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 handheld platforms in this generation.
ConsolePictureNotesRelease dateDiscontinuation dateManufacturer
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
Milton Bradley
Children's Discovery System
  • Educational handheld game console
  • Set on tabletop rather than held
    		• Mattel
    Select-A-Game
  • Contained no processor; all computation was handled by the game cartridges themselves
  • Plays monochrome games from ROM cartridges
    		• Entex Industries
    Adventure Vision
  • Contained an Intel 8048 CPU, cartridges consisted of 4k ROM chips
  • Plays monochrome games from ROM cartridges
  • Set on tabletop rather than held
  • Sold over 50,000 units
    		• 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
    		• VTech
    Variety
  • Only 6 games known to exist for the system
  • Plays cartridges with built-in LCD screen
    		• VTech
    Portable Videogame SystemLater 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
    		• Bandai
    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.
    		• Romtec
    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
    		• Epoch
    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
    		• VTech

    Third generation (1983–2003)

    There are handheld platforms in this generation.
    ConsolePictureNotesRelease dateDiscontinuation dateManufacturer
    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
    		Ohio Art Company
    IM-26
  • Only 5 games known to exist for the system
  • Plays cartridges with built-in LCD screen
  • Games also individually sold as dedicated handheld consoles
    		• Electronika
    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
    		• Grandstand
    PreComputer 1000
  • Educational handheld game console
  • The successor PreComputer 2000 plays PreComputer 1000 cartridges
    		• VTech

    Fourth generation (1987–2004)

    There are handheld platforms in this generation.
    ConsolePictureNotesRelease dateDiscontinuation dateManufacturer
    Game Boy
    		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
    		• Atari
    Game Gear
  • Sega's first handheld game console, released worldwide
  • Similar to the Master System, though it cannot play Master System games without a Master System Converter accessory
  • Plays ROM cartridges
  • Sold 11 million units; considered commercially successful, though it was outsold by its primary competitor, the Nintendo Game Boy
    		• 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
    		• NEC
    Gamate
  • Manufactured by United Microelectronics Corporation after Bit Corporation's closure in 1992
  • Plays monochrome games from ROM cartridges
    		• Bit 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
    		• Hartung
    PC Engine LTNEC
    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
    		• Watara
    Mega Duck
  • Known as Cougar Boy in South America
  • Plays monochrome games from ROM cartridges
    		• Welback 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
    		• MGA Entertainment
    Nomad
  • Handheld version of the Sega Genesis that played the same cartridges
  • Early version for use on Japanese airplanes was named the Mega Jet
  • Plays ROM cartridges
  • Sold 1 million units; considered a commercial failure
    		• 1999Sega

    Fifth generation (1993–2005)

    There are handheld platforms in this generation.
    ConsolePictureNotesRelease dateDiscontinuation dateManufacturer
    Virtual Boy
    • Marketed as a portable table-top console
    • Displayed stereoscopic 3D graphics
    • Plays red monochrome games from ROM cartridges
    • Sold 770,000 units; considered a commercial failure
    		Nintendo
    Design Master Senshi
  • Features a touchscreen with an included stylus
    		• Bandai
    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
    		• 1997Tiger Electronics
    PasoGo
  • All known released games related to board game Go
  • Plays ROM cartridges
    		• Koei
    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
    		• 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
  • 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
    		• 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
    		• 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
    		• Bandai
    Turbo Twist
  • Educational handheld game console
    		• LeapFrog Enterprises

    Sixth generation (1998–2013)

    There are handheld platforms in this generation.
    ConsolePictureNotesRelease dateDiscontinuation dateManufacturer
    Cybiko
    • Combination PDA and handheld game console
    • Features an included stylus for keyboard
    • Plays digital games via internet download from PC
    • More than 430 games and applications produced for the system, all were free
    • Improved version named Cybiko Xtreme released in September 2001
    • Sold over 500,000 units by the end of 2000
    		Cybiko
    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
    		• Sega
    Game Boy Advance
  • Part of the Game Boy line of handheld consoles
  • Backwards compatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color games
  • Plays ROM cartridges
  • Smaller, folding version released as the Game Boy Advance SP in 2003
  • Much smaller, non-folding version released as the Game Boy Micro in 2005
  • Portable DVD player version that plays Game Boy Advance cartridges released by Visteon in partnership with Nintendo as the Dockable Entertainment in July 2006
  • Sold 81.51 million units
    		• Nintendo
    GP32
  • Open source hardware game console originally released only in South Korea
  • Plays SmartMedia cards and digital games via internet download
  • Multiple versions released, adding first a frontlight then a backlight to the screen
  • Most releases for the system were open-source software games and applications
    		• Game Park
    Pokémon Mini
  • Miniature console featuring 8 bit games
  • Plays monochrome games from ROM cartridges
  • All released games related to Pokémon franchise
    		• Nintendo
    iQuest
  • Educational handheld game console
    		• LeapFrog Enterprises
    Kasey the Kinderbot
  • Educational handheld game console
    		• Fisher Price
    Pixter
  • Educational handheld game console
  • Features a touchscreen with an included stylus.
    		• 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 the side of the device released as the N-Gage QD in 2004
  • Sold 3 million units
    		• Nokia
    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
    		• LeapFrog 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
    		• Tapwave
    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
    		• TimeTop

    Seventh generation (2005–2017)

    There are handheld platforms in this generation.
    ConsolePictureNotesRelease dateDiscontinuation dateManufacturer
    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
    		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
    		• 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
    		• Tiger 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
    		• GamePark 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
    		• Nikko
    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
    		• VTech
    VideoNow XP
  • Part of the VideoNow line
  • Plays PVDs
    		• Tiger Electronics
    My Life
  • Cartridge system aimed at girls
    		• Giochi Preziosi
    Didj
  • Educational handheld game console aimed at children
  • Plays ROM cartridges
    		• LeapFrog Enterprises
    Dingoo A320
  • Combination game console, radio, and media player
  • Plays digital games via internet download
    		• Dingoo 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
    		• GamePark 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
    		• OpenPandora
    MobiGo
  • Educational handheld video game console
    		• VTech
    Leapster Explorer
  • Educational handheld video game console
  • Backwards compatible with Didj games
    		• LeapFrog 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
    		• GamePark Holdings
    iXL
  • Educational handheld game console
  • Features a touchscreen with an included stylus
    		• Mattel / Fisher Price
    InnoTab
  • Educational tablet video game console
  • Games can be downloaded or bought on cartridges
    		• VTech
    K-Magic
  • Educational handheld game console
    		• K's Kids
    GameGadgetN/ABlaze

    Eighth generation (2012 – present)

    There are handheld platforms in this generation.
    ConsolePictureNotesRelease dateDiscontinuation dateManufacturer
    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
    		Nintendo
    PlayStation Vita
  • Successor to the PlayStation Portable
  • Features motion sensors, multiple wireless internet connection options, PlayStation 3/PlayStation 4 connectivity, and a touchscreen without an included stylus
  • Backwards compatible with PlayStation Portable games
  • Plays memory cards and digital games via internet download
  • Two variants released, with either 3G support or not
  • Lighter version named the PCH-2000 released in 2013
  • Non-portable version named the PlayStation TV released in 2013
  • Sold over 4 million units
    		• March 1, 2019Sony
    Kids Pad
  • Educational handheld game console
    		• LG 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.
    		• Tommo
    GCW Zero
  • Based on open source hardware
  • Focus on homebrew and emulation
    		• Game 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.
    		• Nvidia
    Monon ColorM&D
    GPD XDGPD
    Arduboy
  • Open console based on Arduino
  • Funded through Kickstarter
    		• Kevin Bates
    GPD WinGPD
    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
    		• Nintendo
    GPD Win 2GPD
    MAKERbuino
  • Based on the GAMEbuino hardware
  • Funded through KickStarter
    		• CircutMess
    Oculus Quest
  • Self-contained virtual reality headset.
  • Can be plugged into a computer to play games not ported to it yet.
    		• Oculus
    EvercadeEvercade
    Playdate Panic