The NES turns 30 this week in North America

Original release was 1983 in Japan

Recommended Videos

Although it was released in July 1983 in Japan, the NES is now over 30 years old in the west. It hit the US on October 18, 1985, and literally changed the entire landscape of the gaming industry.

Several years later I would find one at Sears, and due to my fascination with my cousin’s Atari 2600, I asked for one for my birthday, and used all of my holiday money for it. I still remember loading it up and playing Duck Hunt/Mario for the first time, as well as trying to comprehend the RPG genre with Dragon Warrior. It took me a while but I finally caught on, and was completing games like Mega Man at a young age.

While the Atari first sparked my interest, it’s the NES that made me the gamer I am today. Feel free to share your memories of the console below, whether you picked it up near launch or played it for the first time years later.


Destructoid is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more
related content
Read Article MW3 devs introduce new unlimited double XP method, but it doesn’t come free
MW3
Read Article New trailer for Destiny 2: The Final Shape showcases environments inside the Traveler
Read Article MW3 devs quietly remove popular SMG from Ranked Play
Ranked Play
Related Content
Read Article MW3 devs introduce new unlimited double XP method, but it doesn’t come free
MW3
Read Article New trailer for Destiny 2: The Final Shape showcases environments inside the Traveler
Read Article MW3 devs quietly remove popular SMG from Ranked Play
Ranked Play
Author
Chris Carter
Managing Editor - Chris has been enjoying Destructoid avidly since 2008. He finally decided to take the next step in January of 2009 blogging on the site. Now, he's staff!