What is the best-selling handheld console?

The best-selling handheld console of all time is the Nintendo DS.

Here’s a quick overview:

  • Manufacturer: Nintendo

  • Release Year: 2004

  • Units Sold: Over 154 million units worldwide

  • Key Features: Dual screens (one touchscreen), backward compatibility with Game Boy Advance, a wide library of games including Pokémon, Mario Kart DS, and Brain Age.

  • Success Factors: Innovative dual-screen design, strong game library, portability, and appeal to both casual and hardcore gamers.

Other notable handhelds:

  • Game Boy/Game Boy Color: ~118 million units

  • Nintendo 3DS: ~75 million units

  • PlayStation Portable (PSP): ~80 million units

Nintendo dominates the handheld market, with the DS leading the pack by a significant margin.

Handheld gaming has been a cornerstone of the video game industry for decades. From early Game Boys to modern Nintendo Switch Lite, portable consoles have allowed gamers to enjoy their favorite titles anywhere, anytime. But which handhelds have truly dominated the market? Let’s explore the best-selling handheld consoles ever.

🔹 1. Nintendo DS – The All-Time Champion

  • Units Sold: Over 154 million worldwide

  • Release Year: 2004

  • Key Features:

    • Dual screens, including a touchscreen

    • Backward compatibility with Game Boy Advance

    • Innovative games like Pokémon, Mario Kart DS, and Brain Age

  • Why It Sold So Well:

    • Appealed to both casual and hardcore gamers

    • Innovative design and gameplay

    • Massive, diverse game library

  • Where to Buy:

🔹 2. Game Boy / Game Boy Color – The Pioneer

  • Units Sold: ~118 million

  • Release Year: 1989 (Game Boy), 1998 (Game Boy Color)

  • Key Features:

    • Monochrome display (Game Boy), color display (Game Boy Color)

    • Cartridges for interchangeable games

    • Iconic titles like Tetris, Pokémon Red/Blue, and The Legend of Zelda

  • Why It Sold So Well:

    • First widely popular handheld console

    • Durable and portable

    • Huge library of games that defined handheld gaming

  • Where to Buy:

🔹 3. PlayStation Portable (PSP) – Sony’s Handheld Entry

  • Units Sold: ~80 million

  • Release Year: 2004

  • Key Features:

    • Multimedia capabilities (games, movies, music)

    • High-quality graphics for its time

    • Titles like God of War: Chains of Olympus and Monster Hunter Freedom Unite

  • Why It Sold So Well:

    • Offered a more console-like experience in a handheld form

    • Appealed to older gamers with action and RPG titles

  • Where to Buy:

🔹 4. Nintendo 3DS – The Modern Successor

  • Units Sold: ~75 million

  • Release Year: 2011

  • Key Features:

    • 3D display without glasses

    • Backward compatibility with DS games

    • Popular titles: Pokémon X/Y, Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Mario Kart 7

  • Why It Sold So Well:

    • Continued Nintendo’s handheld dominance

    • Offered innovative 3D gaming and strong exclusive titles

  • Where to Buy:

🔹 5. Nintendo Switch / Switch Lite – The Hybrid Game-Changer

  • Units Sold: ~129 million (as of 2025, still growing)

  • Release Year: 2017

  • Key Features:

    • Hybrid console: portable and home docked play

    • Joy-Con detachable controllers

    • Massive game library including Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Odyssey, and Pokémon Legends: Arceus

  • Why It’s Popular:

    • Combines portability and home console power

    • Family-friendly and versatile

  • Where to Buy:

🌟 Key Takeaways

Console Units Sold Highlights
Nintendo DS 154M Dual screens, touchscreen, massive library
Game Boy / Color 118M Durable, iconic titles like Tetris
PlayStation Portable 80M Console-like graphics and multimedia
Nintendo 3DS 75M 3D gaming, DS backward compatibility
Nintendo Switch 129M+ Hybrid play, modern exclusives

✅ Conclusion

The handheld gaming market has been dominated by Nintendo, with the DS leading as the best-selling console of all time. From the durable Game Boy to the innovative Nintendo Switch, handhelds continue to evolve, combining portability, graphics, and exclusive games to captivate players worldwide.

Whether you’re a collector, a casual gamer, or looking to relive classic handheld games, these consoles offer something for everyone—and many are still available new or used online.