An Emmy-winning D-pad
Nintendo received a Technology & Engineering Emmy Award in 2008 for the cross-shaped directional pad.
Unofficial fan site · Celebrating 135+ years of play
Discover the World of Nintendo
From a small hanafuda card shop in Kyoto to the home of Mario, Zelda and Pokémon, Nintendo has spent more than a century turning play into wonder. Explore its history, legendary consoles, unforgettable games and the characters who made gaming feel like magic.
1889
Founded in Kyoto, Japan
150M+
Nintendo Switch consoles sold
1,025
Pokémon species discovered
40+
Years of Super Mario adventures
About Nintendo
From playing cards to a global icon
Nintendo was founded on 23 September 1889 by craftsman Fusajiro Yamauchi in Kyoto, Japan. The company began by hand-making hanafuda, traditional Japanese flower-pattern playing cards. The name is commonly translated as "leave luck to heaven."
Over the following decades, Nintendo experimented with everything from toys to a taxi service before finding its true calling in electronic entertainment. Engineer Gunpei Yokoi created the Game & Watch and the Game Boy, while a young designer named Shigeru Miyamoto gave the world Donkey Kong, Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda.
Today Nintendo is headquartered in Kyoto and led by president Shuntaro Furukawa. It remains one of the few companies that designs both its own hardware and the games that define it.
Mission: Nintendo describes its goal as putting smiles on the faces of everyone it touches. Its strategy is to create unique entertainment experiences that people of every age and gaming background can enjoy together.
Milestones in Nintendo history
- 1889
Hanafuda beginnings
Fusajiro Yamauchi opens Nintendo Koppai in Kyoto to produce handmade playing cards.
- 1980
Game & Watch
Gunpei Yokoi's pocket LCD games become a hit and introduce the iconic cross-shaped D-pad.
- 1981
Donkey Kong
Shigeru Miyamoto's arcade game debuts "Jumpman", the hero later known as Mario.
- 1983
Famicom / NES
The Family Computer launches in Japan and, as the NES, revives the home console market in North America.
- 1989
Game Boy
A handheld with swappable cartridges, bundled with Tetris in the West, takes gaming everywhere.
- 2006
Wii
Motion controls bring families and first-time players into gaming, selling over 100 million units.
- 2017
Nintendo Switch
A hybrid console you can play on a TV or take on the go, and one of the best-selling systems ever made.
- 2025
Nintendo Switch 2
The successor arrives with a larger 1080p screen, 4K TV output and magnetic Joy-Con 2 controllers.
Interesting facts
It once ran a taxi company
In the 1960s Nintendo tried several new ventures, including a taxi service and instant rice, before turning to toys and games.
Baseball owners
Nintendo's leadership held a majority stake in the Seattle Mariners baseball team from 1992 until 2016.
Mario got a theme park
Super Nintendo World opened at Universal Studios Japan in 2021, followed by parks in Hollywood, Orlando and Singapore.
There's a Nintendo Museum
Opened in October 2024 in Uji, Kyoto, inside a former card factory, it showcases more than a century of products.
Mario's name came from a landlord
Nintendo of America staff reportedly named Jumpman "Mario" after Mario Segale, the landlord of their Seattle-area warehouse.
Nintendo Consoles
Hardware that changed how we play
Nintendo is known for reinventing the way games are played, from TV consoles to handhelds to hybrids. Switch between today's lineup and the classics that started it all.
Newest
Released June 5, 2025
Nintendo Switch 2
The successor to the Switch keeps the hybrid design but goes bigger and faster. Magnetic Joy-Con 2 controllers can work like a computer mouse, and the new C button opens GameChat for voice and video chat with friends.
- Screen7.9" LCD, 1080p, HDR, up to 120 Hz
- TV outputUp to 4K when docked
- Storage256 GB + microSD Express
- Launch priceUS$449.99
Original
Released March 3, 2017
Nintendo Switch
The hybrid that started it all: dock it to play on a TV, lift it out to play handheld, or stand it up and share Joy-Con for instant multiplayer anywhere.
- Screen6.2" LCD touchscreen, 720p
- TV outputUp to 1080p docked
- Storage32 GB + microSD
- Launch priceUS$299.99
Premium
Released October 8, 2021
Nintendo Switch – OLED Model
A vibrant OLED screen with deep blacks, a wide adjustable stand for tabletop play, enhanced speakers and a dock with a built-in wired LAN port.
- Screen7" OLED touchscreen, 720p
- TV outputUp to 1080p docked
- Storage64 GB + microSD
- Launch priceUS$349.99
Handheld
Released September 20, 2019
Nintendo Switch Lite
A compact, lighter, handheld-only Switch with built-in controls and a real D-pad. It plays every Switch game that supports handheld mode.
- Screen5.5" LCD touchscreen, 720p
- TV outputNone (handheld only)
- Storage32 GB + microSD
- Launch priceUS$199.99
NES / Famicom
The 8-bit system that rescued home gaming and introduced Mario, Zelda and Metroid.
Super Nintendo
16-bit classics such as Super Mario World, A Link to the Past and Super Metroid.
Nintendo 64
Pioneered 3D worlds and the analog stick with Super Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time.
GameCube
A compact cube remembered for Super Smash Bros. Melee and its beloved controller.
Wii
Motion controls and Wii Sports made it a living-room phenomenon for all ages.
Game Boy
The handheld that launched Pokémon and put Tetris in millions of pockets.
Nintendo DS
Dual screens, a touchscreen and hits like Nintendogs and Brain Age.
Nintendo 3DS
Glasses-free 3D visuals, StreetPass and a huge library of handheld adventures.
*Game Boy figure combines Game Boy and Game Boy Color. Lifetime sales figures are as reported by Nintendo.
Popular Games
Legendary franchises
These series have shaped gaming for decades. Each one began with a single game and grew into a cultural icon loved around the world.
Platformer
Super Mario Bros.
Mario and Luigi race through the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. This side-scroller defined the platform genre and became one of the best-selling games of all time.
Racing
Mario Kart
Banana peels, red shells and rainbow roads. The kart racer has been a party favorite since the SNES. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the best-selling Nintendo Switch game, with more than 60 million copies sold.
Action-Adventure
The Legend of Zelda
Link explores the kingdom of Hyrule to defeat Ganon and protect Princess Zelda. The series is famous for open exploration, clever dungeons and its masterpieces Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.
RPG
Pokémon
Catch, train and battle creatures on the journey to become a Pokémon Champion. Developed by Game Freak, Pokémon is the highest-grossing media franchise in the world, spanning games, anime and cards.
Life Sim
Animal Crossing
Build a peaceful life in a village of animal neighbors: fish, catch bugs, decorate your home and celebrate seasonal events in real time. New Horizons became a worldwide comfort game in 2020.
Fighting
Super Smash Bros.
Nintendo's all-star crossover fighter, created by Masahiro Sakurai. Ultimate gathers 89 fighters from dozens of franchises, with "Everyone is here!" as its rallying cry, and is a fixture of the esports scene.
Nintendo Characters
Icons of gaming
Meet the heroes recognized all over the world. Hover over or tap a card to learn something new. (Photos show fan cosplay, parades and Nintendo-themed venues.)
Mario
Debut: Donkey Kong (1981)
The cheerful plumber from Brooklyn is Nintendo's mascot and the star of more than 200 games, from platformers to kart racing, tennis and RPGs.
Fun fact: His cap and mustache were designed partly because early pixel art couldn't easily show hair or a mouth.
Luigi
Debut: Mario Bros. (1983)
Mario's taller younger twin brother is a little timid but always brave when it counts. He jumps higher than Mario and stars in the ghost-busting Luigi's Mansion series.
Fun fact: Nintendo celebrated 2013 as the "Year of Luigi" for his 30th anniversary.
Princess Peach
Debut: Super Mario Bros. (1985)
The ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom is kind, determined and far more than a damsel. She's a playable hero in Super Princess Peach and Princess Peach: Showtime!
Fun fact: In the West she was called Princess Toadstool until Super Mario 64 (1996) adopted her Japanese name, Peach.
Link
Debut: The Legend of Zelda (1986)
The courageous hero of Hyrule wields the Master Sword and the Triforce of Courage. Each era of the series features a new incarnation of Link.
Fun fact: He's named "Link" because he was meant to be the link between the player and the game world.
Kirby
Debut: Kirby's Dream Land (1992)
The pink puffball from Planet Popstar inhales enemies to copy their abilities. Created by Masahiro Sakurai at HAL Laboratory, Kirby is one of gaming's most adorable heroes.
Fun fact: Kirby's in-game sprite was a placeholder that the team grew so fond of they kept it.
Pikachu
Debut: Pokémon Red & Green (1996)
The Electric-type Mouse Pokémon (#0025) is the face of the Pokémon franchise and Ash Ketchum's loyal partner in the anime. It stores electricity in its red cheek pouches.
Fun fact: Pikachu was designed by Atsuko Nishida; its name blends the Japanese sounds for sparkle ("pika") and a mouse's squeak ("chu").
Latest News
Announcements & releases
Highlights from the Nintendo world: new hardware, major game launches and what's coming next.
Nintendo Switch 2 launches worldwide
Nintendo's new console arrived with a 7.9-inch 1080p screen, 4K TV output and backward compatibility with most Switch games. Nintendo reported 3.5 million units sold in the first four days, the fastest launch in its history.
Mario Kart World races onto Switch 2
The launch title connects every track into one open world, supports 24 racers per race and introduces Knockout Tour, an elimination-style rally mode.
Donkey Kong Bananza brings smashing 3D action
DK's first 3D platformer in decades lets players punch, dig and break through nearly everything in an underground world in search of bananas.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A heads to Lumiose City
The follow-up to Legends: Arceus takes place in a city redevelopment project in the Kalos region and brings back Mega Evolution, on both Switch and Switch 2.
Super Mario Galaxy 1 + 2 come to Switch
Released during Super Mario Bros.' 40th anniversary celebrations, the two Wii-era space adventures arrived on Nintendo Switch in one collection.
Kirby Air Riders takes flight on Switch 2
Masahiro Sakurai directed this follow-up to the GameCube cult classic Kirby Air Ride, bringing high-speed Star racing and battles to a new generation.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond finally arrives
Samus Aran's long-awaited first-person adventure launched for Switch and in an enhanced Switch 2 Edition, years after its first announcement at E3 2017.
Pokémon celebrates its 30th anniversary
Three decades after Pocket Monsters Red & Green launched in Japan, the franchise marked the milestone with events, merchandise and new announcements.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie hits theaters
Illumination and Nintendo's sequel follows The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), which earned more than US$1.3 billion at the worldwide box office.
Live-action The Legend of Zelda film
Directed by Wes Ball, the film stars Bo Bragason as Princess Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link. It is co-financed by Nintendo and Sony Pictures.
Check Nintendo's official website for the latest announcements and exact release dates in your region.
Photo Gallery
Snapshots from the Nintendo universe
Consoles, controllers, collectibles and places where Nintendo fans gather. Click any photo to enlarge it.