Top Five Retro Consoles That Died Too Young

For every PlayStation or Game Boy that ruled the world, there were a handful of consoles that almost made it — clever, weird, or just ahead of their time. Some were marketing disasters. Some were too expensive. Some were just too cool for their own good.

These are the retro consoles that burned brightly, briefly, and then vanished, leaving behind a trail of fond memories, weird peripherals, and second-hand eBay searches at 2 a.m.

5. Sega Dreamcast (1999)

The idea: Sega’s comeback kid — online play! VMU memory cards! Jet Set Radio!

What went wrong: It arrived too early. Internet gaming in 1999 was a miracle wrapped in a dial-up tone, and Sony’s PS2 hype machine was waiting in the wings like a smug assassin.

Why it died too young: It was innovative — way ahead of its time — but Sega’s hardware reputation was already shaky, and the competition was brutal.

Legacy: Every Dreamcast owner still insists it was the best console ever made. They’re not wrong.

4. Nintendo GameCube (2001)

The idea: Cute, compact, and purple. Nintendo at its most playful — complete with a handle for easy carrying to your mate’s house.

What went wrong: Sony’s PS2 had the DVD drive. Xbox had raw power. The GameCube had tiny discs and a serious image problem. It looked like a toy — which, in the early 2000s, was social death.

Why it died too young: Brilliant exclusives (Metroid Prime, Wind Waker, Smash Bros. Melee) but not enough to win the mainstream.

Legacy: Its design and games aged beautifully — and it’s now a beloved cult favourite. Bonus points if you remember the click-click start-up sound.

3. Atari Jaguar (1993)

The idea: “The first 64-bit console!” shouted the ads.

The reality: Two 32-bit chips fighting each other for dominance while developers wept.

What went wrong: Poor marketing, terrible third-party support, and a controller that looked like a TV remote from the future — but in the bad way.

Why it died too young: Ambition over execution. Atari tried to leapfrog the competition, but tripped over its own cables.

Legacy: Still adored by collectors — mainly for being gloriously weird.

2. NEC PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16 (1987 / 1990 UK launch)

The idea: Sleek, fast, arcade-quality graphics years before the Mega Drive or SNES could dream of it.

What went wrong: A confusing name, patchy UK distribution, and the kind of advertising that made you think it might be a printer.

Why it died too young: It should have conquered the world, but NEC didn’t have the marketing power or developer support to make it stick.

Legacy: A true hipster’s console — tiny, beautiful, and home to some of the best 2D shooters ever made.

1. Sega Saturn (1994)

The idea: The next big thing from Sega — a technical marvel, a 2D powerhouse, and the home of NiGHTS into Dreams and Virtua Fighter.

What went wrong: Sega released it early in the US with zero warning to retailers. Developers were furious, the price was steep, and Sony’s PS1 blew past it like a rocket.

Why it died too young: Sega’s worst marketing move ever — and that’s saying something. It had great games, but nobody knew where (or when) to buy it.

Legacy: A cult treasure for collectors — and proof that even legends can misfire.