Video game console launches can be a beautiful thing. As my friend Paul wrote about this week, there can be a magic in the air at midnight when there is a line full of “caffeinated nerds” ready to bring their newest electronic baby home. There’s a palpable buzz and excitement on those nights that is difficult to match. As you get older, you start to realize that any good day that you will remember for the rest of your life is an important one, and one worth savoring. As you stand in line for the console that is releasing, you know that the memories from that night and from bringing the console home for the first time will live on.
I have been part of plenty of midnight launches, but only for new video game releases. I only have one memory of trying to get a console on launch day, which was with the Xbox 360 when I was in high school. I remember my mom calling in for me to skip a few classes in the morning to let me try and search for one. This was literally the only time in my life she did this for me for no legitimate reason, so it was a big deal. I drove to a Walmart and had no luck. I then drove to a Kmart and happened to get into a line mere minutes before an associate turned up to start the lottery for the very limited number of systems they had. People who had likely been in line for hours definitely were NOT happy that I was part of this lottery after only being there for a few minutes. I didn’t end up winning, which was probably for the best, as I may have been mugged after. After that, I gave up and went to school.
There was a reason that my attempts were so half-hearted and meager. While I recognize the magic and how cool being there for the launch of a system is, I have never been all that interested in being there myself. A big part of this is that my patience is minimal. I hate waiting in lines. I hate trying to refresh my browser at an exact certain time to try and get something. I hate scouring the internet for the best place to go to buy something. It’s a pain in the ass and simply not fun. The beauty of midnight launches for games like Halo 2 and Mass Effect 2 is that I was very easily able to order it, show up a little before midnight, soak in some atmosphere, and then obtain the game. No hassle, no fighting, just enjoying the vibes and getting my product.
The other big reason that I don’t care about getting a video game console at launch is that they are almost never worth it for the actual video games on the system. When I set out to do my research for this article, I was stunned at how bad the launch lineups are for almost every system ever if you only grade them on their exclusive games. I have owned every PlayStation system, and only two of their launches made this list, and I wouldn’t even consider those launches to be very good. It’s pretty clear that buying a console on launch day is almost never worth it if you own other consoles or even any console from the past gen. Major releases on console launch day, especially in the more modern era, are almost all ports that are on other systems or ports from the past generation. If you only own a Nintendo Switch, then the Switch 2 is actually a monumental launch. A lot of games that the Switch was not powerful enough for are suddenly available to you now. But if you are like most people hardcore enough to get a console on launch day, this will likely not apply to you. I really doubt that many people getting a Switch 2 yesterday don’t already own a PS5 or Xbox Series X.
So, this list has two reasons. I set out in part to celebrate video game console launches (I don’t think I’m doing a great job of that, but I digress). Despite the points I just made, I do have some special memories with plenty of games on this list. Even if you get a console a few months after launch instead of the day of, odds are you are mostly going to be playing the launch games, and that is certainly true for me.
But the other point of this list is probably to be a sort of positive hater. I’m hating, but it’s an attempt to make anyone who has new console FOMO feel better. If you are reading this and don’t get a Switch 2 or whatever future console comes out in the next decade, you should really not stress out about it. Yes, the memories are special, but the actual games are almost always not worth the headaches. As you will see, history shows us that the launch of a system is rarely worthwhile, and these launches have mostly gotten worse with time.
Perhaps things will change for me when my children get a little older. I can see myself getting sentimental and trying to give them a special memory that they will never forget (and that in turn, I will never forget), but for now, I will do what I have done for 20 years now, and grab the Switch 2 when I happen to stumble upon it in a hassle free way.
The following list is my top 10 video game launch lineups of all time. This is a personal list, so it’s off my own memories. I was also quite strict about any game being included being an exclusive for that console on release. I did make one exception, but I feel like it was warranted, I’ll get to that when we reach the part where I cheated. Also, I went exclusively off US launch titles. With that, here is the list!
I just want to preempt comments and say, no, the N64 is not on this list because I’ve never been a fan of Super Mario 64.
10. Xbox One
Favorite: Exclusives: Dead Rising 3, Forza Motorsport 5, Ryse: Son of Rome
It’s bad that the game I care about the most from this launch lineup is Ryse: Son of Rome, a very generic roman action game that skates by on its great production values for its time. Dead Rising 3 and Forza 5 are definitely well made games, but I was kind of done with both series by the time each of these games came out, so I didn’t get all that much enjoyment out of either. I would say that this launch lineup was a sign of bad things to come for this console, but almost every launch lineup in history sucks so that wouldn’t be fair.
9. Playstation 5
Favorite Exclusive: Astro’s Playroom
It’s unbelievable that the PS5 managed to make this list exclusively off the back of a controller tutorial that I didn’t even finish. But that controller tutorial is undoubtedly very good! The reason that many of us believed in Astro Bot was because Astro’s Playroom had some really cool moments and gameplay, and actually did use the PS5 controller in some very cool ways. It was a fun hour before I bailed (in the end, it was a controller tutorial, ok?), and launch lineups suck so much that this was enough to get the PS5 on the list. Almost every other game that launched with the PS5 was already on the PS4 or on other systems.
8. Playstation 2
Favorite Exclusives: Dynasty Warriors 2, SSX
The PS2 had one of the biggest launches in terms of raw games with 29, but almost all of these games were unexceptional, sports games, or on other systems. I can barely even call the two games I enjoyed “standout”, but Dynasty Warriors 2 was my introduction to the musou genre, and beating the crap out of dozens of enemies at once was undeniably a good time when I first experiencd it. I never dove super deep into SSX, but it was also a fun little snowboarding game. Obviously, the PS2 would recover and go on to be one of the most fondly remembered consoles of all time, but even that console had a really mediocre launch.
7. Xbox 360
Favorite Exclusives: Condemned: Criminal Origins, Project Gotham Racing 3
No wonder I didn’t try all that hard to get an Xbox 360 when my mom let me skip school to look for one. I will say that these are both very solid video games. Project Gotham Racing might be the racing franchise that I put the most hours into over the course of my life, but once we got to the third iteration, I just wasn’t quite as interested as I had been in the past. I’ve always thought Condemned was an overlooked gem, but it was never an earth-shattering series for me. Xbox 360 would go on to be one of my favorite consoles ever, but even then, the launch didn’t really do it for me.
6. Switch 2
“Favorite” Exclusives: Mario Kart World, Survival Kids
So, I wasn’t even going to put the Switch 2 on this list because I don’t own it and likely won’t own it until late this year or early next year at the earliest. I have been somewhat vocal about being pretty uninterested in getting the system anytime soon between the price hikes and only a few exclusive games that seem worthwhile coming out in the near future.
Despite all that, and despite the fact that I’m not even that interested in the Mario Kart franchise anymore, this is actually one of the better launch lineups in history when it comes to exclusive games, and I think I’d get more value out of the Switch 2 launch than a lot of other console launches. If you like the Mario Kart games, Mario Kart World is a no-brainer to purchase. I’ve also heard good things about the more casual co-op game Survival Kids, which is a surprise exclusive to Switch 2. I’ve even heard decent things about the tutorial game Welcome Tour, which I refuse to ever spend money on, but hey, it’s something.
If Donkey Kong Bananza was here at launch instead of a month later, this might legitimately be a top 4 launch ever. That seems insane to say, but once again, that’s how bad console launches generally are. On that note, Bananza is the one game that makes me wonder if I will end up needing to buy a Switch 2 sooner than expected. We shall see.
5. Wii
Favorite Exclusive: Wii Sports
I could accept an argument that Wii Sports is the most influential launch title of all time. I had zero interest in the Wii thanks to the motion controls, and I knew plenty of gamers that felt the same way. Obviously, motion controls have slowly lost their appeal much like I expected, but Wii Sports almost single handedly made them a thing and made Nintendo a crap ton of money. Without this game, the Wii very well may have had a Wii U type of performance,
I can’t say I ever loved Wii Sports, but it came out when I was in college, and it was in like 33% of dorm rooms back then. There were plenty of nights where I was buzzed and played Wii Bowling with friends. Did I think it was a great game? Not really, but it was a nice social game, and it got people who weren’t really into video games to at least give them a try. I had fun in limited bursts with it, and I definitely made some memories thanks to it.
Yes, a game I don’t even have many great things to say about was enough to get a system to #5. Sheesh.
4. Switch
Favorite Exclusive: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
OK, so this is the one I cheated on. Breath of the Wild also launched with the Wii U. But look, I don’t know anyone who owned a Wii U. So, did it even exist? I’m skeptical.
But also, only about 1.5 million of Breath of the Wild’s sales came on the Wii U. Over 30 million came on the Switch. More importantly, if I didn’t do this, I literally don’t think I could have come up with a 10th console to fill out this list. I’M SORRY.
I enjoyed Breath of the Wild a lot. It’s more of an 8.5/10 than an all timer for me because of things like weapon durability and combat that continues to underwhelm. But Breath of the Wild was a striking game with exploration that continues to inspire games 8 years later, and it is still a game many consider the best of all time. Once again, with how bad launch lineups tend to be, this alone was easily enough to put the Switch near the top, even if I did have to cheat a little to make it happen.
3. NES
Favorite Exclusives: Super Mario Bros, Duck Hunt, Excitebike
OK, We are finally to the systems that I actually think had genuinely great launches. I was not old enough to be there when the NES launched, but I enjoyed the fruits of that launch several years later. The NES launched with plenty of exclusive games, but the kings were easily Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt (Super Mario Bros. was also in arcades, but I don’t count that). Super Mario Bros. was obviously a great introduction to platformers, but Duck Hunt was actually the first game I ever played. It was a pretty simple game for a kid to play, so it was a good way to jump on board.
Using the “zapper” on my TV felt like literal magic as a kid. I still remember being in disbelief that something like that was possible. Considering that I was probably 4 when I played it the first time, it’s remarkable how vividly I remember everything about trying it for the first time. These launch titles set the NES up for success and helped make Nintendo what they are today. In part, they also helped guide me to where I am today with gaming.
2. SNES
Favorite Exclusives: Super Mario World, F-Zero
You really can’t do much better than this. The SNES launched with two iconic games that would still hold up 35 years later.
Super Mario World is the first video game I truly fell in love with. I loved the platforming, the exploration, and all of the secrets. It was a game I had in my top 10 for a very long time. Launching with one of the best games ever as an exclusive is a rare thing indeed, and it is in part why the SNES was one of my favorite consoles ever.
F-Zero as an addition is no joke as well. This has always been my favorite racing game on the SNES, and I think it would hold up pretty well to this day. This 1-2 punch was enough to give anyone with a SNES day one plenty of good times.
1. Xbox
Favorite Exclusives: Halo: Combat Evolved, Project Gotham Racing, Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee, Dead or Alive 3, Fuzion Frenzy
I think over the years, I’ve come to realize how crazy it is that Microsoft ended up becoming one of the major names in video games. We have seen several big companies try and dip their toes into the gaming space, and seemingly nothing has even remotely succeeded. It feels like there are a lot of timelines where Sony and Nintendo remained the main competitors forever.
In retrospect, it looks like Microsoft made it by truly going all in on it in ways other big companies did not. The Xbox launch lineup is pretty incredible when put into historical context, and that might be the only reason it ever succeeded.
First off, Xbox launched with a game that I would consider one of the best of all time with Halo: Combat Evolved. It’s obvious with the level design that it had to be rushed a little bit to make launch, but it’s still a shooter experience I have more memories with than almost any game ever. The ideal console launch has at least one superstar game, and Halo was certainly that.
But the launch somehow had a lot of depth as well. Project Gotham Racing was a ton of fun and very well reviewed. Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee was also well reviewed and pretty different and fun. Dead or Alive 3 was also a sneaky, great exclusive. Fuzion Frenzy wasn’t as well reviewed, but I still thought it was a decent Mario Party clone. It has some really fun minigames tucked in there. There was a bit of everything here and a lot of actual exclusives. Xbox hasn’t come close to matching it since, but outside of maybe the SNES, no other video game console has come close either in my estimation. With the way console launches work now, with almost every game also releasing on the past system or on other systems, there’s a decent chance that this will always be my favorite console launch ever for its exclusives.
Big Nerd Gaming 
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