The 10 Best Video Game Consoles of All Time, Ranked

Esquire: With every console generation comes a new power struggle. These are the 10 best consoles, ranked.

[UltraNova]

Not the most convincing list but there you go...

Personally speaking, N64 will always be my favorite one but would I crown it as the best console? No... I'd say the most impactful console ever (so far) was the ps1 since it was the first time 3D console out there with a stellar library of games and as a bonus, a worthy challenger to the status quo, Nintendo.

The most popular console ever was undoubtedly the PS2.

[ChiliPants]

most popular could be wii

[UltraNova]

Were you around during the ps2 gen? If you were an active gamer then you'd know that the Wii wouldn't even register vs the ps2's world domination.

[PressPlayBros]

Same, N64 is my favorite for personal reasons more than it being the actual best console.

[chrisx]

Sorry N64 as number 1 is a joke to me. I'd even put the SNES above the 64.

[Kribwalker]

Definitely. I couldn’t even play the witcher 2 on the N64.

[nitus10]

The Witcher 2 install size was about 23GB and required the following minimum PC minimum requirements:

OS: Windows XP/Vista/7
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS 512 MB or Radeon HD 3850 512 MB (finding a graphics card performance hierarchy chart online and comparing one's video card with our minimum is suggested)
Processor: Core 2 Duo 2.2 GHz or dual core AMD 2.5 GHz
RAM: Windows XP - 1 GB, Windows Vista/7 - 2 GB

https://support.cdprojektre...

Of course, you could try to compare this to the N64 (1996) hardware specs https://en.wikipedia.org/wi... but lets not even bother.

Anyway, Nintendo 64 games are ROM cartridge-based with sizes varying from 4 to 64 MB. If you look at cartridges in the late 1990s, a cartridge that could hold 23GB which did not exist at that time would be very expensive.

[Kribwalker]

Castlevania 64 does pale in comparison to Super Castlevania 4 on the SNES as well.

But i did have some great memories of the N64. The first time i played Mario 64 i was blown away. And Ocarina of Time was an amazing game, and still is. Goldeneye and old school mario kart 64, Perfect dark, Winback, descent, Star fox 64, mario party and 4 controllers, Top Gear, Smash bros banjo kazooie, diddy Kong racing,

there was a tonne of amazing content on the N64, but definitely not worthy of number one

[Relientk77]

PS1 and PS2 for me

PS: List says Xbox and uses a picture of Xbox One lol

[gangsta_red]

Now here is a list that warrants rage inducing anger.

N64 number 1? Not even close. SNES for me is my all time favorite console. It was truly a generational leap from NES and every game that came from NES to SNES was phenomenal. I remember playing any game with a "Super" in front of the title and being blown away.

SNES followed by the Dreamcast which was another system i hold dear.

After Dreamcast comes the Jaguar at a strong third! The rest, meh, whatever.

[Vetalka83]

lol n64 should not even be on this list

[Knightofelemia]

Dreamcast should have been on the list

[Hardiman]

Hey I enjoyed Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, Goldeneye, Banjo Kazzoie, Turok 1&2 and Shadowman among others but the N64 isn't my number one.

If I had to make a list I'd go with and of course this is all subjective so.....

10. Dreamcast
9. GameCube
8. Xbox
7. N64
6. PS1
5. Xbox 360
4. PS3
3. PS4
2. SNES
1. PS2

[corpsemaker]

PS3 is too high, and NES was pretty revolutionary to not be #9 or #10, otherwise great list

[Hardiman]

Shit I can't believe left off the NES! That's the one that started it for me so it would definitely be on it

[Hardiman]

Also the PS3 is what reinvigorated my love of gaming with games like Demon Souls, Resistance, Folklore, The Uncharted series, God of War 3, Heavy Rain, Beyond Two Souls, TLOU along with the great 3rd party titles brought the love back.

[Fist4achin]

Sega Genesis was my number 1 with the ps2 as a close runner up.

[Imortus_san]

hahaha, now that's some retarded list right there.

[william_cade]

PS1, PS2, SNES, NES and 360. N64 was a piece of junk compared.

[RPG1201]

I love the N64, but above the PS2? You wish pal.

My list based on MY tastes and ACTUAL sales/achievements/legacy.

0. PC (can emulate all the below lol, just kidding... or am I?)
1. PS2 (The king, had a DVD player you could purchase, amazing library and tech)
2. PS1 (sales and revolutionary)
3. SNES (too epic)
4. Xbox 360 (LIVE was on fire and subscriptions alone = $$$$)
5. Nintendo Switch (even though I don't like the mindset behind this, you can't deny solid results)
6. Sega Genesis (sales and superior tech/game selection)
7. PS4 (an amazing generation/sales)
8. Nintendo NES (the standard/was almost a monopoly for a while)
9. Nintendo Wii (Everyone bought one/great selection of games)
10. Xbox One (decent sales and competitor, but a long way from the 360, lack of exclusives)
10. Gamecube (amazing titles, lack of sales)
11. N64 (amazing titles, tech but gave up a lot of ground to the PS1)
11. PS3 (a rocky start, but caught up at the end)
12. Xbox (a graphics game changer which sold decently with HALO)
13. Sega Dreamcast (had solid sales at the beginning/great tech/tittles but went bankrupt because of competitors)
14. Wii U (straight up garbage)
15. Virtual Boy (refer to no.14)

[corpsemaker]

You nailed it, I don’t know why you even mentioned the Wii U tho

[Petebloodyonion]

What about the Sega Saturn, Pc engine, NeoGeo?

[stamps1646]

PS0 should be replaced by Sega Dreamcast, IMO. Sega Genesis needs to be #2 spot and Snes needs to be #1 spot, other than that I kind of agree with this list. :P *what's up with the Xbox picture using the XB1 image? lol

[Petebloodyonion]

Me looking at the list: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHA!
seriously?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
The N64? over Ps1 really?

And on what should we judge to establish a console better to another console? the design of the console, the features/ innovation of the console, the influence, the game library, the reliability?

Now Here's my list base on the impact it had, the innovation it brought and the game library.
Add on like Kinect, PSVR, Sega CD, etc... aren't factor in my list

10 - Atari 2600
The granddaddy of consoles that was played on a black and white TV (color if you were lucky). Back then it was the wood age (cause everything had a wood cover plate). If you had this console at home you were a king.

9 - Neo-Geo
Yes, it was expensive but it was the arcade in your home. The graphics were ahead of the time for home console and the last official game was release 14 years (Samurai Showdown 5) after the release of the console.

8 - PS4
This console could be easily top 3 if we were judging the incredible game library alone. the only reason why this console isn't higher on the list (at this moment) is simply because the console brings no innovation to video games compared to front runners.

7- Nintendo WII
The console can found in the elder house, hospital, etc. The Wii introduced us to motion control and casual gaming.
A testament to the Wii is that Just Dance 2020 will be released on the platform this year.

6 - Sega Genesis
The Genesis was the 1st system that really started console wars. An impressive library of games with some great exclusives made it a great system. It was also the 1st system to capitalize on expansion slots for add ons like backward compatibility with Master System, Sega CD, 32X and modem.

5- Xbox 360
Like all previous consoles on the list, the Xbox 360 offer a great library of games. The Xbox 360 made online play a Standard and was the start of the digital storefront.

4) SNES
Incredible games, Mode 7, Zoom, etc. The Snes is today what the Ps4 will probably be in 20 years.

3) PS1
The console that changed the perception that videogames were for kids only.
FMV, 3d polygons, mature storyline, several new genres, and some incredible games mark the start of the domination of the Playstation brand.

2) NES
Marketed as a toy to distance itself from the videogame market crash. The NES is the console that basically saved the industry.

1)PS2
The console that pushed the DVD format. The console was the 1st to include backward compatibility out of the box.
An incredible library of games and classic And the best selling console of all time make the Ps2 the best system of all time.

[UltraNova]

Ps4 has brought you functional and still working/supported console VR...I'd call that innovation...and no I don't care if someone else tried it (in a laughable fashion) 20 something years ago.

[Petebloodyonion]

PSVR is probably the best innovative product in a long time. But it's an add-on peripheral just like Sega CD or Kinect and not directly part of the console (thus why I didn't mention it).

And like I said in my list, I'm quite confident that the PS4 Legacy will probably cement the console as the replacement for the Snes in the top console when top 10 will be made in 15 to 20 years.

[Elronza]

Snes hands down!

[KillBill]

Simply the worst list ever. Doesn't even include the Sega Saturn or Dreamcast and has the Switch at #4...WTF?

[MehmetAlperTR]

Where is Dreamcast ?! lol.

[Movieworld]

This list loses all credibility without Dreamcast. And putting N64 top is a joke. It is a contender for worst Nintendo console ever.