Bought a 3DS XL for youngest. We were told that it would play the old DS games he has.

I put one in, Mario Kart, and it just says there's no game plugged in. I've done a system update.

Any ideas please?

Thanks

Martin

I havent ever used a 3DS XL but the regular 3DS certainly plays DS cartridges without fail.

Literally you just whack em in and tap the icon as you would for a 3DS game.

Blow air into the socket (I wouldnt recommend a compressor xD, theres a vid on youtube of someone using a compressor on a gameboy and its innards getting blown out the other end).

Spray some WD40 on an ear cleaning bud or a small cotton wool ball. Carefully wipe the contacts of the DS cartridge and be careful to clean off any excess oil.

Try again.

Still not working, either somethings changed on the XL making it non capable of playing DS games, your mario cartridge is bust or the 3ds is faulty.

The 3DS is not region locked when playing original DS games so that won't be an issue. However the old flash edge cards and R4 cards for the DS and DSi do not work in the 3DS, it will only work with retail cartridges.

Edited 28 December, 201213 yr by 6677

do any work or just that one that doesnt?

im assuming you know it works as you must have a ds to try it in so it appears it might be an issue with the 3ds, first port of call would be where you bought it or even contact nintendo themselves, ive done that in the past and they were helpful enough