List of Nintendo console generations in order

Updated on December 4, 2023 by Eva Black

Posted in Tech

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If you’re looking for a list of Nintendo console generation in order, look no further. We have you covered.

Nintendo pretty much dates back to the start of video gaming as we know it. Not only that, they’ve been at the spear head of every major development in almost every console generation. Whether it’s through the Nintendo 64’s pioneering use of polygonal 3D graphics, the Nintendo DS’ Dual Screen gimmick, the 3DS’ modular 3D screen or the Nintendo Switch’s hotswap dock situation, the Nintendo company is always looking to usher in fresh technology. Here’s a list of each Nintendo console in release order.

Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) (1983)

General Overview:

Release Date: July 15, 1983
Generation: Third Generation
Status: Discontinued
Release Price: $199.99 (US)
Units Sold: 61.91 million

CPU: Ricoh 2A03/2A07 | GPU: 8-bit PPU | RAM: 2KB | Optical Drive: ROM cartridge| Video Output: Composite

This is the console that kicked it all off – sort of. The Nintendo Entertainment System, NES for short, was known as the Famicom in Japan before seeing a release in the West that was followed by a re-brand. Before this, the common way for people to play games was to head down to the arcade. Nintendo had previously been creating arcade games, with Donkey Kong and Mario making their first introductions here.

At some point, an idea was floated to bring the arcade into the home, and the development of the Nintendo Entertainment System soon began. It was a huge success, with many of its games being ports of arcade titles.

Game Boy (1989)

General Overview:

Release Date: April 21, 1989
Generation: Fourth Generation
Status: Discontinued
Release Price: $89.99 (US)
Units Sold: 118.69 million

CPU: Sharp LR35902 at 4.19 MHz | GPU: 8-bit PPU | RAM: 8KB | Optical Drive: ROM cartridge| Video: LCD 160 x 144, 59.73 Hz

The Nintendo Entertainment System’s unwavering success was a sign that things were working. Games went from the arcade into the home, but the console had to be more innovative. Let’s take games out of the house on the go with you, a bright spark at Nintendo thought. The Game Boy released six years after the NES, and while te form factor was only a fraction of the size – they still managed to pack as much of a punch inside.

The Game Boy’s legacy, for many, is marked by the launch of Pokemon. A mixture of the design choices for the console perfectly complemented the nature of the game, and all accompanying anime, toys and the foundations of the franchise can be traced back to this tiny little console.

The Game Boy is the precursor to many of the best handheld games consoles.

Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) (1990)

General Overview:

Release Date: November 21, 1990
Generation: Fourth Generation
Status: Discontinued
Release Price: $199.00 (US)
Units Sold: 49.10 million

CPU: Ricoh 5A22 at 3.58 Hz | GPU: 16-bit PPU | RAM: 128KB and 64KB VRAM | Optical Drive: ROM cartridge| Video Output: Multi Out

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, or SNES for short, came out a little bit after the Game Boy, and features an exponentially larger amount of RAM than the NES. This, alongside the increased storage capacity of the cartridges, allowed for 16-bit games. This meant more colour, detail, complexity and deapth, alongside larger character sprites too.

The SNES is one of the most fondly remembered consoles of all time, and many of the games it was famous for are still often played today.

Nintendo 64 (N64) (1996)

General Overview:

Release Date: June 23, 1996
Generation: Fifth Generation
Status: Discontinued
Release Price: $199.99 (US)
Units Sold: 32.93 million

CPU: 64-bit NEC VR4300 at 93.75 MHz | GPU: Reality Co-Processor at 62.5 MHz | RAM: 4.5 MB | Optical Drive: ROM cartridge| Video Output: Multi Out

The N64 ushered in 3D graphics thanks to its far superior GPU and RAM capabilities. Visuals were mapped onto screen using polygons, and the controller featured a joy-stick reminiscent of old arcade levers.

Nintendo GameCube (2001)

General Overview:

Release Date: September 14, 2001
Generation: Sixth Generation
Status: Discontinued
Release Price: $199.00 (US)
Units Sold: 21.74 million

CPU: 32-bit IBM PowerPC 750CXe Gekko at 486MHz | GPU: ATI Flipper chip | RAM: 43 MB | Optical Drive: ROM cartridge | Video Output: Multi Out and Digital A/V

The GameCube was released around the same time as the PlayStation 1 and the original Xbox. In terms of the history of video games, Nintendo’s console was slightly overshadowed by its peers. This resulted in fairly poor sales for the console, though the reality is that the selection of games on the GameCube is near unparalleled.

Game Boy Advance (2001) and Game Boy Advance SP (2003)

General Overview:

Release date: 2001, 2003
Status: Discontinued
Release Price: $99.99
Units Sold: 81.51 million

The Game Boy Advance, later followed by the Game Boy Advance SP, was one of the most influentual game consoles of all time. The original features the classic horizontal design, while the follow up features the classic clamshell design.

The GBA series was stocked well with incredible games, handheld 32-bit visuals for the first time, and really tight controls.

Nintendo DS (2004)

General Overview:

Release Date: November 21, 2004
Generation: Seventh Generation
Status: Discontinued
Release Price: $149.99 (US)
Units Sold: 152.02 million (as of July 2022)

CPU: ARM9 and ARM7 | GPU: ATI Flipper chip | RAM: 4 MB | Optical Drive: ROM cartridge| Video: TFT LCD, 256 x 192, 0.24mm dot distance

This is perhaps the most fondly adored console of all time. It follows on from the Game Boy Advance, but instead added a whole other screen for players to use. Classic games played on the GBA were also available on the DS thanks to the cartridge slot on the bottom.

It laid the foundations for the 3DS, and later would influence the Wii-U’s design too.

3DS and its many variations (2011)

Release date: 2011
Status: Discontinued
Release Price: $199.99
Units Sold: 75 million

We’ve decided to collate all of the Nintendo 3DS family into one section. Had we not done that, we’d be writing this page for months on end. It ushered in 3D gaming toggled via a slider, while also letting players play all Nintendo DS games too.

Later versions of the console massively upgraded the hardware with new screens, internals, and controls.

✓ Nintendo 3DS

This is my personal favourite console of all time

Being able to play all Nintendo DS cartridges natively, the 3DS also offered a great upgrade to the screen and performance. There’s thousands of game that you can play on the 3DS, so take your pick.

Nintendo Wii (2006)

General Overview:

Release Date: November 19, 2006
Generation: Seventh Generation
Status: Discontinued
Release Price: $249.99 (US)
Units Sold: 101.63 million

CPU: IBM Power PC at 729 MHz | GPU: ATI graphics at 243 MHz | RAM: 64 MB | Optical Drive: Wii Game Disc | Video Output: 480p, Composite

The Wii, on the other hand, brought another gimmick with it. The Wiimote relied partly on motion sensors to detect movement from the user, which let games like Wii Sports take advantage of dynamic movement. It become Nintendo’s best selling console, succeeded only by the Nintendo Switch in 2017.

Nintendo Wii U (2012)

General Overview:

Release Date: November 18, 2012
Generation: Eighth Generation
Status: Discontinuing on March 27, 2023
Release Price: $299.99 (US)
Units Sold: 13.56 million units

The Nintendo Wii U was mediocre when you compare it to the success of the Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS. However it played an integral role success of the Nintendo Switch, which you can see through the landscape design and split-controller build.

Nintendo Switch (2017)

General Overview:

Release Date: March 3, 2017
Generation: Eighth Generation
Status: Available to buy here
Release Price: $299.99 (US)
Units Sold: 122.55 million (as of December 31, 2022)

The Wii U might not have been successful, but there’s no denying the Nintendo Switch’s impact on gaming. Recent financial reports from the company suggest that the console is only selling more and more, perhaps thanks to the latest model.

Nintendo Switch (OLED model) (2021)

General Overview:

Release Date: October 8, 2021
Generation: Ninth Generation
Status: Available to buy here
Release Price: $349.99 (US)
Units Sold: No definite figure.

The Nintendo Switch OLED was released in 2020 and gave the console a fantastic display upgrade. There’s not really much else about the console, aside from the fact that it’s brighter and features a slightly larger display area.