Launch title
A launch game is a video game that has been made available to consumers synchronously with its respective video game console, meaning they are the only available games at the time of the console's launch. Because they provide first impressions of the console's features and technical abilities, they are extremely important in the video game industry, and many launch games have been killer games.
Quality vs. quantity
Historically, the number of launch games has been important. The more games there are available at launch, the higher the chances that players will find something that interests them. However, the same importance applies to game quality: quite simply, poor quality games don't sell as well as high quality ones.
When gearing up for a major console launch, developers and publishers have a decision to make. They can release a large number of launch games, often accompanied by the promise of more soon after launch, or they can come out with a few extremely strong titles, or a killer game. While coming out with a large number of extremely strong titles is of course preferred, this may not be practical. To balance these choices, developers will very often supplement one or two strong titles with third-party or licensed titles to bolster the number of launch games.
Killer launch games
Here are a few killer games that debuted at launch.
- Super Mario Bros. 1985 Nintendo Entertainment System (U.S. launch)
- Super Mario World 1990 Super Nintendo Entertainment System
- Super Mario 64 1996 Nintendo 64
- Soul Calibur 1999 Sega Dreamcast
- Halo: Combat Evolved 2001 Xbox
Launch title listings
These launch title listings are for the US and Japanese launches of the respective consoles.
US launch: October 1977
US launch: November 1993
US launch: November 15, 2001
- Halo: Combat Evolved
- Dead or Alive 3
- 4x4 EVO 2
- AirForce Delta Storm
- Arctic Thunder
- Cel Damage
- Dark Summit
- Fuzion Frenzy
- Mad Dash Racing
- Madden NFL 2002
- NASCAR Heat 2002
- NASCAR Thunder 2002
- NFL Fever 2002
- NHL Hitz 20-02
- Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee
- Project Gotham Racing
- Shrek
- Test Drive Off Road — Wide Open
- Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2x
- TransWorld Surf
US launch: November 22, 2005
- Amped 3
- Call of Duty 2
- Condemned: Criminal Origins
- FIFA '06: Road to FIFA World Cup
- GUN
- Kameo: Elements of Power
- Madden NFL 06
- NBA 2K6
- NBA Live 06
- Need for Speed: Most Wanted
- NHL 2K6
- Perfect Dark Zero
- Peter Jackson's King Kong
- Project Gotham Racing 3
- Quake 4
- Ridge Racer 6
- Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006
- Tony Hawk's American Wasteland
Japanese launch: December 10, 2005
- Every Party
- FIFA '06: Road to FIFA World Cup
- Need for Speed: Most Wanted
- Perfect Dark Zero
- Ridge Racer 6
- Tetris: The Grandmaster Ace
- Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved
- Mutant Storm Reloaded
- Joust
- Gauntlet
- Hexic HD
- Bejeweled 2
- Bankshot Billiards 2
- Outpost Kaloki X
- Hardwood Backgammon
- Hardwood Hearts
US launch: October 18, 1985
- 10-Yard Fight
- Baseball
- Clu Clu Land
- Donkey Kong Jr. Math
- Duck Hunt
- Excitebike
- Golf
- Gyromite
- Hogan's Alley
- Ice Climber
- Kung Fu
- Mach Rider
- Pinball
- Stack-Up
- Super Mario Bros.
- Tennis
- Wild Gunman
- Wrecking Crew
Japanese launch: July 15, 1983
Japanese launch: November 21, 1990
US launch: September 19, 1996
Japanese launch: June 23, 1996
US launch: November 21, 2004
- Super Mario 64 DS
- Asphalt Urban GT
- The Urbz: Sims in the City
- Feel the Magic: XY/XX
- Madden NFL 2005
- Metroid Prime: Hunters - First Hunt (Demo)
Japanese launch: December 2, 2004
- Daigassō! Band Brothers
- Chokkan Hitofude
- Cool104 Joker & Setline
- Feel the Magic: XY/XX
- Kensyūi "Dokuta Tendo"
- Mahjong Taikai
- Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits
- Pokémon Dash
- Super Mario 64 DS
- The Urbz: Sims in the City
- WarioWare: Touched!
- Zoo Keeper
US launch: August 1989
Japanese launch: April 21, 1989
US launch: November, 1998
- Army Men Advance
- Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
- ChuChu Rocket!
- F-Zero: Maximum Velocity
- Fire Pro Wrestling
- GT Advance Championship Racing
- Iridion 3D
- Konami Krazy Racers
- Namco Museum
- Pinobee: Wings of Adventure
- Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure
- Rayman Advance
- Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2
- Super Dodge Ball Advance
- Super Mario Advance
- Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
US launch: November 18, 2001
- All-Star Baseball 2002
- Batman Vengeance
- Crazy Taxi
- Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2
- Disney's Tarzan Untamed
- Luigi's Mansion
- Madden NFL 2002
- NHL Hitz 20-02
- Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
- Super Monkey Ball
- Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
- Wave Race: Blue Storm
Japanese launch: September 14, 2001
US launch: Fall 2006
- Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors (tentative launch title)
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers (tentative launch title)
- The Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess
- Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
- Red Steel
- WarioWare: Smooth Moves
- Tony Hawk's DownHill Jam
- Call of Duty 3
- Wii Sports
- Exite Truck
- Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
- Rayman Raving Rabbids
- Trauma Center: Second Opinion
US launch: October 7th, 2003
US launch: September 9, 1999
- Airforce Delta
- Blue Stinger
- Expendable
- Flag to Flag
- House of the Dead 2
- Hydro Thunder
- Monaco Grand Prix
- Mortal Kombat Gold
- NFL 2K
- NFL Blitz 2000
- Pen Pen Tri-Icelon
- Power Stone
- Ready 2 Rumble Boxing
- Sonic Adventure
- Soul Calibur
- TNN Motorsports Hardcore Heat
- Tokyo Xtreme Racer
- TrickStyle
US launch: 1991
Japanese launch: October 6, 1990
Unknown
Japanese launch: October 29, 1988
US launch: November 1994
Japanese launch: December 1994
Unknown
US launch: October 15, 1992
- Sega Classics 4-in-1
- Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective (Volume 1)
- Sol-Feace
- Black Hole Assault
- Cobra Command
- Chuck Rock
- Make My Video: INXS
- Make My Video: Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch
- Night Trap
- Sewer Shark
Japanese launch: December 1, 1991
US launch: June 1986
Unknown
Japanese launch: October 20, 1985
Unknown
US launch: May 1995
Japanese launch: November 22, 1994
US launch: September 9, 1995
- Battle Arena Toshinden
- ESPN Extreme Games
- Kileak - The DNA Imperative
- NBA JAM Tournament Edition
- Raiden Project
- Rayman
- Ridge Racer
- Street Fighter:The Movie
- Twisted Metal
- Warhawk
- Power Serve 3D Tennis
- Total Eclipse Turbo
US launch: October 26, 2000
- SSX
- Dead or Alive 2: Hardcore
- Tekken Tag Tournament
- Armored Core 2
- Dynasty Warriors 2
- ESPN International Track & Field
- ESPN Winter X Games Snowboarding
- Eternal Ring
- Evergrace
- FantaVision
- Gungriffon Blaze
- Kessen
- Madden NFL 2001
- Midnight Club: Street Racing
- MotoGP
- NHL 2001
- Orphen: Scion of Sorcery
- Q-Ball: Billiards Master
- Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2
- Ridge Racer V
- Silent Scope
- Smuggler's Run
- Street Fighter EX3
- Summoner
- Swing Away Golf
- TimeSplitters
- Unreal Tournament
- Wild Wild Racing
- X-Squad
Japanese launch: March 4, 2000
- Metal Gear Acid
- Wipeout Pure
- Ape Escape: On the Loose
- Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower
- Spider-Man 2
- Dynasty Warriors
- Twisted Metal: Head-On
- Lumines
- Ridge Racer
- Tony Hawk's Underground 2: Remix
- Need for Speed Underground: Rivals
- NBA
- Gretzky NHL
Japanese launch: December 12, 2004
European launch: September 1, 2005