The world of video game consoles is full of success stories like the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox. But over the decades, plenty of other systems have come and gone—some ambitious, some strange, and some that just never found their audience. Here are 8 consoles you may have forgotten existed, each with its own quirky spot in gaming history.
1. Sega Nomad (1995)
Imagine being able to play your Sega Genesis games on the go. That was the promise of the Sega Nomad, a portable Genesis released in the mid-90s. It played full-sized Genesis cartridges, had a backlit color screen, and even let you plug it into a TV. Sadly, its bulky design, poor battery life, and timing (as the PlayStation was stealing the spotlight) meant it never caught on. Still, for die-hard Sega fans, it was a dream machine.
2. Philips CD-i (1991)
The Philips CD-i was marketed as more than just a gaming console—it was an all-in-one multimedia machine. It could play music, movies, and interactive discs. What it’s most remembered for, however, is its strange collection of licensed Nintendo games, like the infamous Zelda CD-i titles and “Hotel Mario.” The CD-i never managed to become the entertainment hub Philips hoped for, but it lives on as a cult oddity.
3. Vectrex (1982)
The Vectrex was truly ahead of its time. Instead of hooking up to your TV, this system came with its own built-in vector graphics display. Games looked sharp, but everything was just lines and shapes. To add some flair, transparent plastic overlays slid over the screen to add color and backgrounds. While it didn’t last long, the Vectrex has a loyal retro fanbase today for its uniqueness.
4. Neo Geo Pocket (1998)
SNK’s Neo Geo Pocket was a handheld system meant to rival the Game Boy. With solid battery life, a great clicky thumbstick, and strong arcade-style games like “Metal Slug” and “King of Fighters,” it had a lot going for it. Unfortunately, it never gained much traction outside Japan. A revised version, the Neo Geo Pocket Color, had a brief moment in the spotlight but was quickly overshadowed by Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance.
5. Nokia N-Gage (2003
The Nokia N-Gage tried to combine a handheld game system with a cell phone—long before smartphones became the standard. It played games like “Tomb Raider” and “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater,” but its awkward design made it infamous. To swap games, you had to remove the battery, and using it as a phone meant holding it sideways against your face (earning it the nickname “taco phone”). Despite its flaws, it was an ambitious idea ahead of its time.
6. Google Stadia (2019)
Not all forgotten consoles are old. Google Stadia was a cloud-based gaming platform that streamed games directly to your devices—no console box required. While it had some impressive tech, it struggled with latency issues, limited game library, and a confusing business model. Google officially shut it down in early 2023, but it helped pave the way for cloud gaming services we see today.
7. Ouya (2013)
Funded through Kickstarter, the Ouya promised to revolutionize gaming with a small, affordable Android-based console. At just $99, it attracted a ton of hype—but once it launched, the underpowered hardware and lack of standout games led to disappointment. Still, it’s remembered as one of the first attempts to bring mobile-style indie gaming into the living room.
8. Atari Jaguar (1993)
Atari’s last home console, the Jaguar, was marketed as the first “64-bit” system. Unfortunately, most of its library didn’t live up to the promise. Its odd controller (with a full number pad) and limited developer support left it struggling against the Sega Genesis, SNES, and later the PlayStation. Despite its failure, cult classics like “Tempest 2000” still keep the Jaguar in retro conversations.
Final Thoughts
Not every console can be a success, but these forgotten machines tell fascinating stories about the risks and experiments that shaped gaming history. Whether they were ahead of their time, poorly marketed, or just plain weird, each of these systems left behind a legacy worth remembering.
