Nintendo

• NES
• NES (1985): The Nintendo Entertainment System, or NES, was Nintendo's first home video game console. It was a huge success, reviving the video game industry after the crash of 1983.
• Must Play Games:
• Super Mario Bros.
• The Legend of Zelda
• SNES
• SNES (1990): The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, or SNES, was Nintendo's second home console. It was a major upgrade over the NES, with improved graphics and sound.
• Must Play Games:
• Super Mario World
• Chrono Trigger
• Game and Watch
• Game and Watch (1980): Game and Watch was a series of handheld electronic games released by Nintendo in the early 1980s. They were among the first handheld video games ever made.
• Must Play Games:
• Ball
• Donkey Kong
• Gameboy
• Gameboy (1989): The Gameboy was Nintendo's first handheld console. It was a huge success, selling millions of units worldwide and popularizing portable gaming.
• Must Play Games:
• Final Fantasy Adventure
• Super Mario Land 2
• Virtual Boy (1995): The Virtual Boy was Nintendo's first attempt at a 3D gaming headset, but unfortunately, it was a commercial failure due to its high price, limited game library, and health concerns.
• Must Play Games:
• Virtual Boy Wario Land
• Teleroboxer
• Gameboy Color
• Gameboy Color (1998): The Gameboy Color was an upgraded version of the Gameboy, with a color screen and improved processing power.
• Must Play Games:
• The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX
• Pokemon Crystal
• Pokemon Mini
• Pokemon Mini (2001): The Pokemon Mini was a handheld console released by Nintendo in 2001. It was designed specifically for playing Pokemon games, but was not very popular.
• Must Play Games:
• Pokemon Party Mini
• Pichu Bros. Party Panic
• Gameboy Advance
• Must Play Games:
• Gameboy Advance (2001): The Gameboy Advance was Nintendo's third handheld console. It was a major upgrade over the Gameboy Color, with improved graphics and processing power.
• Metroid Fusion
• The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
• Nintendo DS
• Nintendo DS (2004): The Nintendo DS was a dual-screen handheld console released by Nintendo in 2004. It was a huge success, selling over 150 million units worldwide.
• Must Play Games:
• New Super Mario Bros.
• Pokemon Heartgold
• Nintendo 3DS
• Nintendo 3DS (2011): The Nintendo 3DS was a handheld console that could display 3D graphics without the need for glasses. It was a major upgrade over the DS, with improved graphics and processing power.
• Must Play Games:
• Super Mario 3D Land
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
• Nintendo 64
• Nintendo 64 (1996): The Nintendo 64 was Nintendo's third home console. It was a major upgrade over the SNES, with improved 3D graphics and processing power.
• Must Play Games:
• Super Mario 64
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
• Gamecube
• Gamecube (2001): The Gamecube was Nintendo's fourth home console. It was a major departure from the N64, with a smaller, more compact design and the ability to play games in 16:9 widescreen format.
• Must Play Games:
• Super Smash Bros. Melee
• The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker

SEGA

• SG-1000
• SG-1000 (1983): The SG-1000 was Sega's first home video game console released in Japan. It was followed by the Master System.
• Must Play Games:
• Astro Warrior
• Alex Kidd in Miracle World
• Master System
• Master System (1985): The Master System was Sega's second home video game console. It was designed to compete with the NES and was released worldwide.
• Must Play Games:
• Phantasy Star
• Sonic the Hedgehog
• Game Gear
• Game Gear (1990): The Game Gear was Sega's handheld console that was a competitor to the Nintendo Game Boy. It had a color backlit screen and was also compatible with Master System games through an adapter.
• Must Play Games:
• Sonic Chaos
• Shinobi
• Genesis
• Genesis (1988): The Genesis (or Mega Drive outside North America) was Sega's fourth home video game console. It was designed to compete with the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).
• Must Play Games:
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2
• Streets of Rage 2
• 32X
• 32X (1994): The 32X was a console add-on for the Genesis that promised to add 32-bit graphics and improved processing power. It was discontinued after a year due to poor sales.
• Must Play Games:
• Virtua Racing Deluxe
• Mortal Kombat II
• Dreamcast
• Dreamcast (1998): The Dreamcast was Sega's final home video game console. It was the first console to have a built-in modem for online play.
• Must Play Games:
• Sonic Adventure
• Shenmue

NEC

• PC Engine
• PC Engine (1987): Also known as the TurboGrafx-16 in North America, the PC Engine was a joint venture between NEC and Hudson Soft. It was the first console to use HuCards as its primary storage medium.
• Must Play Games:
• Bonk's Adventure
• Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
• PC-CD
• PC-CD (1988): The PC-CD was an add-on for the PC Engine that allowed it to play CD-based games. It was later replaced by the PC-FX.
• Must Play Games:
• The Gate of Thunder
• Dracula X: Rondo of Blood
• PC-FX
• PC-FX (1994): The PC-FX was NEC's final home console. It was designed to compete with the 3DO and the PlayStation, but it failed to gain significant market share.
• Must Play Games:
• Spriggan Mark 2: Re-Terraform Project
• Team Innocent: The Point of No Return

Bandai

• WonderSwan
• WonderSwan (1999): The WonderSwan was a handheld console developed by Gunpei Yokoi, the creator of the Game Boy. It was released exclusively in Japan.
• Must Play Games:
• Final Fantasy
• Rhyme Rider Kerorican
• WonderSwan Color
• WonderSwan Color (2000): The WonderSwan Color was an upgraded version of the WonderSwan with a color screen.
• Must Play Games:
• Gunpey
• Rockman EXE WS

Sony

• PlayStation
• PlayStation (1994): The PlayStation was Sony's first home video game console. It was a huge success, selling over 100 million units worldwide and paving the way for future consoles from Sony.
• Must Play Games:
• Final Fantasy VII
• Metal Gear Solid
• PlayStation 2
• PlayStation 2 (2000): The PlayStation 2 was Sony's sixth home video game console. It was even more successful than its predecessor, selling over 155 million units worldwide.
• Must Play Games:
• Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
• Shadow of the Colossus
• PSP
• PSP (2004): The PSP was Sony's first handheld video game console. It was a powerful device for its time, with graphics capabilities similar to the PlayStation 2.
• Must Play Games:
• God of War: Chains of Olympus
• Monster Hunter Freedom Unite

SNK

• NEO GEO AVS
• NEO GEO AVS (1990): The NEO GEO AVS was a home video game console developed by SNK. It was known for its high price and high-quality arcade ports.
• Must Play Games:
• Metal Slug
• Samurai Shodown
• Neo Geo Pocket
• Neo Geo Pocket (1998): The Neo Geo Pocket was a handheld video game console developed by SNK. It was designed to compete with the Game Boy Color.
• Must Play Games:
• SNK vs. Capcom: Match of the Millennium
• King of Fighters R-2
• Neo Geo Pocket Color
• Neo Geo Pocket Color (1999): The Neo Geo Pocket Color was an upgraded version of the Neo Geo Pocket, with a color screen and better graphics capabilities.
• Must Play Games:
• Sonic the Hedgehog: Pocket Adventure
• Card Fighters Clash
Atari
• 2600 (1977): Also known as the Atari VCS (Video Computer System), this console is widely regarded as the system that popularized home video gaming. It featured a wide range of games and sold millions of units over its lifetime.
• Must Play Games:
• Pac-Man
• Pitfall!
• 5200 (1982): The 5200 was Atari's attempt to compete with the Intellivision and the ColecoVision. It featured advanced graphics and sound for its time, but suffered from a lack of third-party support.
• Must Play Games:
• Galaxian
• Ms. Pac-Man
• Lynx (1989): The Lynx was a handheld game console that competed with the Nintendo Game Boy. It featured a color screen and was technologically advanced for its time, but suffered from a lack of support from game developers.
• Must Play Games:
• California Games
• Blue Lightning
• Jaguar (1993): The Jaguar was Atari's last console and attempted to compete with the likes of the PlayStation and the Sega Saturn. It featured advanced 64-bit technology and a unique controller design, but ultimately failed to gain traction with consumers.
• Must Play Games:
• Alien vs. Predator
• Tempest 2000
• Other Consoles
• Vector (1982): The Vectrex was a unique console that featured a built-in vector monitor instead of a traditional TV screen. It was praised for its unique visual style, but suffered from a lack of third-party support.
• Must Play Games:
• Armor Attack
• Star Castle
• ColecoVision (1982): The ColecoVision was a popular console that competed with the Atari 2600. It was praised for its advanced graphics and sound capabilities, and featured a number of classic arcade ports.
• Must Play Games:
• Donkey Kong
• Zaxxon
• Intellivision (1980): The Intellivision was a popular console that competed with the Atari 2600. It was praised for its advanced graphics and sound capabilities, and featured a number of classic arcade ports.
• Must Play Games:
• Tron: Deadly Discs
• Burgertime
• CD-i (1991): The CD-i was a multimedia console developed by Philips. It featured a CD-ROM drive and the ability to play audio CDs, but suffered from a lack of quality games.
• Must Play Games:
• The Legend of Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon
• Hotel Mario
• 3DO (1993): The 3DO was a console developed by Panasonic that attempted to compete with the likes of the PlayStation and the Sega Saturn. It featured advanced technology for its time, but suffered from a high price point and a lack of quality games.