What Was Nintendo's First Game? Hanafuda Cards (1889), Then Light Gun (1975)

Not a Video Game – Playing Cards

Nintendo was founded in 1889 as Nintendo Koppai by Fusajiro Yamauchi in Kyoto, Japan. Their first product: Hanafuda ("Flower Cards") – traditional Japanese playing cards used for games like Koi-Koi. They were hand-painted on mulberry bark.

First Video Game

"Light Gun" (1975) – An arcade electro-mechanical light-gun shooter. Players shot at projected targets. This predates the Color TV Game series (1977) and the arcade hit EVR Race (1975, but Light Gun shipped first).

Key Milestones

• 1889: Hanafuda cards
• 1953: Plastic playing cards (industry first)
• 1959: Disney license – massive sales boost
• 1970: Beam Gun (toy) – Gunpei Yokoi's first hit
• 1973: Laser Clay Shooting System (arcade)
• 1975: Light Gun (arcade video game)
• 1977: Color TV Game 6 & 15 (first home consoles)
• 1980: Game & Watch (handheld LCD)
• 1981: Donkey Kong (arcade) – Miyamoto's debut
• 1983: Famicom (NES) – Global dominance begins

From flower cards to global entertainment giant—Nintendo's 135+ year journey started with cardboard and ink.