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1991[]

1992[]

Kirby's Dream Land

1993[]

1994[]

1995[]

Donkey Kong Land
  • June 26 - Donkey Kong Land is released for the Game Boy. It is followed up with sequels in in 1996 and 1997.

1996[]

Pokemon Green
  • February 27 - Pokemon is released in Japan. The first generation of games breathes new life into the aging Game Boy, and, when combining versions, becomes Japan's best-selling retail game of all time.
  • July 21 - Mole Mania is released. It ends up becoming one of Shigeru Miyamoto's most obscure works.
  • August 4 - Tetris Attack is released. It is notable as the first Puzzle League game to come West, albeit advertised as a Tetris game.
  • August - Gunpei Yokoi, the man who designed the Game Boy, temporarily leaves Nintendo. However, he returns in 1997 as an adviser and mentor.

1997[]

  • March 18 - Kirby's Star Stacker is released for the Game Boy.

1998[]

  • March 2 - Wario Land 2 is released for the Game Boy.
  • May 28 - E3 1998 is held. Nintendo's first party lineup included Banjo-Kazooie, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Pokemon and the Game Boy Color.
  • September 5 - An anime inspired special edition of Pokemon titled Special Pikachu Edition, aka Yellow, is released in Japan.
Game Boy Color
  • October 14 – The Game Boy Color is launched in Japan at about $80. Despite launching with a deluxe version of Tetris, it is overshadowed by the Pokemon phenomenon. The system is replaced in just a few years, and is fairly quickly discontinued.
  • December 1 - A colored port of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening subtitled DX is released for the Game Boy Color.

1999[]

Super Mario Bros Deluxe
  • May 17 - Super Mario Bros. Deluxe is released for the Game Boy Color. A port of the original game, with the Lost Levels sequel and a variety of other content thrown in, this game is very well received.
  • September - The Game Boy Micro is released. This version of the Game Boy requires a single AAA battery to power, and has all the features of its larger predecessors. Although incapable of playing Game Boy Color games, the system sells decently.
  • November 21 - Pokemon Gold/Silver is released in Japan, followed by releases in other countries up through 2001. Selling only somewhat less than the first generation of Pokemon games, Gold/Silver easily sells more than any other Game Boy Color game.

2000[]

Wario Land 3
  • March 28 - Wario Land 3 is released for the Game Boy Color.
  • August 16 - Kirby Tilt n Tumble is released for the Game Boy Color. Controlled by a series of accelerometers within the cartridge, the game is technologically ahead of its time.
  • October 20 - Mega Man Xtreme is released for the Game Boy Color. It can be seen as part of the series's transition from consoles to the Game Boy.
  • December 14 - Pokemon Crystal is released in Japan. The game is a special edition of Gold/Silver.

2001[]

  • February 20 - The Zelda Oracle games are released for the Game Boy Color. Unlike most games in the series, they are developed by Capcom rather than Nintendo EAD. Each game is well received in general, selling millions of copies combined despite the imminent release of the Game Boy Advance.
GBA
  • March 21 - The Game Boy Advance is launched at a price of about $100 in Japan, followed by a Western release in June. Unlike its predecessors, it is virtually uncontested. It is released with Super Mario Advance, F-Zero: Maximum Velocity, Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, and Mega Man: Battle Network.
  • July 28 – Mario Kart: Super Circuit is released for the GBA.
  • August 21 - Wario Land 4 is released for the Game Boy Advance in Japan, followed by a November release in the West. Though not quite as well received as Wario Land 3, it is still a hit. Note that the same game engine would be used for next year's Metroid Fusion.
  • September 3 - Advance Wars is released in America. It is the first entry in the long-running series to do so, and it becomes a critical hit upon release.
  • October 11 - Ace Attorney is released for the Game Boy Advance. The series becomes a cult classic in Japan, but doesn't arrive in the West until 2006's Game Boy Nitro port.
  • November 18 - Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble 2 is released for the GameBoy Advance and the GameCube. It is the followup to Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble and uses the GBA as a controller, using a special GBA cart with Motion Sensors. The game ends up being a surprise hit both critically and commercially.
  • December 14 – Super Mario Advance 2 is released in Japan, with a Western release coming early the next year.

2002[]

  • February 14 - Diddy Kong Pilot is released by Rare for the Game Boy Advance.
  • March 29 - Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade is released in Japan. Although the game never comes West, it is still known to Western players due to the inclusion of its protagonist, Roy, in the popular Super Smash Bros Melee.
  • April 26 - Mega Man Zero is released for the Game Boy Advance. Along with the Battle Network series, the Zero games keep the Mega Man franchise alive on the Game Boy Advance.
Iwata
  • May 31 - Hiroshi Yamauchi, the president of Nintendo, steps down after over 50 years at the helm. He is replaced by Satoru Iwata, who is notably an actual former creator of games.
  • July 9 - E3 2002 is held. On the handheld front, Nintendo continues to be the only notable player, with remakes of classic games like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland being prominently displayed.
  • September 13 – Super Mario Advance 3 is released.
  • October 18 – Kirby’s Nightmare in Dreamland is released for the Game Boy Advance.
  • November 10 - Metroid Fusion is released for the Game Boy Advanceto great sales and reviews.
Pokemon Emerald
  • November 28 – Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire are released. in Japan, with the Western release coming the following Spring. The game is significantly less popular than its predecessors, and marks a low point for the series in terms of sales. Nevertheless, Pokemon still ends up selling more than any other Game Boy Advance game.

2003[]

  • February - The Game Boy Advance gets a facelift with the SP model. This version is a flip model of the GBA, with a built-in light.
  • May 9 - Fire Emblem: The Sword of Flame is released in Japan. It is the first entry in the series to get brought to the West, where it is simply titled Fire Emblem.
  • June 6 - Donkey Kong Country is released for the Game Boy Advance. It is the first port of a classic game from Rare to a handheld system.
  • June 23 - Advance Wars 2 is released for the Game Boy Advance. It continues the popular series, which eventually becomes a trilogy on the system.
  • July 11 – Super Mario Advance 4 is released.
Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga
  • November 17 - Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga is released for the Game Boy Advance. It starts a second great franchise of Mario RPG games, focusing on the teamwork between the two famous brothers.

2004[]

  • January 29 – Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen is released in Japan, with a Western release coming towards the end of the year. The game essentially follows the original Pokemon games using the mechanics and graphics of the most recent titles, and is one of the best selling titles for the Game Boy Advance.
  • February 7 - The first wave of NES Classics, including Super Mario Bros., Ice Climber, and Bomberman, are released for the Game Boy Advance in Japan, where they are available for a discount price of $20. Many NES games would eventually be re-released for the Game Boy Advance, including both Nintendo and third party games.
Metroid Zero Mission

The Game Boy Advance was well known for its ports, remakes, and continuations of classic series.

  • February 9 - Metroid: Zero Mission is released for the Game Boy Advance. A full remake of the original NES game, it is one of the most critically acclaimed remakes in video game history. The graphics, sound, added content, altered gameplay, and many other aspects are lauded. However, it sells much less than Metroid Fusion, possibly due to competition from the re-release of the NES game on the same system also during 2004.
  • March 18 - The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures is released. Combining the use of both the GBA and the GameCube, this hardware-heavy gaiden to the Zelda series still becomes a moderate success.
  • April 15 - Kirby & the Amazing Mirror is released for the Game Boy Advance. An unusual game even by Kirby standards, it combines Metroid style elements with classic Kirby platforming.
  • June 25 - Donkey Kong Country 2 is released for the Game Boy Advance.
  • September 16 – Pokemon Emerald is released in Japan.
  • October 7 - WarioWare: Twisted!, a puzzle/variety game, is released for the Game Boy Advance. Although it never became a true sales hit, the game is one of the most acclaimed titles for the system, and the game eventually wins multiple awards.
  • November 4 - The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap is released in Japan for the Game Boy Advance. One of the more obscure Zelda games, it was developed by Capcom. Despite being the only original title in the series for the GBA, it has merely moderate sales, although the critics were quite fond of the game.

2005[]

  • January 13 - Mario Party Advance is released for the Game Boy Advance. It is poorly received by critics. Interestingly, this is one of the last games made by Hudson Soft before they become a subsidiary of Nintendo.
  • May 17 - E3 2005 is held. Nintendo shows off their next handheld, the Game Boy Nitro. However, most of the demos are in an unplayable form.
  • May 19 - Brain Age is released for the Game Boy Advance in Japan. However, the game does not truly shine until the Nitro port released worldwide the following year.
  • September 13 - The Game Boy Micro, a minuscule version of the Advance, is released. It sells well enough, but ultimately gets overshadowed by the upcoming Nitro. Older versions of the Advance are cut in price to $75.
  • November 11 - Donkey Kong Country 3 is released for the Game Boy Advance.
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon
  • November 17 - Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, the first in a series of Pokemon spinoffs, is released.
  • November 28 - Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time is released for the Game Boy Advance. It is Nintendo's last notable games for the system.

2006[]

Super Mario 64 Deluxe

A scene from Super Mario 64 Deluxe. Note the improved graphics over the N64 original.

  • February 24 – The Game Boy Nitro is launched in Japan for $150. This handheld is similar to our DS, but with only the one touchscreen, a touch more horsepower, and an analog stick, making it appear similar to the PSP. Like the Advance, it goes virtually unopposed in the handheld market, other than the imminent rise of the iOS devices. Launch titles include Animal Crossing: Wild World, Super Mario 64 Deluxe, Mario Kart Nitro, and Mega Man Powered Up.
  • March 20 - Tetris Nitro is released.
  • March 30 - Pokemon Ranger is released in Japan. Developed by the makers of Kirby, this game marks the start of a new successful series, selling a couple million copies.
  • May 18 - Bomberman is released for the Nitro. It is one of the first notable Hudson Soft projects as a subsidiary of Nintendo.
  • June 6 - New Super Mario Bros is released for the Nitro. The game helps spark a revival of 2D and 2.5D platformers, both on the Nitro and the upcoming 7th generation consoles.
  • June 13 - Daxter is released for the Game Boy Nitro.
  • August 3 - Rhythm Heaven is released for the Game Boy Advance in Japan. The game becomes a cult classic, despite it coming out after the release of the Nitro.
  • September 21 - Pokemon Diamond and Pearl are released in Japan. This fourth generation of games gains popularity over the third thanks to the inclusion of online battling and trading.
  • October 4 - Gunpei Yokoi leaves Nintendo for the last time. Although he is open for interviews in the future and even attends an event or two, this time his retirement is for real.
  • November 2 - Nintendogs is released for the Nitro. The game becomes a phenomenon, attracting people who would usually not be interested in video games.
  • December 7 - Mega Man Star Force is released for the Game Boy Nitro. Like other Mega Man games of this generation, it scores and sells worse than its predecessors.

2007[]

  • February 15 - Planet Puzzle League is released for the Nitro.
  • April 12 - Ace Attorney 4 is released for the Nitro. It is a moderate hit in Japan, but due to the lateness of the first three games in the West, it isn't released in America and Europe until 2009.
Pilotwings Island
  • April 13 - Pilotwings Island is released for the Nitro. The game is a minor hit, and encourages many who were doubting the abilities of developer Hudson Soft.
  • June 23 - The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is released for the Nitro. A spinoff of Wind Waker, it goes on to become the best selling handheld Zelda game of all time.
  • June 29 - Brain Age 2 is released for the Nitro. The game continues the Nitro's trend and Nintendo's trend in general of attracting new audiences.
  • June - The Game Boy Advance receives its final price cut, to $50.
  • July 10 - E3 2007 is held. The Nitro continues its run with games like The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword and Contra 4.
  • September 13 - Pokemon Mystery Dungeon 2 is released for the Nitro.

2008[]

  • January 28 - Advance Wars: Days of Ruin is released for the Nitro. This entry in the series controversially takes a much darker tone than its predecessors, and is less well received.
  • March 20 - Pokemon Ranger 2 is released for the Nitro.
  • March 27 - Monster Hunter Portable is released for the Game Boy Nitro. Essentially a reworking of the first couple of games in the series to work on the weaker Nitro, the game starts a trend of growth for the series.
  • May 15 - The Glory of Heracles is released for the Nitro. Reception was decent, but the game is overshadowed by other Nitro RPG's.
  • July 31 - Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon is released for the Nitro. It is a remake of the original game in the series, and receives sales and praise on par for the series.
  • August 14 - The Nitro receives a price cut to $130. In Japan, Rhythm Heaven Gold, the sequel to a popular rhythm game, is also released on the same day.
  • September 13 - Pokemon Platinum is released for the Nitro. Although it sells quite well, like earlier Pokemon special editions, the sheer quantity of major Nitro games prevents it from dominating the library.
  • September 18 - Kirby Super Star Ultra is released for the Nitro. A remake of a SNES game with extra content, it actually outsells the original by a wide margin.
  • November 1 - A new version of the Nitro called the Game Boy Nitro Plus is released in Japan. The Nitro Plus is similar to the original, but with slightly more RAM, two built-in cameras, internal and external storage, and a new component of the Nintendo eShop. A worldwide release would come in April.

2009[]

Mario & Luigi Bowser's Inside Story
  • February 11 - Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story is released for the Nitro. The game is very well received, becoming the best-selling Mario RPG by the end of the Ntro's life.
  • April 29 - WarioWare DIY is released for the Nitro. This microgame compilation allows users to create and share content, and is critcally well received. However, it sells fairly poorly.
  • June 2 - E3 2009 is held. Nitro games displayed include The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, Scribblenauts, and Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days.
  • June 11 - Tomodachi Collection, known in the west as Friends Collection, is released for the Game Boy Nitro. One of the few Nitro games to use the Revolution's avatars in a significant fashion, this game ultimately sells millions of units in Japan alone. This success eventually prompts a 2011 release in the West. Platinum Games' second title, Infinite Space, is released the same day on SegaNet.
Dragon Quest 9

Dragon Quest 9 was easily one of the Nitro's best selling games in Japan.

  • July - Dragon Quest 9 is released for the Game Boy Nitro, marking a Japanese shift towards portable gaming. It eventually becomes the best selling entry in the series in the country, thanks in part to the Nitro's huge userbase.
  • September 12 - Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver is released for the Nitro in Japan. A remake of the second generation of Pokemon, this game actually performs better, thanks to a combination of new mechanics and the health of the Nitro's market. The Western release is in the following March.
  • October 23 - Style Savvy is released for the Nitro.
  • November 3 - Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier is released for the Game Boy Nitro. The game, though by no means a travesty, is a sales and critical disappointment, thus putting the series on hiatus.
  • December 7 - The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is released for the Nitro. It is neither as commercially or critically successful as Phantom Hourglass, but still is a notable hit.

2010[]

  • March 6 - Pokemon Ranger 3 is released for the Nitro, finishing a trilogy of games for the system.
  • March 12 - Picross 3D is released for the Nitro.
  • June 12 - Art Academy is released for the Nitro.
  • June 14 - E3 2010 is held. Handheld games include Super Smash Bros. Rumble.
  • July 15 - Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem is released for the Nitro.
Pokemon Black
  • September 18 - Pokemon Black/White is released for the Nitro in Japan. Although the second generation of games in the series for the Nitro, Black/White nevertheless ends up being a step forward for the franchise, bringing critical acclaim and sales success. A Western release comes the following March.
  • September 30 - Okamiden is released for the Game Boy Nitro in Japan. Like the original Okami, the game is reviewed positively but sells poorly.
  • November 2 - Super Smash Bros. Rumble is released for the Game Boy Nitro. Although a definite hit, it is less popular than the recent Brawl for the Revolution.
  • November 14 - Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! is released.
  • December 5 - Ice Climber Ascent is released for the Nitro. The second classic Nintendo franchise re-imagined by Hudson Soft for the Nitro, the game ends up gaining a strong following, thanks to its charm and gameplay. The game ends up being a major sales success.
  • December – Monster Hunter 3 Portable is released for the Nitro. The game is somewhat compromised to fit on the platform, but is nonetheless a hit in Japan.

2011[]

  • April 21 - Learn with Pokémon: Typing Adventure is released for the Nitro. As one of Nintendo's few Nitro games in 2011, it symbolizes the system's decline for many fans.
Game Boy 3DS

The Game Boy 3DS.

  • June 6 - E3 2011 is held. This event marks the first appearance of all three major 8th generation gaming devices, including the Game Boy 3DS, which is released by the end of the year. The Game Boy 3DS has a radically innovative design, similar to our timeline's 3DS with a clam-shell connecting the main system to a top 3D screen. Early demos of games are shown, and the early lineup is revealed to include Mario Kart 3D, Animal Crossing: New Leaf, and Kid Icarus: Uprising. Third party games for the Game Boy 3DS include Resident Evil: Revelations and Metal Gear Solid 3D. The Nitro's price is also announced to be cut to about $100 worldwide, effective immediately.
  • August 14 - Friends Collection is released in North America. Although by no means the huge success it was in Japan, it is a moderate hit there.
Logo for Game Boy 3DS

The Game Boy 3DS logo.

  • November - The Game Boy 3DS is released worldwide, at a price of about $200. Launch titles include Mario Kart 3D, Donkey Kong 64 3D, Pokemon Rumble Blast, and various multiplatform and licensed games. The system launches with a fully functioning version of the eShop and Nintendo Network, complete with exclusive titles such as Pushmo, Steel Diver, and Tetris Axis. The system is an immediate success, despite rising competition from cell phones, MP3 players, and tablets.
  • November 5 - The Game Boy 3DS is released in Japan.
  • November 18 - The Game Boy 3DS is released in North America.
  • November 23 - The Game Boy 3DS is released in Europe.

2012[]

  • January 27 - Resident Evil: Revelations is released for the Game Boy 3DS. It is the first major title for the system since launch.
  • March 22 - Kid Icarus: Uprising is released for the Game Boy 3DS. Though not a huge sales success, it becomes one of the first critically acclaimed games for the system.
Kingdom Hearts 3D
  • March 29 - Kingdom Hears 3D is released for the Game Boy 3DS. It is the first of many acclaimed RPG's for the system.
  • June 5 - E3 2012 is held. On the handheld front, Nintendo shows off their upcoming Game Boy 3DS games, including New Super Mario Bros 2, Paper Mario: Sticker Star, Mario Party 3D, and Star Fox 64 3D.
  • June 16 - Pokemon Black/White 2 is released for the Nitro. The last major game for the Nitro, it symbolizes the abundance of Pokemon games on the platform as well as a last excuse for Nitro owners not wanting to upgrade to a 3DS.
  • July 28 - Brain Age 3 is released in Japan. The game fails to live up to the standards set by its predecessors, due in part to similarities to much cheaper mobile games.
  • August 4 - New Super Mario Bros 2 is released for the Game Boy 3DS. It quickly becomes one of the best selling games on the system.
Animal Crossing New Leaf
  • November 1 - Animal Crossing: New Leaf is released in Japan. The game is a massive hit, outselling even other big names on the Game Boy 3DS such as Mario.
  • December 6 - Paper Mario: Sticker Star is released for the Game Boy 3DS. The game controversially forgoes many traditional RPG elements, instead opting for an inventory-based combat system.
  • December 8 - A port of Monster Hunter 3 called Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is released on both the Stream and the Game Boy 3DS on the same day, with cross-platform functionality. The game ends up being successful enough here to warrant a worldwide release in 2013.

2013[]

  • February 14 - Dragon Quest 7 is released for the Game Boy 3DS. A remake of the N64 classic, this game becomes one of the first notable RPG's on the system.
  • March 20 - Mario Party 3D is released for the Game Boy 3DS.
  • May 23 - Shin Megami Tensei 4 is released for the Game Boy 3DS.
  • June 11 - E3 2013 is held. The first E3 of the new generation, this event is dominated by Nintendo, which shows off games such as Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, Pokemon X/Y, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, a handheld version of Super Smash Bros 4, Ice Climber Ascent 2, and Mario: Bowser City for the Game Boy 3DS.
  • July 12 - Mario & Luigi: Dream Team is released for the Game Boy 3DS. On the same day, the original Game Boy 3DS's price is cut to $170.
  • July 25 - Ace Attorney 5 is released for the Game Boy 3DS in Japan.
  • August 15 - HarmoKnight, a new music/action game from the creators of Pokemon, is released as a retail game in Japan. The game is scheduled for a holiday release in the West.
  • August 28 - Nintendo announces a new handheld gaming console, entitled "Game Boy 2DS". Set for a release in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand on October 12, 2013, the Game Boy 2DS is an entry-level version of the Game Boy 3DS which maintains compatibility with software designed for the Game Boy Nitro and the Game Boy 3DS, but uses a new "slate"-like design (instead of the clamshell design used by its precursors) and lacks the Game Boy 3DS's autostereoscopic 3D functionality.
Star Fox 64 3D
  • September 8 - Star Fox 64 3D is released for the Game Boy 3DS. The game is a full remake, with entirely new graphics, reworked controls, and an online multiplayer mode.
  • September 21 - Monster Hunter 4 is released for the Stream and Game Boy 3DS is Japan. It is a major hit, becoming one of the best-selling games for each platform within two days.
  • October 12 - Pokemon X/Y is released for the Game Boy 3DS. The first worldwide release in main-series history, it becomes one of the best-selling games for the platform by the end of its first day of sales.
  • December 6 - Ice Climber Ascent 2 is released for the Game Boy 3DS.

2014[]

  • January 11 - Kirby Triple Deluxe is released for the Game Boy 3DS in Japan. It is soon announced for a May release in the West.
  • March 14 - Mario: Bowser City is released for the Game Boy 3DS. The game is a surprise hit, becoming a quick million-seller and a critical darling.
  • June 9 - The 2014 Electronic Entertainment Expo begins. Highlights include Nintendo showing off a number of games releasing in both 2014 and 2015 for the Game Boy 3DS.
  • October 11 - Nintendo releases a new Game Boy 3DS model, the Game Boy 3DS+.

2015[]

  • January 29 - Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is release for the Game Boy 3DS.
  • April 10 - Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. is released for the Game Boy 3DS.
  • September 24 - Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon is released for the Game Boy 3DS.
  • October 15 - The Legend of Zelda: Triforce Heroes is released for the Game Boy 3DS
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