The splash screen is the console’s way of introducing itself to the game-hungry masses. This digital vignette had to accomplish two important tasks in seconds: showcasing the system’s brand identity and horsepower, elements that set it apart from the competition. However, some splash screens are much cooler than others, so let’s rank them all!
For purposes of this article, “console” means any non-PC gaming suggestion, including handheld consoles. PCs are left out because, well, who wants to see all-too-familiar Mac or Windows logos? We’ve combed through every video game console boot screen in history to bring you this comprehensive top 10 list. Keep in mind that we’re covering the console’s native splash screen, not a specific game’s splash screen .
10. Sega Genesis/Hyperdrive (1988)
While it lacked a flashy splash screen, the Sega Genesis (also known overseas as the Mega Drive) neatly showcased the console’s power. Human language is common in contemporary video games, but not in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The vocals introduced into the system are among the most iconic in gaming history. It’s synonymous with all of Sega’s franchises, especially a speedy blue hedgehog who made his debut on the platform.
9. Ouya (2013)
The Ouya was a streaming micro-console released in 2013, but we wouldn’t be surprised if you’d never heard of it; just two years later, the platform was effectively dead. However, Ouya’s boot screen sequence is more difficult than the system itself. The animation of the sun bursting from the horizon is reminiscent of Dune 2021, from the font to the color scheme. Unlike Dune, Ouya won’t receive a sequel.
8. Nintendo Game Boy Advance (2003)
Every Game Boy since 1989 has had a similar splash screen. The sequence changes slightly with each new Game Boy, showcasing the new handheld’s new technology. In 2003, with the launch of the Game Boy Advance, we got the final and best Game Boy boot sequence ever. It features cool colored letters that combine in place to form the word “Game Boy,” followed by the hardware line’s signature “ding.”
7. Microsoft Xbox Series S/X (2021)
All Xbox systems have attractive splash screens, but the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X sequences largely stand out from their predecessors. The symphonic buzz and glowing logo are welcoming and bold. This boot sequence is confident, and it communicates to Xbox owners that they’ve just purchased high-end gaming technology.
6. Sega Master System (Japan, 1985)
The Western Sega Master system has a weak splash screen; the Japanese Sega Master system, on the other hand, is incredible. The sequence has interesting animation, but the hook is the all time blaster that plays in the background. Seriously, this song rips. The music has drama and stakes, taking you on a journey before you even start the game.
5. Sony PlayStation 3 (2007)
While brief, the PlayStation 3 splash screen is magnificent. Starting with the sound of an orchestra tuning in, it gives you the urge to shut up everyone else in the room because the show is about to start. In these opening seconds, the black fades to reveal strands of energy. It’s like a gaming-centric DNA helix slowly twisting in front of us. Then the orchestra builds to a crescendo. The PlayStation 3’s opening scene is only ten seconds long, but it evokes a gloomy mood.
4. Valve Steam Deck (2022)
Valve’s handheld gaming PC dropped over a year ago, but it already has one of our favorite splash screens. Its animation actually tells a story, starting with the logo on the hardware itself before transforming into the Valve logo. Its movements and jingles remind us of the droid in Star Wars: it doesn’t speak our language, but we understand what it’s saying (in this case, it’s “hello”). Note that the Steam Deck also has a cool pause animation. It’s essentially the boot sequence in reverse, but this time the console logo spins into an eye that winks at you, almost like saying “See you next time.”
3. Sony PlayStation 2 (2000)
Not only does the PlayStation 2 splash screen greet you when you launch your favorite game, but it’s there every time you want to watch a DVD. For many, the PS2 is the home entertainment unit. So whether you start GTA or Shrek, you’re transported into the 2000-year future. Fortunately, the splash screen itself is an atmospheric marvel. Foggy “streets” fill a city made of cubes, and the sequence feels like an introduction to sci-fi Gotham. It’s mysterious, it’s creepy, and it welcomes one of the best consoles of all time.
2. Nintendo Game Cube (2001)
As far as naming conventions go, the Nintendo GameCube has perhaps the most no-nonsense name in gaming history. A console is a cube that plays games. However, its splash screen is special. More than 20 years after the GameCube debuted, no game audio can match the earworm, the sound of the cube rolling across a black screen. Fun fact: This splash screen also has several secret permutations depending on how many players hold down the Z button on the controller after turning on the console.
1. Sony PlayStation (1994)
The PlayStation is a machine in need of proof. After all, it started out as a failed CD-ROM peripheral for the Super Nintendo. In order to enter the video game console space and compete with the likes of Nintendo and Sega, Sony needed hardware to beat the competition. This desire to impress lies in the PlayStation’s splash screen music. It’s unsettling, and challenges you to accept the console as the future of video games. The music is reminiscent of thanks to the trailers that used to play before certain movies. It draws you in with intrigue, then blasts you apart before disappearing with mysterious bells.
