Nintendo started in 1889 as a small card company in Kyoto, Japan. Founded by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it began with handmade hanafuda playing cards.

Nintendo’s hanafuda cards became popular despite gambling restrictions in Japan, leading to the company’s expansion into Western-style playing cards.

The war affected Nintendo as foreign card games were banned, but the company persevered and prepared for a new era of growth.

In 1949, Hiroshi Yamauchi became Nintendo’s president at just 21 years old, reshaping the company with new strategies and innovation.

In 1959, Nintendo partnered with Disney to feature Mickey Mouse on playing cards, skyrocketing sales and introducing the brand to a younger audience.

After going public in 1962, Nintendo experimented with new businesses, from taxis to food products, but ultimately found its future in toys.

Inspired by an employee’s mechanical arm toy, Nintendo entered the toy industry, creating successful products like the Ultra Hand and Love Tester.

In the 1970s, Nintendo pivoted to video games, launching arcade hits and its first home console, the Color TV-Game, in 1977.

Shigeru Miyamoto’s Donkey Kong (1981) introduced Jumpman, later known as Mario, setting the stage for Nintendo’s gaming revolution.

In 1985, Nintendo launched Super Mario Bros., a game that revolutionized platform gaming and became one of the best-selling games of all time.

The Legend of Zelda (1986) brought adventure gaming to new heights, cementing Nintendo’s dominance in the video game industry.

From handhelds to the Switch, Nintendo continues to innovate. The next chapter explores Game Boy, Wii, and 21st-century challenges.