Nintendo · 1989 · Worldwide
Game Boy
Nintendo's first handheld established portable gaming as a mass-market category.
Introduction
Nintendo's first handheld established portable gaming as a mass-market category.
History
Game Boy launched in 1989 from Nintendo. It became one of the defining systems of its era and laid the groundwork for future hardware from the same company.
Release Date
Released in 1989 (Worldwide).
Manufacturer
Nintendo.
Technical Specifications
- CPU
- Sharp LR35902 @ 4.19 MHz
- Memory
- 8 KB RAM, 8 KB VRAM
- Media
- Game Boy cartridge
- Display
- Reflective dot-matrix LCD, 160x144
Best Games
- Pokemon Red
- Pokemon Blue
- Tetris
- The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
- Kirby's Dream Land
Legacy
The Game Boy outsold every competitor and seeded franchises that still define Nintendo today.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Game Boy released?
1989 in Japan and 1990 worldwide.
Did the Game Boy have a backlight?
No, the original relied on reflective LCD.
How long did the Game Boy last on batteries?
Roughly 10-15 hours on four AAs.