We should really bring our favourite consoles to more parties. Why is it not socially acceptable to whip out a PSVita in the middle of somebody’s crowded kitchen? Really, if you’ve made the effort to leave the house and socialise, someone might as well have Mario Kart ready-to-go on their switch – I know that would definitely get my attention. And it seems Mii&Greet is the solution to my problems.

Advertised as a “3DS StreetPass party” over on their Instagram, Mii&Greet invites handheld enthusiasts and big console gamers alike to spend an afternoon getting together to play co-op and show off their modded gear. Their last event took place on August 28th, over in Prospect Park, New York City.

Back in 2011 when the Nintendo 3DS launched here in Europe, its biggest selling point was, of course, it’s 3D function, many of which were disappointed to find out only worked if you held the device in a particular position, at an awkward distance from your eyeline. It was so uncomfortable, most players didn’t end up using the feature and Nintendo actually catered for this demographic when it created the 2DS and 2DS XL.

The 3DS actually had a much cooler appeal, tucked quietly behind its 3D bravado: the introduction of StreetPass. StreetPass worked by allowing players to share each others Miis, by allowing them to show up in each player’s StreetPass Plaza by exchanging data if you were in close proximity to one another. It was really exciting and could mean an average day at school could result in a few hits from school friends and strangers to and from. You would be alerted of a hit by a glowing green light that was visible whether the device was open or closed.

With other player’s Miis, you had the chance to advance further in MiiPlaza games, and unlock accessories, giving you a reason to carry the console with you even if you had no reason to play that day. Nintendo had figured out quite a clever way to keep your handheld on you like a phone, and guaranteed that players would keep checking the device for their green hit all day long. Except when the 3DS phased out with the introduction of the Switch, it became a lot rarer of an occassion.

Mii&Greet takes this chance encounter and breathes new life into it. With local play, partygoers are able to connect with others via Downplay Play, meaning a large library of games are available from bringing personal collections alone, while a lineup of DJ are set to play. The 3DS community is huge on modding and navigating the event, so you can be sure to find modding support from others. A dream haven for anyone who’s a little scared to mess with their devices without some additional help. It’s the kind of info that makes you want to dust off your older DSs and Gameboys. The last event featured tournaments for Mario Kart 7 and Smash 4 3DS.

And if you catch yourself wishing you bought a digicam or had more storage in your phone so you can capture more nights out, it might be worth taking inspirtation from @mintendo3ds and start sharing glimpses of your life on your 3DS. You can glimpses of Mii&Greet, captured by a New Nintendo 3DS, over on their Instagram.

And if you’re confused how players are able to connect, despite the closure of Nintendo’s services on the 3DS, the StreetPass function still works and doesn’t require you to jailbreak your device. The 3DS eShop shut down in 2023, followed by most of the 3DS’ online services back in April 2024.

There’s something so vibrant, fun and community-driven about Mii&Greet and it’s exciting that there are events today, in 2026, that allow you to be able to meet with the community of an – otherwise very – online hobby. Mii&Greet gives you a good excuse to visit your Animal Crossing: New Leaf visitors again to pick up some weeds, so you can have some new friends visit. Keep an eye out over on their Instagram for more info on their next gathering.