There's no doubt that the future of Nintendo looks rosy or, at least, rosier than it did a couple of years ago. The Switch has proven a tremendous success, the decision to recreate former console glories in miniature form has also gone down rather well, and there's an all-new Mario 3D platformer on...

Smallest and lightest "XL" handheld yet; feels great in the hand; cartridge slot now has a flap to keep games and microSD card safe; two nice colour schemes

No 3D (but even that's not necessarily a bad thing); stylus is much shorter and a little unwieldy

Nintendo is sticking to its slightly odd naming system with the (deep breath) New Nintendo 2DS XL , but the name does at least make sense: this is new, it's from Nintendo, it's got 2D screens, and they're bigger than they used to be.

The New Nintendo 2DS XL is the finest 3DS iteration yet, and sends the much-loved handheld off in style

Announced nearly four years ago, the Nintendo 2DS has been Nintendo's entry level solution for consumers who desire to enter its handheld ecosystem at the lowest price possible.

Visually appealing design; A slim profile that doesn't compromise screen size; Better ergonomics than other 2DS/3DS devices; AC adapter included

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The New Nintendo 2DS XL isn't the best portable gaming console in the 3DS family, but if you don't care about the handheld's namesake stereoscopic effect or mind having a slightly shorter battery life, it's a great way to play Nintendo's excellent library of portable games.

Plays every 3DS game on the market; More comfortable controls than previous model; Easy access to external storage

Shorter battery life than the New 3DS XL; Uncomfortably short stylus; Speakers are just okay

In Nintendo's seemingly never-ending mission to keep the DS line fresh, they have unveiled and released the latest DS variant – the New Nintendo 2DS XL . In terms of dedicated handheld gaming devices, the 3DS line is essentially uncontested.

2 Damn Sexy; Smaller & Lighter than New Nintendo 3DS XL; Cheaper than New Nintendo 3DS XL

No 3D Functionality; Small stylus; Awkward flap blocking Game Cards; C-Stick still sucks

With the Switch , Nintendo seems to have a bona fide hit on its hands: It's still all but impossible to find in stores, and a promising new slate of games shown at the E3 gaming show has only ramped up interest.

The New Nintendo 2DS XL is basically a 3DS XL, minus the 3D, with a slightly improved design; It gives you access to a huge library of great games, including past DS, NES and SNES classics

The tiny stylus is very awkward to use; There's little new here for anyone who already has a 3DS in their bag

The New Nintendo 2DS XL is the best 3DS handheld you can buy.

2DS with a clamshell design; Affordable; Works great with all 3DS games; Nice console design; SD and cartridge slots are accessible but protected

Hinge is wobbly; Doesn't add any substantial new features

When considered on its own, or when compared with other 3DS devices, the New 2DS XL is fantastic. It packs all of the New 3DS features into a well-designed package with a very attractive price tag.

Inexpensive; Functional, comfortable design; Supports library of thousands of DS and 3DS games spanning over a decade

Screen is very grainy and low-resolution next to the Switch; Feels redundant

The is an obvious upgrade over the ugly doorstop-like 2DS, and is a joy to play on. The hardware updates are welcome, and the processor is quick even when dealing with the most notoriously slow-loading games.