Before smartphones, before the Game Boy dominated, and before Nintendo Switch took over modern gaming, there was a simpler, cheaper, and strangely addictive form of portable entertainment—Tiger Electronics LCD games. These single-game handhelds were a staple of ’90s childhood, found in backpacks, toy stores, and even fast-food promotions.
What Were Tiger Electronics LCD Games?
Tiger Electronics, a company founded in the 1970s, became a household name in the late ’80s and ’90s by producing low-cost, single-screen handheld video games. Unlike the Game Boy, which allowed players to swap out cartridges, each Tiger handheld was dedicated to one game. The gameplay was displayed using pre-drawn LCD sprites, meaning characters and objects could only appear in fixed positions on the screen—much like a digital watch.
The controls were minimal—typically just a D-pad and a couple of buttons—but that didn’t stop kids from spending hours trying to beat high scores. And while the gameplay was often repetitive, the excitement of owning a handheld version of your favorite movie, TV show, or arcade game made up for it.
The Rise of Tiger’s LCD Games
Tiger Electronics hit its stride in the ’90s, churning out dozens of handhelds based on popular franchises. If it was big in pop culture, Tiger had a game for it. Some of the most memorable included:
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Street Fighter II
- Mortal Kombat
- Power Rangers
- Batman
- Star Wars
- Jurassic Park
- X-Men
They also produced games based on Disney movies, sports, and even licensed arcade classics like Pac-Man and Double Dragon.
While Tiger’s LCD games were often criticized for their simplicity, they had a major advantage: affordability. A Game Boy and its games were expensive, but a Tiger handheld could be picked up for around $20 or less. This made them a great option for kids who wanted portable gaming but couldn’t convince their parents to buy a more advanced system.
Why Did Kids Love (and Hate) These Games?
Tiger’s handhelds were everywhere in the ’90s, but they were a mixed bag when it came to quality. Some games had decent gameplay, while others felt clunky and frustrating due to slow response times and awkward controls. The lack of real animation (since the characters were just static LCD images turning on and off) made the games feel stiff, especially compared to Game Boy titles.
Still, for a kid who loved Mortal Kombat or Power Rangers, having a game with those characters—even in its simplest form—was exciting. Plus, Tiger games were easy to carry, required no game swapping, and ran for ages on a couple of AA batteries.
The Fall of Tiger Electronics Handhelds
By the late ’90s and early 2000s, handheld gaming had evolved. The Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, and later, the Nintendo DS and PSP, offered full-motion graphics, deep gameplay, and interchangeable cartridges—everything Tiger games couldn’t compete with.
As gaming technology advanced, Tiger’s LCD games became obsolete. While they remained in stores for a while, the market for them gradually disappeared.
The Nostalgic Comeback
Despite their flaws, Tiger Electronics LCD games are now a nostalgic piece of ’90s history. Some collectors hunt them down, and in 2020, Hasbro re-released a few classic Tiger handhelds, including Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and X-Men Project X.
For those who grew up with them, these games represent a simpler time in gaming—when all you needed was a small, plastic handheld, a pair of AA batteries, and a bit of patience.
Did You Own a Tiger Electronics Game?
Which Tiger LCD game do you remember playing the most? Were they frustrating, fun, or both? Share your memories in the comments!
