Nintendo is one of the BIG names in gaming. As we'll find out it's one of the oldest players in entertainment, and has an amazing list of well-loved games and characters that are household names all around the world. So if you're a fan of Mario, Super Smash Bros, Pokemon, Gameboy or anything else this company has created - then read on to find out a bit more!

And if you're looking for other gaming facts, check out these Minecraft facts, these video game facts, or even these UNO facts! Facts for everyone!

1. Ninetendo is almost as old as the Samurais

Nintendo started off as a playing card company in 1889, making them one of the oldest surviving entertainment companies in the world! They eventually ventured into other businesses like taxi services and even hotels before conquering the gaming industry. We think of video games when we think of Nintendo - but their history is much longer! In fact, the last samurais were around in Japan only a little earlier, up to 1870!

2. Leave luck to... what?

The company's name, Nintendo, is a clever combination of the Japanese words "nin-ten-do," which roughly translates to "Leave luck to heaven." So, the next time you get a lucky power-up in Mario Kart, you know who to thank! That's right - heaven! Or maybe you deserve the credit, actually.

3. Jumpman and Pauline!

Super Mario, Nintendo's iconic mustachioed plumber, wasn't always the star of the show. In fact, he was originally "Jumpman" in the game Donkey Kong, where he had to rescue his girlfriend, Pauline, from the clutches of an angry ape. It wasn't til quite a lot later that Mario became Mario!

4. Mario the Carpenter

Did you know that Mario, Nintendo's famous character, used to be a carpenter before becoming a plumber? In his early days, he would swing a hammer and fix things like barrels in the game Donkey Kong. But then he discovered his true passion for plumbing... and the rest is history!

5. It's Wii time!

Nintendo hit a hole-in-one when they released Wii Sports. The game became the best-selling video game of all time, with over 82 million copies sold worldwide. Who knew swinging virtual tennis rackets could be so popular? And as we'll see a bit later - the Wii is more than just a good game!

6. Gameboys changed the game

Everyone knows the iconic Nintendo Game Boy, which revolutionized handheld gaming. Once the Gameboy was a thing, you could play video games anywhere you wanted! But it was almost called the "Dot Matrix Game" before its release. Thankfully, they opted for the way better name we know and love today. The first Gameboy could run for 30 hours on two AA batteries, because the screen only had 4 shades of gray and no backlight!

7. Gameboys have never been just for boys

There's a very old (and wrong) stereotype that gaming is more of a boy thing to do, and the name "Gameboy" probably didn't help. But even as far back as 1995, a study showed 46% of gameboy gamers were female, compared with 52% now. So it's always been pretty much 50/50. So where's the Gamegirl console, Nintendo?

8. There are a LOT of Mario games!

Nintendo's plumbers have a knack for exploring unusual places. As well as the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario and Luigi have also gone underwater in the NES game "Clu Clu Land," battling enemies and searching for hidden treasures. There have been countless different versions of Mario over the years, and all sorts of weird settings and collabs with other Nintendo characters. Those pipes sure lead to a lot of different places!

9. Wii has saved lives!

The Wii Fit game aimed to get players moving and exercising, but it has unintentionally helped save lives. A 28-year-old woman in England discovered she had a potentially fatal heart condition when her Wii Fit told her she had an unusually high pulse. She got help and is much better now. Phew! Thank you, Nintendo!

10. Wii almost wasn't A Nintendo console

Companies have long been on the hunt for new ideas, especially ones that combined real movement with on-screen action. The inventor of the technology behind the Wii, Tom Quinn, eventually sold his technology to Nintendo - but later revealed he'd originally tried to sell it to Microsoft and Sony first, but been knocked back! Sorry Playstation fans, gutted!

11. Gameboys are super tough

Nintendo's handheld consoles, like the Gameboy and DS, have a reputation for being tough. In fact, during the Gulf War, a Gameboy survived a bombing that destroyed an army barracks. That little thing had some serious battle scars! But that's not all - in 1996, a Gameboy was recovered from the wreckage of the Space Shuttle Atlantis after it exploded during re-entry. The Gameboy kept working despite the intense heat and impact, proving that Nintendo builds their consoles to withstand even the harshest of conditions. Very impressive.

12. Animal Crossing vs Covid

The virtual life simulation game Animal Crossing: New Horizons became a cultural phenomenon during the COVID-19 pandemic. Players found solace in designing virtual islands and interacting with animal neighbors while real-world travel was restricted. Lots of people said it improved their mental health during that very stressful time.

13. Super Smash Bros is one of a kind!

Nintendo's Super Smash Bros series is a crossover extravaganza, featuring characters from different franchises battling it out. Where else can you watch Mario, Pikachu, and Solid Snake have a massive fight? It's like a celebrity wrestling match, but with video game characters! This kind of game is only possible because Nintendo has made so many different games and characters.

14. What kind of Pokemon is that?

Pokémon, Nintendo's beloved franchise, was originally inspired by creator Satoshi Tajiri's childhood passion for collecting bugs. As cool as Pokemon are though, there are actually way more bugs out there - and some of them are a lot cooler than their fictional Pokemon versions! Just look at this millipede! Cor!

15. Zelda's hidden room

The Legend of Zelda series is known for its puzzles and hidden secrets, but one secret was kept for almost 30 years! The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past came out in 1991, but players finally discovered a hidden room in 2019! Without the perseverance of dedicated fans, the room might have never been discovered!

16. Nintendo counselling service

Nintendo used to run a free hotline where gamers could ring up and ask for help with any game they were stuck on. The staff would offer walkthroughs and advice - but they had to start charging for the service because too many people would call for a chat... and in some cases use the service to ask for things like relationship advice!

17. Goldeneye's biggest fan

The Nintendo 64 classic, GoldenEye 007, had an unexpected celebrity fan: former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher! She reportedly loved playing the game during her downtime! So after a long day of sending actual spies on missions, she relaxed with a bit of virtual espionage!

18. Wii STILL helping people out!

The Wii U, Nintendo's follow-up to the Wii, had an accessory called the "Wii U Balance Board." It was initially designed for exercise and fitness games but found a surprising use in a hospital. Doctors used the board to help patients improve their balance and recover from injuries. And we thought detecting that woman's heart condition was enough! good job, Wii!

19. Kirby the Hoover

The character Kirby may look cute and harmless, but he has a dark secret. His ability to swallow enemies and gain their powers was inspired by the creator's childhood fascination with vacuum cleaners. The weirdest thing about this fact is that a child would be fascinated by vacuum cleaners.

20. Yoshi was a horse?

Nintendo's much loved character Yoshi is Mario's loyal dinosaur companion. But did you know that Yoshi was originally a horse? Yes, that's right! In early designs, Yoshi was a horse with a long tongue - and the shell on his back? That was originally a saddle! Eventually, the creators decided to transform Yoshi into the adorable and lovable dinosaur we all know and love today... and Nintendo has kept surprising us with constant new versions of games and game characters. Long may it continue!