Game consoles have come in all kinds of form factors since the first-generation devices hit the market in the 1970s. From hefty bricks that look like home appliances (cough, PS5 Pro) to super portable hand-held devices, they’e offered very different looks. But out of the many consoles developed over the years, which looked the best?
Unsurprisingly, it’s a question that can generate intense debate, as a recent post on X demonstrates. We all have our own favourites (see our pick of the best retro games consoles). And it seems people have very different opinions about what makes a good-looking piece of tech. One thing is clear though, retro console design is way more interesting than those in the present day – though the same can be said for lots of tech (remember when mobile phones were interesting?)
Recognising that he was making an “one of those annoying engagement posts”, Jaz Rignall, who’s been writing about video games since the early 80s, asked followers to name their favourite console based on looks alone. It’s an intriguing question, because when we rate video games consoles, aesthetics is only one factor, and arguably not the most important one compared to the actual gaming experience. So, casting aside questions of power and performance, and more practical aspects of design like ergonomics, which is the ultimate console in terms of pure visual delight?
Rignall himself votes for NEC’s PC Engine SuperGrafx, a bulky, rugged-looking wedge of a console released in 1989. He says he always thought it “looked like it’d been ripped off the floor of a Gundam cockpit and was originally one of its foot pedal controllers.” He rates the Binatone TV Master with its bright orange touches a close second, although one person suggests it looks like a battery charger for a DeWalt power drill.
It quickly emerges that people have very different tastes, with some favouring the brutalist retro sci-fi look, while others prefer the shiny Y2K CD player look of the Panasonic Q and others like the 1970s living room aesthetic of the Atari 2600 (see our Atari 2600+ review).
One person commends the Gamecube for its futuristic but cosy compact look, while one person’s vote goes to the Atari Lynx, suggesting that it not only looked cool but “felt satisfying solid and girthy in the hands”.
For more on retro gaming, see our interview with new creative director Tim Lapetino. See below for the best prices on retro gaming consoles in your region.
