The 50 Best Nintendo Games Right Now (Wii U / 3DS)

Best Nintendo Games List – #33 Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure

Developers: Sega, Xeen

Publisher: Sega

Platforms: Nintendo 3DS, iOS

Release Date: July 10, 2012

Who knew that the adventure genre could add a dash of puzzle and rhythm gameplay together to create something special out of an entirely new property? So is the case for Rhythm Thief and the Emperor’s Treasure, where you play as an 18-year-old art thief searching for his father. In doing so, protagonist Phantom R will come close to death, jail time and the loss of those close to him.

The gameplay is varied but carries a stylistic jazz vibe to it. It’s a rhythm game, so encounters with guards at art galleries include tapping on the respective color on the touch screen to hide on the beat of the tempo. Gyroscopic controls allow you to dodge attacks while pressing certain buttons will help you fend off attackers. Furthermore, there are a ton of NPCs to encounter across the Paris setting, which sets off sprawling story paths that provide hidden rewards. There is more depth to this game than one would think from a third-party game released almost a year after the 3DS’ launch, but we’re thankful for it.

Next: #32 Nintendo Land