List of handheld game consoles

This list of handheld game consoles shows handheld game consoles. Handheld game consoles are portable video game consoles with a built-in screen and game controls and separate games. It does not include PDAs, smartphones, or tablet computers; while those devices are often capable of playing games, they are not primarily video game consoles. This list may not be complete yet.

For handheld dedicated consoles, which only play games built into the system, see list of dedicated consoles.

For home video game consoles, see List of home video game consoles. This list does not claim to be complete yet.

Second generation (1976–1992)

There are 11 handheld platforms in this generation.

Console Picture Notes Release date(s) Discontinuation date(s) Manufacturer
Microvision
  • The very first handheld game console that used interchangeable cartridges
  • Only 12 games known to exist for the system
  • Contained no processor; all computation was handled by the game cartridges themselves
  • Plays monochrome games from ROM cartridges
1981[1]Milton Bradley
Children's Discovery System
  • Educational handheld game console
  • Set on tabletop rather than held
19811984Mattel
Select-A-Game
  • Contained no processor; all computation was handled by the game cartridges themselves
  • Plays monochrome games from ROM cartridges
19811982Entex Industries
Adventure Vision
  • Contained an Intel 8048 CPU, cartridges consisted of 4k ROM chips (2532 EPROMs)
  • Plays monochrome games from ROM cartridges
  • Set on tabletop rather than held
  • Sold over 50,000 units[2]
Entex Industries
3D Gamate
  • First console to use 3D effects
  • Only 3 games known to exist for the system
  • All games also released for the ProScreen
1983N/AVTech
Variety
  • Only 6 games known to exist for the system
  • Plays cartridges with built-in LCD screen
1983N/AVTech
Portable Videogame System

Later renamed to

Super Micro

  • Only 3 games known to exist for the system
  • Plays cartridges containing a colored sprite overlay, using a monochrome LCD on top of the overlay to cover/uncover each sprite during gameplay
Palmtex
Digi Casse
  • Only 6 games known to exist for the system
  • Plays cartridges with built-in LCD screen
  • Variant under the same name released by Lansay in Europe
1984N/ABandai
Colorvision
  • Only 5 games known to exist for the system
  • Plays cartridges with built-in Color LCD screen
  • Set on tabletop rather than held
  • Some variants under different labels.
1984N/ARomtec
Game Pocket Computer
  • Only 5 games produced for the system, in addition to the built-in puzzle game and paint program
  • Plays monochrome games from ROM cartridges
1984N/AEpoch
ProScreen
  • Combination Projector and handheld game console
  • Only 3 games known to exist for the system
  • Set on tabletop rather than held
  • All games also released for the Gamate 3D
  • Variant under the same name released by Ludotronic
1984N/AVTech

Third generation (1983–2003)

There are 4 handheld platforms in this generation.

Console Picture Notes Release date(s) Discontinuation date(s) Manufacturer
Etch A Sketch Animator 2000
  • Only 3 games produced for the system, in addition to a memory expansion type of cartridge
  • Features a touchpad with an included stylus
1988N/AOhio Art Company
IM-26
  • Only 5 games known to exist for the system[3]
  • Plays cartridges with built-in LCD screen[4]
  • Games also individually sold as dedicated handheld consoles
1988[3]N/AElectronika
Light Games
  • Combination Projector and handheld game console
  • Plays cartridges with built-in LCD screen, which is projected onto any flat surface for display
  • Other variations released in Europe
1988N/AGrandstand
PreComputer 1000
  • Educational handheld game console
  • The successor PreComputer 2000 plays PreComputer 1000 cartridges
1988N/AVTech

Fourth generation (1987–2004)

There are 11 handheld platforms in this generation.

Console Picture Notes Release date(s) Discontinuation date(s) Manufacturer
Game Boy
  • First release of the Game Boy line of handheld consoles
  • Plays monochrome games from ROM cartridges
  • Smaller version named the Game Boy Pocket released in 1996
  • Version with a backlight named the Game Boy Light released in 1998
  • Version capable of displaying games in color released as the Game Boy Color in 1998; the Color is backwards compatible with non-color Game Boy games but is considered part of the fifth console generation
  • All Game Boy versions combined sold 118.69 million units[5]
  • JP: April 21, 1989[6]
  • NA: July 31, 1989[7]
  • EU: September 28, 1990
  • WW: March 23, 2003[8]
Nintendo
Lynx
  • First handheld electronic game with a color LCD
  • Plays ROM cartridges
  • Smaller and lighter version named the Atari Lynx II released in 1991
  • Sold fewer than 500,000 units[9]
  • NA: October 1989
1995Atari
Game Gear
Sega
TurboExpress
  • Portable version of the TurboGrafx-16 home console
  • Some games allow multiplayer options by connecting two TurboExpress consoles with a TurboLink cable
  • Plays ROM cartridges
  • Could be connected to a TV with a TurboVision TV tuner
  • Sold 1.5 million units[9]
NEC
Gamate 19901993Bit Corporation
Game Master
  • Known by different names in different countries, including Systema 2000, Super Game, Game Tronic, and Game Plus
  • Plays monochrome games from ROM cartridges
1990N/AHartung
PC Engine LT
  • JP: December 13, 1991
N/ANEC
Supervision
  • Releases in different countries were by different suppliers with different names similar to Supervision
  • Screen could be tilted relative to controls via flexible connection
  • Plays monochrome games from ROM cartridges
  • Could be linked up to a television via a link cable
  • Version without a tilted screen released
1992[15]N/AWatara
Mega Duck 1993N/AWelback Holdings
Game Wizard
  • Plays cartridges with built-in LCD screen
  • Cartridges bundled with system and not sold separately
  • Similar handheld game consoles released in the UK as the Game Player by Grandstand and in Japan as the Triple-In by Epoch
1994N/AMGA Entertainment
Nomad
  • Handheld version of the Sega Genesis that played the same cartridges[16]
  • Early version for use on Japanese airplanes was named the Mega Jet[16]
  • Plays ROM cartridges
  • Sold 1 million units; considered a commercial failure[9]
1999 Sega

Fifth generation (1993–2005)

There are 9 handheld platforms in this generation.

Console Picture Notes Release date(s) Discontinuation date(s) Manufacturer
Virtual Boy
  • JP: July 21, 1995
  • NA: August 14, 1995
  • JP: December 22, 1995
  • NA: March 2, 1996
Nintendo
Design Master Senshi
  • Features a touchscreen with an included stylus
1995N/ABandai
R-Zone
  • Displayed graphics via a headset; the cartridges contained an LCD screen which the headset reflected from a transparent viewing screen.
  • Plays red monochrome games from ROM cartridges
  • Version that plays color games named the R-Zone Super Screen released in 1995
  • Version that did not use a headset named the X.P.G. Xtreme Pocket Game; games were instead reflected onto a mirror on the console itself
19951997Tiger Electronics
PasoGo 1996N/AKoei
Game.com
  • Features a touchscreen with an included stylus
  • Plays monochrome games from ROM cartridges
  • Could be connected to a 14.4 kbit/s modem
  • Smaller version released as the Game.com Pocket Pro
  • Cheaper version without the frontlight released as the Game.com Pocket
  • Sold fewer than 300,000 units; considered a commercial failure[9]
  • NA: August 1997
Tiger Electronics
Neo Geo Pocket
  • Part of the Neo Geo family of consoles
  • Plays monochrome games from ROM cartridges
  • Version that plays color games released as Neo Geo Pocket Color worldwide
  • Neo Geo Pocket was quickly discontinued in favor of the Neo Geo Pocket Color due to lower than expected sales[9]
  • Color version is backwards compatible with Neo Geo Pocket games, but is considered part of the Sixth console generation
  • Pocket and Pocket Color combined sold 2 million units; resulted in SNK leaving the hardware business completely[9]
  • JP: October 28, 1998[18]
  • NA: June 1, 1999 (Color)[19]
  • PAL: October 1, 1999 (Color)
SNK
PocketStation
  • An accessory for the PS1
  • Worked in a similar way to the Sega VMU, it is a memory card that with mini-games that can be downloaded onto it
  • JP: January 23, 1999
  • JP: July 2002
Sony
WonderSwan
  • Plays monochrome games from ROM cartridges
  • Version that plays color games released as WonderSwan Color in 2000
  • Redesigned version of the console with a better LCD screen released as SwanCrystal in 2002
  • Sold 3.5 million units: 1.55 million WonderSwans, 1.1 million WonderSwan Colors, and 0.95 million SwanCrystals[20][21]
2003Bandai
Turbo Twist
  • Educational handheld game console
2000 N/A LeapFrog Enterprises

Sixth generation (1998–2013)

There are 12 handheld platforms in this generation.

Console Picture Notes Release date(s) Discontinuation date(s) Manufacturer
Cybiko
  • Combination PDA and handheld game console[23]
  • Features an included stylus for keyboard[23]
  • Plays digital games via internet download from PC[23]
  • More than 430 games and applications produced for the system, all were free[24]
  • Improved version named Cybiko Xtreme released in September 2001[23]
  • Sold over 500,000 units by the end of 2000[25]
2003Cybiko
VMU
  • Serves as the memory card for the Dreamcast
  • Has small games for it that can be transferred from the Dreamcast itself
  • Could also serve as a screen during gameplay
  • JP: July 30, 1998
  • NA: September 9, 1999
  • EU: October 14, 1999
  • AU: November 30, 1999
  • JP: March 30, 2001
Sega
Game Boy Advance
Nintendo
GP32
  • KOR: November 23, 2001
  • PAL: June 15, 2004
N/AGame Park
Pokémon Mini
  • JP: December 14, 2001
  • NA: November 16, 2001
  • PAL: March 15, 2002
  • JP: December 2002
Nintendo
iQuest
  • Educational handheld game console
2001N/ALeapFrog Enterprises
Kasey the Kinderbot
  • Educational handheld game console
2002N/AFisher Price
Pixter
  • Educational handheld game console
  • Features a touchscreen with an included stylus.
2002[31]2002[31]Mattel / Fisher-Price
N-Gage
  • Combination game console and phone
  • Plays MultiMediaCards
  • Redesigned version that made changing game cartridges easier and moved the earpiece off of the side of the device released as the N-Gage QD in 2004
  • Sold 3 million units[9]
October 7, 2003[32]N/ANokia
Leapster
  • Educational handheld game console
  • Features a touchscreen with an included stylus
  • Redesigned version with TV output named Leapster L-Max released in 2004
  • Console version named Leapster TV released in 2005
October 2003N/ALeapFrog Enterprises
Zodiac
  • Combination PDA, handheld game console, and mobile entertainment device
  • Features a touchscreen with an included stylus and an MP3 player
  • Plays digital games via internal memory or SD cards
  • Sold fewer than 200,000 units; Tapwave declared bankruptcy in July 2005[9]
October 2003July 2005Tapwave
GameKing
  • 8-bit monochrome console designed to look like the Game Boy Advance, released solely in Hong Kong
  • Plays monochrome games from ROM cartridges
  • A redesigned version of the console intended to look like the PlayStation Portable released as the GameKing II in 2004
  • A redesigned version of the console with support for color games released as the GameKing III in 2005
  • A fourth version of the console which takes different cartridges released as the Handy Game in 2007
  • Almost all games for the system are clones of third generation games, such as Nintendo Entertainment System games
N/ATimeTop

Seventh generation (2005–2017)

There are 19 handheld platforms in this generation.

Console Picture Notes Release date(s) Discontinuation date(s) Manufacturer
Nintendo DS
  • First console in the Nintendo DS line
  • Uses two separate screens
  • Features a touchscreen with an included stylus
  • Backwards compatible with Game Boy Advance games
  • Plays ROM cartridges
  • Lighter version with a brighter screen released as the Nintendo DS Lite in 2006
  • Smaller version with cameras and without Game Boy Advance compatibility released as the Nintendo DSi in 2008
  • Larger version with larger, better LCD screen released as the Nintendo DSi XL in 2008
  • Sold over 154 million units[33]
  • JP: December 2, 2004
  • NA: November 21, 2004
  • PAL: February 24, 2005
2016[34]Nintendo
PlayStation Portable
  • Features interactivity with PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 consoles
  • Plays Universal Media Discs and digital games via internet download
  • Lighter and thinner version released as the PSP-2000 in 2007
  • Lighter version with a microphone and better LCD screen released as the PSP-3000 in 2008
  • Smaller, redesigned version without a UMD drive released as the PSP Go in 2009
  • Cheaper version without internet connectivity released as the PSP-E1000 in 2011
  • Sold 80 million units[35]
  • JP: December 12, 2004
  • NA: March 24, 2005
  • PAL: September 1, 2005
  • JP: June 2014
  • NA: January 2014
  • PAL: Q4 2014
Sony
Gizmondo
  • Features camera, GPS, text messaging, and Bluetooth wireless connectivity
  • Plays SD cards
  • Released in advertisement-supported and ad-free variants
  • Sold fewer than 25 thousand units; considered one of the worst commercial failures of a handheld console[9]
February 6, 2006Tiger Telematics
GP2X
  • Open source hardware game console released only in South Korea
  • Plays digital games via SD cards and internet download
  • Multiple versions released, adding features such as a touchscreen
  • Most releases for the system were open-source software games and applications
  • KOR: November 10, 2005
N/AGamePark Holdings
digiBlast
  • Kids media player for music, video games and cartoons videos
  • Cartridge for MP3 playback and a cartridge with a 1.3-megapixel camera were released as add-ons
N/ANikko
V.Smile Pocket
  • Handheld version of the V.Smile educational console
  • Plays ROM cartridges
  • Redesigned version with a microphone released in 2007
  • Redesigned clamshell version named the V.Smile Pocket Cyber released in 2008
2005N/AVTech
VideoNow XP 2005N/ATiger Electronics
My Life
  • Cartridge system aimed at girls
2007N/AGiochi Preziosi
Didj
  • Educational handheld game console aimed at children
  • Plays ROM cartridges
  • NA: August 22, 2008
N/ALeapFrog Enterprises
Dingoo A320
  • Combination game console, radio, and media player
  • Plays digital games via internet download
  • CHN: February 2009
  • NA: February 2009
N/ADingoo Digital Technology Company
GP2X Wiz
  • Open source hardware game console
  • Successor to the GP2X
  • Plays digital games via internet download
  • Features a touchscreen with an included stylus
May 12, 2009N/AGamePark Holdings
Pandora
  • Open source hardware game console only sold online
  • Combination game console and subnotebook
  • Unofficial successor to the GP2X
  • Plays digital games via internet download
  • Features a touchscreen with an included stylus
May 21, 2010N/AOpenPandora
MobiGo
  • Educational handheld video game console
June 7, 2010[37]N/AVTech
Leapster Explorer
  • Educational handheld video game console
  • Backwards compatible with Didj games
July 15, 2010N/ALeapFrog Enterprises
CAANOO
  • Open source hardware game console
  • Successor to the GP2X Wiz
  • Plays digital games via internet download
  • Features a touchscreen with an included stylus
August 16, 2010September 2011GamePark Holdings
iXL
  • Educational handheld game console
  • Features a touchscreen with an included stylus
2010[38]2012[38]Mattel / Fisher Price
InnoTab
  • Educational tablet video game console
  • Games can be downloaded or bought on cartridges
September, 2011[39] N/A VTech
K-Magic
  • Educational handheld game console
September 2011 N/A K's Kids
GameGadget
N/A Blaze

Eighth generation (2012 – present)

There are 16 handheld platforms in this generation.

Console Picture Notes Release date(s) Discontinuation date(s) Manufacturer
Nintendo 3DS
  • Part of the Nintendo 3DS line
  • Uses two separate screens and is capable of projecting stereoscopic 3D effects without the use of 3D glasses
  • Features a touchscreen with an included stylus
  • Backwards compatible with Nintendo DS games
  • Plays ROM cartridges and digital games via internet download
  • Larger version released as the Nintendo 3DS XL in 2012
  • Version without 3D capability or clamshell design released as the Nintendo 2DS in 2013
  • Redesigned version with better performance and exclusive titles released as the New Nintendo 3DS in 2014
  • Larger redesigned version with better performance and exclusive titles released as the New Nintendo 3DS XL in 2015
  • Larger redesigned version with better performance and exclusive titles released as the New Nintendo 2DS XL in 2017
  • Sold over 60 million units[40]
  • JP: February 26, 2011
  • NA: March 27, 2011
  • PAL: March 25, 2011
N/A Nintendo
PlayStation Vita
  • JP: December 17, 2011
  • NA: February 15, 2012
  • PAL: February 22, 2012
March 1, 2019Sony
Kids Pad
  • Educational handheld game console
N/ALG Corporation
Neo Geo X
  • Part of the Neo Geo line
  • Based on open source hardware
  • Releases are adaptations of Neo Geo games
  • Plays SD cards
  • Contains HDMI, A/V and control docking ports making it the first hybrid video game console.
  • NA: December 18, 2012
N/ATommo
GCW Zero
  • Based on open source hardware
  • Focus on homebrew and emulation
  • NA: January 17, 2013
N/AGame Consoles Worldwide
Shield Portable
  • Part of the Nvidia Shield line
  • Based on Android
  • Allows the streaming of games running on a PC
  • HDMI port available and the 2nd hybrid game console.
  • NA: July 31, 2013
N/ANvidia
Monon Color
  • CHN: October, 2014
[42]
N/AM&D
GPD XD
  • WW: October, 2015
N/AGPD
Arduboy
  • WW: August 8, 2016
[43]
N/AKevin Bates
GPD Win
  • WW: October, 2016
N/AGPD
Nintendo Switch
  • Hybrid console, designed primarily as a home console with the main unit inserted onto a docking station to connect to a television.
  • The individual Joy-Con controllers can attach to the main unit or be used individually.
  • Touchscreen display with 720p resolution, up to 1080p when docked via HDMI port.
  • Handheld-only version named Nintendo Switch Lite released on September 20th, 2019
  • WW: March 3, 2017
N/ANintendo
GPD Win 2
  • WW: May 2018
N/AGPD
MAKERbuino
  • Based off of the GAMEbuino hardware
  • Funded through KickStarter
  • WW: 2018
N/ACircutMess
Oculus Quest
  • Self-contained virtual reality headset.
  • Can be plugged into a computer to play games not ported to it yet.
  • US: May 21, 2019
N/AOculus
Evercade
  • WW: 2020
N/AEvercade
Playdate
  • WW: 2020
N/APanic

See also

References

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  2. Forster, Winnie (2005). The Encyclopedia of Game.Machines: Consoles, Handhelds, and Home Computers 1972-2005. Magdalena Gniatczynska. p. 53. ISBN 3-0001-5359-4.
  3. "Электроника ИМ 26". myadel-gimnaz.by. Myadel. 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  4. "NM 26". electronicplastic.com. electronicplastic.com. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
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  6. "retrodiary: 1 April – 28 April". Retro Gamer. Bournemouth: Imagine Publishing (88): 17. April 2011. ISSN 1742-3155. OCLC 489477015.
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  31. "Pixter™". Mattel. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  32. "N-Gage". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
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  43. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/903888394/arduboy-card-sized-gaming/posts/1650129
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