With major PS5 announcements imminent and the Xbox Series X booting up for launch this holiday season, 2020 is set to be a groundbreaking year for console gaming. While these two devices hope to achieve new heights in the industry and present the pinnacle in gaming performance, console quality is not based on graphical components alone. Games available, ease-of-use, minimal bugs, global popularity, and price all play a role in determining which consoles offer the ultimate gaming experience. While this is entirely debatable, we will pinpoint what we believe to be the best game consoles that the world has ever seen. We begin our countdown to number one below:
5. Nintendo Switch
The reveal of the Nintendo Switch in 2016 was, for many people, a hard pill to swallow as Nintendo had become a peripheral console franchise after the release of the unsuccessful Wii U. Furthermore, it was difficult to comprehend how the concept of having a console that could seamlessly transform into a handheld device would effectively work. But, Nintendo launched a mostly bug-proof gaming gadget that combines the best of Nintendo console gaming with their coveted handheld experience in a perfectly designed package that can play breakout titles such as ‘Super Mario Odyssey’ and ‘The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’.
4. PlayStation 4
The PlayStation 4 has been a household name for seven years and, even with the PS5 on its way as well as numerous alternative gaming options available, the console has retained a pious pool of players. This PlayStation iteration overcame challenges faced by the PlayStation 3 and edged past its Xbox rivals thanks to top-tier graphic and mechanical performance as well as an impressive catalog of exclusive games including ‘Uncharted’, ‘Spider-Man’, ‘God of War’, and new releases such as ‘Death Stranding’.
3. Sega Genesis
It was in 1989 that Sega decided to up the ante and challenge console chiefs Nintendo with the launch of their Genesis. Marketed as an edgier console for kids wishing to break away from the tame and juvenile aspects of Nintendo’s landmark devices, the Sega Genesis managed to sell millions of copies as well as introduce the gaming industry to the brash and blue ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’.
2. PlayStation 2
With little in the way of competition surrounding the launch of the PlayStation 2, the company would easily soar to the top of selling ranks after their launch. However, what’s most impressive is that the numbers continued to rise years after release and the PlayStation 2 remains the best-selling console of all time. Its success is bolstered by the fact that the device’s catalog of games was colossal, featuring iconic titles like ‘GTA: San Andreas’ and ‘Kingdom Hearts’ to name a few.
1. Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
The humble grey brick known as the Nintendo Entertainment System would be the birthplace of modern at-home gaming and it was on this technically-sound device where we would first meet Zelda and Mario. The console has been emulated and its games have been remastered for current consoles, showcasing just how impactful its release and vast catalog of exclusives have been.
Whether you are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the next big console or prefer to kick back with an original Nintendo system, these immersive gaming devices have changed our lives forever and their influence is eternal.
