9 of the Best Console Launch Games in History

Launch games are those released on the same days as their consoles. Some are bundled with the consoles to showcase their hardware. For example, Nintendo has often launched consoles with new Mario games, typically of the platformer genre, for players to play. They are typically first-party games from the console manufacturers, but there have been some notable exceptions. These are the best console launch games in history.

Super Mario Bros

Super Mario Bros was the launch game Nintendo bundled with the NES for its American release. This game was the salvation of the video gaming industry after the crash of 1983. Super Mario Bros perfected the side-scrolling 2D platformer gaming genre with its innovative and varied level design, accessible gameplay, and iconic background music. It became one of the best-selling video games in history, establishing the NES and Nintendo at the forefront of the gaming industry for more than a decade.

Tetris

Tetris was the launch game that defined the Game Boy somewhat better than Super Mario Land. It was not a Nintendo game, but the popularity of the blockbuster Tetris puzzle game was well established before 1989. Elorg granted Nintendo handheld and general console rights to Tetris in 1989.

Tetris was perfect for the Game Boy because of its simplicity, which made it ideal for a console with a limited monochrome display. The immense playability and replayability value of Tetris made it the killer app the Game Boy needed, especially when leveraging its link-up capabilities for two-player matches. It was also the first portable Tetris game that was a perfect travel companion.

Mario 64

Mario 64 was a defining moment in the history of gaming. It was the game that added a new, third dimension to the Mario series on the Nintendo 64. This was one of the best launch games ever because it set a standard for 3D platformers with landmark non-linear level design, an innovative camera system, and intuitive controls. It perfectly showcased the N64’s 360-degree analog stick that allowed for revolutionary 3D gameplay.

Halo: Combat Evolved

When Microsoft released the first Xbox console, it needed a strong launch game to attract new players. Microsoft bundled Halo: Combat Evolved with the Xbox, which was one of the most revolutionary first-person shooters alongside Half-Life. Halo’s perfectly balanced integration of guns, grenades, and melee gameplay mechanics set it apart from other first-person shooters of its time. It also had a more open-ended campaign and exciting multiplayer mode than those in alternative FPS games of its era.

What Halo started was one of the most exciting FPS series that’s a part and parcel of Xbox consoles. It was the game that established the Microsoft Xbox series, which has stood proudly alongside the Sony PlayStation consoles ever since. You can play the campaign from this classic title again in the Halo: Combat Evolved remake, with revitalized graphics and audio, scheduled for release this year.

Super Mario World

Super Mario World perfectly showcased the 16-bit graphical capabilities of the Super NES console it came with. Its considerably more colorful sprites and detailed backgrounds were a great leap forward from the NES. Mario World introduced Yoshi, the sweet dinosaur sidekick for chomping up and spitting out enemies that added a whole new layer to the platforming fun. Plus, it featured an expansive 96-level map to explore with numerous secrets to discover. Super Mario World remains the best 2D Mario game in the series, in my opinion.

Soulcalibur

Soulcalibur was a popular weapon-based 3D arcade beat ’em up that Namco ported to the SEGA Dreamcast. The Dreamcast port of Soulcalibur had superior visual quality to its arcade counterpart, along with additional characters and modes. It was a beat ’em up that had immense combat depth with various gameplay modes that gave it terrific replayability value. With a Metacritic score of 98, Soulcalibur remains one of the most highly rated games in history. However, the Soulcaliber launch game could not save the Dreamcast all on its own, and SEGA discontinued the console in 2001.

Call of Duty 2

Call of Duty 2 was perhaps the defining game of the COD series that raised the bar for first-person shooters. It was the premier launch title for the Xbox 360 that gripped players with intense and cinematic World War II gameplay and groundbreaking high-definition graphics for its time. The health regeneration and grenade indicator features in the gameplay were revolutionary, allowing for faster and more aggressive FPS gameplay than before. Call of Duty 2’s intense and gritty campaign action was among the best of the COD series.

Super Mario 64 DS

Super Mario 64 DS was a launch game for the Nintendo DS handheld, which was one of the Big N’s biggest console hits. Although this wasn’t an original launch title, it brought Nintendo’s Mario 64 classic to a portable handheld with numerous enhancements. Mario 64 DS included 30 new stars and extra playable characters, such as Yoshi and Wario. With enhanced visuals and additional touchscreen minigames, it was a great showcase for the graphical and control capabilities of the DS console.

Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II

Although not an official pack-in game, Factor 5 and LucasArts released Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II alongside the GameCube, for which retail bundles frequently included it. The GameCube wasn’t a big Nintendo hit, but Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II was still an impressive technical showcase for that console. It was a game with unmatched visuals for its time, a genuine technical marvel that served up an authentic Star Wars experience. Rogue Squadron II revived many of the iconic battles from the first Star Wars trilogy with immersive audio and visuals that made players feel as if they were in the movies.

Those were some of the most exciting launch games that were flagship titles for their consoles. They provided excellent showcases for their consoles, which attracted many players to them. Nintendo consoles have generally had the best launch games to establish them, but the Xbox, Xbox 360, and Dreamcast also had some very exciting launch titles.