Consoles

The console that saved the video game industry. With its iconic grey box design and legendary library, the NES defined a generation of gamers.

The brick that started it all. Simple, durable, and with battery life that lasted forever, it put a true gaming experience in your pocket.

The 16-bit powerhouse that perfected 2D gaming. Known for its advanced graphics, Mode 7 scaling, and arguably the greatest library of RPGs ever made.

Nintendo's ambitious failure. A "portable" 32-bit console that displayed true 3D graphics in monochromatic red and black.

The machine that brought gaming into the third dimension. With its revolutionary analog stick controller and 4-player ports, it was the ultimate local multiplayer machine.

A splash of color for the handheld king. Backward compatible and sporting a faster processor, it bridged the gap between the 8-bit and 32-bit eras.

A 32-bit SNES in your pocket. The GBA is revered for its incredible 2D sprite capabilities and a library that rivals any home console.

Two screens, touch control, and a microphone. The DS introduced irregular ways to play and became the second best-selling console of all time.

Sega's 8-bit answer to the NES. While it struggled in the US, it was a massive success in Europe and Brazil, hosting definitive 8-bit arcade ports.

Genesis does what Nintendon't. The cool kid on the block, known for its fast processor, arcade ports, and Sonic the Hedgehog.

A Master System in your hands. It had a backlit color screen and TV tuner, but its battery life was... legendary for the wrong reasons.

The 2D powerhouse that stumbled in 3D. While it lost to the PlayStation, it is revered for its arcade-perfect 2D fighters and shmups.

The grey box that changed everything. It brought CDs to the mainstream, made 3D gaming the standard, and expanded the gaming demographic to adults.

The Rolls Royce of consoles. It brought perfect arcade fidelity to the home... if you could afford the massive cartridges.

A cult classic handheld with a clicky joystick that feels like heaven. Short-lived but loved for its fighting games and battery life.

Top-tier handheld fighting games with a heavenly clicky stick. The definitive version of SNK's portable masterclass.

The little giant. Tiny console, huge power. It dominated Japan with its shoot-em-ups and was the first to have a CD-ROM attachment.

Gunpei Yokoi's final gift. A unique handheld that could be played horizontally or vertically. A monochrome marvel with a battery life of 30+ hours.

Gunpei Yokoi's vision in full color. A Japan-exclusive gem with a rich library of JRPGs.

The granddaddy of them all. It popularized the concept of interchangeable cartridges and brought the arcade experience into the living room.

The sequel to the 2600. Better graphics, but a controller that wouldn't center.

Atari's answer to the NES. It fixed the mistakes of the 5200 by being fully compatible with the 2600.

The world's first color handheld. It was powerful, reversible for left-handed players, and huge. A beast of a machine that ate batteries for breakfast.

The coin-op classics. From Pac-Man to Street Fighter II, these are the games that were designed to eat your quarters and test your skills.

The best-selling single computer model of all time. Before consoles took over, the C64 was the bedroom coder's dream.