NES And SNES Mini Are Still Big Sellers For Nintendo

NES Mini - 3.6 million (as of June 30, 2018)

SNES Mini - 5.28 million (as of January 31, 2019)

I’d love a 64 mini

If they had produced more of them, it would have been higher

A Gameboy mini would be unplayable surely? I immediately think of cramp through employing the clamp grip and migraines from squinting to differentiate one pixel from the other! (Although I do concede the GBA micro screen was rather good.)

I love both of my minis.

@1UP_MARIO We would all love an N64 mini, but only if they manage to get all the big Rare licences: Banjo-Kazooie/Tooie, Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, Conker Bad Fur Day, Jet Force Gemini and I am probably missing many (they can ignore DK64)

@Rhaoulos basically it’s not happening, but we can hope

I have both and love each, it was my first time playing those games

And it's hard to see why Nintendo doesn't allocate more resources into keeping the momentum with these consoles, as well as developing the N64 Mini.

The explanation according to which they were launched in order to help people endure the wait for the Switch was just absurd.

@GrailUK Obviously being small it doesn't actually need to be 'mini' , lets apply a little bit of common sense to the equation. It could just be a Gameboy of original size and style, with a backlit screen and an HDMI out to play it on yout TV. You hold the consoel the same when playing on TV. Really simple.

@1UP_MARIO Rare was a huge part of the N64 success. Without it, the N64 Mini wouldn't make any sense and I wouldn't consider buying it. I already have Mario64 DS and both Zelda on 3DS, so there is little left apart from Rare games, but I really hope it will happen one day, with a mode that offers higher resolution. I doubt I could stomach playing N64 on a 55" TV

add more games to yours and you have the ultimate retro machine

@Rhaoulos you can always add the games you want later😉

They can the least give you 10 from these
Mario kart 64
Mario 64
Majoras mask
Ocarina of time
Paper mario
Smash 64
Mario party 2
Fzero X
Mario tennis
Yoshis story
DK64
Wave race 64
Mario golf
Kirby Chrystal shards
Snowboarding 1080
Excitebike
Starfox 64

But didn't they discontinue them?

With those sales numbers they must know that people prefer SNES....

nostalgia is everthing

It is not unthinkable for MS to allow Rare titles on an N64 mini. With the Xbox brand struggling MS may see it as a way to get some good will. Its not like they are currently doing anything with any of those titles.

Nintendo announced a while ago that both of these have ended production, so while they have been selling nicely the past fiscal year, that probably ends relatively soon.

@Trajan
They did. And I think Nintendo knows that the SNES mini was a better value offer from the beginning, seeing how they went with much fewer games and partnered with only three other publishers.
It's just crazy how much better games generally became between the two generations.

Gameboy mini over 64 please.

I want a gamecube mini

@YANDMAN I don't come on the internet to apply common sense. Good day sir!!! Lol. A Gameboy classic (minus the mini) would be great.

I have the SNES mini. These miniature consoles are one of the many reasons NSO is a scam.

Love my 2! Added over 800 games to the NES mini and almost 300 to the SNES mini. Need to find the best wireless controller for them because the response times are a little off on the mine and even the wired ones that come with the systems are a little off. Im sure thats a product of emulation?

@Rhaoulos - I dunno if they were that big. Sure Goldeneye was a bit hit, but it wasn't as if Nintendo didn't have their own titles that were as big or bigger.

Regarding more minis, I'd be fine with more, though I'd also like if they did something more akin to the VC or NES Online for the Switch, if only so I could play these old games without having to sit in front of a TV.

@Pod Which is why I'm surprised they haven't added SNES games. I have an NES, and it's by far my least favorite console I have.

@Zerocritic just buy a gamecube. They're like $20 right now. That won't last. GC controllers cost more. Also, GC emulation is still a long ways from being in a cheap machine.

I would very much like to think a game boy mini is coming for the holiday season.
After all it is it's 30th anniversary and the timing would be perfect to show it some love.

@skycargav2000 It's a product of your imagination fed by the opinions of strangers on the internet. I've played many games side by side on the real system and the mini, there is no difference, i've never met anybody who could see or tell any difference only lots of people on the internet crying about how they can't play certain games because of input lag. I can still play and beat all the games i can play and beat on my original system without any issue. No wireless controller will ever be better than a wired conenction obviously. 8bitdo are the class leaders so opt for one of those if you really feel the need.

Nintendo could easily release an N64 Classic with 20 games without having to resort to any third party offerings (or Rareware games). The system could go for US$89.99 and include the following titles:
1 - Super Mario 64
2 - Mario Kart 64
3 - Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
4 - StarFox 64
5 - Pilotwings 64
6 - F-Zero X
7 - Paper Mario
8 - Wave Race 64
9 - Super Smash Bros.
10 - Pokemon Stadium
11 - Mario Tennis
12 - Mario Golf
13 - Donkey Kong 64 (Nintendo owned game, not Rare)
14 - 1080 Snowboarding
15 - Pokemon Snap
16 - Mario Party
17 - Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
18 - Dr. Mario 64
19 - Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
20 - Pokemon Puzzle League
Make it happen Nintendo!

@Trajan
SNES games on Switch Online?

They probably know how much people want it, so they are saving it for an attention revival when one is needed. That's what I would do.

@FullMetalWesker
I agree. Maybe now that these minis are running their course they will add some individual games to purchase on the eshop. I haven't bought either of these because I have virtually all of the games on my Wii U through VC and Wii VC. The only exceptions are the Star Fox games, and I would LOVE to be able to play Star Fox 2. I've been wanting to play it now for what, 23 years now?

@Rhaoulos Well Goldeneye wouldn't happen due to other license reasons, but it would certainly be rad if even just some of the big ones like banjo and Conner were on a potential n64 classic. And the since the game does have it's fans, DK64 wouldn't be the worst choice to be honest, though I get why you're not exactly fond of the game.

I honestly don't get Nintendo's logic sometimes. They had two red hot systems that dominated the plug and play retro market and even beat modern systems like the PS4 in sales during certain months.

So, how does Nintendo follow up this success? By taking the NES and SNES classics off the market and not making a Game Boy or N64 version.

They got damn lucky Sony screwed up the PS1 Classic, but they have a bigger problem.

Sega could very well steal the market away from them. The Genesis Mini is getting tons of great hype, and Sega is not playing around this time. They are putting 40 of the best Genesis games on their system.

Nintendo just left the market wide open for Sega to swoop in and take it away from them. Why would Nintendo do something so foolish?

I recently broke out my SNES Classic Mini after grabbing one over the holidays. I've been going crazy with many of the platformers and have been enjoying nearly every minute.

To answer the question at the end of the article: I'd love to see a Game Boy Mini AND a N64 Classic Mini.

Game boy classic all the way - that would be awesome to see. I’m not personally convinced on the N64, as for me, many of the games have not dated so well

Can they please release a Gamecube Classic Edition?

I finally commonly see the NES classic on shelves but have yet to see an SNES classics. Hopefully I can muster the cash and the luck before it's too late (again).

They should sell by the bucket load. As far as I’m concerned the 16 Bit era will always be the best. I was lucky enough to live the dream when these amazing systems first came out:) what a generation. Luckily I still own the original tech along with my PC engine and Neo Geo. it great for new generations of gamers to experience these timeless systems.

The SNES Mini is the clear winner, which is just as it should be.

@Rhaoulos Jet Force Gemini is seriously crap, but I agree with you on the rest.

Also, they really need to include Diddy Kong Racing too.

Gameboy entirely. The N64 would be a single party box as much of anything else couldn’t get licensed or is tied up in some other form of limbo. GB+GBC in one unit with like 40 games would be best as you’d get a real taste and with so many titles it would be easy to feed it a truly full and excellent list.

Surprised the NES Mini has sold so well when it was so mediocre. They couldn't even get the colors correct!

At least the SNES Mini was pretty solid though.

@impurekind I've seen this kind of comment before. I guess it isn't great compared to today's standard. To be honest, it would be pure nostalgia for me. I loved the game so much when it was released, I've always wanted to play it again.
And I forgot about Diddy Kong Racing. I'm not a fan but it should be part of the list.

@Rhaoulos Your post got me wondering. Could Rare Replay make its way to the Switch, given MS and Nintendo are working together? An E3 announcement would be HUGE!!!!

@outsider83
Think about it this way: an N64 mini won't happen until Nintendo gets the right to Goldeneye at the very least. While they're at it, they might as well go for the full Rare catalogue on N64. We've seen Microsoft and Nintendo act as allies against the big bad Sony with cross platform. They released Cuphead on the Switch.

So I am not saying it is happening, but if the N64 Mini ever happens, which is not impossible, Rare Replay on the Switch is also possibility and it would make me very happy. And even happier if it is announced at E3 this year.

Just give me all the games for the minis on 2 cartridges for switch. Sold. Not interested in 2 little consoles to put in front of my tv.

@Rhaoulos Goldeneye just isnt realistically ever happening. The rights are long expired and very unlikely to ever be reobtained. Its far more complicated than just Nintendo and Microsoft/Rare. You got the james Bond licence and whoever has that now too for games Got actors faces on characters which would have to be re obtained or removed.
Too much cost and hastle to get sorted for an N64 mini. Far more likely perfect dark if any rare games.

GBA SP
The best Nintendo Console so far.