Nintendo
Nintendo Consoles
Nintendo has released a range of home and handheld gaming consoles since the 1980s. Below is a list of major systems up to 2010, including their key variants.
Home Consoles
Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) (1983)
The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), released as the Famicom in Japan, was Nintendo’s first major home console and introduced many iconic franchises.
| Model | Release Year | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
| Famicom | 1983 | Japanese version, red and white design, hardwired controllers |
| NES | 1985 | North American release, gray box design, detachable controllers |
| NES-101 (Top Loader) | 1993 | Compact redesign, no lockout chip, improved durability |
Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) (1990)
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) featured improved graphics and sound, introducing Mode 7 scaling and rotation effects.
| Model | Release Year | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
| Super Famicom | 1990 | Japanese version, rounded design, different controller colors |
| SNES (North America) | 1991 | Boxy gray design, purple buttons |
| SNES Jr. | 1997 | Smaller, cost-reduced version with improved video output |
Nintendo 64 (1996)
The Nintendo 64 was Nintendo’s first 3D-focused console, featuring four controller ports and cartridge-based games.
| Model | Release Year | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
| Standard N64 | 1996 | First home console with an analog stick, expansion port for RAM upgrade |
| N64 Pikachu Edition | 2000 | Special edition featuring a Pikachu design |
Nintendo GameCube (2001)
The GameCube introduced optical discs to Nintendo consoles, featuring compact mini-DVDs.
| Model | Release Year | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
| Standard GameCube | 2001 | Uses mini-DVDs, supports four-player multiplayer |
| Panasonic Q | 2001 | Japan-exclusive, combines GameCube and DVD player |
Nintendo Wii (2006)
The Wii revolutionized gaming with motion controls and introduced the Virtual Console.
| Model | Release Year | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Wii | 2006 | Motion controls, backwards compatibility with GameCube |
| Wii Family Edition | 2011 | No GameCube compatibility, horizontal design |
| Wii Mini | 2012 | Budget model, no internet or SD card support |
Handheld Consoles
Game Boy (1989)
The Game Boy established Nintendo’s dominance in the handheld market.
| Model | Release Year | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
| Game Boy | 1989 | Monochrome screen, long battery life |
| Game Boy Pocket | 1996 | Slimmer design, improved screen |
| Game Boy Light | 1998 | Japan-exclusive, backlit screen |
Game Boy Color (1998)
The Game Boy Color introduced a color screen while maintaining compatibility with original Game Boy games.
| Model | Release Year | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
| Game Boy Color | 1998 | Color screen, improved processing power |
Game Boy Advance (GBA) (2001)
The Game Boy Advance featured a 32-bit processor and a landscape-oriented design.
| Model | Release Year | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
| GBA | 2001 | Widescreen format, no backlight |
| GBA SP | 2003 | Clamshell design, rechargeable battery, backlit screen |
| Game Boy Micro | 2005 | Smallest Game Boy model, removable faceplates |
Nintendo DS (2004)
The Nintendo DS introduced dual screens and a touchscreen interface.
| Model | Release Year | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo DS | 2004 | Dual screens, touchscreen, backwards compatibility with GBA |
| DS Lite | 2006 | Brighter screens, slimmer design |
| DSi | 2008 | Digital store, no GBA slot |
| DSi XL | 2009 | Larger screens, improved battery life |
Legacy
Nintendo continued to innovate with the release of the Wii U (2012) and Nintendo 3DS (2011), followed by the Nintendo Switch (2017), but those fall outside the scope of this list.
These consoles shaped Nintendo’s dominance in the gaming industry, with many models still enjoyed by retro gaming enthusiasts today.