The original console wars have been consigned to history, but players are still flying specific system banners even today. For a bit of fun, I thought I'd try to find out which machine that's "retro" today is considered the greatest of all time in the eyes of you, the reader, and surprise, surprise, the SNES is the current victor.
In a poll included across articles, I asked readers: What's the best retro console of all time? 20% of everyone who answered so far took their chance to declare the Super Nintendo the absolute GOAT, but the rest of the votes have been cast for the 15 other systems on the ballot.
If you've hung onto your Super Nintendo from the '90s or have recently picked up one second hand, you can give its visuals a glow up. Pairing the SNES with an OSSC line doubler will help you harness a clearer signal and scale things up to crispy HD, and while $111.99 will feel pricey, the results speak for themselves.
I should note that you can still vote for the greatest console of all time, as I'd like to keep the poll open so that every retro-loving player can have their say. That means you could help prop up the SNES' claim to the throne, or help another iconic box, like the Sega Genesis (Mega Drive) or the mighty PS2 snatch the crown, and the latter has a chance of usurping Nintendo's '90s contender.
There's just a 3% gap between the SNES and the PS2 thus far, and the latter's clout makes sense since it remains the best-selling console of all time according to figures shared by Sony. By comparison, the Super Nintendo ranks way down at number 16, but the latter is a system that has ascended beyond its original hardware thanks to its legendary library.
Admittedly, I've kept the poll to just home consoles right now, but I reckon modern retro handhelds are having an impact on the numbers. Recency bias will have absolutely influenced some votes, and from my experience, most players end up emulating the best SNES games like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Super Mario World, Super Metroid, and various other romps on new portables.
You could say that the fact Nintendo Switch owners have official access to a bunch of SNES greats via their online subscriptions keeps the platform more relevant today. However, if you have your original carts to hand and backed up, there are gizmos like the Anbernic RG Cube that can provide shiny new emulation perks, a screen that hits CRT notes, and a layout that is better suited to the Super Nintendo.
Effectively, affordable and approachable access to retro platforms can help consoles stay in the hearts of players. Of course, if you're like me and have held onto every system you've ever owned and amassed plenty of others throughout the years, your opinion will still be rooted in original hardware.
If that applies to you, then you may have voted for any of the other main home consoles. Or, if you've not actively looked into new ways to play or how to connect your retro console to a modern TV or monitor, you may have simply opted for your childhood system. Having a soft spot for the machine that kick-started your video gaming journey makes complete sense, but I do wonder if answers will change off the back of new hardware remakes.
For instance, if I specifically asked this same question when the Analogue 3D, a new FPGA-powered N64 with 4K abilities, arrived, I suspect there would be a surge in Nintendo 64 votes. Even the OG Xbox could garner some favor off the back of Microsoft's (admittedly lacklustre) launch of emulated classics on PC, and big moments like that could help even more obscure machines gain favor.
That's not to say the SNES won't still reign supreme once more of you have cast your vote. In fact, it might even end up with a larger claim to the throne than its current 20% figure, but at the same time, it feels like consoles from across every generation to date are biting at its heels.
So, this is my call to you, my lovely GamesRadar+ retro readers, to cast your vote and crown your favorite console. If the SNES is indeed usurped, or amasses even more power over the vintage video game domain, I'll be sure to let you know, and I'm planning on keeping this poll open so you can all have it out in the comments.
P.S. - If you're from the future and the figures have already crowned a new retro console monarch, watch this space for an updated summary.
Swing by the best retro controllers for fresh pads that still boast authentic buttons.
