Every ’70s Video Game Console, Ranked

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Man, the 70s were huge for gaming! That’s when I first got hooked on arcade classics like Pong and Space Invaders. And it’s crazy to think that’s also when home consoles really started becoming a thing – the 70s basically laid the groundwork for everything we enjoy today.

While not as powerful as today’s consoles like the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S, early gaming systems such as the Intellivision and Magnavox Odyssey 2 were crucial in establishing the video game industry we know today.

The Magnavox Odyssey Is the Genesis of All Consoles

The Magnavox Odyssey holds the distinction of being the very first video game console. It debuted around September 1972, just a couple of months before the famous game Pong came out.

Considering how old it was, the system wasn’t quite like newer consoles. Instead of traditional graphics, most games – often included with the system itself – used special overlays that appeared directly on the TV screen.

The Odyssey cards functioned uniquely depending on the game being played and the visual overlay used. As an example, the included game Cat and Mouse featured a large dot representing the cat chasing a smaller dot representing the mouse, all within a maze displayed on the overlay.

Before the Atari 2600, home consoles were incredibly important to the start of video gaming. Even today, the original console and its games can still be enjoyable to play.

The RCA Studio II Is Black and White Goodness

The RCA Studio II looks similar to other classic Pong consoles from the time. But because it used game cartridges, it was actually a bit more sophisticated than those simpler consoles.

As a retro gaming fan, I think it’s cool the RCA Studio II could even show graphics, even if they were just basic black and white shapes. But honestly, by the time it came out, the Fairchild Channel F was already available with full color, so the Studio II didn’t really grab many people’s attention. It felt a little late to the party with those simple graphics!

Though it’s not highly regarded now, the RCA Studio II was still a significant step forward for video games. It features some genuinely fun games, from pre-loaded titles like Freeway to popular cartridges like Space War, offering plenty to enjoy.

The Bally Astrocade Is More Than a Unique Footnote

The Bally Astrocade was a video game console created by Bally, a well-known entertainment company that was important in the video game world from the 1970s through the early 1990s. Famous for their arcade games, Bally tried to recreate that same fun in a home console.

The Astrocade generally had better graphics and sound than the more popular Atari 2600. This combination created a gaming experience that was more advanced and comparable to playing games at the arcade.

The Astrocade, despite lacking many games made by companies other than its creator, still offered playable versions of popular titles. Given that it was released shortly after the Atari 2600, the Bally Astrocade deserves recognition as more than just a minor piece of gaming history.

The Fairchild Channel F Was a Fair Console

It’s surprising how little people talk about the Fairchild Channel F when discussing classic or 1970s video games. Considering it came out nearly a year before the Atari 2600 and was the first console to use game cartridges, it deserves more recognition.

The Fairchild Channel F was ahead of its time, introducing gameplay styles that would become popular on home consoles over the next ten years. It featured a variety of games, including sports titles like Baseball and action games like Galactic Space Wars. Plus, the console came with some great built-in games, like a unique version of Pong where players could move their paddles anywhere on the screen.

The Fairchild Channel F is a surprisingly interesting game console that’s often overlooked. If the Atari 2600 hadn’t been so successful, the Channel F likely would have received more praise both when it was originally released and in video game history.

The Magnavox Odyssey 2 Was Better the Second Time Around

The Magnavox Odyssey 2 was the real follow-up to the original Odyssey, which is famous for being the very first video game console. Before that, Magnavox had made many different versions of the Pong game, all branded as part of the Odyssey line.

Honestly, when I first saw the Odyssey 2, I didn’t even think it was a game console! It looked way more like a regular home computer from back then. If it weren’t for the controllers, you’d never guess it could actually play games. But trust me, it did – and it had a surprisingly good library to show for it!

The Odyssey 2 stood out from other consoles, like the Atari 2600, thanks to its unique collection of games. It offered engaging educational titles such as Math-A-Magic!, creative original games like K.C.’s Krazy Chase!, and well-done versions of popular arcade games, including Frogger.

This game console didn’t have as many games as other consoles from the same era, and that might actually be a positive. It focused on delivering great experiences, and as the saying goes, it’s better to have a few high-quality games than a lot of mediocre ones.

The Microvision Is a Fun-Sized Portable Console

While not the very first handheld video game – that title belongs to older LCD games like Auto Race and Football – the Microvision was the first to use interchangeable game cartridges. This innovation allowed for a much wider variety of games to be played on a single device.

Considering it was one of the first handheld consoles, the Microvision still has a surprisingly good library of games. It offered everything from simple sports games like Bowling to enjoyable arcade conversions such as Block Buster, which was similar to Breakout. For a small handheld from the 1970s, it was quite capable.

While systems like the Vectrex and Game Boy clearly surpassed the Microvision in terms of what it could do, it’s still interesting to play the Microvision’s games to see how early video games have changed over time.

The Intellivision Is a 16-Bit Powerhouse

The Intellivision, released by Mattel in 1979, was one of the main competitors to the popular Atari 2600. It aimed to be more sophisticated, featuring a more powerful 16-bit processor and improved graphics.

The console featured games that were remarkably innovative for their era. A great example is the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons RPG series on Intellivision, but that’s just one of many impressive titles.

The console featured a speech synthesizer called the Intellivoice Voice Synthesis Module. This module made games like B-17 Bomber and Bomb Squad more immersive by adding spoken words.

The Intellivision was remarkably capable for its time. Considering it’s still enjoyed by many almost fifty years later, it’s no surprise it’s become a beloved classic among retro gaming fans.

The Atari 2600 Defined ‘70s Gaming

Although Atari had created simpler, dedicated consoles like Pong in the early 1970s, the Atari 2600 was a much bigger hit. It quickly became far more popular and successful than any of Atari’s previous systems.

It’s hard to overstate the impact of the Atari 2600, especially considering its limited power compared to other consoles of the time. While systems like the Intellivision and Colecovision offered more features and were technically superior, the Atari 2600 still managed to achieve a lot.

Despite its age, the Atari 2600 felt incredibly special, and that spirit is clear in its classic game collection. Whether it was original hits like Pitfall! or groundbreaking versions of games like Space Invaders, the Atari 2600 truly offered something for everyone.

While the Atari 2600 had some truly bad games, its excellent titles far surpassed them. It’s difficult to imagine anyone completely disliking the console, or even most of the games it offered, considering it’s widely considered the best of the 1970s.

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2026-02-02 04:41