Game & Watch

Game & Watch was a series of handheld electronic games created by Nintendo in the 1980s. These devices were the predecessor to the Game Boy and were wildly popular at the time, especially among people who enjoyed squinting at tiny screens and pressing overly-clicky buttons.

The concept behind Game & Watch was simple: each device contained a single game, which players could enjoy for hours on end or until their eyes went cross-eyed (whichever came first). These games were often based on popular arcade titles of the time, like Donkey Kong and Mario Bros, but with lower resolution graphics and a lot more beeping.

One of the most unique features of Game & Watch was the “watch” part of the name. Each device had a built-in clock and an alarm, so players could tell the time when they weren’t busy squinting at the screen or trying to beat their high score. Plus, if you were ever stranded on a deserted island and needed to know the time, you could always rely on your trusty Game & Watch device.

But perhaps the most amusing part of Game & Watch was the bizarre physical design of the devices. They were usually no larger than a small calculator and had blocky, plastic bodies that looked like something a kid might build out of LEGO bricks. The screens were tiny and monochromatic, and the buttons had a tendency to stick or break off if you pressed them too hard (which, let’s be honest, was pretty much a given).

Despite their quirks, Game & Watch devices were incredibly popular in the 1980s and early 1990s. People loved the simplicity of the games, the novelty of the design, and the fact that they could tuck them into their pockets and take them anywhere. Today, Game & Watch devices are considered collectibles and can sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars on eBay. So if you happen to come across one at a flea market or yard sale, snap it up…and be prepared to squint and beep your way to high score glory!