History of Nintendo

In this section you will be able to follow Nintendo's more than 100 year history. From their first products, the "Hanafunda" cards in 1889 to the present.

Choose an era:

The Early Years - (1889 - 1968)
Read about what Nintendo did before they began making toys and video games. Learn about how Nintendo, who in 1889 only was a small company selling Hanafunda playing cards managed to become Japan's biggest playing card company.

Toys & Arcades - (1969 - 1982)
Nintendo begins producing toys and later arcade machines. Later they strike a deal with Mitsubishi Electrics to sell their Color TV Game 6 and later Color TV Game 15 in Japan. Shigeru Miyamoto is employed and comes up with Nintendo's first real smash hit Donkey Kong including Mario! Nintendo begins developing their new Famicom.

The Famicom Rules the World! - (1983 - 1989)
The beginning of Nintendo's golden age, when they had nearly complete control over the video game industry of the world with their Famicom (NES)!

The 16-Bit Revolution - (1990 - 1995)
The 16-bit revolution began with one of the most legendary game consoles ever released, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

The 64-bit Era (1996 - 1999)
One year after Sega has released their Genesis (a.k.a. Mega Drive) in the USA Nintendo releases their Super Famicom (SNES). 1993 Nintendo starts planning on their new "Ultra 64" (Later renamed Nintendo 64). Later (around christmas 1995) Sony releases their Playstation and Sega their Saturn and in 1996 Nintendo enters the 64 bit market with their Nintendo 64.

The Gamecube Age (2000 - 2005)
A new millennium brings a new console, Nintendo releases the Gamecube. Want to help?

The Wii Revolution (2007 - Present)
Codenamed the Revolution, when revealed this console, and it's name, shocked the world. Want to help?