Legacy & History
Released in 1999 by Bandai. It was designed by the creator of the Game Boy. It held its own in Japan with exclusive Final Fantasy ports and anime tie-ins.
Cultural Impact
It was the last major handheld to challenge Nintendo in Japan before the PSP. It proved there was room for innovation in form factor.
Modern Legacy
Gunpey, the puzzle game named after its creator Gunpei Yokoi, remains a tribute to the man who invented portable gaming.
Under the Hood
The WonderSwan runs on an NEC V30 MZ, which is binary compatible with the Intel 8086. Its unique button layout (two D-pads) allowed the console to be rotated 90 degrees to play vertical scrolling games ("Tate" mode), a feature unique in the handheld market.
CPUNEC V30 MZ (16-bit)
MEMORY16 KB RAM
DISPLAY224 x 144
AUDIO4-channel digital
Defining Titles
Klonoa: Moonlight MuseumPlatformer • 1999
GunpeyPuzzle • 1999
Final FantasyRPG • 1999
Judgement SilverswordShooter • 2004
Digimon Adventure: Anode TamerRPG • 1999
Best Selling Title
Final Fantasy