Net Ten: Top Ten Launch Titles of All Time (page 1) Subscribe to this RSS feed

Launch titles. We're so quick to use them as the basis for a system's failure or success, but plenty of hit systems like the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS have survived without quality games out of the gate. Regardless, it's still nice to have a great game to play on day one. Here's our definitive list, including a title or two from this year's newcomers.

#10 Geometry Wars Retro Evolved - [ Xbox 360 ]

When a five dollar title developed by a team of a dozen or so manages to trump a handful of $60 games, you've got the makings of a launch classic. Geometry Wars toiled in obscurity in Project Gotham Racing 2 before getting a next-gen makeover and becoming "Retro Evolved'' (isn't that an oxymoron?) for the Xbox 360. The Xbox Live Arcade has become one of the 360's biggest components, due in no small part to this great arcade-style space shooter.

#10 Geometry Wars Retro Evolved
N/A average
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#9 Halo - [ Xbox ]

There's nothing better than a "word of mouth'' launch success. Halo is the prototypical example of that. No one had expected much from Bungie's first-person shooter--heck, it was initially developed for the Mac! Nonetheless, the title spawned a new contender in the console arena, a flagship gaming series, and forever changed the landscape of shooters.

#9 Halo
94% average
critic
score

#8 Madden NFL 2001 - [ PS2 ]

The Madden series may be getting a little long in the tooth by now, but the series really hit its stride when it debuted on the PlayStation 2. With realistic at the time graphics and a gameplay engine refined over the previous console generation, Madden was a bright beacon among the Fantavisions and X-Squads of the PS2 launch.

#8 Madden NFL 2001
93% average
critic
score

#7 Tetris - [ Gameboy ]

Pack-in titles face a world of pressure. For many cash-strapped consumers, they may be the only exposure one has to a system for some time. Nintendo had a Mario title ready for the Game Boy's launch, but they chose to go with an obscure Russian puzzle game. Seventeen years later, people are still buying Game Boys--now of the advanced variety. Think that would've happened if the sub-par Super Mario Land was sold with the system?

#7 Tetris
N/A average
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#6 Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - [ Wii ]

Twilight Princess had been in development for ages--it was announced alongside the Nintendo DS for chrissakes! Suffice it to say, the wait was well worth it. For those of you who worried that the drastic control scheme won't work--don't. Using the Remote and Nunchuk to dictate Link's actions is a snap, and our favorite silent protagonist sports the realistic look we've been pining for since we first tossed that gold cartridge in the NES. While we've certainly enjoyed the pack-in Wii Sports, this is the title that every Wii owner should play.

#6 Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
94% average
critic
score