1989/1990 – Nintendo Game Boy
Handheld play you could take anywhere.
About this technology
A small game machine you hold in your hands with a little screen and simple buttons. You could play at home, on the bus, or in the car, and it felt tough and easy to use.
Games came on tiny cartridges that clicked into the top, and many boxes included Tetris so lots of families learned that first. The lively “bleep-bloop” music and long battery life made it perfect for trips.
Launched in Japan in 1989 and in the UK in 1990, the Game Boy became the handheld most children used in the 1990s. Its library covered puzzles, adventures, and platformers, showing that fun design and clever ideas mattered more than fancy colour at the time.
Fun facts
- Colourful shells: Later models came in bright colours, and one clear case let you peek at the parts inside.
- Tiny photos: You could buy a mini camera and printer to take funny pictures and print sticker-sized photos.
- Night play: The screen had no light, so many children used clip-on lamps to keep playing after dark.
