You remember 2014, right? The Legend of Korra was hitting its stride on Nickelodeon with some of the most intense animation and heavy themes ever seen in a "kids" show. But while everyone was talking about the Red Lotus or the spirit world, a little 3DS game quietly slipped onto store shelves. The Legend of Korra: A New Era Begins wasn't the high-octane PlatinumGames brawler that hit consoles around the same time. No, this was something totally different.
Honestly, most people missed it. It’s kinda weird how that happens with licensed games.
Developed by Webfoot Technologies, the same folks who gave us some of those classic Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku titles, this was a turn-based strategy RPG. Think Fire Emblem or Final Fantasy Tactics, but with more elemental bending and less permadeath. If you've ever wondered how Korra would handle a grid-based battlefield, this is basically the only place you'll find out.
What The Legend of Korra: A New Era Begins Actually Is
Let's clear something up: this isn't a sequel to the show. It's a side story. Specifically, it slots into the timeline right after the events of Book 2. Korra has just opened the spirit portals, and—as you’d expect—everything is a bit of a mess. An ancient evil has been released, and Korra has to travel across the four nations to seal it back up.
Standard stuff for the Avatar, really.
But the gameplay is where it gets interesting. Instead of mashing buttons to throw fireballs, you’re moving Korra, Mako, Bolin, and Tenzin across a map. You have to think about positioning. You have to manage your bending types. It’s slow. It’s tactical. And for a 3DS game, it's surprisingly deep once you get past the initial learning curve.
Most critics at the time gave it a bit of a hard time because the graphics weren't exactly "next-gen," even for 2014. The sprites are a bit chunky. The environments can feel a little repetitive. But if you're a fan of the lore, there’s a certain charm in seeing these characters in a tactical setting. You’re not just Korra; you’re the commander of Team Avatar.
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The Strategy Behind the Elements
The core loop of The Legend of Korra: A New Era Begins revolves around the four elements. Every character has a specific type, and there's a rock-paper-scissors mechanic at play. Water beats Fire. Fire beats Earth. Earth beats Air. Air beats Water. You know the drill.
But Korra is the wild card.
Since she's the Avatar, she can swap elements on the fly. This is the "Aha!" moment of the game. You might start a turn using Earth to tank a few hits, then swap to Water to heal a teammate, and finish off with a Fire attack to exploit an enemy's weakness. It forces you to actually think like the Avatar. You aren't just a powerhouse; you're a Swiss Army knife.
- Mako is your glass cannon. He hits hard from a distance with fire and lightning but can't take much punishment.
- Bolin is the tank. His earthbending moves are great for crowd control and soaking up damage.
- Tenzin provides mobility and support, using airbending to move enemies around the board.
- Korra is your primary damage dealer and healer, depending on what element you have equipped.
It’s a simple setup, but it works. The game doesn't try to reinvent the wheel, but it uses the Avatar license in a way that feels meaningful to the mechanics.
Why Fans Keep Coming Back to It
Why are we still talking about a 3DS game from a decade ago? Because the Avatar franchise is going through a massive resurgence. With Avatar Studios working on new movies and the live-action Netflix series bringing in a whole new generation of fans, people are digging through the archives. They want more stories.
The Legend of Korra: A New Era Begins offers a slice of that world that feels nostalgic. It’s a time capsule of the mid-2010s handheld era.
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There’s also the "completionist" factor. Unlike the PlatinumGames title, which was delisted from digital storefronts years ago due to licensing issues, you can still find physical copies of the 3DS game fairly easily in used game bins or on eBay. For many collectors, it’s the "missing link" in their Korra collection. It represents a specific moment in the franchise where Nickelodeon was experimenting with how to translate bending into different genres.
Challenges and Frustrations
I’m not gonna lie to you: the game has some rough edges.
The AI can be incredibly frustrating. Sometimes the enemies will make brilliant tactical retreats, and other times they’ll just walk into a wall. The difficulty spikes are also pretty legendary. You’ll be cruising through a level, feeling like a bending master, and then suddenly a boss will one-shot Tenzin from across the map.
It requires patience. Lots of it.
The story is told mostly through static portraits and text boxes. If you're looking for the high-quality voice acting and cinematic flair of the show, you won't find it here. Janet Varney and the rest of the cast aren't voicing these lines. It’s a budget title, and it wears that on its sleeve. But for $15-$20 on the secondary market? It’s hard to complain too much.
The Legacy of Webfoot’s Tactical Approach
Webfoot Technologies took a risk by not making this an action game. They knew the 3DS hardware couldn't handle the kind of fluid animation required for a true Korra brawler. By leaning into the tactical RPG genre, they created something that fits the "mind over muscle" theme that Korra struggles with throughout the show.
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It’s almost poetic.
Korra is a character who wants to punch her way through every problem. In The Legend of Korra: A New Era Begins, the game literally forces her—and the player—to stop, look at the map, and plan three steps ahead. It’s a meta-commentary on her character development that I honestly don't think the developers intended, but it works beautifully.
The game also features a "Pro-Bending" mode, which is separate from the main campaign. It’s a bit simplified compared to the show, but it captures the spirit of the sport. You’re pushing opponents back, trying to gain ground, and managing your stamina. It's a nice distraction from the heavy lifting of the tactical missions.
How to Play It Today
If you're looking to dive into The Legend of Korra: A New Era Begins, you have a few options. Since the 3DS eShop is officially closed, you can't buy it digitally anymore. You’re going to have to go the physical route.
- Check local retro game stores first. This isn't a "rare" game like Pokémon SoulSilver, so you shouldn't have to pay a fortune for it.
- Look for "Complete in Box" (CIB) copies if you're a collector. The manual and box art are actually quite nice and feature some great promotional art from the show.
- If you're playing on a New 3DS or 2DS XL, the game runs a bit smoother, but don't expect a massive performance boost. It’s a 2014 game through and through.
For those who enjoy the tactical genre, compare it to games like Luminous Arc or Stella Glow. It’s not quite on that level of polish, but it shares that same DNA of grid-based combat mixed with light visual novel elements.
Is It Canon?
This is the big question every fan asks. The short answer: kinda?
The events of the game don't contradict anything in the show or the subsequent Dark Horse comics like Turf Wars or Ruins of the Empire. However, they aren't referenced in those works either. It exists in that "expanded universe" space where it’s true as long as you want it to be. For most fans, it’s a fun "what if" scenario that lets them spend a few more hours with their favorite characters.
Next Steps for Avatar Fans:
- Track down a physical copy: Scour eBay or Mercari for a copy under $25. Anything more than that is overpaying for this specific title.
- Focus on the Water element: Early in the game, Korra’s waterbending healing is your best friend. Don't neglect it in favor of flashy fire moves.
- Level up Bolin early: His ability to take hits becomes essential in the later stages when the enemy count triples.
- Re-watch Book 2: If it’s been a while, watch the finale of Spirit again before starting the game. It makes the opening cutscenes make way more sense.