Summary
When defining the different eras of video games, traditionally the community follows the standard of “console generations.” Although the standard has some flexibility, this measure has worked to help define evolutions in technology. The console generations span as far back as the original home Pong systems and up to the recent PS5 and Xbox Series X. Consoles are important in helping to mark the development of gaming and when the community can evaluate a “peak” in quality.
While development time increases have certainly reduced the number of “masterpiece” games on recent consoles, there are still plenty of incredible titles.Metacritic has documented the best-reviewed games of all timesince the site’s inception, based on titles with more than seven critic reviews. With over 100 of the total listed games belonging to consoles, which ones have the most games in Metacritic’s top 200 list?
PC will not be included. Title repeats may be included to account for remasters and series collections, and (since many games have multi-console releases/have been ported to newer consoles) titles are counted under the console they were rated on, in line with Metacritic’s list.
Updated Jun 24, 2025, by Alexandra O’Leary:The world of gaming is an ever-changing, evolving landscape where every game sets a new standard. Consoles are at the heart of this growth and change, since they, too, are always evolving and upgrading to best facilitate the brilliant games created for their platforms. Because of this,Metacritic’s best games listis always changing, and as new consoles come and go, new games rise through the ranks. Updates have been made to reflect this, and also to include some of the other consoles that deserve recognition.
Nintendo 64
While it floundered in sales compared to the disc-based PlayStation, Nintendo 64 ownershad no shortage of great games. It’d be more accurate to say that N64 owners just had a shortage of games in general. That, and one of the most bizarre controllers constructed for human hands.
The N64, despite its legacy as an underperforming console, may be home to some of the most revolutionary games of the era. Iconic titles likeGoldeneye 64andPerfect Dark- which is listed at the tenth-best game on the list – paved the way for first-person shooters on console. The N64 is also home to the number one game on Metacritic’s top 200:The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Although it may not have been the most successful at the time, its games left a grand, undefeated legacy.
Nintendo Game Boy Advance
The Game Boy Advance is a much-beloved console of many people’s childhoods, with over a thousand licensed games. This landscape handheld console was the predecessor to the now widely recognized Nintendo DS, its buttons on either side of the screen soon becoming a staple of the publisher’s handheld consoles (the DS, 3DS, Wii U, and Switch).
This wonderful device was the platform for dozens of familiar titles, many of which hold up well enough to be featured in Metacritic’s Top 200 games of all time. These games include installments from iconic franchises, likeMario Kart: Super Circuit,Final Fantasy 6(initially released in North America asFinal Fantasy 3),Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros 3, andThe Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past and Four Swords.
Wii
The Nintendo Wii revolutionized home consoles, making them incredibly accessible and advertising them as a console for the entire family. It was a sleek, thin design compared to Nintendo’s previous somewhat chunky and obtuse consoles, and was created to not draw attention. It also featured completely wireless remotes, paving the way with games likeWii Sportsand introducing the now highly recognizable Mii avatars. It’s undeniable that this console was huge in popularizing video games and bringing consoles into the mainstream crowds.
It’s no surprise, then, that the Wii would have several appearances on Metacritic’s list. Some of the Wii’s games are critically acclaimed to this day, includingSuper Mario GalaxyandSuper Mario Galaxy 2, which are listed as number 9 and 5 out of all 200. The Wii’s other listed titles includeSuper Smash Bros Brawl,Cave Story (WiiWare),andThe Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.
Sega Dreamcast
The Dreamcast was Sega’s last “hurrah” as a console manufacturer. Although it was first to market, it was quickly outpaced and replaced by the PS2. It lived a shorter life than most consoles, but that life did include some of the best ports and exclusives. Sega may not have been great with consoles, but they were right at home with games.
The console was home to early additions of modern sports game juggernauts such asNBA 2K1andNFL 2K1. In addition, it hosted a collection of iconic exclusives.Skies of Arcadiaprovided one of the most sublime JRPGs of that time period, coming in at 132 on the list.Jet Set Radiois a cult-classic that is fondly remembered. As well as this, there wasResident Evil Code: Veronica, which is another one of Metacritic’s ‘must play’ games.
Switch
The Nintendo Switch will likely be the most familiar Nintendo console to gamers, particularly since Nintendo has created a lot of incredibly popular titles for it. This phenomenal platform combines the best of console gaming by being both a TV plug-in console and a handheld console. It’s evident from the Wii U that Nintendo knew what direction they wanted to head, and they certainly achieved it with the Switch.
Nintendo Switch titles have had no trouble finding themselves in Metacritic’s list, withSuper Mario OdysseyandThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildtaking two of the top 10 spots. This means four of the top 10 best games are Nintendo games, which gives them serious bragging rights. As well as this,Tears of the Kingdom,Celeste,andSuper Smash Bros Ultimateare featured in the top 200.
PS1
The original PlayStation, also known as the PSOne, was Sony’s first step in the console market. It was a smashing success, utilizing disc-based technology with a collection of devoted third-party developers. The biggest studios of the era – SquareSoft, Capcom, Konami, and others – made some of their finest titles on PlayStation. Sony delivered as well,with some classic, unforgettable experiences.
On the third-party side, SquareSoft experienced a new golden age with bothFinal Fantasy 9andChrono Cross, both of which are in Metacritic’s top 100.Castlevaniare-invented itself and started a whole new subgenre withCastlevania: Symphony of the Night. The console was also home toMetal Gear Solid, the breakout hit for game director Hideo Kojima. Despite all of that,Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2tops them with a bronze medal on Metacritic’s top 200 games.
PS3
The PlayStation 3 struggled against its counterpart, the Xbox 360. In the early days, the development costs and price point made it so that few could get involved. However, as time passed, more and more classic games were added to the platform. By the end of its life, The PS3 would end up surpassing the 360 sales thanks to anincredible games lineup.
The seventh generation of consoles was home to a number of great multi-platform titles, which means not all games that players associate with the PS3 are rated highly on this console. Sony delivered when it came to amazing exclusives likeUncharted 2,Uncharted 3,andThe Last of Us, which showed the best of developers Naughty Dog, whileLittle Big Planethelped to spark creativity in young creators with easy-to-use tools. There are other iconic titles listed under PS3, includingGod of War 3andThe ICO & Shadow of the Colossus Collection.
GameCube
In sales, the GameCube was another struggling Nintendo console and only managed to outperform the Dreamcast in the sixth generation. The company finally transitioned to disc-based media, and the controller is considered one of the finest designs. Despite problems, it’shome to so many beloved titlesthat even within the top 200 games of all time, there are games that are notably absent.
Featured in Metacritic’s list is a collection of notable multi-platform titles, but also some grand exclusives.Super Smash Bros. Meleemay not have made the cut, but that’s forgivable since a few other games in the series did.Viewtiful JoeandEternalDarknessare two featured, third-party titles that were off-beat from the popular trends. The console was also home to two incredibleThe Legend of Zeldatitles:Wind WakerandTwilight Princess. The highest-ranked GameCube title isMetroid Prime, a shift in the franchise that many people are still waiting to see return for a fourth installment.
Xbox (Original)
The OG Xbox was Microsoft’s first foray into the console business. Despite having a smaller base than Nintendo, Xbox was able to eclipse sales of the GameCube and create somewhat decent competition for Sony. It may have had a bizarre controller at launch, but that didn’t stop gamers from getting attached to the console that felt the most early-2000s.
The Xbox architecture allowed for some cross-pollination with the PC space, which was a novelty for the time.Knights of the Old Republic 2is one of the top Xbox titles. Along with that, twoSplinter Celltitles made gamers fans of Sam Fischer.Ninja Gaidenreturned in a big way with tough-as-nails gameplay inNinja Gaiden Black. The most iconic title is, of course,Halo: Combat Evolved, which brought console FPS games to a new height.
PS4
The PlayStation 4 is home to exclusive titles that defined the eighth console generation. Using Microsoft’s poor marketing as a springboard, Sony launched into the lead and never dropped it. The company’s focus remained squarely on high-quality games, particularly single-player titles. There’s a reason so many fans are devoted to their PS4 even with the new consoles on the market. Well, beyond the lack of PS5’s actual availability.
The PS4 had great multi-platform titles, and it certainly overshadowed the Xbox One in terms of exclusives.Bloodbornewas a smashing success that helped to further cement FromSoftware as a visionary.Uncharted 4was a grand conclusion to a long-running franchise.God of War (2018)helped to reignite interest in a classic character. The PS4’s swan song is considered to beThe Last of Us Part 2, a game that will live in the hearts of gamers for years to come. As well as this,The Last of Us Remasteredis also featured, listed a few spaces above the original PS3 edition.
