• A. Super Mario Bros.
  • B. Donkey Kong
  • C. Pac-Man
  • D. Game & Watch

💡 Need a hint?

Don’t think of a game on a cartridge-based console, but rather a handy little device that could easily fit in your pocket. It laid the foundation for an entire generation of portable games from this Japanese company.

✅ View the answer

The correct answer is D. Game & Watch.

Game & Watch was a series of portable electronic handhelds that Nintendo brought to market in 1980. Each device contained a single game on an LCD screen, plus a built-in clock and alarm function (hence the name). The designer behind this concept was Gunpei Yokoi, who would later also be involved in the development of the Game Boy.

The other options don’t match 1980: Donkey Kong appeared in 1981, Super Mario Bros. didn’t arrive until 1985 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, and Pac-Man was not released by Nintendo.

📚 More background information

In 1980, Nintendo was far from the gaming giant it would become. The company had its roots in playing cards and was cautiously testing the market. The Game & Watch was something of a gamble: a device with a single game, a small LCD screen, and two tiny buttons. Not exactly impressive on paper. But it caught on.

What many people don’t know is that the cross-shaped directional pad, known as the D-pad, gained widespread popularity through this series. That button has since appeared on virtually every game controller in the world. Anyone holding a controller today is, in a sense, holding on to the legacy of those early handhelds.

At a pub quiz, questions like this often spark the most entertaining table conversations. Older participants recognize the Game & Watch immediately, while younger players automatically associate Nintendo with Mario and look surprised when that answer turns out to be wrong. That moment of “oh wait, really?” is exactly what makes this such a great quiz question.