2017 Nintendo Console Ranked Best Handheld Of All Time-And It's Still Going Strong

Nintendo is known for being perhaps the most innovative company in gaming. There's no idea that the Big N isn't afraid to at least consider.

The handheld marketplace has always been the easiest place to experiment with gimmicks and novel concepts. Nintendo is the king of handheld gaming for this reason, and one particular handheld console may just be the best of all time.

The Guardian ranked the Switch the best handheld console of all time in 2021. Keith Stuart had much to say about the console's definitive greatness.

"The Switch is essentially the culmination of everything Nintendo has tried to do with gaming since 1989. It is convenient, intuitive and beautifully designed as a handheld device, but it also plugs into your TV and becomes a proper home console – in this way it combines the Game Boy, DS and Wii lineages into one wonderful product."

Three years later, City Live also ranked it the best handheld of all time. Jack Cranmer said the system has even forced competitors to match Nintendo's handhelds with their product creations.

"A family favourite throughout the world the switch has rejuvenated the genre and has seen renewed interest from Sony and Microsoft in getting back into the genre."

The Switch is such a roaring success story because it's the most versatile and diverse game console ever, regardless of whether it's plugged into the TV or used exclusively as a portable device.

It has sold over 155 million units as of 2026, and it trails the PlayStation 2 by less than five million units to become the highest-selling video game console ever made.

The legacy of the Switch lies in Nintendo's decision to deliver a sequel console with the Switch 2. The new hardware has sold over 17 million units since its June 2025 release date.

Both Switch consoles show a lifetime's worth of knowledge and crafty game design by Nintendo. They allow gamers to enjoy incredible games on the go that normally would be reserved just for the TV.

Riding in the car while playing Super Mario Odyssey would have been unfathomable back in the days of the Game Boy or even the Nintendo DS. The Switch was revolutionary in 2017, and it's still creating new gateways to fun for gamers in 2026.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

2026 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.

This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 4:00 AM.