IGN's 25 Game Consoles of All Time

[Havok83]

We all remember our first videogame console -- the moment we brought it home, the first time we powered it on, and the instant we first played a game that radiated our screen with beautiful graphic goodness. If you're anything like us, your first console was only the tip of the proverbial iceberg, and what began as a one-system household quickly evolved into a gamer's Mecca with consoles littering your living room. In the spirit of our healthy gaming obsession, IGN has forged a list of the Top 25 Videogame Consoles of All Time, where we have selected and ranked the most influential systems in the history of gaming to be revealed five consoles at a time for five straight days. While it may seem like a simple task on paper, sifting through 37+ years of console history for the best and brightest, while getting IGN's editorial staff to agree on one comprehensive list was an undertaking for the ages.

Each console on the list ahead was selected for its influence on the industry and the gaming culture as a whole, with special consideration for their benchmark titles, peripherals, monetary success, and total hardware sold. But beyond sales figures and critical reception, one of the biggest contributing factors in our ranking process was our lasting impressions of each console, and how it contributed to our love for gaming and inspired us to become involved in the industry.


25. Magnavox Odyssey
24. Atari Jaguar
23. Atari 520
22. 3DO
21. Magnavox Odyssey 2
20. Sega Master System
19. Neo Geo
18. Sega Saturn
17. Atari 7800
16. Nintendo Gamecube
15. Playstation 3
14. Intellevision
13. Turbografx-16
12. Colecovision
11. Xbox
10. Nintendo Wii
09. Nintendo 64
08. Dreamcast
07. Playstation
06. Xbox 360
05. Sega Genesis
04. Super Nintendo
03. Playstation 2
02. Atari 2600
01. Nintendo Entertainment System

http://www.ign.com/top-25-consoles/index.html

 

[kingman]

I guess it's safe to say that I've had a nice gaming life so far... I've owned 17 of those consoles throughout the years.

 

[Havok83]

Ive only had 6, 5 of which are in the top 10

 

[Soapy]

Eh, lists like these are created just to generate hits for websites. For whatever reason, gamers flock to lists. It seems especially disingenuous given that all three current consoles have a place on the list. We won't really know if these consoles are truely influential until many years from now.

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

Eh, lists like these are created just to generate hits for websites. For whatever reason, gamers flock to lists. It seems especially disingenuous given that all three current consoles have a place on the list. We won't really know if these consoles are truely influential until many years from now.

Yea I agree, seems like filler in a dry season.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Eh, lists like these are created just to generate hits for websites. For whatever reason, gamers flock to lists. It seems especially disingenuous given that all three current consoles have a place on the list. We won't really know if these consoles are truely influential until many years from now.

I dont think thats really true. You can clearly see the impact a system like the Wii is having on the industry now. We dont need to wait 20 years to understand that the Wii had or is having an impact on the industry.

 

[Tron Bonne]

25. Magnavox Odyssey
24. Atari Jaguar
23. Atari 520
22. 3DO
21. Magnavox Odyssey 2
20. Sega Master System
19. Neo Geo
18. Sega Saturn
17. Atari 7800
16. Nintendo Gamecube
15. Playstation 3
14. Intellevision
13. Turbografx-16
12. Colecovision
11. Xbox
10. Nintendo Wii
09. Nintendo 64?????????????????????????
08. Dreamcast
07. Playstation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
06. Xbox 360
05. Sega Genesis
04. Super Nintendo
03. Playstation 2
02. Atari 2600
01. Nintendo Entertainment System

http://www.ign.com/top-25-consoles/index.html

Yeah, a whole bunch of ****ing no to that

 

[Spidey-Bat]

Yeah, a whole bunch of ****ing no to that

Too high or low? The N64 is better than anything below it.

I own 8 of the Top 10, no PS1 (though I have a PS2 so I kinda do) or DC (will get one in the future). Also own a GC.

 

[Tron Bonne]

I wouldn't put the N64 in the Top 10. Maybe at the end of the Top 20, but definitely not even close to the Top 10. The PS1 should at least be in the Top 5.

 

[LegendaryCaleb]

ive owned 6 5 and 3
sega genesis was awesome

 

[Spidey-Bat]

I wouldn't put the N64 in the Top 10. Maybe at the end of the Top 20, but definitely not even close to the Top 10. The PS1 should at least be in the Top 5.

What would you rank above the N64?

PS1 pretty much is in the Top 5.

 

[Tron Bonne]

What would you rank above the N64?

I guess most of those systems, it would probably make it into the Top 15, but that's mostly because there's not a huge pool. It had a few great games, but not enough for me to really think it deserves much else. Horrible controller, probably one of the worst ones. Spent most its time in my house as a door stop, a fine door stop, but I'm sure that's not what Nintendo wanted me to use it for.

PS1 pretty much is in the Top 5.

It's seven which is pretty close, but I would probably put in my Top 3.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

I guess most of those systems, it would probably make it into the Top 15, but that's mostly because there's not a huge pool. It had a few great games, but not enough for me to really think it deserves much else. Horrible controller, probably one of the worst ones. Spent most its time in my house as a door stop, a fine door stop, but I'm sure that's not what Nintendo wanted me to use it for.

Why do people hate on the controller? I really don't get it.

If you used your N64 for a doorstop, that's pretty stupid. There are a lot of games on the N64 that were worth playing and make it worthy of being in the top 10.

 

[Franklin Richards]

I'd switch the Wii and Colecovision.


Loved the Colecovision!

 

[Soapy]

Why do people hate on the controller? I really don't get it.

If you used your N64 for a doorstop, that's pretty stupid. There are a lot of games on the N64 that were worth playing and make it worthy of being in the top 10.

Come on man...I loved my Nintendo 64, but that controller was nuts.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

Yeah, it looked weird but it worked. Maybe I was just smart and knew how to hold it from get go.

 

[Soapy]

I knew how to hold it as well (not that it's proof of my intelligence) but the left "inside" area rubbed the back of my left hand and was generally very irritating. I hated it.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

I have small hands so it didn't bother me.

The reviews I've seen/read of it have complained about not knowing how to hold it when it was always obvious to me.

 

[Soapy]

Just because you have small hands doesn't make the N64 controller a good gamepad. I have large hands and could use the original "Duke" Xbox controller pretty comfortably, but I would never argue that it was particularly well designed. But to each his own.

 

[Tron Bonne]

Yeah, it looked weird but it worked. Maybe I was just smart and knew how to hold it from get go.

Awkard as hell and bulky design that was pretty much put to shame by the other two controllers of the time, the PS1 and Saturn one.

Seriously, it wasn't as bad as the GCN, but there was no way I would have played that damn thing if I didn't have to for anything. Also, I too have small hands, still felt awkard and overly bulky.

If you used your N64 for a doorstop, that's pretty stupid. There are a lot of games on the N64 that were worth playing and make it worthy of being in the top 10.

Yeah, maybe to you, but not to me. It had it's fair share of good stuff, but I think I only owned 5 games, and probably played it about an 1/25th as much as I played my PS1 at the time, and I had like 30 or something PS1 titles at one time. I did play it more than the Saturn, though. Of course, I didn't own a Saturn, so that wasn't too hard.

Honestly, if I had seen ahead and saw how little use I would have gotten out of it, I probably never would have bought it to begin with. At least not at full price

 

[Spidey-Bat]

Awkard as hell and bulky design that was pretty much put to shame by the other two controllers of the time, the PS1 and Saturn one.

Seriously, it wasn't as bad as the GCN, but there was no way I would have played that damn thing if I didn't have to for anything. Also, I too have small hands, still felt awkard and overly bulky.

You think the GC controller is bad? That is the of of the most comfortable controllers ever. If you want a bad controller, try the 5200. Almost all of them were DOA out of the box.

Yeah, maybe to you, but not to me. It had it's fair share of good stuff, but I think I only owned 5 games, and probably played it about an 1/25th as much as I played my PS1 at the time, and I had like 30 or something PS1 titles at one time. I did play it more than the Saturn, though. Of course, I didn't own a Saturn, so that wasn't too hard.

Honestly, if I had seen ahead and saw how little use I would have gotten out of it, I probably never would have bought it to begin with. At least not at full price

Ocarina of Time and SM64 alone put it in the top 10. I never played the PS1 and I didn't really care for the PS2 but I'd be the first to admit the PS2 is one of the best consoles ever made.

 

[Soapy]

Oh man, you missed out with the PS1. It was like a whole new world for me. Haha

 

[thedeadite]

I only have 12 of those, 13 if I count my ADAM as a ColecoVision (it did play the carts).
I need more consoles.

 

[Tron Bonne]

You think the GC controller is bad? That is the of of the most comfortable controllers ever. If you want a bad controller, try the 5200. Almost all of them were DOA out of the box.

Yep, I think it was pretty awful actually. Though the controller itself was fairly comfortable, it had horrible button placement, the L1/R1 (or whatever they were called on that controller) were way too small, and ditto with the C-stick as well. Comfort is important, but the rest of the design was pretty poor, especially when you put it up against the PS2 and Xbox controllers.

Ocarina of Time and SM64 alone put it in the top 10. I never played the PS1 and I didn't really care for the PS2 but I'd be the first to admit the PS2 is one of the best consoles ever made.

Hey, sure if you think so, but personally I don't.

 

[Tron Bonne]

Oh man, you missed out with the PS1. It was like a whole new world for me. Haha

Yeah, it really was. The PS1 was the beginning of the new era of gaming really. For better or worse is debatable I suppose, but it really was a wonder when it first hit the market