Between 1980 and 1991, Nintendo released a series of approximately 59 handheld electronic games known as Game & Watch. Each featured a clock, an alarm and a single game that could be played on an LCD screen, with titles including Nintendo staples such as The Legend of Zelda, Mario Bros and Donkey Kong, along with others such as Snoopy, Mickey Mouse and Popeye.
The units themselves were small, handheld devices with a simple button layout that varied from game to game. There were a number of different ranges released:
- Silver (1980)
- Gold (1981)
- Widescreen (1981 - 1982)
- Multiscreen (1982-1989)
- New Widescreen (1982-1991)
- Tabletop (1983)
- Panorama (1983-1984)
- Super Color (1984)
- Micro Vs. (1984)
- Crystal Screen (1986)
- Special (1987)
The Game and Watch units were hugely popular and prompted many other companies to produce their own games, such as Tiger Electronics and their Star Wars themed games. However, as the LCD display was pre-printed with the images necessary for a particular game, each unit was only able to play that one game. In time, the unit was superseded by successors such as Nintendo's own Game Boy system, which was able to play many different games via interchangeable cartridges.
Despite this, the Game & Watch series have remained popular, especially with collectors. The games also received a renewal of interest with the release of the Game & Watch Gallery series for the Game Boy Colour, Game Boy Advance and more recently, the Nintendo DS, which feature the original ports, in addition to new, modernised versions starring the Mario series cast.
Games
The games released for each version of the unit were:
- Silver (1980)
- Ball
- Flagman
- Vermin
- Fire
- Judge (Green version)
- Judge (Purple version)
- Gold (1981)
- Widescreen (1981 - 1982)
- Chef
- Egg
- Fire
- Fire Attack
- Mickey Mouse
- Octopus
- Parachute
- Popeye
- Snoopy Tennis
- Turtle Bridge
- Multiscreen (1982-1989)
- Black Jack
- Bomb Sweeper
- Donkey Kong
- Donkey Kong II
- Gold Cliff
- Greenhouse
- Lifeboat
- Mario Bros.
- Mickey & Donald
- Oil Panic
- Pinball
- Rain Shower
- Safebuster
- Squish
- Zelda
- New Widescreen (1982-1991)
- Balloon Fight
- Climber
- Donkey Kong Jr.
- Manhole
- Mario the Juggler
- Mario's Cement Factory
- Super Mario Bros.
- Tropical Fish
- Tabletop (1983)
- Donkey Kong Jr.
- Mario's Cement Factory
- Popeye
- Snoopy
- Panorama (1983-1984)
- Donkey Kong
- Circus Donkey Kong Jr.
- Mario's Bombs Away
- Mickey Mouse
- Popeye
- Snoopy
- Super Color (1984)
- Micro Vs. (1984)
- Boxing
- Donkey Kong 3
- Donkey Kong Hockey
- Punch-Out!!
- Crystal Screen (1986)
- Balloon Fight
- Climber
- Super Mario Bros
- Special (1987)
Favourites (IE)
Print This
Email This
