adding to the 300 challenges available when the game is available on December 2nd.  

The original game will be available on the Wii U eShop shortly.

Streetpass: Mii Plaza

A new update adds a SwiftPlay Plaza to streamline StreetPass gameplay. StreetPass Mii Plaza Premium members can use the new queue feature to queue up as many as 100 Mii characters met via StreetPass, instead of the traditional 10.

Five new, fast-paced StreetPass games are also launching at £2.69 each: StreetPass Slot Racer, StreetPass Trader, StreetPass Chef, StreetPass Explorers, and StreetPass Ninja. Everyone who downloads the StreetPass Mii Plaza update can get either StreetPass Slot Racer or StreetPass Trader for free, while the four other new games will be available in a special discounted bundle for just £8.09.

This will be released today and you can watch a trailer below.

Tank Troopers

A new IP will launch on the Nintendo 3DS eShop. You fight out tank battles, where the Trooper you enlist will influence your play. Looks like a mix between World of Tanks and Steel Diver to us.

Offering up a six-person multiplayer mode, as well as Download Play, TANK TROOPERS launches in Nintendo eShop in 2017.

Poochy & Yoshi’s Woolly World

The super cute Wii U game is coming to 3DS! Added are Poochy levels, stop-motion animations by Dwarf (cuteness overload!), tiny Poochy Pups that help you and a Poochy amiibo is also coming alongside the game.

Poochy & Yoshi’s Woolly World will be available from February 3rd 2017.

Ever Oasis

This little surprise at E3 is shown off a bit more, and it looks like a pretty, fresh RPG.

Produced by Koichi Ishii of Grezzo and with character design by illustrator Yoshinori Shizuma, Ever Oasis takes place in a sprawling desert with the oasis at its heart. Travellers with different wants, needs and wishes will visit the oasis, and players must head into the desert and locate dungeons. Allies boasting specific weapons and unique skill sets will join and strengthen the team. Items claimed in the desert can be used as materials to craft other items sold in shops, or given to certain travellers.

The game is scheduled to launch in 2017.

Mario Sports: Superstars

Five sports titles in one! Mario Sports: Superstars brings us soccer, tennis, golf, baseball and horseback riding. Nintendo promises us that they are full games, so much more than just a minigame collection.

Mario Sports: Superstars is set to release next Spring.

Pikmin for Nintendo 3DS

In a surprise move, a side-scrolling Pikmin was announced. It combines the 3D world of Pikmin with 2D platforming (which reminds us of good old Lemmings, but also of Yoshi's Island).

This is designed as an action game that makes players think fast and use every Pikmin to overcome anything that stands in their way.  You use the touch screen to state where you want to throw the Pikmin.

Pikmin for Nintendo 3DS is due to release in 2017.  Fans of the series can check out NEW PLAY CONTROL! Pikmin on the Wii U eShop now.

Third Party Titles

The acclaimed attorney returns in Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice, coming to Nintendo eShop on 8th September, with Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice speeding to retailers across Europe on 30th September.

In winter, RPG fans will have two adventures to relish in the forms of Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse published by ATLUS, and 7th Dragon III Code: VFD published by SEGA.

Indie Titles

Each week in September will see a new Nindie title hit Nintendo eShop, with each available at a 10% discount during its first week on sale. The games and their release dates are:

• Axiom Verge (Wii U): 1st September
• Jotun: Valhalla Edition (Wii U): 8th September
• Severed (Wii U): 22nd September (Nintendo 3DS version launches at a later date)
• Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 (Nintendo 3DS): 29th September
• Noitu Love: Devolution (Nintendo 3DS + Wii U): September

You can rewatch the Nintendo Direct below. So, thoughts?