Game & Watch

Game & Watch
Designer	Nintendo R&D1 Nintendo PTD
Manufacturer	Nintendo
Distributor
CPU	Sharp SM series
Graphics	liquid crystal display
Memory	N/A
Media	discrete circuitry
Released	1980-2021
Added to Museum	See the Game & Watch category

The Game & Watch series of games comprised the first handheld video game console line by Nintendo. Each device contains a single game that is played on a simple liquid crystal display screen.

They were succeeded by the Game Boy.

Development

Gunpei Yokoi conceived of the idea for simple handheld games using a liquid crystal display after watching a man on a bullet train push buttons on an LCD calculator. The result was the Game & Watch series. They became a hit in Japan and North America, leading to Game & Watch consoles being released over the course of eleven years from 1980 to 1991, plus a short revival from 2020 to 2021.

Models

The Game & Watch games were released in several variations:

Silver: The original five Game & Watch games were released in 1980. They had a silver case and a standard, single, LCD screen.

Gold: The games that were released with the standard, single, LCD screen in 1981 had a gold case to differentiate them from the original games.

Wide Screen: After the first two iterations, games began being produced with a single, wide-screen LCD.

Multi Screen: More complex games were designed using a multi-screen system, consisting of a clamshell design, with gameplay that takes place simultaneously on two LCD screens.

New Wide Screen: The wide-screen releases that began in 1983 were branded as New Wide Screen to differentiate them from the original wide-screen games.

Table Top: Four tabletop Game & Watch games were released in 1983 that resembled miniature arcade machines.

Panorama: The panorama games were handheld devices that used a color LCD and contained a mirror that allowed the screen to be visible in bright light.

Super Color: In 1984, the Super Color line was released. These games had different colored LCD panels to represent the characters on the screen.

Micro Vs.: Three Micro Vs. games were released in 1984. These games had two tiny controllers attached to the unit to allow for two-player gaming.

Crystal Screen: The Crystal Screen series was released in 1986. They had a translucent shell, which allowed viewing through the play area.

Color Screen: For the Game & Watch revival in 2020 and 2021, LCD screens with then-current technology provided full-color displays for the emulated Game Boy and Nintendo Entertainment System games contained within.

Unauthorized Soviet clones

Beginning in 1984, factories in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics began producing unauthorized clones of Game & Watch consoles that were released under the Elektronika brand name.

The clones used the 4-bit KB1013VK1-2 microprocessor, which was a Soviet clone of the Sharp SM series of microprocessors used in the Game & Watch systems.

Game & Watch games

Image	Title	Chipset	Release	Notes
	Ball	Sharp SM5a	1980	Released in a standard screen format with a Silver case in 1980. Ball was distributed by Bienengraeber in Austria and West Germany as tricOtronic: Jolly Jongleur. It had an identical system and a unique box. Remade as part of Game Boy Gallery for Game Boy in 1995. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 2 for Game Boy Color in 1998. Remade as a digital release through DSiWare for Nintendo DSi in 2009. Re-released as a platinum reward for Club Nintendo members in Japan in 2010.
	Mego Time-Out: Toss-Up	Sharp SM5a	1980	Released in a standard screen format with a Silver case in 1980. Mego distributed Ball in North America as Time-Out: Toss Up.
	Flagman	Sharp SM5a	1980	Released in a standard screen format with a Silver case in 1980. Remade as part of Game Boy Gallery for Game Boy in 1995. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 3 for Game Boy Color in 1999. Remade as a digital release through DSiWare for Nintendo DSi in 2009.
	Mego Time-Out: Flag Man	Sharp SM5a	1980	Released in a standard screen format with a Silver case in 1980. Mego distributed Flagman in North America as Time-Out: Flag Man.
	Vermin	Sharp SM5a	1980	Released in a standard screen format with a Silver case in 1980. Vermin was distributed by Bienengraeber in Austria and West Germany as tricOtronic: Mole Hunt (Maulwurfsjagd). It had an identical system and a unique box. Remade as part of Game Boy Gallery for Game Boy in 1995. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 2 for Game Boy Color in 1998. Remade as a digital release through DSiWare for Nintendo DSi in 2009.
	Mego Time-Out: The Exterminator	Sharp SM5a	1980	Released in a standard screen format with a Silver case in 1980. Mego distributed Vermin in North America as Time-Out: The Exterminator.
	Fire silver	Sharp SM5a	1980	Released in a standard screen format with a Silver case in 1980. The silver standard Fire release was distributed by Bienengraeber in Austria and West Germany as tricOtronic: Help, It's Burning! (Hilfe, es Brennt!). It had an identical system and a unique box. Remade as part of Game Boy Gallery for Game Boy in 1995. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery for Game Boy in 1997. Remade for Game Boy Advance e-Reader in 2002. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 4 for Game Boy Advance in 2002.
	Mego Time-Out: Fireman Fireman	Sharp SM5a	1980	Released in a standard screen format with a Silver case in 1980. Mego distributed Fire in North America as Time-Out: Fireman Fireman.
	Judge	Sharp SM5a	1980	Released in a standard screen format with a Silver case in 1980. Judge was distributed by Bienengraeber in Austria and West Germany as tricOtronic: The Hammer-Duel (Das Hammer-Duell). It had an identical system and a unique box. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 3 for Game Boy Color in 1999. Remade as a digital release through DSiWare for Nintendo DSi in 2009.
	Manhole gold	Sharp SM5a	1981	Released in a standard screen format with a gold case in 1980. The silver standard Fire release was distributed by Bienengraeber in Austria and West Germany as tricOtronic: Danger Dig! (Achtung Graben!). It had an identical system and a unique box. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 3 for Game Boy Color in 1999. Remade as a digital release through DSiWare for Nintendo DSi in 2009.
	Helmet	Sharp SM5a	1981	Released in a standard screen format with a gold case in 1981. Helmet was distributed by Bienengraeber in Austria and West Germany as tricOtronic: Be Careful With Tools! (Vorsicht Werkzeug!). It had an identical system and a unique box. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 2 for Game Boy Color in 1998. Remade as a digital release through DSiWare for Nintendo DSi in 2009.
	Headache	Sharp SM5a	1981	Helmet was released in the UK as Headache. The system is identical to the standard version except for the branding.
	Lion	Sharp SM5a	1981	Released in a standard screen format with a gold case in 1981. Helmet was distributed by Bienengraeber in Austria and West Germany as tricOtronic: The Lion Is Loose! (Der Löwe ist los!). It had an identical system and a unique box. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 3 for Game Boy Color in 1999.
	Parachute	Sharp SM5a	1981	Released in Wide Screen format in 1981. Parachute was distributed by Bienengraeber in Austria and West Germany as Super tricOtronic: Dive Into Hell (Sprung in die Hölle). It had an identical system and a unique box. Released as part of the Nintendo Mini Classics miniature LCD game line in 1998. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 2 for Game Boy Color in 1998. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 4 for Game Boy Advance in 2002. Remade for Game & Watch Collection 2 Nintendo DS in 2008.
	Octopus	Sharp SM5a	1981	Released in Wide Screen format in 1981. Octopus was distributed by Bienengraeber in Austria and West Germany as Super tricOtronic: Grab the Treasure (Schnapp' den Schatz). It had an identical system and a unique box. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery for Game Boy in 1997. Released as part of the Nintendo Mini Classics miniature LCD game line in 1999. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 4 for Game Boy Advance in 2002. Remade for Game & Watch Collection 2 Nintendo DS in 2008.
	Fire widescreen	Sharp SM5a	1981	Released in a Wide Screen format in 1981. The widescreen Fire release was distributed by Bienengraeber in Austria and West Germany as Super tricOtronic: Rescue in the Trampoline (Rettung im Sprungtuch).
	Popeye	Sharp SM5a	1981	Released in Wide Screen format in 1981. Octopus was distributed by Bienengraeber in Austria and West Germany as Super tricOtronic: Popeye's Boat Trip (Popeye's Bootsausflug). It had an identical system and a unique box. Released in Table Top format in 1983. Released in Panorama format in 1983.
	Chef	Sharp SM5a	1981	Released in Wide Screen format in 1981.. Chef was distributed by Bienengraeber in Austria and West Germany as Super tricOtronic: The Crazy Kitchen (Die verrückte Küche). It had an identical system and a unique box. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 2 for Game Boy Color in 1998. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 4 for Game Boy Advance in 2002. Remade for Game & Watch Collection 2 Nintendo DS in 2008. Remade as a digital release through DSiWare for Nintendo DSi in 2009.
	Mickey Mouse	Sharp SM5a	1981	Released in a Wide Screen format in 1981. Mickey Mouse was distributed by Bienengraeber in Austria and West Germany as Super tricOtronic: Mickey Mouse in the Chicken Coop (Micky Maus im Hühnerstall). It had an identical system and a unique box. Also released without the Disney license as Egg.
	Egg	Sharp SM5a	1981	Release of the Wide Screen Mickey Mouse without the Disney license. Released in Wide Screen format in 1981. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 3 for Game Boy Color in 1999.
	Turtle Bridge	Sharp SM510	1982	Released in Wide Screen format in 1982. Turtle Bridge was distributed by Bienengraeber in Austria and West Germany as Super tricOtronic: The Living Bridge (Die Lebende Brücke). It had an identical system and a unique box. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 3 for Game Boy Color in 1999.
	Fire Attack	Sharp SM510	1982	Released in Wide Screen format in 1982. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 4 for Game Boy Advance in 2002.
	Snoopy Tennis	Sharp SM510	1982	Released in Wide Screen format in 1982. Released as part of the Nintendo Mini Classics miniature LCD game line in 1998.
	Oil Panic	Sharp SM510	1982	Released in Multi-Screen format in 1982. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery for Game Boy in 1997. Released as part of the Nintendo Mini Classics miniature LCD game line in 1998. Remade as part of Game & Watch Collection for Nintendo DS in 2006.
	Donkey Kong	Sharp SM510	1982	Released in Multi-Screen format in 1982. Released as part of the Nintendo Mini Classics miniature LCD game line in 1998. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 2 for Game Boy Color in 1998. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 4 for Game Boy Advance in 2002. Remade as part of Game & Watch Collection for Nintendo DS in 2006.
	Donkey Kong Jr.	Sharp SM510	1982	Released in New Wide Screen format in 1982. Released as part of the Nintendo Mini Classics miniature LCD game line in 1998. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 3 for Game Boy Color in 1999. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 4 for Game Boy Advance in 2002. Remade as a digital release through DSiWare for Nintendo DSi in 2009.
	Mickey & Donald	Sharp SM510	1982	Released in Multi-Screen format in 1982.
	Green House	Sharp SM510	1982	Released in Multi-Screen format in 1982. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 3 for Game Boy Color in 1999. Remade as part of Game & Watch Collection for Nintendo DS in 2006.
	Donkey Kong II	Sharp SM510	1983	Released in Multi-Screen format in 1983. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 3 for Game Boy Color in 1999.
	Mario Bros.	Sharp SM510	1983	Released in Multi-Screen format in 1983. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 3 for Game Boy Color in 1999.
	Donkey Kong Jr.	Sharp SM511	1983	Released in Table Top format in 1983.
	Mario's Cement Factory	Sharp SM511	1983	Released in Table Top format in 1983. Released as part of the Nintendo Mini Classics miniature LCD game line in 1998. Remade as part of Game Boy Gallery for Game Boy in 1995. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 4 for Game Boy Advance in 2002. Remade as a digital release through DSiWare for Nintendo DSi in 2009.
	Mario's Cement Factory	Sharp SM510	1983	Released in New Wide Screen format in 1983.
	Snoopy	Sharp SM511	1983	Released in Table Top format in 1983.
	Rain Shower	Sharp SM510	1983	Released in Multi-Screen format in 1983. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 4 for Game Boy Advance in 2002.
	Manhole	Sharp SM5a	1983	Released in in a New Wide Screen format in 1983.
	Popeye	Sharp SM5a	1983	Released in Table Top format in 1983.
	Snoopy	Sharp SM511	1983	Released in Panorama format in 1983.
	Popeye	Sharp SM5a	1983	Released in Panorama format in 1983.
	Donkey Kong Jr. tabletop	Sharp SM511	1983	Released in Panorama format in 1983.
	Lifeboat	Sharp SM510	1983	Released in Multi-Screen format in 1983. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 4 for Game Boy Advance in 2002.
	Mario's Bombs Away	Sharp SM511	1983	Released in Panorama format in 1983. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 4 for Game Boy Advance in 2002.
	Pinball	Sharp SM511	1983	Released in Multi Screen format in 1983.
	Spitball Sparky	Sharp SM510	1984	Released in Super Color format in 1984. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 3 for Game Boy Color in 1999.
	Crab Grab	Sharp SM510	1984	Released in Super Color format in 1984.
	Mickey Mouse	Sharp SM511	1984	Released in Panorama format in 1984.
	Boxing	Sharp SM511	1984	Released in Micro VS. format in 1984.
	Punch-Out!!	Sharp SM511	1984	Released in Micro VS. format in 1984. Punch-Out!!-themed version of Boxing.
	Donkey Kong 3	Sharp SM511	1984	Released in Micro VS. format in 1984. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 4 for Game Boy Advance in 2002.
	Donkey Kong Hockey	Sharp SM511	1984	Released in Micro VS. format in 1984.
	Donkey Kong Circus	Sharp SM511	1984	Release of Mickey Mouse without the Disney license. Released in Panorama format in 1984.
	Black Jack	Sharp SM512	1985	Released in Multi Screen format in 1985.
	Tropical Fish	Sharp SM510	1985	Released in New Wide Screen format in 1984. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 4 for Game Boy Advance in 2002.
	Squish	Sharp SM510	1986	Released in Multi Screen format in 1986.
	Super Mario Bros.	Sharp SM511	1986	Released in Crystal Screen format in 1986.
	Climber	Sharp SM511	1986	Released in Crystal Screen format in 1986. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 4 for Game Boy Advance in 2002.
	Balloon Fight	Sharp SM511	1986	Released in Crystal Screen format in 1986. Released in New Wide Screen in 1988.
	Bomb Sweeper	Sharp SM512	1987	Released in Multi Screen format in 1987. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 4 for Game Boy Advance in 2002.
	Super Mario Bros.	Sharp SM511	1987	A Diskun version was given to F-1 Grand Prix contest winners in Japan in 1987.
	Safebuster	Sharp SM511	1988	Released in Multi Screen format in 1988. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 4 for Game Boy Advance in 2002.
	Super Mario Bros.	Sharp SM511	1986	Released in New Wide Screen format in 1987.
	Climber	Sharp SM511	1986	Released in Crystal Screen format in 1986. Released in New Wide Screen format in 1988. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 4 for Game Boy Advance in 2002.
	Gold Cliff	Sharp SM512	1988	Released in Multi Screen format in 1988.
	Zelda	Sharp SM512	1989	Released in Multi Screen format in 1988. Released as part of the Nintendo Mini Classics miniature LCD game line in 1998. Remade as part of Game & Watch Gallery 4 for Game Boy Advance in 2002.
	Mario the Juggler	Sharp SM511	1991	Remake of Ball with a Mario theme. Released in New Wide Screen in 1991.
	Soccer	Sharp SM5 series	Unreleased	Unreleased Wide Screen Game & Watch soccer game. It was included as an easter egg in Nintendo 3DS Sound.
	Tetris Jr.	Sharp SM5 series	Unreleased	Unreleased Multi-Screen Game & Watch Tetris game. Not to be confused with the Tetris Jr. keychain that was designed by Blue Planet Software and distributed by Hiro in 1996.
	Super Mario Bros.	ARM Cortex-M7	2020	Includes Super Mario Bros., The Lost Levels, and a remake of Ball. Released in Color Screen format in 2020.
	The Legend of Zelda	ARM Cortex-M7	2021	Includes The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II, Link's Awakening, and a remake of Vermin. Released in Color Screen format in 2021.