Both Sony and Microsoft have revealed their next-generation launch plans, with the Xbox Series X set to release on November 10, and thePlayStation 5to follow on November 12. Both consoles will be releasing with a slew of new games, as well as access to a vast library of backward compatible titles.
Once the PlayStation 5 andXbox Series Xare out in the wild, it will be interesting to see how fans and critics react to the consoles' launch titles. While they wait to get their hands on the new consoles and their launch games, fans can take a look back at some of the most impressive video game launch titles from over the years.
Here are the best video game console launch titles.
Call of Duty 2 (Xbox 360)
While the Xbox 360 didn’t exactly launch with a first-person shooter quite on the level of the original Xbox’sHalo: Combat Evolved, it still had a strong FPS in its lineup.Call of Duty 2earned widespread critical acclaimat the time of its release, and played a large part in growing theCall of Dutybrand into the juggernaut it is today.Call of Duty 2featured a number of innovations for the franchise, such as regenerating health, that have remained staples of the long-running series.
Halo: Combat Evolved (Xbox)
One of the most important launch games is quite easilyHalo: Combat Evolvedfor the original Xbox. Microsoft was completely new to the console market at the time, and so it needed a killer app to bring unconvinced gamers to its system.Halo: Combat Evolvedwas exactly what the original Xbox needed, delivering a highly innovative and critically-acclaimed FPS experience that would spawn a blockbuster franchise and remain the Xbox’s flagship series for years to come.
NFL 2K (Dreamcast)
There once was a time when EA wasn’t the only company producing NFL video games. In fact, theNFL 2Kseriesused to be quite popular, earning high scores and selling millions of units. One of the Dreamcast’s premiere launch titles was the originalNFL 2K, which has been hailed as one of the best sports video games made to date. While some fans may dismiss sports games in general, there’s no denying thatNFL 2Kdid a lot to bolster the Dreamcast’s launch library of games.
Resistance: Fall of Man (PS3)
Insomniac Games went in a different direction withResistance: Fall of Manwhen compared to the company’s previous work.Resistance: Fall of ManwasthePS3 game to get at launch, as it featured a challenging co-op story campaign as well as a slew of versus multiplayer modes.Resistancewould remain one of the PS3’s top video game franchises for the duration of its existence, with spin-offs developed for Sony’s handheld consoles, the PSP and PS Vita, as well.
Sonic Adventure (Dreamcast)
The Dreamcast really had a remarkable launch lineup, with the headliner beingSonic Adventure.Sonic the Hedgehogfans were anxious to see Sega’s mascot make the transition to 3D gameplay like his rival Mario did a couple years earlier on the Nintendo 64, andSonic Adventuremostly lived up to those lofty expectations. For its time,Sonic Adventurehad groundbreaking graphics, and that combined with some innovative 3D platforming gameplay made it an instant classic. Considering this, it’s really no surprise then thatSonic Adventurewould go on to become the Dreamcast’s best-selling game ever.
Soulcalibur (Dreamcast)
Sonic Adventuremay have stolen all the headlines at the time that the Dreamcast launched, but the system also launched with what remains the highest-rated fighting game ever made. Ported over from the arcades,Soulcaliburon Dreamcast is not just the highest-rated fighting game ever made, but also one of the highest-rated video games ever. Its presence in the Dreamcast’s launch lineup made the console a must-buy for fans of the genre, and it would help establish theSoulcaliburfranchiseas one of the premiere fighting game franchises in the industry moving forward, with new entries still being released.
SSX (PS2)
Despite the PlayStation 2 becoming the most successful video game console ever, it’s no secret that it didn’t exactly have a stellar lineup of launch games. Many PS2 launch titles were lacking, but the system’s sports games all managed to stand out and earn acclaim from critics. One early PS2 sports game in particular,SSX, earned especially high marks, ending with an impressive 93/100 average onreview aggregate site Metacritic.SSXwas also the start of what is quite possibly video games' biggest snowboarding franchise.
Super Mario Bros. (NES)
Following the video game crash of 1983, Nintendo had a major task ahead of itself if it wanted to re-establish the home console video game market. However, it managed to do just that with the groundbreakingNintendo Entertainment System, which delivered 8-bit graphics and launched with a suite of instant-classics. Among these,Super Mario Bros.is quite easily the most significant, with the game laying the foundation for countless platformers to come. The hugely influential game would also firmly establish theSuper Mariofranchise as Nintendo’s premiere series, having just recently celebrated its 35th anniversary.
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Super Mario World (SNES)
Nintendo achieved great success when it launched the NES withSuper Mario Bros., and so it made sense for it to try doing the same withSuper Mario Worldon the Super Nintendo.Super Mario Worldwas a vast improvement over the previousSuper Mariogames, with hugely improved visuals and a ton of new gameplay features thrown into the mix. Often hailed as one of the absolute best video games ever made by critics and fans alike,Super Mario Worldwas reason enough alone for many fans to buy an SNES.
Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64)
Nintendo continued the tradition of launching its new consoles with aSuper Mariogame withSuper Mario 64on the Nintendo 64. A revolutionary 3D platformer,Super Mario 64essentially invented a brand new way to play games, and its impact on the industry can’t be overstated. Modern gamers with Nintendo Switch consoles can see what all the fuss is about by tryingSuper Mario 64as part of theSuper Mario 3D All-Starscollection, which delivers the original game with slightly spruced up graphics.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii)
Nintendo didn’t have aSuper Mariogame ready to go for the Wii’s launch, but it did have aZeldatitle waiting in the wings. Released for both the GameCube and the Wii,The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princesswas the long-awaited return of the grittier art style thatZeldafans grew to love inOcarina of TimeandMajora’s Mask.Twilight Princesswas also praised for its storyline, challenging dungeons, and engrossing exploration. There’s a debate as to whether the GameCube or Wii version is superior, but fans were in for a treat, regardless of which console they played it on.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch)
Just likeTwilight Princesslaunched for both the Wii and GameCube,The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildlaunched for both the Switch and the Wii U. But with the Wii U having such a small install base, it’s safe to say that most of the attention was onBreath of the Wild’s Switch debut. As usual, Nintendo was able to usher in its new console with a hugely popular game, asBreath of the Wildquickly became one of the highest-rated video games ever made, and widely hailed as one of the bestZeldaexperiences to date. Many fans are now eagerly anticipatingBreath of the Wild 2, but it remains to be seen if the game can possibly live up to the high bar set by its predecessor.
Wii Sports (Wii)
Unlike the other games on this list,Wii Sportsdidn’t exactly earn critical acclaim. In fact, it’s more or less just a tech demo of sorts for the Wii’s motion control technology. But even so,Wii Sportsbecame a phenomenon in its own right, and it easily sold millions of Wii consoles by itself.Wii Sportshad broad appeal, and it remained a go-to game throughout the Wii’s lifespan.
