Game Gear at 35: How the Sega handheld inspired the Switch and Steam Deck

On the eve of its 35th anniversary, the Game Gear shows how Sega paved the way for modern handhelds, from its color screen to iconic accessories.

Historical context

35 years ago, Sega released the Game Gear, arriving in Europe and North America this month of April. Between 1983 and 2001, the company released 15 different pieces of hardware, always seeking new ideas — some bold, like accessories that connected to existing hardware.

Color screen at an attractive price

The Game Gear featured a backlit color LCD screen, which made it unique compared to the Game Boy, which used a greenish-gray palette. Although it was not the first color handheld, it was the only one to offer this feature at an attractive price of $149. With this, titles like Sonic the Hedgehog, Mortal Kombat, and NBA Jam could be enjoyed on the go.

Performance, library, and comparison with the Game Boy

The Game Gear's visuals showed a leap forward compared to the Game Boy, but the library was mostly ports of Genesis games. There was no equivalent to Pokémon, a factor that helped the Game Boy become one of the most successful portable consoles. The Game Gear consumed a lot of power, offering only 3 to 4 hours of gameplay with six AA batteries, although it could function plugged into a wall outlet thanks to its AC port. Its horizontal form factor also made it easier to handle.

Accessories that left their mark

Among the famous accessories was the TV Tuner, which attached to the back of the console with a retractable antenna to pick up TV signals. The Master Gear Converter allowed you to play Master System titles on the Game Gear, a predecessor to the Super Game Boy concept. The Super Wide Gear was a screen magnifying lens so large that it made the setup impractical, but memorable.

Market and legacy

Although it did not achieve the same sales success as the Game Boy, the Game Gear was its closest competitor, albeit far behind. Nintendo sold about 118 million units of the Game Boy and its variants, making it a reference point in the history of portables. Sega's TV commercials, with electric guitars and a bold tone, captured the unique vibe of the 1990s.

Conclusion

The Game Gear helped pave the way for more ambitious handhelds. The ecosystem at the time took a few years to catch up with this movement, but the console left a clear lesson about the potential of portable hardware.

Which Game Gear accessory do you consider most iconic today? Leave your opinion in the comments.

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