Between rave reviews for Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope and anticipation surrounding The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, it's a good time to be a Nintendo fan. Still, one thing the video game powerhouse hasn't done is announce when a new gaming console will be coming out.
The last release from the company was the Switch Lite back in 2019, and while it was a popular release, fans of the Japanese-based gaming giant are left wondering when the next innovation will make its way to the market and the long line of gaming systems that Nintendo has produced over the years.
Color TV Game (1977)
Color TV Game was Nintendo's first console but was only released in Japan. The system underwent numerous changes before it was discontinued, and while it isn't as well known as some of their other consoles, it still served as the first step in the advanced gaming player know and love now.
The games were simple and appealed to a family audience, which would become synonymous with Nintendo's gaming brand for years to come. It's rare that a company maintains its identity for as long as Nintendo has, but it's clear that their audience has been the same since the start.
Game and Watch (1980)
Game And Watch was a technological marvel when it was released and created the idea of gaming on the go. The simplistic design required no wires or outside attachments, and while the system wasn't popular for long, it paved the way for Nintendo's longer-lasting systems like Switch Lite and DS.
The simple games were similar to the arcade games that had already made Nintendo popular, furthering their fan base. It's also the basis for the popular Smash Bros character Mr. Game and Watch.
Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) (1983)
The NES was many families' first step into the gaming world with games that provided a fun and, at the time, advanced level of gameplay. The simple controllers mimicked the arcade games that took the world by storm in the 1980s, making it easy for players to transition from playing games at the mall to playing at home.
Even though NES was expensive for the time, it became highly successful and opened the door for the popular gaming systems of today. It also introduced several iconic Nintendo characters who are still well-known in pop culture decades later.
Game Boy (1989)
The original Game Boy may have looked like nothing special, but it was a feat in gaming technology, as it had a better life that outlasted other handheld systems at the time and had simple controls that appealed to gamers in a time when gaming was slowly becoming more people's hobby.
With an extensive library of games to choose from, Nintendo made sure the Game Boy appealed to as many players as possible, making the system a huge success. While it lacked the powerful internal hardware of later handheld systems, Nintendo wouldn't be the same today had the Nintendo not been the phenomenon that it was.
Super Nintendo (1990)
The Super Nintendo was released to compete with Sega's Genesis gaming system, but it was more expensive and had fewer games making it less popular. However, after Sega could not follow up on the success of the Genesis, the Super Nintendo became the more popular gaming system and brought a new era to Nintendo.
This console catered to a younger audience, proving to pay off in the long run as Nintendo created a new generation of gamers loyal to their systems.
Virtual Boy (1995)
Before the Oculus virtual gaming headset, there was Nintendo's Virtual Boy, which provided an in-home gaming experience that had never been explored and served as the gateway for the virtual gaming experience that would take over the market over 25 years later.
The system was not met with a warm reception and has been forgotten by even the most avid gamers, as it only had a few games and wasn't widely purchased. It was ahead of its time and not able to actualize its ideas, but it certainly deserves credit for being ahead of its time.
Nintendo 64 (1996)
As one of the most well-known at-home gaming systems, the Nintendo 64 targeted the pre-teen market. With a successful marking campaign, the system became popular with its compact cartridges and a new controller that provided more buttons for more complex gaming.
The Nintendo 64 brought about games that are hard to beat, like Donkey Kong 64, and gave way to franchise games that Nintendo would capitalize off of for years to come.
Game Boy Color (1998)
Adding color to the Game Boy changed the expectations for handheld gaming going forward with improved graphics. Nintendo made the system backward compatible, so the black and white games were not obsolete, becoming a trend with the company's future consoles.
This decision made the system wildly popular as it allowed gamers to have more extensive game libraries and saved them money. The system is also notable for hosting the first-ever Pokémon games, which would go on to be the largest entertainment IP of all time.
Game Boy Advance (2001)
The Game Boy Advance came when handheld gaming had stalled in of upgrades and boosted the company to new heights in popularity when it released the revised Game Boy Advanced and the Game Boy Advanced SP.
The SP created the anytime-anywhere gaming experience as the first portable gaming system to have a lighted screen, making it the perfect system for those who traveled or wanted to play at night. The Game Boy Advanced had a wide variety of games, from superhero to story-based games, making the innovations appealing to more adults and kids alike.
GameCube (2001)
The GameCube provided a small and compact system, a far cry from the clunkier Nintendo systems that took up much space before. The system created staple franchises like Super Smash Bros and Animal Crossing that remain popular with fans 21 years later, showing just how influential the system became.
It also provided four controller hook-ups, creating a party-like atmosphere that helped keep the system popular even after new consoles hit the market.
