Gaming pulse on the wrist – 7 watches inspired by video games

In the meeting between pixel graphics and precision something unexpectedly magical arises watches inspired by video games. From luxurious collaborations with Nintendo to nostalgic 80s watches with built-in mini games, the gaming world has left clear marks on our wrists. Here are seven watches where time literally goes hand in hand with gaming culture.

Text: Andreas Johansson

Video games and watches may come from different worlds but where they meet something unique arises, a combination of nostalgia, style and technology. Several manufacturers, from the luxury segment to popular fashion watches, have collaborated with gaming giants or created models with direct inspiration from the gaming world. For me personally both video games and watches lie close to my heart and I was surprised by how much collaboration there is in this genre. Here are seven watches that unite gaming culture and horology.

TAG Heuer Formula 1 x Mario Kart (2022)

One of my favourite games of all time is Mario Kart. TAG Heuer, who are connected to racing sport in several respects, launched two limited Mario Kart models in 2022, a chronograph and a tourbillon. The chronograph has a racing-inspired design with Mario symbolism on the dial, date window and bezel, while the tourbillon version has a rotating Mario figure in the tourbillon cage. Both models sold out quickly and became collector's items.

Seiko 5 Sports x Street Fighter (2020)

Street Fighter 2 was for a long time one of the world's most popular video games. In 2020 Seiko released a tribute to the poplar game in its series, 5 Sports. They released six models each one inspired by a game character: Ryu, Chun-Li, Ken, Guile, Zangief and Blanka. The design reflects their personalities and outfits, with small details such as symbols, colours and background history baked into the dial and the case. The watches' different colours and design language meant that several collectors happily wanted all the watches in the series and it is not unusual to see them sold together in a collection. 

Casio G-Shock x Super Mario Bros (2021)

Perhaps the most classic video game ever is Super Mario 1. Casio G-Shock released a DW-5600 model with pixel graphics from Super Mario Bros. The colour palette, the display frame and the bracelet contain graphics from the 8-bit NES game, including Goombas and blocks. On the back there is an etched Mario. It comes in a special box with game design. A clear tribute to one of the greatest in video game history, Mario.  

Casio-Pacman

One of the most classic video games ever is Pac-Man. There are several tributes to this video game, but I like Casio's with reference number A100WEPC-1B. The golden case with playful elements from the video game makes this a really fun watch for those of us who like video games. 

Seiko Wired x Monster Hunter (2018)

During the launch of Monster Hunter World, Seiko released its sub-brand Wired in collaboration with Capcom. The models were inspired by iconic weapons and armour from the game. They were sold only in Japan and quickly became popular among fans.

Casio Game Watch series (1980–1984)

Before the era of smartwatches Casio manufactured wristwatches with small LCD games – such as Submarine Battle, Race Time and Crab Grab. These were simple, but the big innovation of the time: you could play on your wrist. They are today collector's items among both retro enthusiasts and electronics nerds.

Romain Jerome x Space Invaders (2014)

Romain Jerome released several pixel watches in collaboration with retro game licences. They are handmade with details such as miniature figures in coloured enamel on the dial. Exclusive and often priced far above 100 000 kr, but also pure art for nerds with a taste for watch art. My favourite is inspired by the video game Space Invaders, another classic in video game history.  

Watches and video games have more in common than one first thinks. Both are objects of passion, collecting and cultural heritage. As generations that grew up with consoles have now become adult collectors, the interest in gaming watches grows. And whether you want to wear Mario, Ryu or an 8-bit space creature on your wrist there are today more ways than ever to combine video games and watches. If I were to buy a video game inspired watch myself it would be some in the lower price segment, but Tag Heuer's Mario Kart tourbillon certainly tempts quite a lot.