Which console generation was the best?

[Faded Owen]

Every gamer seems to have a favourite console generation, and it often matches the years when they were young. For some people it is the 8 bit era of the NES and Master System. Others swear by the 16 bit rivalry of the SNES and Mega Drive, or the leap into 3D with the PlayStation and Nintendo 64. Later generations bring the PS2, GameCube and original Xbox, then the online era of the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii

Each generation has a strong case. The 16 bit era had some of the most beloved games ever made, with brilliant pixel art and soundtracks. The PS2 generation offered an enormous library across every genre, and the PS2 is still one of the best selling consoles of all time. The Xbox 360 and PS3 era brought online multiplayer into the mainstream, while the Wii brought gaming to grandparents

Nostalgia plays a huge role, of course. The games we played as children often feel special in a way that newer games struggle to match, even if they were objectively less polished. But some generations also introduced big leaps in what games could do, which makes them important regardless of nostalgia

My vote goes to the PS2 generation. The variety was incredible, from Grand Theft Auto and Final Fantasy to Shadow of the Colossus, Ico and SingStar. It felt like anything could be a game. Every trip to the game shop was full of new ideas

Which console generation was the best? And is your choice just nostalgia talking?