Here are the most popular consoles in history. Nintendo rules, but someone else has won [TOPtech]

For comparison – competitive Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S from Microsoft have sold a total of over 16 million copies. At first glance, these numbers may seem impressive.

However, if we compare them with the sales figures achieved by several much older devices, it turns out that the PS5 and XSX still have a long way to go to the top. how long? Let’s check.

Place 5. Nintendo Switch (2017) – 111 million copies

The Nintendo Switch went on sale when it seemed that the golden era of portable consoles was over forever. What’s more, after the disastrous adventure with Nintendo Wii U, many players and experts doubted that the Japanese company is able to launch a solid gaming machine.

The premiere of the Switch shut the mouths of all critics. The new Nintendo console immediately won the hearts of players, which was also influenced by a number of excellent productions, such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The real craze for the Switch console, however, began with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the turn of 2020 and 2021, the console broke sales records, and in many places getting the device was a miracle. The premiere of Animal Crossing: New Horizons – one of the pandemic phenomena – also made its mark.

Place 4. PlayStation 4 (2013) – 117 million copies

PlayStation 4 went on sale in 2013 along with Xbox One, and even before the premiere it was possible to predict which device would win more sympathy. Microsoft wanted the Xbox to become a multimedia harvester. Sony, in turn, focused on what is most important, i.e. games.

God of War, Spider-Man, Horizon: Zero Dawn, The Last of Us 2. And I could go on. It was the excellent exclusive games that made the PS4 the clear winner of the previous console war.

Rank 3. Game Boy & Game Boy Color (1989/1998) – 118.5 million copies

In the 1990s, the Game Boy was basically synonymous with the word game. Of course, in the USA, Japan and Western European countries, because in Poland only the chosen ones could afford to buy a pocket console from Nintendo.

Initially, the console was sold along with the Tetris game. Later, other games that are considered cult today also came to it – such as Super Mario Land, Kirby or Donkey Kong.

However, the key moment for the Game Boy and Nintendo itself was 1996. It was then that the first game in the Pokemon series premiered.

The unexpected outbreak of “Pokemon mania” saw the Game Boy and the 1998 Game Boy Color together sell more than 118 million copies.

Place 2. Nintendo DS (2004) – 154 million copies

Released in 2004, the Nintendo DS was a truly innovative console. Suffice it to say that the device had two LCD screens, one of which was a touch screen.

This futuristic – for those times – solution breathed a completely new life into the world of pocket consoles.

Game developers used the additional screen and the stylus included with the device for interesting experiments that enriched the gameplay and made playing with the DS a unique experience.

And there are countless games for the portable Nintendo console. It is estimated that nearly 1,800, including such hits as Mario Kart DS, Animal Crossing, Wild World or New Super Mario Bros.

Place 1. PlayStation 2 (2000) – 155 million copies

The numbers say it all. PlayStation 2 is the most popular console in history, having sold over 157 million copies to date.

The advantages of the device could be listed for a long time: great design, comfortable DualShock 2 controller, and a built-in DVD drive, which in 2000 must have been impressive.

And games – over 2,000 games, including such hit productions as GTA: San Andreas, Metal Gear Solid 3, Resident Evil 4 and God of War 2. Today it is hard to imagine that PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X could ever repeat the sales success Playstation 2.