Nintendo’s retroware, the Game & Watch handhelds, have become a popular novelty amongst gamers. The E3 announcement that The Legend of Zelda would be getting its own variant got us thinking about what games deserve the same treatment.
Spanning from the release of the first Game & Watch – Ball in April 1980 – the series now has over 60 handhelds in its catalogue, including various titles from the Donkey Kong and Mario franchise with even a couple of releases in the Snoopy series.
It’s a certainty that Nintendo pushes to include its most successful IPs in the Game & Watch catalogue, and these are a handful of other titles that could join the handheld’s library in the future.
Animal Crossing
There’s no shame in kicking off this list with a bit of a curve ball. Yes, Animal Crossing has become one of Nintendo’s most lucrative IPs. However, its game mechanics differ to the other platformers in the Game & Watch list that use button-bashing.
There’s also the online aspect to consider, which is an integral part of Animal Crossing’s social aspect.
Nevertheless, the thought of an Animal Crossing Game & Watch, using the palette of its coral-themed Nintendo Switch variant, is just too good not to think about.
Reworking gameplay for the Game & Watch to offer a Tamagotchi-styled form of island and resident maintenance is surely something fans would want in their collection.
Excitebike
It’s rather surprising that this classic racer is not already established within the Game & Watch family, given its simplicity combined with its addictive gameplay.
The 1985 launch title for the Nintendo Entertainment System has already appeared as one of the tracks in Mario Kart 8, as homage to the iconic circuit racer.
An Excitebike Game & Watch seems like a no-brainer for a game that will never get old in newer generations.
Super Smash Bros.
Older Game & Watch builds may not have been able to support the furious button-bashing that occurs in this popular Mario spin-off, but more modern handhelds definitely could.
The fighting game combines a colorful roster of Nintendo characters in intense combat, and while their designs may be muted on the Game & Watch, it’s the nostalgic quality of these 8-bit screens that add to its appeal.
Metroid
With the hype around Metroid Prime 4, fans have never been happier to welcome Samus’ space adventures into modern times.
The original game from 1986 is packed with color and bold graphics, and we think there would be nothing cooler than a Metroid Game & Watch.
One fan even designed their own vision of a Metroid handheld, which immediately got the thumbs up from the community.
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Pokemon
In the modern day of hackers and modders, we’ve technically already seen the original Pokemon game for Game Boy on the Game & Watch.
What we don’t have is an official release, where the OG Pokemon games, including Red/Blue, Gold and Ruby, could be implemented.
Releasing a Pokemon Game & Watch seems like another no-brainer that doesn’t exist, but we’re still within Pokemon’s 25th anniversary where dreams can still come true.
