This is a list of Game & Watch games released by Nintendo, along with their format and date of release, if known. See lists of video games for related lists. Several of these games were collected and re-released as ports for the Game & Watch Gallery series (for GBA and Nintendo DS). The games also were re-released as stand-alone titles for the Nintendo Mini Classics series in the late 1990s as well as for the Nintendo DSi in the late 2000s.
Ball is the first game in Nintendo's Game & Watch series of handheld LCD games. It was first released for the silver Game & Watch on April 28, 1980 with the model number: AC-01.
In the game, the player tosses three balls up in the air. As the balls fall down, the player must catch and toss them up again, earning one point for each successful catch. Dropping a ball will end the game. The object of the game is to continuously catch the balls that fall and throw them back up again, like juggling.
The game Ball was also featured in the 1994 Game Boy Gallery, the 1998 Game & Watch Gallery 2, and was released as a DSiWare game on July 15, 2009.[1][2] For its 30th anniversary, Ball was reissued with model number RGW-001 and made available to Japanese (2009) and American (2011) members of the Club Nintendo program.[3] Ball is also referenced in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl, appearing as Mr. Game and Watch's throw.
Two versions of Balloon Fight were released: BF-803 (Crystal Screen series) and BF-107 (New Wide Screen series).
This game, model number BJ-60, was released in 1985. It has a dual-screen display (Multi Screen series) opening up and has a maroon body.
Game A is a Black Jack game. On the upper screen is the dealer's hand and on the bottom screen is the player's hand. Four buttons are available: double down, bet x10/hit, bet x1/stand and enter. The player starts with a $500 bankroll and can bet up to $100 each hand. There are, however, two major flaws in this game. First, pair splitting is not allowed. Second, you have to lock your bet before shuffling is done, not corresponding to a real-world Black Jack game.
In Game B, the player starts with $500 as five numbers cycle in a random pattern on the bottom screen. Pressing the enter button causes the numbers to stop one at a time, rewarding $50 if all five stop on the same number, or deducting $25 if not.
A dual-screen ("Multi Screen") game released in June 1987. Its product number is BD-62.
The top screen is just "cosmetic", showing your "boss" sending you down the underground maze. You are "John Solver", who needs to defuse bombs set by "Jack". In order to reach the bomb you have to move inside a maze. You can move walls (if they are not blocked by other walls) to create a path for you to move. After defusing a certain number of bombs, the game changes a bit (only on "Game A" mode): the maze starts moving from left to right and you have to be able to find an exit back to the surface (top screen).
Differently from most Game & Watch games, your lost lives aren't "erased" when a player reaches 300 points.
Released on July 31, 1984 on the Micro Vs. System series. Its product number is BX-301. It is similar to Urban Champion, although it was released shortly before the NES title.
Chef is a Game & Watch game released on September 8, 1981. Its product number is FP-24.
In this game, the player controls a chef flipping various pieces of food, including sausage and fish, into the air with a pan. The player must flip the food and keep it airborne. Failing to do so will cause a mouse to steal the food off the floor, and the player to use up one 'miss'. The player gets three chances to 'miss' the food, and after all three misses have been used, the game is over. A cat often pokes the left piece of food, which holds it in place for a small amount of time, making it harder for the player to guess when the piece will be flippable. The game speeds up as it progresses.
In Game A, the player must flip three items of food. In Game B, the player must flip four food items.
The game Chef is also unlockable in Personal Trainer Cooking for the DS after the player has cooked a certain number of meals. The game was re-released for Nintendo DSi in 2009.[2]
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mr. Game & Watch has a special move that came from this game.
It was developed by Nintendo R&D1. It is similar to Ice Climber.
A boy with wisdom and courage known as the Climber, one day, sets out on a training trip to the Block Mountain where the Blockmen live to become warrior. On the way, he meets Lord Meiji who grants him a pair of special boots which will enable him to jump very high, an armor to break ceilings and a head band which will help him find a sword that can slash Dragalo the dragon with one stroke. No one knows how many of the obstacles will the Climber be able to overcome with the help of the mysterious bird, Hentori, and continue his quest.
The objective of the game is to control Climber by jumping through a tower of platforms and landing on them, and by avoiding monsters and blockmen. The goal is to either grab Hentori the bird or slash Dragalo the dragon. The other goal is to make the highest score possible.
There are two versions of Climber available: DR-106 (New Wide Screen series, 1988) and DR-802 (Crystal Screen series, 1986). Climber was also an unlockable Game & Watch game in Game & Watch Gallery 4.
Released on February 21, 1984 in the Super Color series. Its product number is UD-202. There were four columns along which crabs come from the bottom of the screen reaching and settling at the top. Your objective would be to avoid being in front of the crab and start pushing the crabs from the bottom to avoid them mounting on the screen. Pushing and eliminating the crabs earned the points. On the other hand, you had three chances before 'Game Over' to be bitten by a crab. You could move your character along four directions (Up, Down, Left, Right). There were two games A & B both having almost the similar objective but with slighter different speed. The Super Color was that each column was of different colored LCD. It was considered as one of the expensive games in 1984. The game was one of two Super Color games, the other being Spitball Sparky.
Released on June 3, 1982. It is a dual-screen (Multi Screen series) game with an orange body. Its product number is DK-52.
Released on March 7, 1983, it is a dual-screen (multi-screen series) game with a brown body. Its product number is JR-55. This console was the console that gave Nintendo the idea to make the Nintendo DS. Music composition for the game was done by Hirokazu Tanaka.[4]
Released on August 20, 1984, it is part of the Micro Vs. System series. Its product number is AK-302.
Released on September 1984, it is part of the Panorama series. It has a lilac body and product number MK-96.
Released on November 13, 1984, it is part of the Micro vs. System series. Its part number is HK-303.
Three different versions of Donkey Kong Jr. were released: DJ-101 (New Wide Screen series, released 10/26/1982, portrayed on the photo shown), CJ-71 (Table Top series, released 04/28/1983) and CJ-93 (Panorama series, released 10/07/1983). The music composition for the game was done by Hirokazu Tanaka.[4]
The game was re-released for Nintendo DSi in 2009.[2]
Egg is a Game & Watch video game released on Oct. 9, 1981. It was released in the widescreen version. Product number: EG-26.
In the game, a fox is outside a hen house where hens are laying eggs. As the hens lay eggs, the eggs fall out the side of the hen house. The fox must catch the eggs that fall for one point each. The player is given three lives. Missing an egg causes the player to lose a life, but missing it with the hen appears losing only a half of the life. Lose all three lives and the game is over.
This game appeared in Game & Watch Gallery 3.
Fire was the fourth Game & Watch game to be released. It was made by Nintendo Research & Development 1 and released on July 31, 1980 (product number RC-04 under the Silver series, shown on the photo). It was one of the most popular games in the Game & Watch series. Due to Fire's popularity, another version was released on December 4, 1981 (product number FR-27, under the Wide screen series). That version was part of the Wide Screen series.
In the Silver Screen version, people are falling from a burning building. The player controls two firemen who carry a trampoline. They have to bounce all the people to a waiting ambulance. When they get a person in the ambulance the player scores 1 point. But if a person hits the ground, the player loses a life. There are three lives. If the player loses them all they lose the game. In the Wide Screen version, the player only needs to bounce a person to score a point instead of having to get them in the ambulance. Another change is that the Wide Screen version was more colorful and had better graphics than the Silver Series version.
In Game & Watch Gallery, Game & Watch Gallery 3, and Game & Watch Gallery 4, Fire is a playable game. Fire also makes a brief appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, on Flat Zone 2. Players can jump on the trampoline which is held out by the firemen.
Mr. Game & Watch also has a special move based on this game in the Super Smash Bros. series. He is propelled upwards by the men with the trampoline, after which he releases a parachute, based on the Game & Watch game Parachute.
In this wide screen edition game (product number ID-29, 1982) the player controls the main character, who uses a tomahawk type weapon to protect a fort from going up in flames. The setting is that of a "cowboys and Indians" environment. The top row of enemies are Indian chiefs throwing firesticks, and the bottom row of enemies are traditional style game and watch characters who run on the ground, jump up, and try to light the fort with a match. Each time the fort catches fire you gain a miss, which you have three of. Each fire successfully hit away gives you two points. You can lose all your misses if you reach 200 points and again at 500.
Flagman is the second Game & Watch game to be released. It was released for the silver Game & Watch on June 5, 1980 (product number FL-02). The object of the game is to repeat the pattern of numbers on flags held up by Mr. Game & Watch, the on-screen character.
The game has four buttons, each of which activate a number on the game screen. In Game A, Mr. Game & Watch will randomly hold up flags with numbers on them. The player must repeat the numbers on the flags that he held up in exactly the same pattern, like a game of Simon says. If the player pushes the wrong button or the correct number too late, a life will be lost. After losing three lives, the game is over.
In Game B, the character will hold up a flag as before but now, you have to push the right number as quickly as possible, before the time runs out.
Flagman was a playable game in Game Boy Gallery and Game & Watch Gallery 3, and more recently has been announced as a DSiWare release for July 15, 2009.[1] In Wario Land II a version of Flagman is made available once the player has achieved 100% completion of the game. In WarioWare Touched! there is a microgame called Flagman Game & Watch. In this microgame, Mr. Game & Watch will put up numbers, which must be repeated in the same order, as in the actual game. In Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mr. Game & Watch has a move called Flagman, where he takes a flag and hits the player with it. The game was also re-released for Nintendo DSi in 2009.[2]
Gold Cliff is a dual-screen Game & Watch released on October 1988 (product number MV-64) that opens like a compact, with an upper and lower screen. The casing is light blue, with a colorful printed metal plate on the cover. You control an "archaeoligist" (Indiana Jones style) type character on a mission to acquire treasure. Stone platforms appear and disappear in a pattern and you must jump on them to reach the top of the screen. Once near the top, you must jump off the platform towards the key in order to reach and possess it. Once you have the key, you make your way back towards the center of the upper screen, to unlock a stone gateway allowing you into the temple. If you misstep and fall, the floor is crawling with crabs which you must jump in between to avoid or else you will lose a life. As you progress, the action becomes more frantic, the platforms disappear quicker, the patterns become more complicated and the keys get tougher to acquire. It was one of the only two Game & Watch games with a Continue feature built in so you could continue from the last stage you lost all your lives in, but with the loss of your points. The only other Game & Watch with a Continue feature is the game Zelda.
Green House, released on December 16, 1982, is a Multi-Screen game with product number GH-54. The object of the game is to protect the flowers at each corner of the screen with a can of bug spray from enemies. Worms crawl towards the top flowers while spiders slowly climb down webs to the bottom flowers. When three flowers have been eaten, you lose.
In Super Smash Bros. Melee and Brawl, Mr. Game and Watch's standard A move represents this game.
Helmet was the seventh Game & Watch game that was released on February 21, 1981 (product number CN-07). It is also the second game in the Gold series. In the game, tools are falling from the sky but there is a house at the end of the right side of the screen. The player must guide Mr. Game & Watch towards the house while dodging the tools. However, the door to the house is not always open, so the player must dodge tools until the door opens and go in.
The game was re-released for Nintendo DSi in 2009.[2]
This member of the Game & Watch series is designed to allow 1 or 2 players. In the game, two male figures each hold hammers in their hands. After a short time, both men will hold up a number. The man with the higher number must try to attack, and the man with the lower number must try to flee. Players may gamble and attack before the number is held up. Waiting to see the opponent's score will result in a 5 point bonus going to the man with the lower score. The same rules apply in the 2-player duel mode.
Released on October 4, 1980, it was the 5th Game & Watch to be released, being part of the Silver series. Its product number is IP-05. The game was re-released for Nintendo DSi in 2009.[2]
Life Boat is a multi-screen Game & Watch, that opens like a book (Multi Screen Series). The casing is a light orange. In the background of the two screens is an oceanliner on fire, smoke billowing to the sky. You must save the people falling into the water by catching them on rafts that you pull back and forth through shark-infested waters. Miss a falling person, and they're sharkfood. You also need to empty the rafts and let the people off on the shores on either side. The rafts can hold up to 4 people; you can empty them no matter how many people are in it. You get 1 point for every victim you get safely to shore. The alarm on is indicated by a bucket of water on the cliffside, and when it goes off, a man takes the bucket and attempts to douse the fire.
On "Game A" mode you control two rafts, one on each side of the screen, which move together when you press the left and right buttons. On "Game B" mode there is only one raft, which can move from one side of the screen to the other, differently from "Game A", where the rafts can't leave their screens.
It was released in October 1983 with product number TC-58.
Lion is single player, single screen, in maroon plastic with a gold faceplate. You are a lion tamer, and it is up to you to prevent the lion from escaping from the cage.
This was the eighth Game & Watch to be released and the first one on the Gold series, released on April 29, 1981. Its product number is LN-08.
Manhole is a game developed by Nintendo R&D1 and was the sixth Game & Watch game to be released.[5] It first appeared in the Game & Watch Gold series in 1981 (product number MN-06), and was released as part of the New Wide Screen series on August 24, 1983[6] (model number NH-103).
There are four buttons available, each corresponding to an opening in the street on the game screen. The player must use the buttons to close the manholes before pedestrians accidentally fall through the open holes and into the sewers.
A remake of Manhole appeared in the first Game Boy Gallery, released in 1994, where the player controls Yoshi. Mario can also be seen running across the screen occasionally.[7] Manhole was one of the cards included with purchase of the Nintendo e-Reader.[8] Manhole was also unlockable in Game & Watch Gallery 4.[9] More recently, Nintendo released Manhole as a DSiWare game on August 19, 2009.[1][2]
Released on March 14, 1983, it is a dual-screen ("Multi Screen") game with a maroon body that opens like a book, instead of opening up like most games of the series. It opens to the right like Japanese books instead of opening to the left like books from western countries. Its product number is MW-56. This game is also playable in Game & Watch Gallery 3 and Game & Watch Gallery 4.
The game consists of a military-clad Mario delivering bombs from left to right, while keeping them away from flaming oil spills and enemy torches. It features a colour LCD screen without an internal back-light, which faces downward in order to expose the translucent rear to an external light source, e.g. daylight. The player views the action in a mirror that reflects the screen. Music composition for the game was done by Hirokazu Tanaka.[4]
Released on November 13, 1983 on the Panorama series, its product number is PB-94.
Two versions of this game were released, one on the Table Top series (released on April 28, 1983, product number CM-72) and another on the New Wide Screen series (the one shown on the photo, released on June 16, 1983, product number ML-102). The music composition for the game was done by Hirokazu Tanaka.[4] The game was re-released for Nintendo DSi in 2009.[2]
Released on October 1991, this was the last Game & Watch game to be released. Part of the New Wide Screen series, its product number is MJ-108.
A dual-screen ("multi screen") game released on November 12, 1982 (product number: DM-53). Here, the goal is put out the fire in a 3-story apartment building as fast as possible. Donald mans the hose while Mickey is on the pump. Bulges in the hose mean more water for Donald to use, but also require Mickey to leave the pump to stop leaks. Music composition for the game was done by Hirokazu Tanaka.[4]
Two versions of this game were released: MC-25 (Wide Screen series, released on October 9, 1981) and DC-95 (the one shown on the photo, Panorama series, released on February 1984).
Octopus was a handheld Game & Watch system released on July 16, 1981 (product number: OC-22). It was released in the widescreen version. The object of the game is to get the sunken ship's treasure without getting caught by the octopus. In the United Kingdom this game was renamed Mysteries of the Sea and also Mysteries of the Deep.
In the game, the player must aim his diver under water by jumping off the side of a boat and walking underwater. Once under water the player must avoid getting caught by an octopus. If the octopus touches the player, who will lose a life. The game is over once the player loses all lives. If the player manages to avoid the octopus, who will get to a sunken ship with a treasure chest. The player can take portions of treasure for a point each. Three additional points are awarded for again evading the octopus and resurfacing back on the player's boat. Additional lives can be gained if needed at 200 and 500 points. The game gets quicker as it progresses.
In octopus, a game A and B is shown. If the player picks game A, the game moves lazier and is easier, but if the player picks game B, the octopus moves much quicker and there are more hazards.
Octopus was well received. The game is considered to be one of the most complex Game & Watch games ever created.
The game Octopus was re-released for the Gameboy in the game Game & Watch Gallery. It was also re-released for the Game & Watch Gallery 4, and for the Game & Watch Collection 2. The octopus from Octopus also makes an appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. When Mr. Game & Watch gets the smash ball, he turns into the octopus and starts KO-ing opponents with his tentacles. There is also a move in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl where Mr. Game and Watch headbutts with a helmet from Octopus.
Oil Panic is a Game & Watch game developed by Nintendo R&D1, released on May 28, 1982 (product number: OP-51). It was the first dual-screen Game & Watch game (Multi Screen series) using a white body, and has since been released twice in Game & Watch compilations for the Game Boy and the Nintendo DS hand-held consoles.
In the game, the player controls the station helper as he catches drops of oil from a leaking pipe. Once they have been caught, the helper must go out onto the veranda and empty the bucket into the boss' oil drum. Missing a drop from the pipe or missing the boss' oil drum causes the player to lose a life. The game is unique in that the player has four lives, rather than three.
Oil Panic was featured in the first Game & Watch Gallery for the Game Boy. The other games included were Manhole, Fire, Octopus, and their remade versions. In the Oil Panic remake, Mr. Game and Watch is replaced by Mario, the boss is replaced by Yoshi, the people waiting for gas are replaced by Donkey Kong Jr. and Luigi, and Bowser spills the oil. Mario has the ability to hold two buckets of oil, whereas in the original game, Mr. Game and Watch can only hold one.
Oil Panic is also featured in Game & Watch Collection for the Nintendo DS.
Oil Panic is also one of the microgames featured (briefly) in the collection of microgames presented by 9 Volt in WarioWare: Touched!.
A few elements of the game are featured in Super Smash Bros. Melee and its sequel Super Smash Bros. Brawl. One of the backgrounds of Flat Zone 2 is themed upon Oil Panic,[10] and one of the attacks used by Mr. Game & Watch is called "Oil Panic".[11] Mr. Game and Watch's Tilt Down+B attack in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl is taken from this game, and allows the player to absorb three energy attacks and release it as a more powerful attack.
Parachute (product number PR-21) was released on June 19, 1981. This game was the first game in the Wide Screen series. The gameplay is very simple. Mr. Game & Watch is in a boat and he has to prevent every parachuter from landing in the shark infested waters by catching them in his boat. If the player fails to do this a life is lost. In Game & Watch Gallery 2 and 4 Parachute is a playable game. It is also playable in Game & Watch Collection 2. In Super Smash Bros. Melee and Brawl Mr. Game & Watch uses a parachute from the game Parachute.
Pinball was a multi screen Game & Watch game (Multi Screen series) released on December 5, 1983 (product number: PB-59). In the game two flippers are on the bottom screen and two flippers on the top screen. There are various other pinball objects such as bumpers, outlanes, rollover lanes, kickbacks, plunger, and more. The music composition for the game was done by Hirokazu Tanaka.[4]
This Game & Watch game was released in three different versions: PP-23 (Wide Screen series, released August 5, 1981), PG-74 (Table Top series, released August 1983) and PG-92 (Panorama series, released August 30, 1983). The music composition for the game was done by Hirokazu Tanaka.[4]
Rain Shower is a Game & Watch game released in August, 1981 (product number: LP-57). It is a dual-screen (Multi Screen) game.
In the game, the player must move clothing away from falling rain drops by pulling on the clothes line. In the Game B version of Rain Shower, a bird may swoop down and move the clothing.
Safebuster was released on January 12, 1988 in the Game & Watch Multi Screen series (product number: JB-63).
In this game the player controls a security guard sprite on the bottom screen who must catch bombs thrown from above by a bandit on the top screen. The bombs are caught in a tube able to hold three bombs which can be dumped down two shutes at either side of the bottom screen for 1 point per bomb. If a bomb is missed a life is lost. Three lives lost and the game is over.
Snoopy was released in two different versions: SM-73 (Table Top series, released 5 June 1983) and SM-91 (Panorama series, released 30 August 1983).
Snoopy Tennis was released on April 28, 1982 on the Wide Screen series. Its product number is SP-30.
Charlie Brown throws and hits a ball toward Snoopy, Snoopy must hit the ball back. Lucy sometimes will hit the ball to Snoopy.
Spitball Sparky was released on February 7, 1984 on the Super Color series. Its product number is BU-201. 'Super Color' described each column being a different colored LCD. It was considered one of the more expensive games of 1984. The game is one of two Super Color games, the other being Crab Grab.
This is a dual-screen (Multi Screen series) game, released in April, 1986. Its product number is MG-61. It is similar to Devil World.
Super Mario Bros. was released in two different versions: YM-801 (Crystal Screen series, released June 1986) and YM-105 (the one shown on the photo, New Wide Screen series, released March 1988).
The winners of Famicons F-1 Grand Prix tournament got a yellow-cased version of Super Mario Bros. that came in a plastic box modeled after the Disk-kun character Nintendo used to advertise their Famicom Disk System. Only 10,000 units of this version were produced and it was never available for retail sale, therefore being the rarest of all Game & Watch games. The part number for this game is YM-901-S.
Tropical Fish is a Game & Watch game from the New Wide Screen series. Released in July 1985, its product number is TF-104.
In the game, a man is catching fish that are jumping out of a tank and landing in his fish bowl. The player must catch them in his fish bowl and slowly move them into a tank on the other side. Missing a fish will get the player miss. Get three misses and the game will end. This is a move used by Mr. Game & Watch in Super Smash Bros. Brawl where he holds out a fish bowl and fish jump out both sides, damaging opponents.
Turtle Bridge is a Game & Watch video game released on February 1, 1982. It was released in the widescreen version (product number: TL-28).
In the game, a jungle explorer is transferring baggage from one side of a river to the other using a line of five turtles as stepping stones. He starts on the home bank and jumps from turtle to turtle carrying the package. However he is unable to land on the far bank and must pass the package to his colleague. Once done so he can return to the home bank to fetch the next package.
The challenges he faces are
As the game progresses the number and speed of fish appearing increases, with the consequence that the turtles dive more frequently. At no point are all turtles diving.
Game A vs. Game B
Scoring
Lives
A turtle from this game is used as one Mr. Game & Watch's moves in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Vermin was the third Game & Watch game to be released. It was released by Nintendo Research & Development 1 on July 10, 1980. The game was part of the Silver Series of Game & Watch games. Its product number is MT-03.
In Vermin, moles pop out of the ground and try to get into the player's garden. The player has to hit the moles with a hammer to prevent them from getting into the player's garden.
Vermin was a playable game in Game Boy Gallery for the Game Boy and Game & Watch Gallery 2 for the Game Boy Color. In WarioWare: Mega Microgames, there is a microgame called Vermin where Wario has to whack a mole with a hammer. In Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mr. Game & Watch has a move called Vermin. During this move, he takes two hammers and uses them to strike his opponent. The game was also re-released for Nintendo DSi in 2009.[2]
Released in August, 1989, it is a dual-screen ("Multi Screen") game. Its product number is ZL-65.
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