What is the best selling Nintendo handheld console?

The best-selling Nintendo handheld console is the Nintendo DS family, with 154.02 million units sold lifetime (2004–2014). Here’s the full breakdown of Nintendo’s handheld sales and why the DS dominated:

🏆 Nintendo Handheld Sales Rankings

Console Release Year Units Sold Key Details
1. Nintendo DS/DSi 2004 154.02M Dual screens, touch controls, backward-compatible with GBA.
2. Nintendo Switch 2017 ~141.3M* Hybrid console (counts TV + handheld use).
3. Game Boy/Color 1989/1998 118.69M Defined portable gaming (Pokémon, Tetris).
4. Game Boy Advance 2001 81.51M 32-bit powerhouse; played SNES-quality games.
5. Nintendo 3DS 2011 75.94M Glasses-free 3D; slow start but strong library.

* Switch sales as of March 2024 (Nintendo IR). It could surpass DS by 2025.

💡 Why the DS Crushed Records

  1. Mass Appeal

    • Touchscreen innovation attracted casual gamers (Brain Age, Nintendogs).

    • Dual screens offered unique gameplay (The World Ends With You, Phantom Hourglass).

  2. Backward Compatibility

    • Played Game Boy Advance cartridges (huge existing library).

  3. Affordable Models

    • DS Lite (2006): Slimmer, brighter screen → sales exploded.

    • DSi (2008): Added cameras, digital store.

  4. Iconic Games

    • New Super Mario Bros. (30.8M), Pokémon Diamond/Pearl (17.67M), Mario Kart DS (23.6M).

🔄 Switch vs. DS: The Hybrid Exception

  • The Switch is technically a hybrid console (TV + handheld), so its sales include docked play.

  • If classified purely as a handheld, it would still trail the DS by ~13M units (as of 2024).

🎮 Game Boy’s Legacy

  • The Game Boy/Color (118.69M) held the crown for 15 years until the DS dethroned it.

  • Secret to success: Rugged design, 30-hour battery life, and Pokémon Red/Blue (46M+ combined).

📉 Why the 3DS “Struggled”

  • Launched at $249 (too expensive vs. smartphones).

  • The 3D gimmick initially alienated gamers.

  • Still sold a respectable 75.94M thanks to price cuts and classics like Animal Crossing: New Leaf.

🧩 Fun Facts

  • The DS Lite is the single best-selling DS model (93.86M of the 154M total).

  • Nintendo handhelds have sold over 570M units across all generations — more than Sony + Microsoft consoles combined!

✅ The Verdict

The Nintendo DS remains Nintendo’s undisputed handheld king by sales, but the Switch may overtake it by 2025. The DS’s blend of innovation, affordability, and iconic software made it a cultural phenomenon — and it still holds the title for "pure" handheld supremacy 🥇.

Data source: Nintendo Fiscal Reports