23. MR. GAME & WATCH

Franchise / home series: Game & Watch

Notable non-Smash games: Original Game & Watch handheld titles (1980–1983)

Mr. Game & Watch debuted in Melee as a tribute to Nintendo’s earliest handheld gaming era. His flat, LCD-style design stands out from every other fighter in the roster, making him a living homage to the company’s pre-NES history.

In Smash, Mr. Game & Watch is built around a collection of moves inspired by various Game & Watch titles, including Chef, Fire, Octopus, and Oil Panic. His attacks are often disjointed and deceptively strong, with his light weight and unusual animations giving him a strange rhythm that can be difficult for opponents to read. The Judge side special, which produces random effects from 1 to 9, encapsulates his chaotic, retro gimmick nature.

Across the series, Mr. Game & Watch has oscillated between novelty character and serious competitive threat, especially in later games where his aerials, bucket mechanic, and edgeguarding tools became more refined. He remains one of Smash’s most stylized and experimental fighters, preserving a unique visual and gameplay identity that celebrates Nintendo’s earliest handheld innovations.