The Subjective Scientific reTROview Console Tier List Part 5: The Cream of the Crop

I guess there's some cream here. Shhh

And now for the moment you've all been waiting for, the best of the best! As usual, all consoles will be evaluated by 1 point for each good game, 5 points for each excellent game, and 10 points for each perfect/iconic game. Here's a reminder of the ground we've covered thus far:

Introduction

Trash Tier:

Atari 2600

Sega Master System

Sega Saturn  Sega Dreamcast
PSP
Xbox
Wii

I'm Pretty Sure I Should Own This?:
Wii U
Game Boy Color
PS3
Switch
Sega Genesis

The Console Middle Class:
Android
Gamecube
DS
Xbox 360
PS4
3DS
Game Boy
PS1

The High Fliers:
PS2
N64
Arcade
PC

And now for the cream of the crop!

NES (93 points):

Good games:
Castlevania
Dragon Warrior 2
Duck Hunt
Balloon Fight
Bases Loaded
Blades of Steel
Final Fantasy
Gradius
Star Soldier
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Metroid
Paperboy
Tecmo Bowl
Ninja Gaiden
Mega Man 5
Mega Man 6
Mega Man 4
The Little Mermaid

Excellent games:
Mega Man 2
DuckTales
Mega Man
Punch-Out!!
Dragon Warrior
The Legend of Zelda
Super Mario Bros. 2
Mega Man 3
Kirby's Adventure
Dr. Mario
Tecmo Super Bowl

Perfect/Iconic games:
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. 3 

There are no surprises from here on out, guys. These are my all time favorite, and I always knew they'd be the top three. They're also all Nintendo consoles, and are the three finest they ever released. Anyway, the NES is boss. Eighteen good games, 11 excellent games, and 2 perfect games. There are plenty of candidates from the excellent games to slot up to perfect, by the way. It's my first console, I love it, and you should, too.

GBA (93 points):

Good games:
Mario Tennis: Power Tour
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
Castlevania: Harmony of DIssonance
Mega Man and Bass
Mega Man Zero 4
Dragonball Z Collectible Card Game
The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age

Excellent games:
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Advance Wars
Mario Golf: Advance Tour
Mega Man Zero
Mega Man Zero 2
Mega Man Zero 3
Advance Wars 2: Days of Ruin
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Golden Sun
Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Wario Land 4

Perfect/iconic games:
Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald
Fire Emblem
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

This is about as close of a tossup as I can imagine. I went with the GBA over the NES by a nose because I'd rather have one more perfect/iconic game than ten good games, which is exactly the difference between the two consoles. I also feel like I know the broader NES library a bit better than the GBA, so there are more chances of finding some diamonds out there. These two consoles are absolutely incredible, and a Gameboy Advance SP would be the very first handheld I'd replace if I lost everything.

SNES (127 points):

Good games:
Donkey Kong Country 3
Mega Man X2
Tales of Phantasia
Mega Man 7
Dragonball Z: Legend of the Super Saiyan
Dragonball Z: Hyper Dimension
Bahamut Lagoon
Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Aero Fighters
Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals
Breath of Fire
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time

Excellent games:
Earthbound
Mega Man X
Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong Country 2
Star Fox
Super Metroid
F-Zero
Super Mario Kart
Super Punch-Out!!
Super Mario RPG
NBA Jam

Perfect/iconic games:
Final Fantasy IV
Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy VI
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Chrono Trigger
Super Mario World

There was never the slightest doubt here, and the SNES absolutely laps its competition. It beats out the nearest competitors by over 30 points, due largely to an unbelievable library of perfect games. I REALLY know this library, though, so I don't see it gaining too much in the next few years. I need to get some more exposure to the shooters here, but to be honest, the strength of the SNES is in its RPGs, and I know those backwards and forwards, even the imports. The SNES will always be my favorite console, unless some future console comes out that really blows my mind. All hail!

-TRO