Every Nintendo Console: A Full History of Release Dates

Every Nintendo Console successful Order of Release

Color TV-Game - June 1, 1977

The Color TV-Game enactment of systems was Nintendo's archetypal foray into gaming hardware and 1 that you mightiness not needfully beryllium alert of. These devices were a associated task by Nintendo and Mitsubishi Electronics, with the second progressive arsenic Nintendo was inexperienced astatine processing hardware. These systems were a large occurrence astatine the clip and yet led Nintendo to divert its absorption to processing much gaming hardware. Almost 50 years later, the Color TV-Game's bequest is inactive felt, with Nintendo invested much than ever successful gaming.

Game & Watch - April 28, 1980

Nintendo's archetypal foray into the handheld marketplace was with its Game & Watch devices, each loaded with a antithetic game. While you mightiness not deliberation overmuch of it, the Game & Watch bid sold much than 40 cardinal units worldwide. These devices brought galore gaming revelations that are inactive utilized today, specified arsenic the D-Pad successful the Donkey Kong Game & Watch. These consoles made a comeback somewhat precocious erstwhile Nintendo released constricted variation models successful 2020 and 2021 to observe the anniversaries of Mario and Zelda.

Nintendo Entertainment System - October 18, 1985

The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is the archetypal Nintendo location console to beryllium released successful North America. Known arsenic the Family Computer (Famicom) successful Japan, this console implemented cartridges to let users to acquisition and play arsenic galore games arsenic they'd similar connected the system. Almost each of the large Nintendo franchises we cognize and emotion got their starts here, with bid similar Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Metroid. Overall, the NES is 1 of the astir important consoles successful video crippled history, arsenic it established a pipeline for generations to come.

Game Boy - July 31, 1989

The archetypal existent Nintendo handheld video crippled console is the Game Boy, which released successful North America during the Summer of 1989. Game Boy took a large measurement guardant from the Game & Watch, offering cartridges truthful you could play arsenic galore games arsenic you'd similar connected the system. For many, the Game Boy's astir well-known crippled is Tetris, which was bundled successful with the strategy successful each portion with the objection of Japan.

Super Nintendo Entertainment System - August 23, 1991

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) brought 16-bit graphics to a Nintendo level for the archetypal time. This console was erstwhile Nintendo began crafting large evolutions for their biggest series, with games similar Super Mario World, Donkey Kong Country, and more. Despite launching toward the second portion of this console generation, the SNES inactive managed to beryllium the best-selling console of this clip play with its profound bundle lineup and generational appeal.

Virtual Boy - August 14, 1995

The Virtual Boy is rather perchance Nintendo's weirdest console. This portable instrumentality was the first-ever video crippled console that could decently show 3D visuals. Merely 22 games were ever released for the system, with Mario's Tennis, 3D Tetris, and Virtual Boy Wario Land among the astir popular. Virtual Boy lone lasted connected the marketplace for 1 year, with conscionable nether 800,000 units sold successful its lifetime.

Game Boy Pocket - September 3, 1996

The Game Boy Pocket is simply a smaller mentation of the Game Boy, featuring a definitive black-and-white surface alternatively of the Game Boy's green-tinted display. One of the biggest improvements of this merchandise was the caller hardware wrong that improved the effect clip of the show connected screen. However, with the smaller design, the Game Boy Pocket had a shorter artillery beingness than the Game Boy.

Nintendo 64 - September 29, 1996

Nintendo 64 brought 3D graphics to a Nintendo location console for the precise archetypal time. This revolutionary instrumentality brought 2 of the astir influential titles ever: Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The N64 wholly refreshed what the NES and SNES offered with a bold caller controller that featured an analog instrumentality for the archetypal time. N64 is 1 of the fewer consoles wherever Nintendo sold galore iconic peculiar editions, with aggregate translucent variants available.

Game Boy Light - April 14, 1998

Game Boy Light is simply a console you mightiness not beryllium excessively acquainted with, and a ample portion of that is apt owed to it being exclusive to Japan. This Game Boy revision was bigger than the Game Boy Pocket, but added a caller backlight truthful players could play successful low-light areas. Ultimately, this alteration allowed for the Game Boy Light to diagnostic longer artillery beingness than the Game Boy Pocket, astir 20 hours successful total.

Game Boy Color - November 18, 1998

Game Boy Color yet brought colour to a Nintendo handheld. The instrumentality was backwards-compatible with each Game Boy games, truthful it was an casual upgrade for many. Some Game Boy games had enactment for colour already, truthful titles similar Tetris could beryllium experienced anew with agleam and beatuiful colors. With the caller hardware inside, hundreds of caller games were besides released exclusively for the system.

Game Boy Advance - June 11, 2001

Game Boy Advance (GBA) was the archetypal monolithic technological leap guardant successful the Game Boy marque for Nintendo. In a large shakeup to the erstwhile Game Boy models, GBA flipped the instrumentality predisposition to a horizontal, rectangular signifier versus the portrait-designed Game Boy. 16-bit graphics were present disposable portably — a large upgrade from the Game Boy's 8-bit graphics support. Of course, Game Boy and Game Boy Color games were besides supported via backwards compatibility. This opened the fig of games disposable connected GBA into the thousands.

Pokémon mini - November 16, 2001

Image Credit: GamesRadar

Pokémon mini released successful 2001 with a large absorption connected Pokémon games (as the sanction implies). This instrumentality is truthful incredibly tiny that you tin acceptable aggregate successful your pocket. Only 10 games were ever released for Pokémon mini, with conscionable 4 successful North America. Pokémon mini featured a built-in timepiece function, an infrared larboard for communication, and built-in rumble.

Nintendo GameCube - November 18, 2001

Nintendo GameCube built upon the occurrence of the Nintendo 64 and followed up with sequels to galore of the beloved titles recovered connected the system. Super Mario Sunshine, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate are each 3 titles that shined connected the system. GameCube made a large departure from Nintendo's anterior location consoles, arsenic it utilized discs alternatively of cartridges. Additionally, the controller made large improvements from N64, with built-in rumble, analog/digital triggers, and a staggered plan for the sticks. The bequest of the GameCube inactive lives connected today, with galore of the franchises that debuted connected the rubric much fashionable than ever. (Looking astatine you, Animal Crossing.)

Panasonic Q - December 14, 2001

Panasonic Q is simply a collaborative console betwixt Panasonic and Nintendo. This instrumentality combined a accepted GameCube with a DVD player, allowing for users to play GameCube titles, ticker DVDs, and perceive to CDs. Its plan is striking, with a stainless alloy exterior and a beforehand LCD panel. Due to the steep terms and debased sales, the console lone lasted 2 years connected the market.

Game Boy Advance SP - March 23, 2003

Game Boy Advance SP (GBA SP) was the archetypal revision of the Game Boy Advance. A large alteration from the erstwhile exemplary was the hinge design, which placed the surface connected the apical sheet and the controls connected the bottommost panel. Additionally, the GBA SP featured a chargeable artillery and a backlit surface (exclusive to aboriginal models), which were some large improvements from its predecessor. Nintendo opted to omit a headphone jack connected this exemplary but offered an adapter for players to perceive to audio done headphones.

Nintendo DS - November 21, 2004

Nintendo DS was the archetypal portion successful the DS line, which marked the commencement of Nintendo's best-selling console. The DS featured Wi-Fi enactment for the archetypal time, with a standout clamshell plan that expanded upon the Game Boy SP. With 2 screens, games connected Nintendo DS were rather unique, with galore developers creating experiences dissimilar thing connected the marketplace previously. The bottommost surface was a touchscreen that players could usage with the included stylus pen.

Game Boy Micro - September 19, 2005

Game Boy Micro was famously revealed by Reggie Fils-Aimé during E3 2005, with galore shocked astatine the tiny size of the system. The rectangular plan featured a D-pad and 2 buttons connected the front, with Start and Select buttons connected the bottommost broadside of the unit. Like erstwhile GBA models, Game Boy Micro was backwards compatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, successful summation to playing Game Boy Advance titles. Game Boy Micro featured a backlit surface that allowed for adjustable brightness and adjacent lighting crossed the screen. The strategy lone sold 2.42 cardinal units crossed 18 months until its accumulation ended.

Nintendo DS Lite - June 11, 2006

Nintendo DS Lite was the archetypal revision of the Nintendo DS. This exemplary released conscionable nether a twelvemonth and a fractional aft the archetypal motorboat of the Nintendo DS, and it brought a fewer changes to the fold. First, the DS Lite is slimmer and lighter than its predecessor. The screens are besides some noticeably brighter than the modular DS, which made games easier to spot careless of lighting conditions. Lastly, the artillery beingness was overmuch improved connected Nintendo DS Lite to let for much playtime without the request for a charge.

Nintendo Wii - November 19, 2006

Nintendo Wii marked a immense resurgence for Nintendo's location console business, with a unsocial absorption connected question controls that sold galore connected the system. The unsocial Wii Remote relied heavy connected question to power the system, utilizing some infrared and integer exertion to input question from each directions. Nintendo released each sorts of accessories for the system, from the Nunchuk to the Wii MotionPlus. Wii was backwards compatible with some GameCube titles and controllers, since the Wii utilized optical discs erstwhile again. One of the defining bundle offerings of Wii was Virtual Console, which allowed players to acquisition NES, SNES, and N64 titles for integer download.

Nintendo DSi - November 1, 2008

Nintendo DSi made a fewer changes to the Nintendo DS, acting arsenic the 2nd large revision of the model. It added 2 cameras, 1 connected the hinge wrong and 1 connected the extracurricular panel, which were utilized successful games and successful definite software. An SD paper slot was besides added to supply further retention for downloaded games. Unfortunately, the Nintendo DSi besides removed the Game Boy Advance slot that was contiguous connected the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS Lite.

Nintendo DSi XL - November 21, 2009

Nintendo DSi XL was a larger exemplary of the DSi that launched a twelvemonth aft the main model. This instrumentality featured larger, wide-view screens that some sat astatine 4.2 inches. Two speakers were added to the apical sheet to supply better, clearer dependable for players, and a bigger artillery for longer playtime. With the larger screens, Nintendo DS games were brighter and easier to acquisition than ever.

Nintendo 3DS - March 27, 2011

Nintendo 3DS was the successor to the Nintendo DS line, offering a wide assortment of caller features, games, and hardware capabilities. The cardinal diagnostic of 3DS was the 3D capabilities, which were powered by stereoscopy truthful nary eyewear was required. Interestingly enough, this is the aforesaid exertion that was utilized to powerfulness the Virtual Boy, which lone lasted connected the marketplace for 1 twelvemonth successful 1995. 3DS was a monolithic upgrade from Nintendo DS, with galore awesome titles similar The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Fire Emblem: Awakening, and Super Mario 3D Land.

Nintendo 3DS XL - August 19, 2012

Nintendo 3DS XL (known arsenic Nintendo 3DS LL successful Japan) featured a surface that was 90% larger than the archetypal 3DS. This console retained each diagnostic of the Nintendo 3DS and simply offered a larger screen. Many games were overmuch easier to presumption with this model, particularly with the bottommost screen.

Nintendo Wii U - November 18, 2012

The Nintendo Wii U was the successor to Nintendo Wii, featuring an all-new GamePad controller. This controller featured a surface and could beryllium utilized to play titles disconnected of the TV. All erstwhile Nintendo Wii games, accessories, and controllers were compatible with the system. Wii U was Nintendo's first-ever console to enactment HD, which was a large measurement up from the 480p capabilities of the Wii. There were immoderate unthinkable titles released for the system, including Xenoblade Chronicles X, Super Mario 3D World, Splatoon, and Bayonetta 2 to sanction a few. Ultimately, a operation of mediocre selling and disorder led to mediocre income of the Wii U, which near Nintendo successful a important authorities anterior to the motorboat of Nintendo Switch.

Nintendo Wii Mini - December 7, 2012

Wii Mini was a smaller, lighter Wii portion that was released astatine the precise process extremity of the Wii's beingness cycle. Wii Mini featured a top-facing disc drive, which was a immense departure from the modular Wii. Additionally, it removed enactment for GameCube, Wi-Fi connectivity, 480p resolution, and SD cards. This console launched successful Canada during December 2012, with releases successful Europe and the United States successful 2013.

Nintendo 2DS - October 12, 2013

Nintendo 2DS offered precisely what it sounds like: fun, 2D content. This instrumentality removed the 3D capableness contiguous connected 3DS models and alternatively flattened retired the console to a square-like shape. All 3DS titles are playable connected 2DS, with each features minus 3D intact. The console did suffer sizeable dependable quality, arsenic the talker onboard was swapped for a mono talker versus a stereo speaker. However, with the highly debased terms point, Nintendo had to chopped costs somewhere.

New Nintendo 3DS - October 11, 2014

New Nintendo 3DS made important upgrades to the modular 3DS, with caller controls, features, and level support. Nintendo added the C-Stick, ZR and ZL buttons, and NFC enactment for amiibo with this release. While the New Nintendo 3DS launched crossed Japan, Australia, and Europe successful precocious 2014 to aboriginal 2015, North America did not person this modular mentation until September 25, 2015.

New Nintendo 3DS XL - February 13, 2015

Released earlier New Nintendo 3DS successful North America, New Nintendo 3DS XL was a larger mentation of the revised 3DS model. Although the modular exemplary did diagnostic bigger screens than the modular 3DS, the 3DS XL had adjacent bigger displays, which allowed for much immersive games. The New 3DS XL made a large alteration from the smaller exemplary arsenic it removed the quality to alteration look plates. Many felt this constricted customization, though Nintendo did connection mutliple peculiar editions for players to purchase.

Nintendo Switch - March 3, 2017

Nintendo Switch afloat realized the imaginativeness of the Wii U and wholly propelled Nintendo to the apical of the manufacture erstwhile again. The Switch operates arsenic some a location and portable console, with the quality to play games wherever you go. The aforesaid expansive experiences you were utilized to connected consoles tin present beryllium played successful a park, connected a plane, oregon successful your bed. With arguably the champion first-party room of immoderate Nintendo console, Switch has seen immoderate of the top games of each clip beryllium released connected it. There person besides been rather a fewer peculiar variation Nintendo Switch consoles that person been released passim the years.

New Nintendo 2DS XL - July 28, 2017

New Nintendo 2DS XL was a large update to the 2DS. Additions for this exemplary included an analog stick, enarthrosis buttons, amiibo support, and more. 2DS XL besides moved backmost to the signature clamshell-hinge design, which was a departure from the level sheet utilized for 2DS. This console was besides capable to play New 3DS titles, which included games similar Xenoblade Chronicles 3D and Fire Emblem Warriors.

Nintendo Switch Lite - September 20, 2019

Nintendo Switch Lite shrunk down the assemblage of the Nintendo Switch, utilizing a 5.5 inch LCD screen. The large alteration with this exemplary was the removal of Joy-Cons, arsenic the controllers became built-in connected the sides of the console. As a effect of these changes, the Nintendo Switch Lite is lone playable successful handheld mode and cannot beryllium docked to a TV. This allowed Nintendo to chopped costs and complaint $100 little for the Lite model.

Nintendo Switch OLED Model - October 8, 2021

Nintendo Switch OLED debuted alongside Metroid Dread successful October 2021. This premium Switch accrued the size of the surface to 7 inches portion besides adding a caller premium OLED panel. In summation to these features, the speakers and kickstand were besides reworked for this device. The OLED exemplary released alongside a caller dock, featuring rounded corners and a built-in LAN port.

Nintendo Switch 2 - June 5, 2025

The adjacent Nintendo console is astir here. As revealed successful the April 2025 Nintendo Direct, the Switch 2 volition beryllium released connected June 5 alongside a decent slate of caller and "Enhanced" Switch games. The Switch 2 volition beryllium up for preorder starting April 9.

Nintendo has emphasized that this is not conscionable an upgraded Switch strategy but an full redesign, featuring magnetic Joy-Cons with rodent controls, a 7.9-inch surface with HDR support, and a caller C-button for online GameChat. The Switch 2 volition diagnostic 5 times arsenic overmuch retention arsenic the archetypal Switch, starting astatine 256GB, and volition lone beryllium compatible with MicroSD Express cards for retention upgrades.

The caller strategy volition beryllium disposable connected its ain astatine a terms of $449.99 oregon bundled with the all-new Mario Kart World crippled for $499.99. The Switch 2 volition besides motorboat alongside a big of caller accessories, including a caller Pro controller and an authoritative Nintendo Switch 2 camera.

Upcoming Nintendo Switch Consoles

Eight years aft the archetypal Nintendo Switch, we're astir to get our hands connected the Switch 2. Let's not get excessively up of ourselves by reasoning astir the adjacent procreation conscionable yet. That said, it volition beryllium absorbing to spot whether Nintendo releases Switch 2 variants, similar the upgraded Switch OLED and handheld-only Switch Lite that followed the Switch.

Noah Hunter is simply a freelance writer and reviewer with a passionateness for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused connected nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to assorted publishers penning astir the medium.