16 Video Game Consoles Everyone Borrowed but Never Owned
Some video game consoles were widely played through friends, rentals, or arcades, but few people actually owned them at home.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 5 min read

Throughout gaming history, certain consoles were popular enough to try but uncommon enough that ownership stayed rare. Many players borrowed them, visited friends, or rented them for short periods. Their design, games, or price often made them memorable despite limited ownership.
1. Sega Dreamcast
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The Dreamcast was released in 1999 with ahead-of-its-time features like online play. It had strong titles such as Sonic Adventure and Crazy Taxi. Despite critical praise, it sold poorly due to competition from the PlayStation 2. Many players only tried it through rentals or friends.
2. Neo Geo AES
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The Neo Geo AES was famous for bringing arcade-quality games to homes. Its price was extremely high, making it unreachable for most players. Games like Metal Slug and King of Fighters became legends. Most people only played it in arcades or at a wealthy friend’s house.
3. Sega Saturn
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The Sega Saturn had powerful hardware but was difficult for developers to use. It struggled against the PlayStation and Nintendo 64 in the mid-1990s. Although it had strong Japanese titles, it failed in Western markets. Borrowing or renting was more common than ownership.
4. TurboGrafx-16
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The TurboGrafx-16 was released in North America in 1989. It had unique titles like Bonk’s Adventure but failed to compete with Nintendo and Sega. Its low availability limited its reach. Most players experienced it through short encounters, not long-term ownership.
5. Atari Jaguar
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The Jaguar launched in 1993 as a “64-bit” system but failed to deliver on its promise. The library was small, with only a few notable titles like Tempest 2000. Its hardware was complicated and underwhelming. Very few owned one, but many recall trying it at a friend’s house.
6. Sega Game Gear
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The Game Gear was Sega’s handheld competitor to the Game Boy. It had a color screen but suffered from poor battery life. While it offered good games like Columns, it was expensive to maintain. Many players borrowed it rather than bought one themselves.
7. Virtual Boy
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Nintendo’s Virtual Boy launched in 1995 and quickly failed. Its red-and-black graphics and uncomfortable headset made it hard to use. The small library added to its problems. Most people only remember trying it once in a store or from a friend.
8. 3DO Interactive Multiplayer
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The 3DO was launched in 1993 with a very high retail price. Its hardware was advanced, but the cost limited sales. Some games, like Gex and Road Rash, stood out. Borrowing or renting was far more common than ownership.
9. Sega Master System
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The Sega Master System was popular in regions like Europe and Brazil but less so in North America. It competed against the Nintendo Entertainment System but never matched its success. While it had good games like Alex Kidd in Miracle World, it remained rare. Most people played it at a friend’s house.
10. Wonderswan
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The Wonderswan was a Japanese handheld console designed by Gunpei Yokoi, the creator of the Game Boy. It had strong support from Bandai and affordable pricing. However, it was never released worldwide. Many only heard about it or tried it while visiting Japan.
11. Fairchild Channel F
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The Channel F, released in 1976, was the first system to use interchangeable cartridges. Despite this innovation, it was quickly overshadowed by the Atari 2600. Its library remained limited. Few people owned it, but it made appearances in rentals or collections.
12. Panasonic Q
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The Panasonic Q was a hybrid GameCube and DVD player released only in Japan. It was sleek and rare, attracting collectors. While it could play all GameCube titles, its high cost prevented mainstream sales. Most players only saw it in special import shops or borrowed units.
13. NEC PC-FX
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The PC-FX was released in Japan in 1994 as a successor to the PC Engine. It was focused on full-motion video games. Its unusual design and niche library limited its appeal. Very few outside Japan ever owned one, but it remained a curiosity.
14. Atari Lynx
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The Lynx was Atari’s color handheld released in 1989. It had strong graphics for its time but was bulky and consumed batteries quickly. While it had unique games like California Games, it struggled against the Game Boy. Borrowing was far more common than buying.
15. ColecoVision
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ColecoVision debuted in 1982 and offered near-arcade quality for the era. It had successful titles like Donkey Kong. Despite strong sales at first, the video game crash of 1983 ended its momentum. Many people only experienced it through borrowed consoles.
16. Vectrex
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The Vectrex was released in 1982 as a vector graphics console with its own built-in screen. Its glowing visuals were striking, but its niche library held it back. It became more of a collector’s item than a household staple. Most players remember seeing it once rather than owning it.