Top 10 Most Iconic Game Consoles of All Time

After the video game crash of 1983, Nintendo fully restored confidence in home consoles with the NES. Classics like Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda laid the foundation here for decades of game franchises.

Sony's entry into the console world introduced 3D graphics and CD-ROMs to a wide audience, beating established names like Nintendo and Sega. The PlayStation brought gaming to an adult audience for the first time.

With its faster processor and the arrival of mascot Sonic the Hedgehog, Sega waged a fierce battle with Nintendo in the 1990s. This “console war” is still seen as one of the most legendary periods in gaming history.

With titles like Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the N64 introduced revolutionary 3D platformers and became known for its unique controller with an analog stick. Many consider it one of the most influential consoles ever.

This handheld with its iconic greenish-gray screen made gaming truly mobile for the first time and sold more than 100 million units worldwide. Pokémon and Tetris kept the Game Boy relevant for almost two decades.

With more than 155 million units sold, the PS2 is the best-selling game console of all time. Its built-in DVD player and huge game library made it a central piece of living room equipment for millions of families.

Microsoft's second console set the standard for online multiplayer gaming through Xbox Live and became the home of franchises like Halo and Gears of War. It played a key role in making online console gaming mainstream.

By combining a home console and a handheld in one device, the Switch changed forever how people think about where and how they can game. Titles like Breath of the Wild and Animal Crossing made it one of the most successful consoles ever.

As one of the first successful home consoles with interchangeable cartridges, the Atari 2600 laid the foundations for the entire console industry in the late 1970s. Classics like Pac-Man and Space Invaders reached the living room through it.

Although officially a home computer, the Commodore 64 was the first introduction to gaming for millions of families worldwide. With more than 12.5 million units sold, it is listed as the best-selling computer model ever.