Buyers' Guide: How to get the cheapest Nintendo 3DS XL in the UK

There has never been a better time to be a 3DS owner.

Not only is there now an enormous selection of games to play, but there are also many more on their way. Oh, and there's a fantastic promotion on at the moment where you can get a free game to download.

With all that in mind, we thought we'd help out those sorry 3DS-less gamers out there by scouring the internet for the cheapest unit (or bundle) online.

We've gone for the 3DS XL specifically. It's absolutely and positively the only 3DS worth having (thanks to that enormous screen and superior battery and build quality).

Read on, and let us know which package you decide to plump for in the comments below.

If you just want to buy a 3DS XL console on its own, you can get one for less than £150. If you're picky about the colour or design, though, expect to pay a premium for certain special units.

3DS XL Blue + Black - £149.99 at Amazon
3DS XL Red + Black - £149.99 at Amazon
3DS XL Silver + Black - £149.99 at Amazon

If you get in quick, you can pick the Red, Silver, and Blue console up for £144 at Tesco with the code TDX-KPWM. You'll need to add on £3 for postage. Or you could just pick it up from a nearby shop.

3DS XL Black - £174.99 at GAME
3DS XL White - £174.99 at GAME
3DS XL Pink - £169.85 at Shopto (Available from May 31st)
3DS XL Pikachu Yellow - £179 at Tesco (£174 with code TDX-KPWM)

These game and console bundles are special edition consoles with a top Nintendo game.

Note that the game is pre-installed on the system, so you won't get a box or cartridge in the package. As such, you won't be able to sell the game on to save some cash.

This bundle represents a saving of about £20 over the price of buying the console (any colour) and game (about £30) separately.

We called Mario Kart 7 "a solid combination of timeless racing and robust online multiplayer that will be enjoyed for years to come".

This bundle represents a saving of about £20 over the price of buying the console (any colour) and game (about £30) separately.

In 2011, we reckoned that "Super Mario 3D Land is pure entertainment from start to finish".

You could get a normal blue 3DS XL and the game for about £10 less, but you'll miss out on the fancy limited edition design.

Fire Emblem: Awakening was our first PG Platinum Award-winning game of 2013. We called it "strategy role-playing at its finest", and said it "marries sophistication and character development in a way rarely found in the genre".

This bundle represents a saving of a few quid over the price of buying the game and console separately.

We gave this game 7/10 on review. We said, "what Monster Hunter lacks in communication, it more than makes up for in quantity and quality of content."

3DS XL Limited Edition Animal Crossing: New Leaf Pack - £189.99 at GAME

This console bundle, and Animal Crossing: New Leaf, will debut in the UK on June 14th.

If prices stay the same until then, you'll pay a premium of about £10 for the adorable console design.

Most of the console and game bundle packs - especially those offered by GAME - are more expensive than buying the console and game separately.

The only noteworthy exception is the blue 3DS XL with Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask bundle for £175 at Asda. This represents a saving of about £4 over the price of buying these items separately.

Oh, and don't forget a charger.

For some bizarre reason, no AC adapters are included in any of the 3DS XL consoles or bundles.

The 3DS XL uses the same charger as the regular 3DS, but if you need a new one…

The official Nintendo charger is cheap as chips at GAME, where it costs £6.99. There's also a third-party "Descrescent" cable available at Play.com for £4.99 (but don't come crying to us if your house burns down after you use that one).