We’re coming up on a new generation of consoles if you can believe it. The PS4 and Xbox One have finally reached the end game and their successors are not far off. While new features and graphics are important, what generally kicks off a console generation are the games.
While we wait to hear what the launch games for the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5 will be, let’s look back at some of the best launch day game lineups of all-time.
We’re going to take a look specifically at the U.S. since that’s my personal bread and butter, but perhaps some of my international colleagues here at Twinfinite will feel motivated to look back at Japan and Europe as well.
Note that we’re comparing day one launch day lineups only. We won’t compare features, launch window games, how the console wound up doing in the long term, etc. nothing like that.
In fact, some of the consoles on this list had great launch day lineups, but ultimately for one reason or another, never found long-term success.
What you’re going to find instead, is that a lot of consoles have crappy launch lineups. You won’t find any PlayStation consoles on this list other than the PS Vita for example despite how popular the brand is.
What appears to be more important is how well the console is supported after launch. So while consoles like the PS2 and the PS4 failed to make this list, the first and third-party support they received after the launch is a major reason for their long-term appeal. The first entry on this list is a prime example of exactly this point.
10: PS Vita (Sony) – Feb. 15, 2012
Best Console Launch Lineups
Ah yes… the PS Vita. Vita means life as you know, but what Kaz Hirai failed to tell us back in 2012 is that this life was to be filled with neglect and pain.
While the PS Vita was a failure in the long run and will probably deter Sony from ever making another dedicated handheld console, the launch lineup actually wasn’t too shabby.
Rayman Origins is the standout game here, but games like Plants vs. Zombies and Virtual Tennis 4: World Tour Edition are sneaky good games too that fit the portable platform well.
The problem was that this is where the PS Vita peeked for the most part when it comes to games. There would be a few other notable releases such as Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Modnation Racers, Gravity Rush, Little Deviants, and Killzone: Mercenary but that’s the extent of the early support the PS Vita would receive.
Ironically, despite the lack of JRPGs at launch, the PS Vita would go on to be one of the best consoles for the genre. If only the Persona franchise had the steam it has now, perhaps Persona 4 Golden released a few months later could have moved the needle a bit more.
- Army Corps of Hell
- Asphalt Injection
- Ben10: Galactic Racing
- Blazblue: Continuum Shift Extend
- Dungeon Hunter Alliance
- Dynasty Warriors Next
- Escape Plan
- F1 2011
- FIFA Soccer
- Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational
- Hustle Kings
- Little Deviants
- Lumines Electronic Symphony
- Michael Jackson The Experience
- ModNation Racers: Road Trip
- Plants vs. Zombies
- Rayman Origins
- Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen
- Super Stardust Delta
- Tales of Space: Mutant Blobs
- Touch My Katamari
- Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3
- Uncharted: Golden Abyss
- Virtual Tennis 4: World Tour Edition
- Wipeout 2048
