15 Video Game Consoles You Forgot Ever Existed

The world of video game consoles is full of memorable successes and forgotten flops. Over the years, numerous companies have attempted to carve out their name in the gaming market with consoles that never quite made it. This article highlights 15 video game consoles you might have forgotten that existed, showcasing some obscure, experimental, or short-lived systems. These consoles might not have achieved the fame of the PlayStation or Xbox, but they still hold interesting stories from the early days of gaming.

1. Virtual Boy

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Nintendo tried to make a portable 3D gaming system called the Virtual Boy, which came out in 1995. It was advertised as a revolutionary virtual reality experience with red and black graphics. Unfortunately, it was shut down after only one year because of its uncomfortable design and a small library of games.

2. Philips CD-i

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The Philips CD-i was a multimedia console that let you play games, watch movies, and listen to music. It put its games on CDs, a new technology at the time, but players had difficulty finding good games. The CD-i is best known for the infamous “Zelda” and “Mario” games that didn’t live up to fans’ hopes.

3. Atari Jaguar

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Once again, Atari tried to get back into the game market with the 1993 release of the Jaguar. Even though the hardware was very good, it didn’t get enough support from third parties and had a small library of games. The Jaguar is one of the least-known game consoles in history.

4. Neo Geo

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The Neo Geo was a high-end console made by SNK in 1990. It was known for its graphics and sounds, similar to those in arcades. However, the very high price of around $650 kept most gamers from getting one. There were many Neo Geo fans, but it couldn’t compete with cheaper consoles and became less popular over time.

5. Gizmondo

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The Gizmondo was a handheld console that came out in 2005. It was meant to combine gaming with features like a camera and GPS. However, it had many problems, like a library of games that people didn’t like and many scandals involving the people who made it. The Gizmondo was only made for a few months before it was taken off the market.

6. Sega Saturn

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When it came out in 1994, the Sega Saturn was a direct rival to the Sony PlayStation. The Saturn had great hardware for its time, but it didn’t have many good games and came out at the wrong time, so Sony’s PlayStation took away many potential customers. Even though it didn’t last long, it has a cult following among people who like old video games.

7. TurboGrafx-16

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When NEC released the TurboGrafx-16 in 1987, it was one of the first games that could compete with the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo. It had some great games, but its small library of games and the rise of consoles with more power put it out of business. People often forget about the TurboGrafx-16, but it had a strong following while on the market.

8. 3DO

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The 3DO was a multimedia console made by Trip Hawkins, who also started Electronic Arts. It was one of the first consoles to use CD-ROMs, but it didn’t do very well in the market because it was too expensive and had few good games. Even though it had a lot of cool technology, the 3DO never really took off in the gaming market.

9. Intellivision

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Mattel’s Intellivision was a home video game console that came out in 1979 and competed with the Atari 2600. It stood out because of its unique controller and a large library of games, but Atari was more popular, which made it less successful. The Intellivision is now a nostalgic symbol of early video games, even though it didn’t last long.

10. Magnavox Odyssey

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The Magnavox Odyssey, which came out in 1972, is thought to have been the first home video game console. It only had simple games because that was all the technology could do then. It also didn’t have as complex graphics as later systems. Even though it is important to history, the Odyssey isn’t really remembered in modern video games.

11. ColecoVision

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When it came out in 1982, the ColecoVision was famous for being able to play arcade games like Donkey Kong. The Atari 2600 and other consoles made it quickly fail, even though it got off to a good start. People no longer remember the ColecoVision, but people who like old video games do.

12. Tapwave Zodiac

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The Tapwave Zodiac was a handheld game system that came out in 2004. Its goal was to combine mobile gaming with PDA features. It had many good games, but the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP were stronger competitors. The Tapwave Zodiac was taken off the market after only a few years, and most people have forgotten about it.

13. Atari Lynx

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The Atari Lynx was one of the first handheld games with color graphics. Even though it had cutting-edge technology, the Game Boy, which was much cheaper and had more games, gave it a lot of competition. People who played old games will always love the Lynx, even though it was eventually taken off the market.

14. Vectrex

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When it came out in 1982, the Vectrex was a one-of-a-kind console with vector-based graphics that set it apart from other systems. However, it needed its own special monitor, which was big and hard to use. Despite having a small but loyal fan base, the Vectrex didn’t last long on the market. It’s now mostly forgotten.

15. Casio Loopy

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The Casio Loopy was a strange console that came out in 1995. It was aimed at women and had its own games. It also came with a thermal printer that let gamers print out images from their games. A few people liked the Loopy in Japan, but it didn’t do well outside Japan’s small market and was quickly forgotten.

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• Video
• games
• consoles
• Short-lived