Game & Watch consoles

Release date:

JP: 28 Apr 1980 - ゲーム&ウオッチ

US: 28 Apr 1980

EU: 28 Apr 1980

System: Game & Watch

Developer: Nintendo

Genre: Action (mostly)

Game & Watch games were LCD-based standalone games, such as Ball and Manhole, that also had a clock and alarm function. Later models varied wildly in design. The multi-screen models helped inspire the two-screen design of the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS consoles. 

Nintendo have released over 60 of these consoles over the years. We have extensive information on every last one of these consoles. To view that information, please click here.

Game Boy Gallery

Release date:

EU: 1995

System: Game Boy

Developer: Nintendo

Genre: Action

A compilation of generally faithful remakes of five old Game & Watch games: "Ball", "Vermin", "Flagman", "Manhole" and "Mario's Cement Factory". Unusually, this game was only released in Europe and lacks any distinct "Classic"/"Modern" mode like the later titles. The games are visually updated but play identically to how they used to play.

Game & Watch Gallery

Release date:

JP: 01 Feb 1997 - ゲームボーイギャラリー (Game Boy Gallery)

US: 01 May 1997

EU: 28 Aug 1997 -  Game Boy Gallery 2 (in Australia)

System: Game Boy

Developer: Nintendo R&D1 and Tose

Genre: Action

A Game Boy remake of four Game & Watch games that were released in the '80s: "Fire", "Manhole", "Octopus" and "Oil Panic". This remake features a "Modern" mode that adds game mechanics and revamps the visuals to include characters from the "Mario" series, making the games appear more modern.

Re-Releases:

Game Boy Nintendo Power Service:

01 Mar 2000 (JP)

Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console:

22 Jun 2011 (JP), 14 Jul 2011 (US),  21 Jul 2011 (EU)

Game Boy Gallery 2

Release date:

JP: 27 Sep 1997 - ゲームボーイギャラリー２

System: Game Boy

Developer: Nintendo R&D1 and Tose

Genre: Action

A second Game Boy compilation of remade Game & Watch classics. This game features six games this time: "Parachute", "Helmet", "Chef", "Vermin", "Donkey Kong" and the unlockable "Ball". This remake also features a "Modern" mode that adds game mechanics and revamps the visuals to include "Mario" characters.

Re-Releases:

Game Boy Nintendo Power Service:

01 Mar 2000 (JP)

Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console:

21 Mar 2012 (JP)

Game & Watch Gallery 2

Release date:

US: 18 Nov 1998

EU: 23 Nov 1998

JP: Unreleased - ゲームボーイギャラリー２ (Game Boy Gallery 2)

Discovered from 2020's "Gigaleak" event

System: Game Boy (Compatible with the Game Boy Color)

Developer: Nintendo R&D1 and Tose

Genre: Action

A version of "Game Boy Gallery 2" compatible with the Game Boy Color but otherwise has identical content. This is the only version of the game released in the West, while Japan only ever got the original Game Boy release without colour. A Japanese version of this release was discovered in 2020 via a massive leak of Nintendo's internal files.

Re-Releases:

Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console:

03 May 2012 (EU), 24 May 2012 (US)

Game & Watch Gallery 3

Release date:

JP: 08 Apr 1999 - ゲームボーイギャラリー３ (Game Boy Gallery 3)

US: 06 Dec 1999

EU: 23 Mar 2000

System: Game Boy (Compatible with the Game Boy Color)

Developer: Nintendo R&D1 and Tose

Genre: Action

The third Game Boy compilation of remade Game & Watch classics. This game starts with five games, "Egg", "Greenhouse", "Turtle Bridge", "Mario Bros." and "Donkey Kong Jr.",  all of which can be played in "Modern" mode in full colour. There are also five additional games for you to unlock that can only be played in "Classic" mode.

Re-Releases:

Game Boy Nintendo Power Service:

01 Mar 2000 (JP)

Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console:

25 Sep 2014 (EU), 05 Feb 2015 (US)

Game Boy - Nintendo Switch Online:

08 Feb 2023 (JP), 08 Feb 2023 (US), 08 Feb 2023 (EU)

Game & Watch Gallery 4

Release date:

EU: 25 Oct 2002 -  Game & Watch Gallery Advance

US: 28 Oct 2002

JP: 16 Mar 2016 (first released via the Wii U Virtual Console) - 

ゲームボーイギャラリー4 (Game Boy Gallery 4)

System: Game Boy Advance

Developer: Tose

Genre: Action

Originally planned for release in Japan before being cancelled. It then finally received an official release via the Wii U Virtual Console. This Game Boy Advance compilation contains a total of 20 Game & Watch games, 11 of which can be played in "Modern" mode, which has now been enhanced by the Game Boy Advance's greater graphical power.

Re-Releases:

Wii U Virtual Console:

10 Dec 2015 (EU), 16 Mar 2016 (JP)

Game & Watch Collection

Release date:

JP: 28 Jul 2006 - ゲーム&ウオッチコレクション

US: 15 Dec 2008

EU: 11 Dec 2009

System: Nintendo DS

Developer: Nintendo EAD

Genre: Action

A collection of three remade Game & Watch games: "Donkey Kong", "Oil Panic" and "Greenhouse. Since all three of these games were originally released as "Multi Screen" Game & Watch models, models that have two screens, these games are perfectly at home on the Nintendo DS, a console known for its dual screen setup.

Game & Watch Collection 2

Release date:

JP: 05 Sep 2008 - ゲーム&ウオッチコレクション2

System: Nintendo DS

Developer: Nintendo EAD

Genre: Action

A collection of two remade Game & Watch games: "Parachute" and "Octopus". A third game is also included, an original game called "Parachute x Octopus", which has you rapidly swap between playing "Parachute" on the top screen and "Octopus" on the bottom screen. GAME B is faster and has some of the falling people get stuck in trees.