Nintendo video game consoles facts for kids
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| Type | Video game console |
|---|---|
| Owner | Nintendo |
| Country | Japan |
| Introduced | June 1, 1977 |
| Markets | Worldwide |
Nintendo is a famous video game company that started in Japan and became known across the entire world. Over the years, the company has created many kinds of gaming machines. These include home consoles that plug into a television, small portable consoles you can take anywhere, and built-in systems that come with games ready to play. Altogether, Nintendo has sold hundreds of millions of gaming devices. Their creative designs have changed how players around the globe enjoy digital adventures.
Nintendo's journey into electronic entertainment began with simple machines like the Color TV-Game. Soon after, they found massive worldwide fame with the pocket-sized Game & Watch series. In the mid-1980s, Nintendo launched the famous Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). This historic machine completely revived the entire video game industry after the video game crash of 1983. A few years later, Nintendo released the Game Boy, proving that people loved playing fun games on the go.
As technology grew, Nintendo continued to build innovative systems. The 16-bit Super Nintendo Entertainment System brought richer sound and colorful graphics to living rooms. Next came the powerful Nintendo 64, which transported players into full 3D worlds. In the early 2000s, the purple GameCube introduced compact mini discs. Meanwhile, hand-held systems kept getting better with the Game Boy Color and the 32-bit Game Boy Advance.
In the mid-2000s, Nintendo introduced fresh ideas that surprised the whole world. The dual-screen Nintendo DS used a touch screen, while the motion-controlled Wii let families play tennis by swinging a wireless remote. Nintendo later created 3D handheld gaming with the Nintendo 3DS and tried tablet-style gaming on the Wii U. In 2017, they launched the hybrid Nintendo Switch, followed in 2025 by the more powerful Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo continues to make fun machines that bring players together.
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Classic Nintendo Home Consoles
Nintendo's home video game systems allow people to play exciting adventures directly on their living room televisions. These machines have introduced famous heroes like Mario, Link, and Donkey Kong to generations of happy players.
Color TV-Game Series (1977–1980)
The Color TV-Game series was Nintendo's very first step into making television game systems. These machines were released exclusively in Japan between 1977 and 1980. They were dedicated systems, which means the games were built permanently inside the machine. Players could not swap out game cartridges. In total, Nintendo sold about three million units across five different models.
The very first model was the Color TV-Game 6, released on June 1, 1977. It included six different versions of simple electronic Pong games, such as Tennis, Hockey, and Volleyball. Players could enjoy matches in singles mode or doubles mode. A week later, Nintendo launched the Color TV-Game 15, which had fifteen game variations and detachable controllers. This second model became the most popular entry, selling over one million units.
In 1978, Nintendo released Color TV-Game Racing 112. This unit featured a realistic steering wheel and a gearshift knob for driving games. It is notable because legendary game maker Shigeru Miyamoto helped design its outer plastic casing. The next machine, Color TV-Game Block Breaker, arrived in 1979 with a fun paddle game inspired by the arcade hit Breakout. Finally, the Computer TV-Game arrived in 1980, featuring a digital board game called Computer Othello.
Nintendo Entertainment System (1983 and 1985)
The Nintendo Entertainment System (or NES) is an 8-bit home video game console that changed gaming history forever. It first launched in Japan on July 15, 1983, where it was called the Family Computer (or Famicom). Nintendo redesigned the machine with an iconic gray box shape for its launch in North America in 1985 and 1986. It later arrived in Europe, Oceania, Asia, South America, and Africa.
The NES arrived right after the video game crash of 1983, a time when many stores had stopped selling video games. Nintendo proved that high-quality, fun games could capture everyone's imagination again. The NES sold 61.91 million units worldwide and set new rules for how video games should be designed. Nintendo also worked closely with outside game creators to build a huge library of titles.
This beloved console launched many of gaming's greatest adventures, including The Legend of Zelda and Metroid. Players loved exploring huge electronic worlds filled with secrets, dungeons, and power-ups. The Famicom was so reliable that Nintendo repaired systems in Japan until October 2007. In November 2016, Nintendo honored this classic by releasing the NES Classic Edition, a tiny plug-and-play console loaded with 30 legendary games.
Super Nintendo Entertainment System (1990 and 1991)
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (known as the SNES or Super Nintendo) is a 16-bit home console. It first launched in Japan on November 21, 1990, where it was called the Super Famicom. It reached North America in 1991 and arrived in Europe and Australia in 1992. In South Korea, the system was called the Super Comboy and was distributed by Hyundai Electronics.
The SNES faced strong competition from Sega and its popular Genesis console. Even though it launched later than its rivals, the SNES became the top-selling system of the 16-bit era, selling 49.10 million consoles worldwide. It featured gorgeous pixel art, advanced stereo sound chips, and special visual effects like Mode 7, which created the feeling of rotating 3D landscapes.
The console featured an incredible collection of games that players still celebrate today. Masterpieces like Super Mario World, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and Super Metroid took storytelling to new heights. Role-playing epics like Final Fantasy IV and Final Fantasy VI told deep stories, while Donkey Kong Country stunned gamers with pre-rendered computer graphics. It also introduced brand-new hits like Star Fox, Kirby Super Star, and Mega Man X. In 2017, Nintendo released the mini Super NES Classic Edition, which included the never-before-released game Star Fox 2.
Nintendo 64 (1996)
The Nintendo 64 (N64) was Nintendo's 64-bit home console, launching in 1996 in Japan and North America, and 1997 in Europe and Australia. It was Nintendo's third major home machine released internationally. The system featured a unique controller shaped like a trident. This controller introduced an analog stick, which gave players smooth, 360-degree control over characters moving through 3D environments.
When the N64 launched in North America and Japan, it arrived with groundbreaking launch games like Super Mario 64 and the flight game Pilotwings 64. In Japan, it also launched with Saikyo Habu Shogi, while Europe received Shadows of the Empire and later Turok: Dinosaur Hunter. Super Mario 64 set the gold standard for how three-dimensional platforming games should control and feel.
The N64 became famous for legendary party games and grand adventures. Four controller ports on the front let friends race together in Mario Kart 64 or battle in Super Smash Bros.. Players explored huge worlds in Donkey Kong 64, Banjo-Kazooie, Diddy Kong Racing, Star Fox 64, and Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards. It was also home to GoldenEye 007 and two masterpieces in The Legend of Zelda series. By the end of its run, the Nintendo 64 sold 32.93 million systems worldwide.
Nintendo GameCube (2001)
The GameCube arrived in late 2001 in Japan and North America, and in May 2002 across Europe and Australia. It was Nintendo's entry in the sixth generation of video game consoles. It competed directly with Sony's PlayStation 2, Microsoft's Xbox, and Sega's Dreamcast. Before it was revealed at Space World 2000, engineers referred to the project by the secret code name Dolphin.
The GameCube was compact, shaped like a cube, and even featured a built-in carrying handle on the back. It was Nintendo's very first console to read optical discs instead of plastic game cartridges. These mini-DVD discs were small, fast, and helped prevent unauthorized copying. Nintendo partnered with Matsushita to create special disc drives, and Matsushita even produced a rare Japan-only system called the Panasonic Q that played standard movie DVDs.
The GameCube delivered bright visuals and quick loading times. Famous sequels on the system included Super Mario Sunshine, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Metroid Prime, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, Pokémon Colosseum, Kirby Air Ride, and Star Fox Adventures. It also introduced magical new franchises like the space-gardening game Pikmin and the friendly village life simulator Animal Crossing. The GameCube sold 21.74 million units during its lifetime.
Nintendo Wii (2006)
The Wii launched in late 2006 as Nintendo's seventh generation home video game console. While rivals like the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 focused entirely on expensive graphics, Nintendo took an exciting new path. They wanted to make gaming simple, accessible, and fun for everyone, including parents, grandparents, and "casual" players who had never touched a controller before.
The heart of the Wii was its wireless Wii Remote. This revolutionary motion controller could detect motion and rotation in three dimensions using internal sensors and an infrared light bar. Players moved their real hands to swing tennis rackets, roll bowling balls, and slash swords. Players could plug in the Nunchuk attachment for an analog stick, hook up a traditional "Classic Controller" gamepad, or connect the Wii MotionPlus accessory for ultra-precise motion tracking.
The Wii had lower power than its competitors and did not display in high-definition, but its fun games won over millions of homes. Outside of Japan, the console included Wii Sports, which became an incredible "killer app" that everyone wanted to play. Through Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, players played with friends over the internet. Users downloaded fun titles on WiiWare and classic retro games via the Virtual Console using emulation. The system sold 101.63 million consoles worldwide, making it a gigantic hit.
Nintendo Wii U (2012)
The Wii U arrived in late 2012 as the first console in the eighth generation. It was Nintendo's very first home system capable of displaying games in crisp high definition. Its main feature was the Wii U GamePad, a large controller that looked like a tablet computer. This controller featured traditional buttons, dual joysticks, and a built-in touchscreen that streamed video wirelessly from the console with zero delay.
The GamePad allowed for clever "asymmetric" multiplayer games. In these games, the person holding the GamePad saw completely different information and had different secret goals than the players looking at the TV screen. The GamePad also let gamers play their favorite adventures entirely on the small screen when someone else wanted to watch the main television. For traditional gaming, Nintendo offered the comfortable Wii U Pro Controller.
The Wii U introduced the Nintendo Network, providing an online space for downloading games on the Nintendo eShop. It also featured a friendly online social network called Miiverse, where players drew art and shared game tips. Nintendo briefly tested a TV companion service named Nintendo TVii. Although it offered great hits like Super Mario 3D World, Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, and the colorful ink-shooter Splatoon, the Wii U faced stiff competition from the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Nintendo concluded production in 2017 after selling 13.56 million units.
Legendary Handheld Consoles
Nintendo has always been a world leader in portable gaming. These pocket-sized systems allowed kids to carry their favorite games to school, on family road trips, and into their backyards.
Game & Watch Series (1980–1991)
The Game & Watch series was a collection of small handheld games invented by Nintendo's brilliant engineer Gunpei Yokoi. Between 1980 and 1991, Nintendo produced dozens of different pocket games. Each unit contained an electronic clock, an alarm, and a single game that ran on a simple segmented LCD display. Most models featured a "GAME A" button for normal difficulty and a "GAME B" button for high-speed action.
Nintendo created several variations of the Game & Watch. Some models featured colorful backgrounds, while the Multiscreen Series opened up like a pocket book with two displays. This folding clamshell style later inspired the famous Nintendo DS. The series was a massive hit, selling 43.4 million units around the world. It showed toy makers and video game companies that portable electronic games had a bright future.
Original Game Boy (1989)
The Game Boy is an 8-bit handheld system released in 1989. It was Nintendo's first portable machine to use interchangeable cartridges, called Game Paks. This meant that instead of playing just one game, kids could carry an entire library of games in their backpack. The system featured a sharp dot-matrix display, four buttons, a speaker, and Nintendo's comfortable plus-shaped directional pad.
While other companies released portable systems with color screens, those rival systems drained batteries within a couple of hours. The Game Boy used four AA batteries that lasted up to thirty hours on its olive-green monochrome screen. Later on, Nintendo released the sleeker Game Boy Pocket in 1996 and the backlit Game Boy Light in Japan in 1998.
The Game Boy's huge success was driven by legendary software. The falling-block puzzle game Tetris hooked players of all ages. Later in the 1990s, the global phenomenon Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow launched on the system, selling 46 million copies. Together with its successor, the Game Boy Color, the Game Boy family sold an astounding 118.69 million units worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling systems of all time.
Game Boy Color (1998)
In late 1998, Nintendo released the Game Boy Color (GBC). This exciting system belonged to the fifth generation of handheld consoles. It was created to bring vibrant color to portable gaming and compete against new systems like the Neo Geo Pocket Color and the WonderSwan Color.
The Game Boy Color featured a crisp TFT screen capable of showing dozens of colors at the same time. Inside, it packed a processor twice as fast as the original Game Boy and four times as much memory. Best of all, it offered complete backward compatibility. This meant players could put their older monochrome cartridges into the Game Boy Color, and the new system would display them with custom color palettes.
The GBC was released in fun translucent casing options like "Atomic Purple." It had a fantastic software library, highlighted by Pokémon Gold and Silver, which sold 23 million copies worldwide. Players loved exploring the Johto region in full color with real-time day and night cycles.
Game Boy Advance (2001)
The Game Boy Advance (GBA) launched in 2001 as a 32-bit handheld powerhouse. It moved away from the tall vertical shape of older Game Boys to a comfortable horizontal design. In China, it was distributed under the brand name iQue Game Boy Advance.
Powered by an advanced ARM7 processor, the GBA could produce stunning 2D visuals that matched the Super Nintendo. It could still play cartridges from both the original Game Boy and the Game Boy Color. In 2003, Nintendo listened to player feedback and released the Game Boy Advance SP. The SP had a folding clamshell case, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and a built-in frontlit screen. In 2005, Nintendo updated the SP with a brilliant backlit screen and released the tiny Game Boy Micro.
The GBA was home to sensational games, including Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, which sold 16 million copies. It also hosted great entries in the Super Mario Advance series, The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, and Metroid Fusion. Across all models, the Game Boy Advance family sold 81.51 million units before it was retired in 2010.
Pokémon Mini (2001)
The Pokémon Mini arrived in late 2001 as an ultra-compact handheld developed alongside The Pokémon Company. It was themed entirely around the world of the famous Pokémon media franchise. Weighing just 71 grams (under 2.5 ounces), it is the smallest video game system with interchangeable cartridges that Nintendo has ever produced.
The pocket-sized device cost only 45 dollars at launch and came bundled with the fun mini-game collection Pokémon Party mini. In North America, fans purchased it at the Pokémon Center store in New York City or through its online mail order shop. Despite its tiny size, it included an internal real-time clock, an infrared sensor for local wireless multiplayer gaming, a motion-detecting reed switch that sensed shaking, and a built-in rumble motor. Ten games were produced for the system.
Nintendo DS Family (2004)
The Nintendo DS debuted in late 2004, opening up a whole new world of portable play. Known as "Project Nitro" while engineers built it, the name "DS" stood for both "Double Screen" and "Developers' System." The folding clamshell console featured two separate screens. The bottom screen was a touchscreen that players touched using a plastic stylus or their fingers.
The Nintendo DS was packed with great hardware. It had a built-in microphone that allowed games to listen to voice commands or blowing air. It also had built-in IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) support, allowing players to chat via PictoChat, connect locally, or battle worldwide over the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. A bottom slot accepted Game Boy Advance cartridges, giving players access to hundreds of classic games.
In 2006, Nintendo released the lighter, brighter Nintendo DS Lite, which became one of the most popular gaming gadgets on Earth. In 2008, the Nintendo DSi arrived with dual cameras, digital music playback, and an SD card slot. In 2009, Nintendo added the Nintendo DSi XL with massive display screens. In total, the Nintendo DS line sold 154.98 million units. It was Nintendo's best-selling video game console for over two decades.
Nintendo 3DS Family (2011)
The Nintendo 3DS launched in early 2011 as the official successor to the DS line. Its most amazing feature was its top widescreen display, which delivered stereoscopic 3D graphics. Using cutting-edge autostereoscopy, the screen displayed three-dimensional depth directly to the player's eyes without requiring special glasses. A sliding switch on the side allowed players to adjust the 3D depth or turn it completely off.
The 3DS also featured three digital cameras (two on the outside for capturing real 3D photos), an analog Circle Pad for smooth 3D movement, motion sensors, and an augmented reality system that made game characters appear on your living room table. Nintendo later expanded the family with the larger 3DS XL in 2012, and the flat, slate-shaped Nintendo 2DS in 2013, designed as an affordable alternative for younger children.
In 2014, Nintendo launched the New Nintendo 3DS and New 3DS XL, featuring faster processing power, extra shoulder buttons, and a small C-Stick. These systems could play special titles like Xenoblade Chronicles 3D. The very last model in the family was the New Nintendo 2DS XL, released in 2017. When production ended in September 2020, the Nintendo 3DS family had sold nearly 76 million systems worldwide.
Hybrid and Tabletop Systems
Nintendo has always pushed boundaries by designing unique game consoles that blur the lines between home living rooms and outdoor play.
Virtual Boy (1995)
The Virtual Boy launched in 1995 as Nintendo's first attempt at creating true 3D graphics. Standard screens show 3D spaces using monocular cues, which are visual tricks on a flat plane. The Virtual Boy created genuine depth by projecting two separate images using a pair of red LED scanners.
The system rested on a small table stand. Players placed their face against a soft rubber eyepiece, similar to looking into a head-mounted display. It featured an innovative controller with two directional pads to help characters navigate 3D environments. However, the system's bright red-and-black monochrome display was tiring for players' eyes during long sessions.
The Virtual Boy struggled to find an audience, and only 14 games were released in North America. Nintendo decided to discontinue the machine just several months after its launch. Although it was not a commercial success, the technology gave Nintendo valuable experience in stereo 3D imagery that later helped them build the Nintendo 3DS.
Nintendo Switch (2017)
The Nintendo Switch was released on March 3, 2017, as part of the eighth generation of video game consoles. Developed under the code name "NX," the Switch is a revolutionary hybrid console. Players can place it into the Nintendo Switch Dock to play games on a big television. They can pull it out of the dock to play instantly in handheld mode, or pop out the rear kickstand to play in tabletop mode.
On the sides of the console are two detachable wireless controllers named Joy-Con. Each Joy-Con includes motion tracking and HD Rumble, an advanced vibration system that lets players feel subtle textures, like ice cubes shaking in a glass. The right Joy-Con also has an infrared camera and an NFC reader that scans collectible Amiibo figures. For playing on a couch, users can slide the Joy-Con into a grip or use the comfortable Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.
In September 2019, Nintendo launched the Nintendo Switch Lite, a smaller, lighter system designed purely for handheld play with built-in controls. In October 2021, they introduced the Nintendo Switch OLED Model, which brought a vibrant 7-inch OLED screen, a wide adjustable kickstand, enhanced speakers, and 64 gigabytes of internal storage. By the end of 2025, the Nintendo Switch family sold 155.37 million units, making it the second best-selling game console of all time, behind only the PlayStation 2.
Nintendo Switch 2 (2025)
The Nintendo Switch 2 was released worldwide on June 5, 2025, serving as the official next generation of Nintendo's beloved hybrid platform. Just like the original Switch, this machine lets players enjoy top-tier adventures on their living room television or on the go. It features full backward compatibility, allowing fans to play almost all of their existing physical game cards and digital downloads from the original Switch.
The Switch 2 features upgraded hardware across every part of the system. It packs a larger, brilliant liquid-crystal display with support for crisp 1080p visuals and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate in handheld mode. When placed into its TV dock, the system outputs games in stunning 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. It also introduces the redesigned Joy-Con 2 controllers, featuring more durable analog sticks, magnetic rail attachments, and updated multiplayer communication tools.
The console was an immediate hit with gamers around the world. In its first four days on store shelves, Nintendo announced that the Switch 2 had sold more than 3.5 million units worldwide. Leading Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu reported that 947,931 units were sold in Japan alone during that opening weekend. Major media outlet IGN highlighted that launch sales were twice as fast as the original Switch, making the Switch 2 the fastest-selling console in Nintendo's long history.
Fun Nintendo Hardware and Add-ons
Throughout its history, Nintendo has created many creative accessories and special hardware devices to make games even more interactive.
- Game Boy Camera – a fun cartridge featuring a digital camera lens that plugged into the original Game Boy. Kids could take black-and-white photos, decorate them with cute cartoon stamps, and print them out.
- Game Boy Printer – a small thermal printer that used rolls of sticky-backed paper to print pictures from the Game Boy Camera or Pokédex entries from Game Boy Pokémon adventures.
- Super Game Boy – a special cartridge adapter for the Super Nintendo. It allowed gamers to play portable Game Boy cartridges on their home television screen with custom color borders.
- Game Boy Player – an add-on base that snapped underneath the GameCube console, letting players enjoy their entire library of Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games on a TV screen.
- Satellaview – an add-on satellite modem released in Japan for the Super Famicom that downloaded digital games and radio broadcasts straight from outer space satellites.
- Nintendo 64DD – a Japan-only disk drive for the Nintendo 64 that used rewritable magnetic disks. It hosted unique creative games like SimCity 64 and the track builder F-Zero X Expansion Kit for F-Zero X.
- e-Reader – a scanner for the Game Boy Advance that read tiny barcodes printed on paper cards, unlocking special levels and items in games.
- iQue Player – a unique console shaped like a controller that plugged directly into a television, released exclusively in China to play digital Nintendo 64 games.
- Mobile Adapter GB – an accessory released in Japan that connected a Game Boy Color to a cellular phone, enabling online features in games like Pokémon Crystal.
- Pokémon Pikachu – a handheld digital pet toy similar to a Tamagotchi that counted a child's daily walking steps to make the virtual Pikachu happy.
- Pokéwalker – a small, pocket-sized Pedometer shaped like a Poké Ball that came with Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. Walking in the real world earned experience points and items for your Pokémon.
- Activity Meter – a pedometer accessory used to track daily walking for the Nintendo DS game Personal Trainer: Walking.
- Fit Meter – an activity monitor designed for Wii Fit U on the Wii U that measured steps taken and elevation climbed during the day.
- Poké Ball Plus – a ball-shaped motion controller for Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! that let trainers throw virtual balls and take their favorite Pokémon on real-world walks.
- Triforce – a high-end arcade board developed jointly by Nintendo, Sega, and Namco based on GameCube technology.
- Panasonic Q – a special version of the GameCube released in Japan that included a built-in movie DVD player.
- Visteon Dockable Entertainment System – a portable DVD screen built for family minivans that included an officially licensed Game Boy Advance player.
- Computer Mah-jong Yakuman – a 1983 handheld Japanese mahjong game that pioneered connecting two systems together with a wire, inspiring the Game Link Cable.
- GameCube Microphone – a voice microphone used to control games like Mario Party 6, Mario Party 7, Karaoke Revolution Party, and Odama.
Legacy
Nintendo's history shows an amazing spirit of innovation. From their early experiments with the Color TV-Game to international sensations like the Nintendo Entertainment System and the original Game Boy, Nintendo proved that games could inspire people of all ages. Even when facing strong rivals like Sony and Microsoft, the company focused on fun, user-friendly ideas.
Innovations like motion controls on the Wii, portable dual screens on the Nintendo DS, and the go-anywhere versatility of the Nintendo Switch changed the entire entertainment landscape. Today, the Nintendo Switch 2 carries on that tradition, proving that Nintendo remains dedicated to bringing smiles to players everywhere.
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Consolas de Nintendo para niños
