Handheld gaming has come a long way from the classic Game Boy to the latest Nintendo Switch. From the early days of monochrome screens and simple gameplay to the latest portable consoles that can match the performance of home consoles, handheld gaming has provided gamers with hours of entertainment on the go. Join us as we look back at the most popular handheld consoles that have captured the hearts of gamers worldwide, and discover the features that made them so successful.
Related blog: 9 Rarest Video Games Of All Time
Why was the Nintendo Game Boy so popular?
The original Game Boy was released in 1989 and was the first successful handheld console. It was known for its long battery life and ability to play a large library of games. The Game Boy really shaped the future of gaming, as it allowed players to play their favourite games on the go, no matter what the location! The console was very bland, it was a simple box with a small black and green pixel screen. To control the actual device, there were just 4 game buttons, a single D-Pad and 1 speaker.
What games were on the original Gameboy?
- Pokemon Red, Blue, Yellow
- Tetris
- Super Mario Land
- Pac-Man
- Donkey Kong 94
- Kirbys Dream Land
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Was the PSP a good console?
The PSP was released in 2005 and was the first handheld console to feature 3D graphics. Compared to some consoles, the PSP also had a couple features that certainly made it stand out. It had a built-in microphone and internet connectivity, which made it a great device for both gaming and multimedia with other people. The PSP is also very special because it's design takes the shape of the classic handheld consoles we see in present day. Take the Switch 2 design for example, it's clearly heavily influenced by the PSP. With a screen in the centre and controls attached to either side, the black console was ready to take on everything!
What games can the PlayStation Portal play?
- Daxter
- GTA Liberty City
- Tekken 6
- The Simpsons Game
- God of War
- Silent Hills Origin
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Why was the Nintendo DS so good?
The DS was released in 2004 and is definitely one of the more iconic consoles on our listing. It featured a dual-screen design, with one screen being a touch screen, them folded together the console would compress making it easier to transport and ensuring the screens wouldn't get damaged. It also had a built-in microphone and internet connectivity, making it a great device for both gaming and multimedia. It was available in a selection of colours, something the previous two consoles didn't offer. Blue, pink, white, red and black were the main colours available in stores. Years later in 2011, Nintendo made a sequel with a 3D screen called... you guessed it... the 3DS!
How many games were released for the Nintendo DS?
- New Super Mario Bros.
- Mario Kart DS
- Pokemon Platinum
- The World Ends With You
- Legend Of Zelda
- Super Mario 64 DS
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Is the Nintendo Switch a good console?
The Switch was released in 2017 and certainly propelled Nintendo into a new level of fame and success. Their console was as a hybrid console, it can be played in both handheld and docked mode, multiplayer and single player mode. It has a wide range of games and great portability that makes it one of the best-selling handhelds of all time. In fact, the reason the Switch was so successful was because the previous console, the Wii U, failed badly. When the Switch finally released, it sold more than 150 million units!
How many games did the Switch have?
- Super Mario Bros Wonder
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Animal Crossing New Horizons
- Luigis Mansion 2
- Splatoon 3
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land
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What is Sega's most successful console?
The Game Gear was Sega's first handheld console, released in 1990. Again, it looked much like the standard handheld consoles of the 90's, a screen in the centre and black controllers stuck to either side. The Sega Game Gear did have one advantage however, it's screen offered colour! In the early 90's this offered a whole new way to how we game, it was a historic console that offered over 300 games.
What games does Sega Game Gear play?
- Tails Adventure
- Columns
- Gunstar Heroes
- Tempo Jr.
- Bubble Bobble
- Mega Man
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Was the Atari Lynx successful?
The Lynx was released in 1989 and was considered a very 'advanced console' at its time. With a 4096 colour palette, and integrated maths and graphics processor, it's sharp colour features were what made it tough competition against Nintendo's plain Game Boy. At launch it was successful, selling 90% of its 500,000 units within the first month with over 500,000 units selling in it's second year.
How many games did Atari Lynx have?
- Electrocop
- Paperboy
- Klax
- Pac-Land
- Dracula The Undead
- California Games
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Was 3DS a success or failure?
As we've mentioned, the 3DS was released in 2011 and featured a glasses-free 3D screen. Players could use the switch on the side of the screen to turn 3D mode on and off, meaning it wasn't mandatory to play in 3D mode. Again, this console came in a variety of colours like the DS, pink, blue, red, black and white, expect the colour was a stunning glossy, shiny look, rather than plain. The 3DS actually performed badly at release, with many complaining the 3D feature was painful to the eyes. Alas, this console is so iconic, it has to be featured within this blog.
How many games were released for the 3DS?
- Tomadachi Life
- Mario Kart 7
- Mario and Sonic
- Super Mario 3D Land
- Super Mario Brothers 2
- Animal Crossing Happy Home Designer
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Was the PS Vita successful?
The Vita was released in 2011 and was the successor to the PSP. It had big shoes to fill in considering its predecessor was so popular. Much like the PSP, the Vita was designed well, strong build, impressive durability and excellent condition. However, much like the 3DS, the PS Vita also performed badly. The PS4 was being prepped for a 2013 release date, so a lot of attention went onto that major project. In the end, production stopped and there wasn't enough studios for the PS Vita to continue production. It's a shame, as the console didn't do bad in terms of sales... other consoles just outshone it.
What games were available for the PS Vita?
- Gravity Rush
- Borderlands 2
- Dragons Crown
- Hotline MIami
- Tearaway
- Unit 13
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How good was Neo Geo?
The Neo Geo Pocket was actually a series of consoles released in 1999. The company behind it SNK Corporation was known for their high-quality graphics and wide range of games. By looking at the console, it was very small, almost the size of your palm... and it's screen was tiny! But as many people agreed, the Neo Geo Pocket sure was powerful. It could store much higher data than the cartridges it offered and had incredible sound hardware.
How many games were released for Neo Geo?
- Dive Alert
- Baseball Stars
- Samurai Showdown
- Biomotor Unitron
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Was the Game and Watch successful?
The Game & Watch was a series of handheld electronic games produced by Nintendo from 1980 to 1991. It was one of the first handheld consoles and had a variety of different games available and also took on a different look in terms of design compared to other consoles. Again, it had the screen in the centre and controls on the side, but the console was a beautiful pale colour with red accents. The design alone of this console means it deserves top spot on our list!
How many games were released for the Game and Watch?
- Ball
- Lion
- Popeye
- Egg
- Snoopy Tennis
- Oil Panic
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Related blog: Exploring Forgotten Consoles: Virtual Boy
Conclusion:
In conclusion, handheld video game consoles have been entertaining gamers for decades, providing a way to play games on the go. From the early days of the Game Boy to the latest Nintendo Switch, these consoles have evolved in terms of technology, design, and gameplay. The consoles on this list have stood the test of time and have been enjoyed by millions of gamers all over the world. They have each left their mark on the gaming industry and have set the standard for what a handheld console should be.
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