Gamers are always looking to get the greatest package they can buy, and this has a correlation with the success of a console. We've seen some extraordinary consoles over the years, but none can match the sales of the PlayStation 2. Video game consoles sell millions and in some cases, more than a hundred million units.
The following innovative and revolutionary consoles are deserving of their placement on this list. By the end of this list, you'll realize why these consoles are the best-selling. This is the 10 best-selling consoles of all time (according to IGN).
10 PlayStation Portable
The PlayStation Portable is a spinoff handheld console that can play games for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3. It contains many exclusives including EA Replay, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Predator, Monster Hunter Freedom, and Daxter.
According to IGN, the PSP has sold an estimated 80 million units since its launch. The PlayStation Vita has since replaced the PSP, but we can't forget Sony's first attempt at a mass-produced handheld console.
9 Game Boy Advance
This handheld console revolutionized gaming as we know it. Sure the Game Boy Color was a monumental leap, but the quality of the Game Boy Advance and the addition of features such as a larger screen, connectivity with a GameCube, and its vibrant colors were a significant improvement over its predecessor.
The Game Boy Advance sold an estimated 81.51 million units and approximately 377 million software units. Games like Pokémon Emerald, The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, Metroid Fusion, and Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow were a real delight.
8 Xbox 360
Coming in at number eight is the highly controversial Xbox 360. As one of the most unreliable consoles ever made, it's surprising the Xbox 360 sold as many units as it did. It's RROD (red ring of death) problem affected an estimated 23.7% of early console models as mentioned by kitguru.net. Despite its issues, the Xbox 360 sold approximately 85 million units.
Notably, the Xbox 360 received a number of dashboard updates that improved its look and feel. Whether you like the early home menu design or the later one, Microsoft has demonstrated that they know how to make impeccable user interfaces.
7 PlayStation 3
Love 'em or hate 'em, Sony's Dualshock 3 Wireless Controllers didn't change much since the previous generation. Adding hinges to the R2/L2 buttons made the controller's primary shooting button feel like a trigger. The ploy may have seemed like a copy of Microsoft's controller, but at least it improved the feel of the controller.
In terms of exclusive games, PlayStation 3 dominated the video game market. Exclusives like Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, God of War III, Demon Souls, and Heavy Rain made the console stand out in a competitive market. The PlayStation 3 sold approximately 88 million units.
6 PlayStation 4
The PlayStation 4 is arguably the best console of the current generation. Its focus on phenomenal exclusives has made the difference in the console war against the Nintendo Switch and Xbox One. Recently, the PlayStation 4 surpassed 100 million units sold.
Sony's PlayStation remains to be the favorite console among consumers, and they have yet to change the status quo. It's DualShock 4 controller is without a doubt the best PlayStation controller we've seen thus far. Motion control and a touchpad are reasons to love the DualShock 4 controller.
5 Nintendo Wii
While the motion control features of the Nintendo Wii could have been viewed as a gimmick, it had the opposite effect and attracted millions of sales. The Nintendo Wii released on November 19, 2016, and sold approximately 101 million units. Playing games like Wii Sports and WarioWare: Smooth Moves worked well with the Wiimote controller.
The Nintendo Wii is also recognized for its groundbreaking exclusives like Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Galaxy 2, and Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. This console stands out on this list for being the most unique and replayable. Years later, people will still recognize the Nintendo Wii for its achievements.
4 PlayStation
For being one of the earliest CD-based consoles, the PlayStation stood out in a crowded video game market. The introduction of a DualShock controller was a significant improvement compared to the non-DualShock version. Analog sticks were invented before the PlayStation released, but PlayStation did it better than anyone before.
It was the birthplace of game series such as Metal Gear Solid. The PlayStation Classic released in later 2018 and contains 20 of the PlayStation's top games. The PlayStation has sold over 100 million units.
3 Game Boy/Game Boy Color
One of the best handheld consoles of all time only got better with the integration of color. The transition was comparable to when color was added to television. A night and day difference, the Game Boy Color provided some of the best memories. For being the birthplace of Pokémon, we will forever remember the Game Boy.
According to softschools.com, "The Game Boy became so extensive that it included approximately 700 different titles." The Game Boy was a groundbreaking achievement. The Game Boy/Game Boy Color has sold approximately 118 million units.
2 Nintendo DS
As the handheld consoles with the most sales worldwide, the Nintendo DS is deserving of this placement in this list. We can't forget the Nintendo DS for its diverse games library including JRPGs like Pokémon Platinum, side-scrollers like New Super Mario Bros., and Mario Kart DS—one of the best kart-racing games of all time.
The Nintendo DS is no longer in production, but it managed to sell approximately 154 million units during its reign.
1 PlayStation 2
Still, to this day, PlayStation 2 is the best-selling video game console of all time. As a console that released in March 2000, it garnered 159 million unit sales, beating out consoles like the Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, and the PS One. The highest-selling game on the PlayStation 2 was Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas—which had 20.81 million sales.
The fact that the PlayStation 2 has a DVD player was a selling point of the console. It was cheaper than a standard DVD player giving it high value. It is backward compatible and can play all PS One games without problems (aside from scratched discs). A console won't outsell the PlayStation 2 for years to come.