A dad and longtime gamer shows off his impressive retro Nintendo Game and Watch handheld collection. While Nintendo recently revived the line to offer players a nostalgic way to experience retro games, this collection features Game and Watch handhelds from 1980 through today.
Game and Watch was a series of handheld games released by Nintendo from 1980 to 1991. Unlike the later Game Boy, which was a cartridge-based handheld console, each Game and Watch came with a single game built in. Nintendo released over 60 different Game and Watch projects during its run, coming in various designs. Some of the more popular games were later ported to the Game Boy, and 2021 saw a limited run of new Game and Watch handhelds featuring classic Mario and Zelda titles from the NES and Game Boy.
Reddit user and solo indie game developer Mikael Finsrud recently shared a photo of his father's collection of handheld retro Nintendo games. His collection seems to contain most or all of the original run, with the Reddit user noting that his father also has a few duplicates not on display. Finsrud posted this image on multiple gaming and Nintendo-related subreddits, prompting a few longtime gamers to comment that they wished they had held on to their own childhood games.
The display's top shelf contains various generations of Game and Watches. Vertically folded Multi-Screen Game and Watches line either side, with the earlier Gold, Silver, and Wide Screen versions between them. Unfortunately, the door partially obscures the items in the middle of that shelf. However, they include one each of the three Crystal Screen Game and Watches from 1986.
Either side of the next shelf is lined with Nintendo Game and Watches from the New Wide Screen series that ran from 1982 to 1991. Also present is one of the larger tabletop Donkey Kong Jr.Nintendo Game and Watches, which was released in 1983 and resembles a miniaturized arcade cabinet. The two vertically oriented Super Color Game and Watches from 1984 are also there, alongside the 1987 Special Edition Super Mario Bros. Game and Watch, inside its unique yellow case. Finally, the Game and Watch directly in front of it appears to be the 2010 re-issue of Ball, Nintendo's first-ever handheld.
The second shelf from the bottom contains more of the arcade cabinet-shaped Tabletop versions alongside another Ball re-issue in its original box. This is also where the senior Finsrud keeps his copies of the 2020 and 2021 Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda Game and Watch handhelds. Finally, the bottom shelf displays an assortment of Panorama series Game and Watch handhelds released in 1983 and 1984. Altogether, it's an impressive set of retro Nintendo games.