Nintendo DSiWare Titles Are Starting To Disappear
One of the strongest arguments fans of physical media commonly use is that it’s the fate of digital media to disappear. The counter-argument is often “well, physical media disappears too, because nature reclaims it,” but this process is of course much slower than pushing a big red “erase” button or unplugging a server.
Nintendo’s first digital console marketplace, WiiWare, was taken offline a couple years ago. DSiWare, their first digital handheld marketplace, has remained accessible (or at least its games have) on the 3DS. But the change-over to 2021 has apparently triggered some expiration dates…Nintendo Everything reports that every DSiWare game uploaded to the market before mid-May of 2011 has now vanished. Among the more significant departures are:
– Shantae: Risky’s Revenge
– Asphalt 4
– X-Scape
– Aura Climber
– Zenonia
– Spotto!
– Mighty Flip Champs
– Escapee GO!
– Dr. Mario Express
– Mr. Driller
– Soul of Darkness
– Legends of Exidia
– Spin Six
– The Oregon Trail
– Glow Artisan
We’d like to play TAPS for Risky’s Revenge in particular…that game has been ported to many other systems, but the DS was the very first platform it appeared on. It was Shantae’s big comeback after years of dormancy, and it kickstarted a string of sequels that continues to this day. You’ll probably still be able to buy Risky’s Revenge in the future, but Dr. Mario Express is likely never coming back.
You might want to scan what’s left of the 3DS eShop’s DSi offerings and see if anything entices you. Their days are probably numbered.