Nintendo 3DS XL Mario & Luigi: Dream Team Special Edition, 2013
“It feels like holding a little piece of history, a found treasure. Something wholesome, magical, and mysterious.”
About This Item
Creation Date: ca. 2013
Keeper’s Description: This is the Mario & Luigi: Dream Team Special Edition Nintendo 3DS XL, released in 2013 to celebrate the Year of Luigi. It's a handheld console with a special design with Mario and Luigi in gold on the front. The back has a "Year of Luigi" image with vines and an 8-bit Luigi alongside a classic block that says "30th" for the character's 30th anniversary. The console still has its original stylus. There are signs of use, but is in good condition overall. The hinge opens smoothly, and both screens work.
Keeper’s Discovery: I bought this, most likely at GameStop, in December 2013.
The Keeper of Wonder: Julie B.
The Keeper’s Story
Memory (a special moment): Even though this is the Mario & Luigi special edition, I mostly remember playing The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds on it. This 3DS stands out because it was probably the first console I bought with my own "real job" paycheck in 2013. I remember worrying that “cool” gamers were playing Madden, COD, and whatever version of GTA was out at the time, and I just wanted a little DS. But I loved it, other people loved it, and it's a great console. Zelda games always carry so much nostalgia for me, so buying and playing my own games this way felt really special and console-ing during rough times in my young adult years. See what I did there?
Meaning (why it’s kept): I keep this because it's gaming history, and it still works! I don't play games on it often, but it's officially in the category of vintage consoles. It's great to have, it's nostalgic, I can still find games at used game shops, and I can have my own little piece of gaming history.
Legacy (tell the future): You know how people used to say, "Should've kept those Beanie Babies, they'd be worth a lot"? I hope people see this and realize, you should keep your stuff (yes maybe it’ll be a fortune later) but it could just be worth a lot to you a decade later. Tech moves fast, but there are endless perks to preserving your own little piece of history - memories and all.
More Details
Collection: Evidence of Wonder: A Living Archive
Contributor: Julie B., 2025
Source: Digital files contributed by Julie to the Evidence of Wonder Collection, 2025
Subjects (keeper identified): Nostalgic, Playful, Grateful
Rights / Access: This digital image is contributed with permission for display on The Lost Shelf website and is available for viewing for personal, creative, and research purposes only. All other use, including reproduction or distribution, requires written permission from the contributor and The Lost Shelf.
