10 Game Franchises That Peaked On Handheld Consoles

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Previously, the boundary between portable gaming devices such as the Nintendo DS and stationary ones like the PlayStation was rigidly defined.

Developing portable games emphasizes quick, manageable gaming sessions ideal for commuting or brief study interludes, contrasting with home console games that require players to remain stationary for extended periods.

For me, as a gamer, it’s not that every gaming franchise works well for extended play sessions. With the influx of portable systems into the market and franchises hopping between small and large screens, certain classic series have become more appealing when I’m on-the-go.

It’s possible that these mobile games were given extra care by the developers, or perhaps it was the reduced expense of creating handheld titles that made a difference. Regardless of the cause, these series are most enjoyable during long car journeys.

10.
Fire Emblem

A Handheld Renaissance

First appearing on the Famicom in 1990, the chapter-oriented gameplay of Fire Emblem lends itself well to portable devices due to its tactical RPG nature. However, its compelling storyline requires high-quality voice acting and character animation, which was difficult to achieve outside of home console releases – until the release of Fire Emblem: Awakening in 2012.

The enhanced visuals of the 3DS made the franchise’s signature permanent death feel more emotional, yet didn’t keep players glued to the screen. I recall getting so engrossed in my RPG companionship that I would often lose touch with them for extended periods as they diligently worked on unlocking conversations between their beloved characters.

Due to the mobile power of the 3DS, the revamped version of Fire Emblem proved successful, preventing the series’ discontinuation and opening the path for the popular Fire Emblem: Three Houses on the Nintendo Switch.

9.
Mega Man

Spoiled For Choice

Discussing the Mega Man series, it’s remarkable how many games, prequels, adaptations, and sub-series it encompasses, leading to a question: Is his strength more evident in blockbuster movies or on smaller TV screens?

From my perspective, Mega Man’s portable game collection offers a harmonious blend of the classic action-platformer style the series is famous for, and the innovative spin-off games that emerged after it.

In simpler terms, several popular spinoffs of Mega Man, such as Mega Man Zero and Mega Man Battle Network, were exclusively available on Game Boy Advance (GBA) and had successful continuations on Nintendo DS. One of my favorite underestimated games from that time is Mega Man ZX, where I often wished to conquer its stage bosses during long car rides.

If you’re a fan of the old-school gaming vibe, you’ll appreciate the PlayStation Portable (PSP), as it completes our lineup with superb reboots of both the original Mega Man and Mega Man X titles.

8.
Persona

Good As Gold

As a devoted fan of the legendary RPG series, Persona, and its sibling games under Shin Megami Tensei, it’s a feast for us indeed. However, before the much-anticipated launch of Persona 5, which many hail as the epitome of the Persona gaming experience, a game that truly shone was unfortunately confined to a handheld console that wasn’t widely popular among gamers.

As a devoted enthusiast, I can confidently say that even the most ardent PlayStation Vita critics couldn’t deny the allure of Persona 4 Golden. Beyond the appealing time management mechanics in the game, which make it ideal for brief gaming sessions, what truly sets Golden apart is its richly expanded narrative. It’s no wonder why this gem continues to resonate strongly with fans.

Fortunately, it can now be found across multiple systems, yet for some time, the Vita enthusiasts could take pride in their unique platform.

7.
WarioWare

Controlled Chaos

Following the extended run of the Wario Land series, which significantly shaped the identities of Game Boy and Game Boy Color, the beloved anti-mascot introduced fresh vigor to the Game Boy Advance through the genre-blending “microgame” collection titled WarioWare, Inc: Mega Microgames.

Wario’s microgame collections on Wii and Switch make fantastic party games, but I’ve often found the motion controls a tad unrefined for solo play. Every now and then, I experience remnants of stress from flashbacks to the boss level in WarioWare: Smooth Moves, where players were compelled to perform line dancing.

WarioWare: Twisted and WarioWare: Touched strike a balance, retaining the series’ signature quirky controls while offering them in compact form without sacrificing the frenetic energy that sets the franchise apart.

6.
Picross

Picture Perfect

Picross might not be as well-known as another puzzle game mentioned later, but its blend of sudoku-like number grids and crossword-style visuals modernizes the classic pen-and-paper picture puzzles found in newspapers.

In a more natural and casual way of expression: The sequel to Picross 3D on DS, where instead of filling squares on a two-dimensional picture, you carve a cube to uncover an adorable pixel sculpture, is worth noting. Not every portable game needs to be quick or action-packed, and Picross 3D matches perfectly with a cup of coffee and a relaxing Sunday morning.

It’s significant to mention that Picross was initially exclusive to handheld devices prior to its releases on the Nintendo Switch. However, despite being available on a versatile console like the Switch, I find it hard to envision myself playing Picross on a television. Consequently, I believe it continues to deserve a high position in the rankings.

5.
Bangai-O

Bullet Heaven

The game called Bangai-O made its debut as a challenging, fast-paced shoot ’em up in the style of bullet hell on the Sega Dreamcast back in the year 1999.

Among its two sequels, Bangai-O Spirits for the Nintendo DS clearly outshines the others, particularly because of its powerful level editor. This tool allowed players to amplify an already excessive amount of on-screen projectiles even more.

Delightfully, the game Spirits enabled players to exchange levels offline, as each level was associated with a unique sound file that could be recognized using the DS microphone. The DS’s distinct hardware characteristics made such quirky elements feasible when they otherwise might not have been.

4.
Kid Icarus

Clipped Wings

As a dedicated gamer, I can’t help but feel that the Kid Icarus franchise, with its rich mythological themes, seemed to reach its zenith in the era of handheld gaming. However, in this modern age, it feels like the series is hanging on by a thread, struggling to stay alive.

Currently experiencing its second phase of inactivity, the game Kid Icarus had a short spell of popularity when game designer Masahiro Sakuri resurrected it from obscurity to create an action-adventure shooter game for the Nintendo 3DS.

For individuals who found its slightly unconventional controls manageable – an unintended consequence of its handheld format – Kid Icarus: Uprising offered a robust gameplay experience with distinctive aesthetics and engaging dialogue. Until another sequel emerges,

3.
Animal Crossing

Fear Of Missing Out

In 2005, transitioning Animal Crossing’s life simulation from GameCube to Nintendo DS felt completely logical. Previously, I often found myself missing the game’s time-bound events due to school or family trips, but having consistent access to my town through the portable console was a real game-changer for me.

It was understandable, indeed, for gamers to hold a blend of emotions towards the revival of the franchise on home consoles with Animal Crossing: City Folk. The game didn’t seem to offer enough innovative elements to compensate for its lack of mobility compared to its portable predecessors.

After immersing myself heavily in Wild World on my DS, I jumped straight into playing City Folk, but the strong resemblance between the two games left me feeling overly familiar with the series, causing a sort of burnout that lasted for quite some time.

Fortunately, the balance in the realm of handheld devices was re-established when the popular New Leaf game was launched for the 3DS system.

2.
Tetris

Creative Blocks

Although it wasn’t originally designed for a handheld device, Tetris can certainly be considered the ultimate portable game, and I’ve lost track of the number of hours I’ve spent captivated by its addictive line-clearing puzzles.

Nevertheless, developers continued to experiment with altering the game’s format for home consoles, which occasionally led to peculiar outcomes.

1998 saw Tetrisphere’s daring (albeit quirky-looking) effort to transpose Tetris into a 3D realm on the Nintendo 64, while 2018’s Tetris Effect nearly achieved a tailor-made home Tetris encounter with its captivating VR visuals and engrossing audio.

Despite the uncomplicated charm of Tetris DS, the other games seem as if they are struggling to create something entirely new, but in essence, they’re just attempting to re-invent a wheel that has already been invented and perfected.

1.
Pokémon

More Is Less

For quite some time, it seemed almost destined that the core role-playing games in the Pokémon series, where you capture monsters, would eventually transition from portable devices to home consoles. However, with this change finally taking place, opinions among fans have become divided about the outcome.

As a dedicated fan, I can share my personal experience with the challenging creation of the immersive 3D Pokémon adventure, Pokémon Legends: Arceus. This game pushed GameFreak’s resources to their absolute limit, leading to a series of games with occasional glitches and inconsistencies. However, for me who can overlook issues like frame drops or lower-quality textures,

Regardless of your opinion on Scarlet, Violet, or the Pokemon Legends spinoff series, it’s clear why certain Pokemon enthusiasts yearn for a more straightforward era reminiscent of link cables and 2D graphics.

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2025-06-02 16:42