While we were distracted by the hoopla over the Xbox One's DRM policies and OMIGOSH KINGDOM HEARTS III, the 3DS sneaked in and overtook the Xbox 360 for most hardware sales during the month of May, and boasted even bigger numbers once Animal Crossing: New Leaf released stateside.
If you're a new 3DS owner or a veteran looking for some super cool accessories to complement your hardware, this edition of Shut Up and Take My Money offers some good starting points.
The first thing you're going to need is a good case or protective cover. Enter: these. Imagine how great you'd feel about your 3DS' durability if it were wrapped in the same material as those gushy footballs your parents got you as a kid because SUZIE, THAT IS THE THIRD LAMP YOU'VE BROKEN THIS YEAR. Well, that's this cover. Regardless of what you think of Nerf (I'm ambivalent), these covers by PDP are probably the best on the market for keeping your 3DS safe from drops and other shock damage. You can buy them many places, but directly from the PDP website or Amazon are your best bets for cheap prices.
If you're looking for something a little less bulky, check out these ridiculously adorable handmade cases, and dozens of others (including ones that look like Growlithe and Espeon) by Etsy seller, Flea Circus Designs. The crafter behind these Pokemon and Adventure Time cases also does custom orders, and has a knockout rating record. The cases cost between $25 and $30, depending on their complexity, but that's not bad at all, considering they're handmade and infinitely better-looking than 99% of cases out there.
A third option is this Eeveelution-themed zippered hard case. This would be a good choice for people who like to completely enclose their hardware in something relatively durable while they travel. It's also the only one of these three case options that would allow you to bring an extra stylus or two with you – even the sweet handmade ones by Flea Circus Designs don't close all the way (though the seller told me in an private message that she'd look into what it would take to create cases that do completely close).
Like any screen that lives within three feet of hands (how the heck does my computer screen have so many fingerprints on it?!), the 3DS screens get filthy. The good thing is, the 3DS also has a hole for a strap accessory (à la every Japanese portable electronic ever). This particular strap accessory is San-X's Kutsushita Nyanko (or "Bon Chan" – he's popular because he's a cat with socks – and who doesn't like cats with socks?), and it doubles as a screen cleaner. Pretty neat, huh?
These styluses are actually also by PDP, and also part of their Nerf line, but the reason I'm including them isn't because of those reasons – it's because I think they look like crayons, and that is GREAT. PDP also makes non-Nerf-branded styluses in a variety of colors.
OK, you don't actually need this Isabelle (Animal Crossing: New Leaf) figure for the proper functioning, care, or aesthetic design of your 3DS, but you do need this figure. You do. If you own a 3DS and haven't played New Leaf yet, you should A) fix that problem immediately, and then B) come back here and tell me you don't need this Isabelle figure.
Alternatively, if you don't care that people think of you as that person who has figures of ladies with obvious butt issues, you could go for this ridiculous Tharja (Fire Emblem: Awakening) figure. I have no words.
Got any other recommendations for good 3DS gear? Discuss them in the comments!
Ali is a former Game Informer editorial intern, and is currently a freelancer and a marketing dweeb in corporate. Follow her on Twitter or Tumblr.