I own a Switch 2 and a Playstation 5. The Switch 2 is brilliant for many reasons, while the PS5 is a big disappointment. I’m sure I’m not alone in that opinion.
My passion for gaming has been reignited thanks to Nintendo. Here’s a list of all the consoles I’ve owned and ranked in order of my favourites. I’ve excluded 80s home computers even though they were really just used for gaming.
1. Nintendo Switch 2
This console is brilliant and I use it daily for several reasons. The larger screen is fantastic and the solid construction offers a great gaming experience. It includes a wide range of games from third parties and classic Nintendo titles. While the original Switch had its merits, its toy-like build quality made it less enjoyable as a handheld. This new version of the console performs exceptionally well when both docked and as a reliable handheld. It has a serious and robust feel compared to the original Switch.
During my first few months of ownership, I typically play for about 90 minutes a day. Great for a quick bit of gaming and using time that you may not otherwise use to play the latest release.. Furthermore, it’s backwards compatible with original Switch games which is amazing and it has allowed me to revisit some games.
Although it’s my newest console, I always expect to fondly remember it like the next entry on this list.
2. Sega Dreamcast
It’s a shame Sega pulled out of the console market so soon and discontinued Dreamcast support prematurely. This was their best effort at the time and gained them a lot of positive feedback..
The console had excellent games and a strong library. I particularly remember playing House of the Dead 2 which was fantastic. Dial-up internet support as practically a first for online console gaming.
Sonic Adventure and Chu Chu Rocket were also firm favourites of mine. I remember spending countless hours on Sonic Adventure and completing it.
3. Microsoft XBox 360
While not perfect (mine sadly met its red light of death demise), the games and controller were enjoyable. The online experience was also quite decent, particularly when playing Halo 3 and 4. The gamepass was also worthwhile.
4. PlayStation 4
A decent console and it had some pretty decent exclusive games. I wasn’t that keen on what was the traditional PlayStation controller at the time. I remember playing Killzone a fair bit and many others.
5. Nintendo Switch
The games were fantastic and I still play them often today. However, the main issue was its handheld performance. It’s brilliant docked with a Pro Controller but the Switch’s build quality is lacking. It’s a bit creaky to hold and the screen is a bit small.
6. Microsoft XBox One
I originally owned the original XBOX console and later the smaller S version with more storage. It was a well-used console and Game Pass worked perfectly for me. While I’ve enjoyed all the Xbox consoles so far, things began to decline after the good Halo games ended. I haven’t touched Xbox in recent years but perhaps it’s time to revisit. Perhaps I should sell the PS5 and swap it for the series X.
7. Nintendo GameCube
I pre-ordered and bought the black version of the console, which seemed less toy-like than the purple one. I thoroughly enjoyed playing Star Wars Rogue Squadron Luigi’s Mansion and Burnout. The tiny discs are memorable, especially considering Nintendo’s usual cartridge format.
8. PlayStation 3
I still own my PS3 though it’s quite old now. I kept it because I have a few decent Bond games that I still enjoy playing. It’s quite bulky and perhaps a bit odd-looking but I might need to plug it in again and revisit some of those older games soon. Maybe time to take it out of storage.
9. Microsoft Xbox
Ugly, chunky and big. But it had Halo. Such a good game and a really addictive one. The controller was memorable for all the wrong reasons though and it was just too bulky.
10. Nintendo Gameboy, DS Lite, Dsi etc
I’ve owned far too many Nintendo portables to list them all and some I even owned more than once. I fondly remember playing Mario and Tetris on the Gameboy in the 90s. I’ve recently revisited some of these classic games on my Switch 2. Another reason why the Switch 2 is so good with many previous older games available from past consoles.
The later DS Lite with its dual screen was well played and I recall my mum being particularly fond of hers. Of course, the stylus was also a hit and rather useful.
11. PlayStation 5
The hardware is decent and the controller is great but where are the games? The lack of decent exclusives has made me question the console’s necessity. What truly sets it apart? Not much. For an extensive current-gen console to feature so low on this list is disappointing. To top it all off Sony are ditching the disc format. PlayStation you were once at the top and then got complacent. A console with decent hardware, was expensive and you’ve failed your fan base. I won’t be buying the 6 at launch (whenever that happens) and I’d wait to see how it performs games wise.
12. PlayStation PSP and Vita
A neighbour also had a PSP and we used to race online together playing Burnout. It was well-built and lovely hardware to hold.
The Vita was a decent and solid handheld. However, both systems ultimately lacked a substantial game library. While their screens were quite large for a handheld at the time they were quite small by today’s standards.
13. Nintendo 64
When this was released, I admired the groundbreaking 3D games like Mario 64 and classics such as Goldeneye.
I never owned a N64 in the 90s and I played on a friend’s console. It was probably another decade after its release before I finally bought one and I still own it today. The machine itself is quite ugly and the controller is terrible. Who thought that controller design was a good idea?
No doubt had I actually owned one at the time of release, it would feature much more highly. I only ever bought Goldeneye and a driving game for it.
14. Sega Megadrive
The games were challenging and required restarts after using all your lives, so I never made much progress with most of my megadrive games. While I enjoyed classic Sonic, not all games were great. They were expensive as well at the time.
Overview
Over the years, I’ve owned around twenty different game consoles including many Nintendo portables. While I enjoyed each at the time my opinions have definitely changed over time. The Megadrive stands out as the only one I’m not particularly fond of.
I’ve had a lot of fun gaming and while I’ve always owned multiple consoles simultaneously I’ve had different periods where I’ve been particularly fond of certain game companies. Currently Nintendo is my favourite but Xbox and PlayStation have also had their moments. Will either of the latter ever reclaim their crown? Let’s see.
Leave a Reply