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“Leave luck in the hands of heaven” – this is how the Japanese company Nintendo translates its company name. The name consists of the three Chinese characters for nin (duty), ten (heaven), and dō (temple).
Since the 1970s, Nintendo has been producing consoles and has continued to evolve with each new generation, successfully holding its own against the competition.
Fans love the modern consoles – the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo DS series continue to sell extremely well. But retro consoles, which many players still remember from their childhood, are also enjoying great popularity.
In this article, we take a look at the history of Nintendo and the consoles the company has developed over the years.
The first consoles produced by Nintendo were called Color-TV Game. The first version was released in 1977 and developed in collaboration with Mitsubishi. This console series came with pre-installed games such as Pong. At that time, there was no iconic Nintendo D-Pad – instead, the games were controlled using rotary dials. The Color-TV Game series was sold exclusively in Japan.
In 1983, another release followed, again only in Japan: the Family Computer, or Famicom for short. This 8-bit console used a Ricoh 2A03 processor and had 2 KB of RAM. The Famicom served as the template for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), the first Nintendo console to be sold internationally.
After the great success of the Family Computer (Famicom), Nintendo redesigned the console and released it worldwide as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Released in 1983, the NES played a crucial role in reviving the video game industry after the crash that had occurred earlier that same year.
It was the first console to feature the iconic Nintendo D-Pad and set standards for consoles in the following years. Many of Nintendo’s most popular franchises, including The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros., and Metroid, were launched alongside the NES – marking the beginning of a new era in video game history.
Next came the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), a 16-bit console and the best-selling console of its generation. Released in 1990, the SNES built on the successful franchises of classic Nintendo games and integrated the well-known characters into new stories. It was also the first console to feature X and Y buttons, as well as shoulder buttons on the controller.
The Nintendo 64 (N64) was released in 1996. This 64-bit console, with a processor clocked at 62.5 MHz, paved the way for modern 3D graphics. However, it did not sell as well as its competitors. The main criticism was the cartridge loading system, which was at a disadvantage compared to the CD-ROMs used by other consoles.
Next came the Nintendo GameCube in 2001, competing directly with the Xbox and PlayStation 2. Despite the move to optical discs, Nintendo used its own mini-DVD format. Other consoles, however, used full DVDs, which were far superior in terms of storage capacity.
Many still vividly remember the release of the Nintendo Wii in 2006 – a true revolution in gaming. Thanks to motion-sensitive controllers, players could actively participate in the gameplay instead of just watching. The Wii quickly became one of the most popular consoles worldwide.
This was followed by the Wii U, an improved version of the Wii that offered completely new possibilities with its GamePad. For example, players could display alternative views directly on the TV screen or on the GamePad itself.
The most recent console is the Nintendo Switch 2, released in 2025. As a hybrid device, it can be used both as a traditional home console and as a portable handheld.
Nintendo has dominated the handheld market for decades, producing some of the most iconic portable consoles in gaming history. The Game Boy, first released in 1989, remains one of the most recognized names in the world when it comes to portable gaming devices.
Over the years, Nintendo released various new versions, including the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance, both of which impressed players with improved displays and new features.
The most recent major handheld device from Nintendo is the Nintendo DS. Equipped with a built-in microphone, Wi-Fi capabilities, and a camera, it set new standards in mobile gaming. Its worldwide popularity once again proves that Nintendo remains the leader in the handheld console market.
We are currently experiencing a real hype around video game nostalgia. Many players remember the games they loved in their childhood or youth – and want to experience these classics again. Perhaps gaming has advanced so far that we sometimes long for the simplicity of the games that originally made us addicted.
But how can gamers access these titles if the original consoles are no longer produced or only sold for astronomical prices on auction sites? The answer: emulators. With them, legendary classics like Donkey Kong or Tetris can easily be played on today’s PCs or laptops – often in better quality than ever before.
If you want to bring back the true feeling of the old NES consoles, the Nintendo Classic Mini is just right for you. This miniature version of the legendary NES can be easily connected to your TV and offers the same gaming experience as back then.
The controls and games are identical to the original – and if you wish, you can even adjust the screen so that it looks like you’re playing on an old CRT television. The square pixels ensure that the games shine in their original quality.
The console comes with 30 pre-installed classics, such as The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros., and Metroid. This makes the Nintendo Classic Mini the perfect way to relive your favorite games in authentic retro style.
If you want to bring back the true feeling of the old NES consoles, the Nintendo Classic Mini is just the right choice for you. This miniature version of the legendary NES can be easily connected to your TV and provides the same gaming experience as back then.
The controls and games are identical to the original – and if you wish, you can even adjust the screen so that it looks like you’re playing on an old CRT television. The square pixels ensure that the games shine in their original quality.
The console comes with 30 pre-installed classics, such as The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros., and Metroid. This makes the Nintendo Classic Mini the perfect way to relive your favorite games in authentic retro style.