Every Sixth Generation Console, Ranked
Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck is a writer for Collider. He grew up creating lists, stories, and worlds, which led to his love of anime and video games. He attended Sheridan College where he earned an Honours Bachelor of Game Design. Lucas and his group won 1st place for technical innovation at LevelUp Toronto 2023, and he was also an intern for the Oakville Film Festival of Arts.
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Video games have continued to evolve over the decades, and the longer time goes on, the more advanced they get. However, in order to keep up with the technical advancement of software, hardware also has to improve. We are currently in the ninth generation of video game consoles, home to the Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X, and the PS5 and producing games like The Legend of Zelda, Fable, and The Last of Us.
Generations of video game systems seem to last longer nowadays, because while the sixth generation doesn’t seem too long ago, it was over two decades in the past. That is why this list will rank every single sixth-generation video game console based on aspects such as influence, innovation, capabilities, popularity, games, and overall success. There aren't many different consoles, but this generation was still an era of influence and innovation that many fans remember fondly.
7 WonderSwan Color (2000)
Bandai Namco is a famous video game company, mainly for its video games, but at the start of the new millennium, it tried to release a new console, the WonderSwan Color. It was an upgraded version of its predecessor and was engineered by one of the designers who worked on the original Game Boy. Seemingly poised to be a success, this console is nowhere to be heard of nowadays.
Fans may be familiar with the Game Boy Color, one of the greatest handheld consoles of all time, but the WonderSwan Color is a different story. The efficient battery life and dual-directional controls allowed for greater movement that would enhance gameplay, making it smoother to play. While it did get some major games, like Final Fantasy, it was a minor win and the best this forgotten console could achieve. Moreover, a new and more advanced handheld console was also released in the sixth generation that took sales away from the WonderSwan Color.
6 N-Gage (2003)
Nokia may be out of business nowadays, but they used to be renowned for their indestructible phones. Back in 2003, they used their expertise in cell phones to merge that technology with a portable gaming platform. Titled the N-Gage, the console certainly had ambition that merged two technological inventions into one; unfortunately, they may have been too ambitious.
Having the ability to play a game and make a phone call on the same system was way ahead of its time, and sadly, for its own good. Players had to remove the battery in order to swap games, and the two never ran that well together. The N-Gage was an imaginative video game console that took leaps with its ambition in Bluetooth multiplayer, but it wasn’t enough to stand out in the sixth generation. The potential was there, but the N-Gage just didn’t hold up compared to the other, more polished systems.
5 Dreamcast (1998)
Now that this list has reached the top five, every console from here on out is widely known and loved, but some more than others. Still releasing consoles during this time, Sega announced the Dreamcast, which aimed to deliver perfect arcade 3D visuals. Sega is known for its game franchises, like Sonic the Hedgehog, but they used to be in the console market with standouts such as this.
The visuals were great, and the built-in internet made it even better, establishing itself as a pioneer of online multiplayer games. Dreamcast is especially known for its incredible roster of games that includes titles like Phantasy Star Online and Shenmue. For such an iconic console, some may be surprised that the Dreamcast is so low, but that is only because the rest of the generation is nearly flawless, with some of the best consoles ever. It had a memorable name and a solid legacy, but this generation of consoles is just too competitive.
4 GameCube (2001)
Nintendo is one of the greatest video game console creators in history, and they became this way because of their constant innovations and risks, which sometimes worked out and other times didn’t. One example of the latter is the GameCube, which started from the usual Nintendo formula by having the games on discs. The GameCube took its titular shape and released a slew of classic video games that would age better than the console itself, with some fans remembering this time more fondly than how well the system actually performed.
The best part about the GameCube is by far the games, which included masterpieces such as Super Smash Bros. Melee, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and Metroid Prime. Fans look upon the games fondly and with nostalgia, and while they were certainly good, the console had its issues. The GameCube notoriously underperformed in sales, becoming one of the lowest-selling Nintendo consoles of all time. Even though the performance was solid and the multiplayer aspects were amazing, the numbers speak for themselves. Despite underselling, there is a modern-day revival of the console and the love for it.
3 Game Boy Advance (2001)
This list just mentioned one Nintendo console that was beloved, but underperformed. Luckily, their next best system was both beloved and sold well. The Game Boy Advance, better known as GBA, brought 32-bit computing to handheld systems, basically being a portable SNES. While there would be more innovations in the market, this was a major first step that changed the game, literally and figuratively. With advanced hardware and a library of beloved video games, the GBA was an essential for any child, especially for anyone who wanted to play Pokémon.
The GBA may have just been an upgraded version of the Game Boy, but it felt new and innovative enough to make a name for itself. It was the go-to handheld console for the first half of the noughties, and that isn’t just because of its capabilities, but also because of its catalogue of magnificent and incredibly fun Nintendo games. The expansive library, backwards compatibility, social connection aspects, and powerful link cable proved it was more than just a console, but a way to connect with other like-minded players. Also, with exclusive rights for the Pokémon games, every kid had to get their hands on the GBA.
2 Xbox (2001)
The sixth generation usually consisted of companies on their new iterations of old consoles, but it also marked the era when Microsoft officially joined the party with the Xbox. This American-made video game console entered the home console domain swinging, featuring powerful hardware, an internal hard drive, and superior graphical capabilities. Xbox is in a weird spot now, but back then it could have been the king.
The Xbox became the console of choice for many during this time, especially because of its multiplayer focus with standardized controls that make FPS games more engaging. As the definitive shooter console, it housed classics like Halo: Combat Evolved. This iconic and groundbreaking console became the blueprint for matchmaking, voice chat, online play, and multiplayer experience, to the point where it became synonymous with these traits, proving why it is so highly regarded. In fact, it would have earned the top spot if not for one specific console. But either way, the Xbox had a better start than most, which made it an instantly iconic v video game console of this generation.
1 PlayStation 2 (2000)
The sixth generation is one of the best eras for video game consoles, with each of the big three of gaming having standout hits. However, the best is undoubtedly Sony’s follow-up to its success with the PS1. The PlayStation 2 debuted with more hype than most consoles, mainly because of its built-in DVD player, full backwards compatibility, and generally powerful hardware that made it a must-buy for any gaming fan.
The Xbox was great, but there aren’t many consoles that can compete with the PS2 for so many reasons, starting with its games. From remarkable first-party titles like Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty to being the definitive home for titles like Grand Theft Auto III, its roster of video games might be the best ever. It was a creative sanctuary for developers, and this, in part, is why it is the best-selling video game console of all time—for now at least. Sales don’t automatically equate to quality, but in this case the connection is clear. With popularity, enhanced capabilities, great games, overwhelming success, and innovative hardware, the PS2 is the definitive video game console of the sixth generation.
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