Nintendo is currently gearing up for the release of their next mainline console this year with the Nintendo Switch 2, and while not much has been learned about that device yet, it’s worth looking back and seeing just how much Nintendo has evolved through the years since their most popular device with the NES/Famicom.
Historically, Nintendo has released 32 consoles throughout its lifetime, but for the sake of brevity and a closer look at how they built up to the Switch 2, this list has been shortened to focus mostly on the core consoles that worked as stepping stones to the platform that would become the Nintendo Switch 2.
Nintendo Entertainment System / NES (1985)
The NES/Nintendo Entertainment System was originally known as the Famicom (Family Computer) in Japan and was even redesigned for American audiences to look more ‘sleek and futuristic’. This was the first Nintendo home console to come to North America, and featured major Nintendo franchises including Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Metroid.
Game Boy (1989)
Though Nintendo did release a handheld device with the Game & Watch in 1980, the Game Boy is considered to be their first proper handheld console which allowed players to play different games depending on what cartridge they owned.
The Game Boy was bundled up with the ever-popular game Tetris. You should watch the Taron Egerton film if you want a fun but rather historically inaccurate time.
Super Nintendo Entertainment System / SNES (1991)
Introducing 16-bit graphics to the table, The SNES allowed Nintendo to fully expand on their established brands like Super Mario World and Donkey Kong Country. It was considered the best-selling console of its time and was considered the next step in the evolution of Nintendo’s mainline consoles.
Nintendo 64 (1996)
As the 90s progressed, games moved from 2D to 3D, and the Nintendo 64 was the first console to allow 3D graphics for players. Some of the most beloved titles on this platform include The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Super Mario 64.
Around the time of the N64’s release was also the launch of Sony’s first PlayStation, and so started an earlier version of the Console Wars.
Game Boy Color (1998)
Nintendo had been dominating on the handheld market with the Game Boy, and the Game Boy Color was a complete game changer, introducing more colors to the screen. What’s great is the console was also backwards compatible with old Game Boy titles, and it also allowed for players to experience older games like Tetris with a whole new lens.
Game Boy Advance (2001)
Nintendo had stuck to one format with their handheld devices so far, but the GBA was a major gamechanger, updating from 8-bit to 16-bit graphics and introducing a wider handheld device with the screen between the buttons instead of above.
Nintendo GameCube (2001)
The successor to the legacy of the N64, the GameCube was the first home console to do-away with discs and introduced cartridges. What great is that it introduced a system where players can connect their handheld Game Boys to the console and play their games on a bigger screen.
Hit games for the GameCube include Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker.
Game Boy Advance SP (2003)
The GBA SP saw a major jump forward when it came to Game Boy technology. Opting to put the screen above the buttons again, the SP was foldable to allow for a more compact design, but it was also the first Game Boy to feature a rechargeable battery as well as a backlit screen—saving anyone the need to ever buy those pesky mini-lamp enhancements.
Nintendo DS (2004)
Continuing the advance of Nintendo handheld devices, the Nintendo DS was the first device to feature Wi-Fi support. Keeping the clamshell design, the DS featured two screens this time, which allowed for a different gaming experience compared to its predecessors.
The bottom screen also featured a touch screen which also came with a stylus pen that users could fiddle around with depending on the game.
Nintendo Wii (2006)
With the major focus on handheld consoles the past few years, the Wii marks Nintendo’s triumphant return to the home console format. The Wii introduced motion controls that became a huge novelty for the console, allowing for more kinds of physical games like Wii Sports.
Not only was it a hit with gamers, but it also saw a huge bump with the non-gamer demographic like senior citizens who used the Wii in lieu of more physically taxing sports.
Nintendo 3DS (2011)
The successor to the Nintendo DS, the 3DS essentially borrowed the same format as the DS with the clamshell look and dual screens. A big difference is the hardware capabilities, plus the analogue stick that was added above the D-pad. Hit games for this console include The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and Super Mario 3D Land.
Nintendo Wii U (2012)
Despite the success of the Wii, the Wii U was considered to be a major fumble for Nintendo. Yes, the new game pad did allow for a mix of handheld and traditional TV-mounted games, but the device was said to have been marketed poorly and didn’t really appeal to non-gamers the way the original Wii did.
Nintendo Switch (2017)
Nintendo’s most recent game changer, the Nintendo Switch is a melding of both Nintendo’s successes as a home and handheld console developer. Complete with the motion-controls that made the Wii such a hit, the Switch is one of the best-selling consoles of all time and markedmajor comeback for Nintendo after the low point they were in thanks to the Wii U.
Nintendo Switch 2 (2025)
After several years of success with the Switch, Nintendo is now looking to upgrade its software with the Switch 2. Not much is known about the Switch yet, but with the power of handheld consoles like the Steam Deck, fans are expecting it to have a major upgrade when it comes to computing power—allowing for even more high-end games.
With the original Switch remaining relevant for almost a decade, some are hoping the Switch 2 is going to pick up that slack and have a nice long lifetime in the gaming space.
Then again, some are thinking that the Switch 2 will only be as great as it's next big innovation. Are the controllers going to be able to mimic a mouse-and-keyboard format? Can it function like a laptop? We'll have to wait and see.