It's a widely held belief in gaming that exclusives sell consoles, and I believe it's often true. We've all bought a new console just to play a certain game that really captured our interest. In years past it could be playing a game at a friend's house, or playing a kiosk at a local retailer. These days Twitch streaming and YouTube Let's Plays offer new ways to convince us to take the plunge. I recently picked up a PS4 just to play Horizon Zero Dawn and started thinking of all the other exclusive titles that convinced me to purchase the system. I compiled a list of systems I purchased and the games that convinced me to buy them and would love to hear what games convinced you to purchase a console.






1. Nintendo Entertainment System (NES): Super Mario Brothers

I remember seeing this game running in a kiosk in a Target. I had been saving for an Atari 2600 but this blew away anything on the 2600. I saved for months and I'll never forget the day I walked out of the store with my very own NES and copy of Super Mario Brothers. The game seemed limitless as I pushed onward to save Princess Toadstool.


2. Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES): Legend of Zelda A Link to the Past


I was a Nintendo Power subscriber when Zelda: A Link to the Past released, but my parents thought one Nintendo console in the house was enough. I combed through the pages of Nintendo Power staring at the screenshots and begging my parents until one day they relented. I purchased the SNES core console and immediately rented A Link to the Past. A couple months later I had scraped together enough money to buy my own copy of A Link to the Past and started a tradition of playing a Zelda game every Thanksgiving week.

3. Nintendo 64 (N64): Super Mario 64


By the time the N64 was released I was more of a PC gamer, playing games from LucasArts, Sierra, and Origin. It wasn't until I saw Super Mario 64 at a kiosk in Incredible Universe (now Fry's electronics) that I knew I had to own a N64. The way Mario controlled in a 3D space was unlike anything I had seen before. I saved up until I had just enough to cover the cost of the system and tax. My parents were leaving for the weekend and thanks to a friend loaning me his copy of Mario 64 I was set to have a great weekend.

4. DM Game Boy: Final Fantasy Adventure


I had a chance to play the Game Boy at a buddy's house in 1989 but didn't own one myself until the summer of 1991.  We were taking a family trip by car and it was going take a while to get to our destination. I had rented Final Fantasy on the NES many times and was reading about this new game called Final Fantasy Adventure. I had to have it. My parents were nice enough to buy me a used Game Boy and Final Fantasy Adventure for the trip. I played through and finished the game a couple of days after the trip ended and the game is still one of my favorites for the system. This trip also netted me a special Game Boy camouflage carrying case that was made for Operation Desert Storm. The case was lost during a move and I hadn't seen another until GrayGhost81 sent me one. Thanks again!

5. Dreamcast: Sonic Adventure


I purchased an imported Dreamcast from a local store in 1999 for $400. I had been reading all about the new system on Gamespot but it was the coverage of Sonic Adventure that made me want to own the system. I'm sure that the first level of that game sold a lot of systems. As much as the rest of the games content is questionable, I'll never forget the time I spent playing the Japanese version of Sonic Adventure to completion.

6. Playstation 2: Grand Theft Auto 3


I didn't own a PS2 until the summer of 2002. I had a chance to play GTA 3 in a friend's dorm and had to have my own copy. I had played GTA 1 and 2 but this was something different. The range of freedom, the mayhem that could be caused, and the radio stations combined to make an addicting game. When Gamestop had a sale on used PS2s and copies of GTA 3, I placed an order and spent the summer on the streets of Liberty City.

8. Original Xbox: Splinter Cell


My parents were going to buy me a console for Christmas as I was going to be spending most of winter break with my Grandmother, and she didn't have much in the way of entertainment. I had been reading Gamespot and the new game called Splinter Cell looked amazing. I went with my father to Circuit City and purchased a system and a copy of the game. Even though I was terrible at the game I loved playing as Sam Fischer sneaking around defending freedom.

9. Nintendo DS: Super Mario 64 DS


In 2004 I was commuting more and spending longer hours at my job. I needed something to help pass the commute time and Mario 64 DS seemed like the ideal solution, if I could find a DS console. At the beginning of December I walked in to the local Gamestop and asked if they had any systems expecting to hear a no, but to my surprise they had one in stock! I quickly paid for it and ran over to Best Buy to buy a copy of Mario 64 DS. My commute became easier to deal with and I still have my copy of Mario 64 DS.

10. Neo Geo Pocket: King of Fighters R-1


My local game store imported some Game Boy Colors and Neo Geo Pockets in late 1998. I received a call from the owner who asked if I would like to try one out. I drove down and was impressed with the little monochrome machine. King of Fighters R-1 was much more impressive than any fighter on the Game Boy with it's large sprites and responsive controls. It ended up as the perfect compliment my new job at the HP Pavilion call center.

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