I'm happy I got around to doing this project. I've compiled a list of statistics for myself and for others to just to look at the list by the numbers. Some of it was expected while other aspects I found kind of surprising. Let's take a look at each category individually and see what I've learned from each one.
Games by Console
1. Super Nintendo - 23
2. Nintendo 64 - 11
2. Nintendo Gamecube - 11
3. Nintendo Game Boy Advance - 9
4. Nintendo Entertainment System - 8
5. Sony Playstation - 6
6. Sony Playstation 2 - 5
6. Sony Playstation 3 - 5
6. Nintendo 3DS - 5
7. Nintendo DS - 4
8. Sega Genesis - 3
8. Nintendo Wii - 3
8. Nintendo Wii U - 3
9. Nintendo Game Boy - 2
10. Microsoft Xbox - 1
I think it's pretty clear what this list indicates. Super Nintendo is the clear winner here. Looks like I need to reassess my "ranking the consoles" list. Despite having listed Gamecube as my favorite console in that post, I somehow figured Super Nintendo would win in the quantity department, but I had no idea how significant of a portion it would hold. Super Nintendo took almost a quarter of my entire Top 100 list. Even Nintendo 64 and Gamecube combined doesn't equal the quantity of favorite titles for Super Nintendo. So, as you can see, Super Nintendo dominates the Top 100 list. I'm not surprised that it won, but it wasn't even a close race. Long live Super Nintendo!
Games by Genre
1. Platformers - 33
2. RPGs - 22
3. Action - 19
4. Puzzle - 7
5. Racing - 6
6. FPS - 3
6. Miscellaneous - 3
7. Adventure - 2
7. Strategy - 2
8. Fighting - 1
8. Sports - 1
Yet again I am a bit surprised just how much one genre dominated the rest, but I am not surprised by the winner. I think it's pretty clear to see that platformers and RPGs make up more than half one my entire top 100 list. Some games it was difficult to decipher between platform and action, for instance Metroid and Mega Man are kind of both, but I went with action for those, whereas other things like Mario and Donkey Kong Country are closer to being plaformers. I think the big thing about platformers winning is that it's mostly what I grew up on. As time went on I delve into other genres, beginning with racing games and RPGs, then slowly into action and puzzle as well. I think platformers have that pick up and play appeal as well as just being infinitely replayable. I love RPGs but they're more dedicated and time consuming than platformers which is why the genre is only second to platformers.
Most Popular Years
1. 2001 - 8
2. 2002 - 7
2. 1994 - 7
3. 1995 - 6
3. 1996 - 6
3. 1997 - 6
4. 1998 - 5
4. 2005 - 5
4. 2013 - 5
5. 1990 - 4
5. 2003 - 4
5. 2011 - 4
What I like most about dividing the games by year is that every year since 1987 had at least one game represent a year except 2007. You'll also notice that the years are actually pretty even, only one or two numbers apart for every few years. 2001 was indeed a fantastic year, as not only did we have Nintendo 64's swan songs Conker's Bad Fur Day and Paper Mario, but we had the beginning of Gamecube with Super Smash Bros. Melee and Pikmin, and also Final Fantasy X on PS2. I think on a quality level, though, 1995 is the clear winner here. Nearly every game on the list that came out in 1995 is in the top 20, namely Earthbound, Yoshi's Island, Donkey Kong Country 2, and Chrono Trigger. Overall I'd say between the mid-90s and early 2000s was the peak of me as a gamer.
Stats by System
NES
Highest Rank - 28
Highest Ranked Game - Super Mario Bros. 2
Number of Games - 8
NES
Highest Rank - 28
Highest Ranked Game - Super Mario Bros. 2
Number of Games - 8
I think, overall, I was surprised to see so many NES games on here. NES is a system that I have had limited experience with, despite it being my first console ever. I grew up with the three Super Mario Bros. games, DuckTales, Chip n Dale Rescue Rangers, Bubble Bobble, and Little Nemo but other than that, the vast majority of NES games I didn't get to experience until I discovered emulation around the year 2000. For this reason, the NES is one of my lesser favorite Nintendo systems, but I still fully acknowledge its greatness and the legacy it created. I just wish I had a little more experience with it while growing up.
SNES
Highest Rank - 1
Highest Ranked Game - Earthbound
Number of Games - 23
The crown jewel of my collection, I made the mistake of giving up my SNES once before, but I will never make that mistake again. SNES, like NES, is a system I had limited experience with while growing up. I didn't even get my own console until 1995, which was pretty near the end of its life. That didn't stop me from seeking out all the gems the system had years later. I discovered a large portion of fantastic games through emulation and Wii's virtual console, but even games I didn't get to play until 10+ years after it released, I was able to fully enjoy. In my opinion, SNES has aged remarkably well and every SNES game on the list is every bit as fun today as it was 20 years ago, which is why I am officially branding SNES as my all-time favorite console.
N64
Highest Rank - 12
Highest Ranked Game - Conker's Bad Fur Day
Number of Games - 11
Unlike NES and SNES, I got to play nearly every N64 game during its relevancy. I only owned about 20 games for it, but I rented a new game at least every other week. Nintendo 64 is the system that turned gaming form a hobby into a passion, and for that I owe it a lot. Nintendo 64 unfortunately has aged very poorly in comparison to most other consoles. A lot of the games are still fun, however, such as Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie, which are still every bit as fun today as they were in the 90s. Also unlike the NES and SNES, most of N64's appeal comes solely from nostalgia rather than the quality of its games.
GCN
Highest Rank - 5
Highest Ranked Game - Metroid Prime
Number of Games - 11
The Gamecube is often cited as a failure for Nintendo but I'm never sure why. The system had a ton of fantastic games and the ones I listed only scratch the surface. Gamecube has aged pretty well and most of its games are still fantastic today as they were 10-15 years ago. I still love the look and feel of the Gamecube system and controller, which I believe is the most attractive looking console to date. For a while I thought Gamecube was my favorite console since it absolutely has a very high quality library, but ultimately Super Nintendo beat it out by being a more timeless system.
Wii
Highest Rank - 19
Highest Ranked Game - Kirby's Epic Yarn
Number of Games - 3
I know I've said it dozens of times but Wii really was a huge disappointment to me. Sure it had virtual console, but that was the system's biggest appeal to me - the ability to play old games. I hated motion controls with a passion and few games have really convinced me that they were beneficial to the gameplay and not just a hindrance. Wii games were at their best when they went old school and just used the controller sideways like an NES controller. Kirby's Epic Yarn would've been a system seller for me had I not already owned a Wii years prior. The game is incredibly creative and charming, and Donkey Kong Country Returns was also a must-have. Other big games like Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Punch-Out!!, Super Paper Mario, and the two Mario Galaxies were all good games, but didn't have that lasting appeal that most other Nintendo games had. In the end, Wii will ultimately become a footnote in my book of gaming and will only be remembered as a severely underwhelming and gimmicky piece of hardware.
Wii U
Highest Rank - 48
Highest Ranked Game - Mario Kart 8
Number of Games - 3
It's a bit unfair to really judge Wii U since it's only been out 2+ years and hasn't really reached its peak yet. I feel, without a doubt, by the end of its life there will be at least 2 or 3 more games that would make its way into my top 100. Until then, Wii U is just a great system with a small but decent library. It's kind of unfortunate this system didn't come out in 2006 rather than the original Wii since I'm now at the point where I don't care about new consoles and as such I tend to neglect the Wii U. Chances are extremely high that Wii U will be the last new system I own, and I try to divide time between old and new consoles, but ultimately. the Wii U is too little too late. Like I said, it's a great system, much better than the disappointment that was Wii, but I just think I'm no longer part of its target audience.
GB
Highest Rank - 26
Highest Ranked Game - Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Number of Games - 2
Once again, just like NES and SNES, my experience with this handheld is extremely limited growing up. I'm only getting to play many games for it thanks to 3DS's virtual console. I only had Kirby's Dream Land, Tetris, and Pokemon Red growing up. I didn't even get Link's Awakening until the Game Boy Color version came out though I did originally play the Game Boy version since it came with my sister's Game Boy. Game Boy was a great handheld if only because it was able to host games that were almost as big and fun as the NES. Sure Super Mario Land was no Super Mario Bros but it was something. I didn't truly get into handheld systems until the Game Boy Advance, and in many ways I never really stuck with handhelds, but the original Game Boy, despite having limited hardware and only being in black and white, had some really great games.
GBA
Highest Rank - 15
Highest Ranked Game - Mother 3
Number of Games - 9
The Game Boy Advance was the first handheld I truly got into and is still my favorite portable. It was almost like having a portable Super Nintendo, though not quite a good replacement as I have recently found out. GBA was full of ports and every port was not as good as the original. Still, it had a lot of original games as well and it was a real quality portable, especially the GBA SP which (finally) introduced a built-in light for a Nintendo handheld. Many of its games are still fun today but the small screen size is sort of a hindrance since I am so used to the large screen of the 3DS XL.
DS
Highest Rank - 62
Highest Ranked Game - Kirby: Mass Attack
Number of Games: 4
The DS is kind of a mixed bag for me. On one hand it had a lot of great games and was absolutely the most successful handheld they've ever produced. On the other hand, the amount of shovelware is atrocious and most games were very gimmicky just like the Wii. Even main franchises like Zelda and Metroid resorted to a focus on the touch screen, which did not help the games but rather made them feel like crappy rip-offs of the franchises they were from. Had the games not felt so gimmicky they could've been really good, but Nintendo shot themselves in the foot with this system as they did with the Wii. Still, when the touch screen was used well, the system pulled off some amazingly fun things like in Kirby Mass Attack and Trauma Center. Still, in the end, the system does not have that long term appeal that many other Nintendo systems do, even if I enjoyed it while it was current.
3DS
Highest Rank - 24
Highest Ranked Game - Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Number of Games - 5
3DS may have only barely edged out the original DS in terms of amount of games on the list but the games feel a lot more classic and have more long term appeal. Some games on the system are instant classics like Zelda: Link Between Worlds and Super Mario 3D Land. The 3DS is a fantastic handheld rivals the GBA as the greatest portable of all time. It is thanks to the 3DS that I even pay any attention to current Nintendo stuff. Had I not took the chance on the system back in 2011 I'd probably be sitting out on this generation of gaming altogether. Still, as fantastic as the 3DS is, it doesn't have the amount of quality titles that Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, and Gamecube have. The 3DS still has a good year or two left in it, and it definitely impressed me but only time will tell whether or not the 3DS retains its fun factor years down the road.
Genesis
Highest Rank - 51
Highest Ranked Game - Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Number of Games - 3
Sad to say, I never owned a Sega Genesis and my experience with it is perhaps more limited than any other system on the list. I was a Nintendo guy growing up and all throughout my life. I know the Genesis has more great games than just the Sonic series, but I can't judge games I never played. I hope to delve into more Genesis games in the future however.
PS1
Highest Rank - 6
Highest Ranked Game - Final Fantasy IX
Number of Games - 6
Like most systems I've owned, my experience with the PS1 was limited. I only got one in 2000, 5 years after it debuted. The games I played on it were limited to Square RPGs and Spyro games. Fortunately, the PS1 was an RPG powerhouse and had some of the best RPGs ever created. Final Fantasy VII, VIII, and IX were some of the greatest games I've ever played. Unfortunately VIII didn't make it to the list but still enjoyed my first playthrough of it. The system was aged incredibly bad however and I find it nearly impossible to play any game I didn't play back in the day. 2D games like Legend of Mana still look great, though, but 3D games look terrible.
PS2
Highest Rank - 8
Highest Ranked Game - Final Fantasy XII
Number of Games - 5
Just like its predecessor, the PS2 was an RPG powerhouse with some of the greatest games in the genre. There were a few others I really wanted to list - like Kingdom Hearts and Dark Cloud 2, but those just barely fell short of my top 100. Final Fantasy X and XII remain two of my absolute favorite classics on the system, and the system in general has a fantastic library. I feel like I'm repeating myself here, but I did have limited experience with the system while it was current since I didn't get my own until a few years after it came out. I also focused heavily on Nintendo systems whereas PS2 took a back seat. Still, I played a decent amount of PS2 games, most of them were RPGs, and the system represents itself well on my list.
PS3
Highest Rank - 21
Highest Ranked Game - BioShock Infinite
Number of Games - 5
In comparison to PS1 and PS2, PS3 was a little bit of a letdown. It still had a lot of great games, and I'd even say it was the first generation of consoles where I actually preferred a non-Nintendo console. Without the PS3 I'd never have gotten to experience the BioShock games, the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy, or Elder Scrolls IV and V. Some of the biggest and best looking games were on this console. Though, I actually hate the system itself since there are sometimes mandatory installs which take up a lot of time and hard drive space, as well as ridiculous loading times on certain games. Still, it was a powerhouse for its time, and what it did for modern gaming, but it also marks the downfall of gaming in general, and as such, I doubt very much I will be playing it years down the road.
Xbox
Highest Rank - 91
Highest Ranked Game - Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
Number of Games - 1
Xbox is the only console that I both bought and sold during its lifetime. I shouldn't have ever owned one but Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind convinced me I needed one. It was a fantastic game, though not one I can see myself playing nowadays. I only owned and played a handful of Xbox games included the remake of Conker's Bad Fur Day (which was nowhere near as great as the original since it was censored), Dead or Alive 3, and Fable. Fable might've made it onto this list but since it's been over 10 years since I last played it, I forgot much of it, though I do remember enjoying it a lot. Overall Xbox wasn't a bad system, it just wasn't for me.
Closing Thoughts
This was a really fun experiment, though it was time consuming, and I think I learned a few things about myself. Super Nintendo is more of a clear winner than I thought, there were more NES games on the list than I thought, and there are more newer games on the list than I thought. 15 games from the list were from the last 5 years alone. Considering that I am on the verge of giving up on modern gaming, 15 newer games is not a bad number. This proves to me there are still great games being made to this day.
Other things that didn't surprise me so much are things like Nintendo being the dominate console developer. I knew SNES, N64, and GCN would be my top 3 systems. I just have the most interest and experience with those consoles. It may come as a surprise that a certain game by the name of World of Warcraft didn't make it to the list. This is because while it was a great game in its day, it was more of an addiction than an actual fun game, and one that I have spent a lot of time and money playing. I also hate that the game forces you to interact with other people online as well as the need to stay connected. This shows me that MMORPGs are not for me in the end.
I think, more than anything, this experiment goes to show that gaming is as much "just a hobby" as it is part of my life. I have been gaming for at least 25 years, ever since I got my hands on my first NES during Christmas of 1987. I will continue to game for many years to come, even if I never buy another new console. I will take my SNES, N64, and GCN to the grave with me if I have to. I've made the mistake of trading off and selling many of my games, but I now know which ones are most important to me. It's also quite revealing with the fact that compiling a list of 100 games and ranking them was a very difficult task, as I easily could've listed 300 or even 500 of my favorite games. The amount of games I've played in my life is easily over 1000, possibly even close to 2000, and most of were actually fun to a degree.
So in the end, 100 games doesn't accurately depict how passionate I am about gaming. Video games are a big part of who I am and without them, I really have no idea where I'd be. So much of my creativity and imagination stems from things I saw in video games. My interest in writing started when I wanted to write a sequel to Final Fantasy VII, my interest in art started when I wanted to make my own Super Mario Bros. 3 maps, levels, and characters, and my interest in music started with video game music in general. Video games introduced me to so much in my life and I am forever grateful to those game developers for having given me a fantastic childhood and a hobby I can be passionate about for a lifetime.
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