Legendary Consoles With the Best Video Game Libraries, Ranked

People usually have a preferred gaming console, but those preferences can shift over time. You might initially dislike a new console, but then become a fan if great games come out later on. Conversely, you could be excited about a console at first, only to be disappointed if it doesn’t get many compelling games after its initial release.

It’s easy to judge things with the benefit of time. When you buy a gaming system after it’s no longer being made, you can often find a great deal and choose only the best games released for it. Plus, you can look back and fairly assess which consoles had the strongest game collections – and that’s what we’re doing here today.

10. GameCube

Nintendo’s Underappreciated Purple Box

The Nintendo GameCube has an interesting story. While it was originally released, it didn’t achieve the popularity or sales many thought it deserved, likely because it offered a unique experience compared to other consoles. However, years after it stopped being made, people are now recognizing the GameCube for what truly counts: its fantastic library of games and its lasting impact on Nintendo’s legacy.

Overall, the GameCube holds up well. It could have performed even better if it had more of the popular multi-platform games available at the time, which has always been a challenge for Nintendo. While its game library wasn’t huge, and some titles, like Super Mario Sunshine, still spark debate, it offered some truly excellent games. From classics like The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Super Smash Bros. Melee, to exclusive third-party hits like Resident Evil Remake and Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem, and the introduction of new franchises like Luigi’s Mansion, the GameCube had appeal for many players. Unfortunately, the selection was somewhat limited.

9. Xbox 360

A Focus On Specific Experiences

The Xbox 360 was known for delivering big, cinematic, and action-packed gaming experiences, especially in first-person shooter games. Titles like Call of Duty and Halo 3 really defined this style on the system. The Gears of War series also started on the Xbox 360 in 2006, with several sequels following. Overall, the console’s game library catered to a more mature audience, contrasting with the more family-friendly games often associated with Nintendo.

By focusing so strongly on specific types of games, the Xbox 360 may have ended up with a smaller overall library. While it excelled at a few genres, it didn’t offer much variety in others. For example, truly great exclusive role-playing games like Lost Odyssey were rare – they were the exception, not the norm.

8. Game Boy Advance

An Enormously Influential Handheld

In 2001, the Game Boy Advance represented a huge step forward from the Game Boy Color. It showed just how innovative Nintendo could be with handheld gaming, and ultimately established their leadership in the market for years to come.

It was amazing how well major games worked on the Game Boy Advance. Titles like Tekken and Doom were successfully adapted, even in simplified versions, and still looked great. The system also brought us new Nintendo franchises like WarioWare and introduced the Wars series to Western audiences with Advance Wars. The GBA wasn’t afraid to experiment with all kinds of genres – from deep strategy games to excellent Japanese role-playing games – and it continued popular Nintendo series like Mario Kart: Super Circuit.

7. Sega Genesis

A Sega Superstar

If you played video games in the 1990s, you probably remember the intense competition between Sega and Nintendo. Depending on your preference, you might have believed Sega was better than Nintendo, but it’s clear the Sega Genesis was a strong competitor to the Super Nintendo. When developers really focused on quality, the Genesis could create games that still look great today, like the popular Sonic the Hedgehog and its sequel. The console really maximized its 16-bit technology, delivering fast-paced and exciting games such as the classic shooter Gunstar Heroes.

As a fan, one of the things that really made the Genesis special was having arcade games like Altered Beast and Golden Axe available on cartridges at home! It was a huge deal back then. Though, if I’m honest, playing them now doesn’t quite hold up the same way. The SNES just seems to have more games that are still genuinely fun to play today, and that gives it the edge over the Genesis in that respect.

6. PSP

Great Promise And Potential

I remember waiting forever for PlayStation to get into the handheld game. When the PSP finally dropped in Japan in late 2004, and then everywhere else the next year, it was a big deal. Unlike the Game Boy Advance, it wasn’t just for games. They packed in a way to play full movies using something called the Universal Media Disk – seriously cool for the time, about twenty years ago! It was that same focus on more than just gaming that Nintendo usually avoids. But honestly, what really mattered was the games themselves, and the PSP had some amazing, technically impressive titles across all sorts of genres.

Several PSP games remain popular today. Recent remakes of classics like Patapon and Crisis Core (a companion to Final Fantasy 7) prove their lasting appeal. Titles like Monster Hunter Freedom Unite and God of War: Chains of Olympus showed Sony’s ambition to deliver console-quality gaming on a handheld device. While not always fully successful – a challenge also faced by the PS Vita – the PSP was a remarkable accomplishment for Sony.

5. PlayStation 1

Sony’s Masterful Debut

Man, if Nintendo and Sony had actually teamed up, gaming would be a totally different world today. It’s crazy to think about, but that deal falling through is basically why the PlayStation even exists! The original PlayStation, which launched in Japan back in ’94, quickly became a massive force in the industry, and it had a killer library of games to back it up.

Beyond being known for playing music CDs, the original PlayStation was home to iconic games like Crash Bandicoot, Tekken, and Metal Gear Solid. It also featured many classic Final Fantasy titles, the beginnings of the Grand Theft Auto and Tomb Raider series, and countless other beloved games. While these titles may seem outdated now compared to newer PlayStation games, the PS1’s library remains incredibly important and influential.

4. Super Nintendo Entertainment System

A Super Catalog Indeed

For many longtime Nintendo fans, their first experience with the company likely came with the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, or SNES. Building on the success of the original Nintendo Entertainment System – which arrived in the US in 1985 – the SNES truly felt ‘super’ when it launched in August 1991, showcasing how much the video game industry had advanced.

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), a competitor to the Sega Genesis, was known for its innovative use of Mode 7 graphics. This technology created a sense of depth and allowed games like F-Zero and Super Mario Kart to feel incredibly fast and dynamic, simulating a 3D environment. This wasn’t just important for Nintendo; it significantly impacted the entire video game industry. The leaps in quality from earlier titles like The Legend of Zelda to A Link to the Past, and Metroid to Super Metroid, showcase how revolutionary the SNES was. While it might not have as many well-known games as other classic consoles, the SNES features some of the greatest games ever made, and they remain fun to play today.

3. Nintendo DS

The Little Two-Screened Gimmick That Could

When the Nintendo DS launched in 2004, many people weren’t sure how well the dual-screen design would work. The touch screen also seemed unusual at the time. Some early games used these features simply as novelties, without adding much to the gameplay. However, it quickly became apparent that the DS’s unique capabilities could significantly benefit the gaming world.

Man, the DS was a game-changer. It wasn’t just about the games themselves, but how you played them. The mic, the two screens, and the touch controls all came together to create something totally new. I remember playing WarioWare Touched! and it was just crazy – you’d be slicing digital boogers or shaking a tree on the screen! Some developers were hesitant at first, mostly sticking to touch menus, but when games really leaned into what the DS could do, it was amazing. Kirby: Canvas Curse is a perfect example – the whole game is about drawing paths for Kirby with the stylus. Even games like Advance Wars: Dual Strike and Days of Ruin just felt better with the touch controls. What made so many DS games stand out was how much the hardware contributed to the experience – the Professor Layton series especially had some really clever puzzles that used everything the system offered. It’s rare to see that kind of integration. Looking back, even the 3DS’s big 3D effect never felt as essential to the games as the DS’s unique features did.

2. Nintendo Switch

A New Era For Nintendo

The Wii U wasn’t very successful, so the Switch faced a big challenge. It got off to a difficult start, with some people seeing its ability to connect to a TV or be played as a handheld device as just a novelty. The initial games weren’t particularly exciting either, especially since the best launch title, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, was also available on the older Wii U. Luckily, by the time its replacement arrived in June 2025, the Switch had become one of the best-selling game consoles ever.

The Nintendo Switch received incredible support from game developers, arguably more than any previous Nintendo console. This meant fans could play popular titles like Overwatch, No Man’s Sky, Diablo 3, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on the go, even if these versions weren’t always perfect. The Switch’s strong sales also drew in a wealth of indie games, special collector’s editions, and huge first-party hits like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It’s still too soon to say if the next Nintendo console will be as successful, but it has a fantastic library of games to try and surpass.

1. PlayStation 2

A Monster Success, A Monster Library

When Sony released its first PlayStation, Nintendo and Sega had already been competing for over ten years. Despite being a new player, the PlayStation quickly became popular. The big question was whether Sony could sustain success as a console maker – Sega was already showing signs of struggling. But Sony had nothing to worry about. The PlayStation 2, released in 2000, went on to become the best-selling game console of all time. And a large audience like that needs plenty of different games to play – many consider the PS2 to have the most diverse game library of any system.

The PlayStation 2 was a golden age for gaming franchises like TimeSplitters and Kingdom Hearts. Many gamers first experienced iconic titles like Final Fantasy 10, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, and the revolutionary Grand Theft Auto 3 on this console. It also brought us Gran Turismo 4, continuations of the beloved Ape Escape series, and innovative experiences like the EyeToy. The PS2 boasted an incredibly deep and high-quality game library, making it a truly phenomenal time to be a gamer – and it remains a much-loved system even today, just like the PlayStation 3.

2026-01-05 11:42