The Beginning of Nintendo in the Gaming Industry: From Playing Cards to a Global Gaming Legend
Nintendo is one of the most iconic names in video game history. For generations of players, it represents imagination, joy, and timeless characters like Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon. But Nintendo’s journey into gaming did not begin with consoles or video games—it began over a century ago, with something far simpler: playing cards.
Nintendo’s rise is one of the most remarkable transformations in entertainment history, evolving from a small Japanese company into a global force that shaped how the world plays.
Nintendo’s Origins: Long Before Video Games
Nintendo was founded in 1889 in Kyoto, Japan, by Fusajiro Yamauchi. The company originally produced handcrafted hanafuda playing cards, a popular form of traditional Japanese cards used for various games.
At the time, Nintendo had nothing to do with electronics or digital entertainment. Its success came from craftsmanship, quality, and an understanding of what people enjoyed during their leisure time. This focus on entertainment—even in its simplest form—would define Nintendo’s future.
For decades, Nintendo thrived as a playing card company, becoming one of Japan’s most respected manufacturers.
Searching for a New Future
By the mid-20th century, the playing card business began to decline. Changing lifestyles and new forms of entertainment reduced demand, forcing Nintendo to look beyond its traditional products.
Under the leadership of Hiroshi Yamauchi, Nintendo experimented with many business ideas—some successful, many not. These included:
Taxi services
Love hotels
Food products
Toy manufacturing
While many of these ventures failed, they taught Nintendo an important lesson: innovation and risk were necessary for survival.
Eventually, Nintendo found its true direction in toys and interactive entertainment.
Nintendo Enters the Toy and Electronic Game Market
In the 1960s and 1970s, Nintendo began producing toys that emphasized creativity and fun. One standout success was the Ultra Hand, a mechanical toy that sold millions of units in Japan.
This success encouraged Nintendo to explore electronic entertainment. As arcade games gained popularity worldwide, Nintendo saw an opportunity to combine technology with play.
The company entered the arcade market in the late 1970s, developing coin-operated games for public spaces.
The Breakthrough: Donkey Kong
Nintendo’s defining moment in gaming came in 1981 with the release of Donkey Kong.
Developed by a young designer named Shigeru Miyamoto, Donkey Kong introduced:
Character-driven storytelling
Distinct personalities
Memorable visuals
A new type of platform gameplay
The game was a massive success, saving Nintendo’s struggling arcade business and introducing the world to characters that would later become icons—most notably Mario, originally known as Jumpman.
This moment marked Nintendo’s true entry into the video game industry.
Bringing Games Home: The Famicom and NES
Recognizing the potential of home gaming, Nintendo released the Family Computer (Famicom) in Japan in 1983. Despite early technical issues, the console quickly gained popularity due to its high-quality games and affordable price.
When Nintendo brought the system to North America, it was rebranded as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).
At the time, the video game industry in the U.S. was still recovering from the 1983 video game crash. Nintendo rebuilt consumer trust by:
Enforcing strict quality control
Introducing the “Nintendo Seal of Quality”
Limiting third-party releases to prevent oversaturation
The NES became a massive success and revived the entire gaming industry.
Nintendo’s Philosophy: Gameplay First
From the beginning, Nintendo believed that games should be fun before anything else. Rather than focusing on raw power, Nintendo prioritized:
Innovative gameplay
Accessible design
Memorable characters
Family-friendly experiences
Franchises like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, and Metroid redefined what video games could be, offering exploration, challenge, and imagination.
Nintendo wasn’t just selling hardware—it was creating worlds.
A Legacy That Began With Play
Nintendo’s early journey shaped its identity as a company willing to take creative risks while staying true to the idea of play. From hanafuda cards to arcade cabinets, from 8-bit consoles to global franchises, Nintendo evolved without losing its core purpose: bringing joy through interaction.
Even today, Nintendo’s influence can be felt across the entire gaming industry. Its early commitment to quality, innovation, and creativity set standards that many companies still follow.
Final Thoughts
The beginning of Nintendo in the gaming industry is not just a story about video games—it’s a story about adaptability, imagination, and understanding what makes people smile.
Nintendo didn’t chase trends. It created them.
What started as a small card company in Kyoto became one of the most beloved entertainment brands in the world, proving that play, when done right, is timeless.
