Every 2010s Video Game Console, Ranked

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During the 2010s, fewer new gaming consoles were released compared to earlier years. Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo were so dominant that other companies were hesitant to compete. Despite this, competition between these major consoles still existed throughout the decade.

Honestly, the 2010s were a wild time for consoles! We saw so much innovation – from the quirky Ouya to the PS Vita, and then the Nintendo Switch totally shook things up. It felt like consoles were really pushing boundaries and changing how we all played games. It was an awesome decade to be a gamer!

The Ouya Had an Unspoken Influence

The Ouya was a gaming console created through crowdfunding and launched in 2013, ahead of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign, it aimed to revolutionize the gaming industry. A key feature was its approach to game distribution, allowing developers to offer free trials so players could test games before purchasing them.

The Ouya gaming console didn’t achieve the popularity its creators expected, and its online services ended in 2019. Despite this, it quietly impacted the gaming world. It paved the way for a wave of smaller, affordable consoles alongside the major players. The Ouya also gave independent game developers, such as Maddy Thorson, a platform to gain recognition. Thorson’s game, TowerFall, became the Ouya’s most popular title.

The PS Vita Was a Great Handheld That Came Out Too Late

Released in 2012, the PS Vita was Sony’s follow-up to the PSP, which nearly rivaled the Nintendo DS in popularity. The PS Vita was designed to compete with the 3DS, a goal reflected in its features. Beyond adding dual analog sticks, the Vita offered advanced connectivity, allowing users to connect via both 3G and Wi-Fi.

The PS Vita was a fantastic handheld console and has rightfully gained a dedicated fanbase. However, it launched at a time when smartphones – like iPhones and Android devices – were quickly becoming the go-to choice for mobile gaming. As a result, the system and its impressive library of games, including titles like Asphalt: Injection and Super Monkey Ball: Banana Splitz, haven’t gotten the recognition they deserve.

The 3DS Is the Ultimate Nintendo Handheld Console

The 3DS was Nintendo’s last dedicated handheld gaming system, excluding the Switch Lite, which is essentially a modified version of the standard Switch console. Nintendo aimed to raise the bar for handheld gaming with the 3DS, and they did so by incorporating stereoscopic 3D technology. This, along with the analog circle pad, created a more immersive experience, making games appear to pop off the screen.

Not many people remember the 3DS today, which is unfortunate. It launched at a time when iPhone and Android games were already dominating the portable gaming market, preventing it from becoming truly impactful. However, many gamers who grew up with it still have fond memories of titles like Super Mario 3D Land and Tomodachi Life, which remain beloved around the world.

The Wii U Could’ve Been a Contender

The Wii U had a unique design, resembling a larger version of the DS handheld. Its main feature, the GamePad, functioned like a second screen. Along with new social features like Miiverse, this set the Wii U apart from other consoles at the time. For a short period, it was even the most powerful gaming console available.

The Wii U quickly became outdated when the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One came out. It just couldn’t compete with those consoles, particularly in terms of the games available, and ended up appealing to a small group of dedicated players. Fortunately, some popular Wii U titles, like Mario Kart 8 and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, were later re-released on the Nintendo Switch.

The Xbox One Was All-In-One Greatness

The Xbox One was Microsoft’s third gaming console, following the original Xbox and the Xbox 360. The name “One” reflected Microsoft’s goal of creating a single device for all your entertainment needs. Beyond gaming, it could play movies and TV shows from discs or streaming services. However, it emphasized these features so heavily that many gamers felt overlooked.

The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 were close competitors, but the Xbox One struggled against the PlayStation 4, which offered a more appealing selection of games for many gamers. Despite this, games like Halo 5: Guardians and Forza Horizon 4 demonstrated the Xbox One’s technical capabilities.

The PS4 Is the Everyman’s Console

The PlayStation 4 was a significant success for Sony, improving on the performance of the PS3. A key factor was its more affordable price of $399.99, compared to the PS3’s initial $499.99. This, combined with some major issues for Microsoft’s Xbox One, helped the PS4 become the most dominant PlayStation console since the PlayStation 2.

It’s no surprise the PlayStation 4 is so popular with both gamers and game creators. Because so many people own a PS4, developers continue to release new games for it, and Sony hasn’t even stopped making the console except in Japan. Games like The Last of Us Part II and Marvel’s Spider-Man are just a couple of reasons why the PS4 has remained a great console for so long.

The Switch Helped Switch Things up in Gaming

The Nintendo Switch is a versatile game console. You can play it in a couple of different ways: connect it to your TV for a traditional console experience, or use the Joy-Con controllers attached to its screen for portable, on-the-go gaming. What makes the Switch special is that there’s no single ‘right’ way to play – it adapts to how you want to enjoy it.

Now approaching its tenth year, the Nintendo Switch shows no signs of losing popularity. Exciting new games like Pokémon Champions and Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream are keeping players engaged, and the Switch already boasts an impressive library of titles, including Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

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2026-04-11 06:40