Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
How It Works • Gaming

Nintendo Entertainment System

The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is an 8-bit home video game console developed and marketed by Nintendo.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is an 8-bit home video game console from Nintendo that revived the home console market after the 1983 crash. It launched in Japan as the Family Computer (Famicom) in 1983 and reached North America in 1985.

What it is

The NES is a third-generation 8-bit console, redesigned for Western markets from the Japanese Famicom. It uses a front-loading cartridge slot and was sold in bundles like the Deluxe Set (US$179.99) and Action Set (US$89.99). Production ended in 1995 for the NES and 2003 for the Famicom.

Why it matters

The NES is widely credited with restoring confidence in home video gaming after the 1983 crash. It launched iconic franchises like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, and Metroid, and its success helped standardize the modern console market.

Key details

The NES had about 700 licensed titles in North America, though totals vary. Its successor was the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). In Canada, the NES was part of Nintendo’s North American expansion and helped popularize home gaming among Canadian players.

In short

  • Revived the home console market after the 1983 crash.
  • Launched major franchises like Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda.
  • Sold in bundles, not a single launch price.
  • Discontinued in 1995 (NES) and 2003 (Famicom).
Canadian angle

The NES was sold in Canada as part of Nintendo’s North American market expansion and was influential in popularizing home video gaming among Canadian players.

Quick questions

What is the Nintendo Entertainment System?
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit home video game console made by Nintendo, released in Japan as the Famicom and later in North America and other regions as the NES.
When was the NES released?
It was first released in Japan on July 15, 1983 as the Famicom, launched in U.S. test markets on October 18, 1985, and released nationwide in the United States on September 27, 1986.
How many games were released for the NES?
The total depends on what is counted, but the NES had hundreds of licensed games; a commonly cited figure is around 700 licensed North American titles, while worldwide totals are higher.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_Entertainment_System
    Supports: Original release dates, successor, console generation, and general description.
  2. EBSCO — https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/sports-and-leisure/nintendo-entertainment-system-nes
    Supports: NES launch in the United States, origin as the Famicom, and successor SNES.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_Entertainment_System_models
    Supports: Release chronology and model history.
  4. NES Guide — https://www.nesguide.com/nes-prices/
    Supports: Commonly cited U.S. launch bundle prices for the NES.
  5. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nintendo_Entertainment_System_games
    Supports: Game-library counts and licensed-title totals used in encyclopedic summaries.