The Switch has officially become the 2nd bestselling console of all time, only slightly behind the PS2 in sales.

With that in mind, it's natural to have the discussion on which of these two extremely popular consoles left a bigger legacy and which one was overall better all time in terms of experience. Both systems were extremely popular for the same reason of being more appealing to most people than any other console. Which do you think is better all time?

Here's the case for both systems being ranked higher or lower:

For the PS2, it's hard to name any flaws with this system. It had one of the greatest console libraries in history and legit had a monopoly on the entire video game industry at the time. If you were a gamer in the early to mid 2000s, it was almost a complete must to have a PS2. It had all the biggest 3rd party games and many of them exclusive since even 3rd party developers felt no choice but to make games exclusive to the most popular console out there. So there was absolutely no shortage of games to play on the system.

You could argue the same about other PS consoles being this dominant when it came to game library, but even other PS consoles had other drawbacks that kept it from being perfect. PS1 had a stellar library, but realistically alot of those early 3D games don't age very well 30 years later to have as big of an impact or impression. Many franchises you could argue primarily hit their stride on PS2 like the big 3 GTA games, which really exploded the series and made the PS2 much more iconic than PS1 alone. When it comes to PS3, I think PS3 actually had better 1st party offerings from Sony especially during 2nd half of PS3 gen but 3rd party multiplats struggled in performance early on, and plus didn't have as long of a game lifespan as PS2 where it was quickly replaced by PS4. Plus with Xbox becoming a more dominant force when it came to 3rd party developers with the 360, PS lost alot of the exclusivity advantage they had with PS2. 

So based on that, I think generally speaking amongst the PS consoles, and likely all consoles in general, PS2 had the best library in history, hard for any console to beat that. People still talk about the PS2 heavily to this day, very iconic system all around with such amazing games.

The PS2 was also relatively durable as a console, it's design even 26 years after it released still ages so well to this day. And the proposition as a DVD player for a similiar price as a standalone DVD player was quite appealing and added alot of value to the system

In terms of flaws with the system, like I said it's hard to name them since this console had a near perfect run. But to mention some small flaws, the PS2 at the time was the most underpowered system that gen between the big 3. While the gap wasn't really big at all, for some graphic enthusiasts who may have been used to playing multiplats on the more powerful Xbox might have been disappointed at some of the graphics downgrade you'd see on some PS2 games, where some could even argue that you were playing the inferior version of multiplats compared to what was seen on Xbox. However, as shown throughout gaming history, graphical performance doesn't really matter much to gamers, as very rarely the most powerful console wins a generation, so I don't see this as a major flaw especially when the PS2 wasn't that much more underpowered compared to Gamecube & Xbox.

Also growing up as a Nintendo kid who primarily grew up on Gamecube, it also confused me why the PS2 only included 2 controller ports instead of 4 like what the Gamecube, Xbox, Dreamcast, and even the previous gen N64 had. I get it was to likely cut costs and didn't see the time & money as worth it for a feature that they didn't view as widely used enough, but I think this did limit the system a bit as a party system since developers weren't as incentivized to make 4 player games since not a big enough install based owned the 4 player adapter, which in my opinion did limit the system as a party system compared to its counterparts like with Gamecube and Xbox, but again this didn't turn many gamers off either since to be fair, most gamers typically don't play games with 2 or more players most of the time.

There could also be the argument against the PS2 is that while it was successful, it didn't really bring a ton of innovations. Primarily all it was like the name suggests was the direct successor to the PS1. Primarily same way to play games with a near identical controller to PS1, just more powerful. There was the Eye Toy, but not many people were interested in it and didn't leave a major mark in the gaming industry. The PS2 primarily wowed people when it comes to the scope of games on better hardware on PS2, but not many innovations hardware wise, which can be looked at as a flaw for some people. Xbox in my opinion was a bit more innovated when it came to online gaming. Even Gamecube with the Gameboy Player added alot of value innovation wise.

But in general I don't think it any of these flaws are close to offset how great and complete the console was library wise, so it remains a S tier console and could easily be argued as better than Switch 1 still.

In terms of the case for Switch 1:

The Switch 1 is also a very amazing a revolutionary system, and it's also hard to name many flaws with the system. However, I think while the Switch 1 has higher highs than PS2, it also has lower lows which makes the comparision difficult in some ways.

In terms of the positives, Switch 1 library at least from an objective stat/numbers level has the most 1st party Nintendo games out of any Nintendo system, and easily the most 1st party exclusives out of any system in history. And considering how many of these Nintendo games are high quality releases, it's safe to say that the best exclusive game library in history in on Switch and may not even be close, which adds so much value to the system. There are so many quality Nintendo games to choose from, and a good variety of genres and tastes, we have games suited for handheld play like Link's Awakening but also games that are more console-like like BOTW or TOTK. You have so many amazing games like BOTW, Mario Odyssey, Smash Ultimate, Mario Maker, Metroid Dread, Animal Crossing, MK8 DX, Kirby Forgotten Land, Splatoon 2 & 3, Luigi's Mansion 3, Prime 4, Pokemon games first time on consoles, Xenoblade, and so many more. It's easy to argue the Switch as having the best Nintendo library of all time.

Also, combining one of the best libraries every on a hybrid console you can play on TV and on the go is such an amazing feature that will always be timeless. So many people love to convinience of playing the same console like game on the TV on the go as well, it adds so much value and convience for a console at only 300$. Definitely wins as one of the most innovative consoles ever.

Even the 3rd party support for Switch was one of the best every for every Nintendo system, we saw plenty of major ports from PS4/Xbox come over to the Switch, and unlike previous Nintendo systems, playing 3rd party games on the Switch brings a ton of value now since you can play the same PS4 games on the go, which the other consoles couldn't offer. We saw many games that had no business running on a 2015 tech handheld coming over. Many 7th gen ports, a good deal of 8th gen ports, and many franchises for the first time making an appearance on a Nintendo console, making the Switch appealing to more than just Nintendo fans.

Hardware wise the system was relatively durable outside of joy con drift, had a nice sleek design, and the detachable joy con controllers were also a very innovative feature that makes it the first console since the 1991 SNES to come with 2 controllers out of the box.

However, the console definitely has some flaws despite how great it is.

One of the biggest ones being the joy cons. Of course joy con drift was a pretty prevalent issue, but even the joy cons themselves for the most part weren't very comfortable controllers as a primary one, which made many feel the need to shell out an extra 70$ just to get a more tolerable pro controller.

However, I think the biggest critique of all that many complained about for years were the weaker specs of the Switch. While the Switch was always underpowered compared to it's competitors, I'll say it was at least tolerable for most people from like 2017-2021, but as the Switch grew older the effects of that started to feel much more noticable. The Switch throughout it's life missed out on a good amount of current gen 3rd party games cause it was just too underpowered to handle it, and even some the ones that did come over ran so much more poorly that it would've just been better off not bringing the game to Switch at all like Mortal Kombat 1 or even Apex Legends, there were still definitley some great 3rd party ports that came over like Doom, but still the Switch had some left to be desired and would've been better with stronger hardware to get more of those games and better performing games.

Even with Nintendo games, fans wished for more powerful hardware to have these great games utilize their full potential. However, for most Switch owners I would say it wasn't a major issue since many were just happy with the hybrid concept and library to care much about performance, but still a flaw that should be mentioned.

Also, there's some people who believe that the Switch's 1st party library while big, was a bit too port-dependent with Wii U ports and not as many original experiences, which I also think should be considered as well. As a good amount of times during Switch gen Nintendo just settled for Wii U enhanced ports to fill out the game schedule.

I think the game prices were also a bit too pricey at times. Unlike previous Nintendo systems, Nintendo games very rarely went on sale and we have games still nearly a decade old like MK8DX and BOTW at 60$, or even games lacking in content like Mario Sports games at 60$, I think this also can be looked at as a flaw, a pretty expensive system in general game wise.

Also, the UI is very souless.

But in general, it's hard to beat the Switch 1 with its stellar library and innovative hybrid concept.

So what do you guys think is ranked higher all time? 

Personally, I wouldn't even put the PS2 in the top 5 of all time best consoles, I thought the Xbox was the better console that gen and that both PS1 and PS3 were superior.

It's not a bad system by any stretch of the imagination, it just never really wowed me.

Switch is my #2 of all time, I still think the SNES is better. 

The PlayStation 2 obviously has the greater legacy because it came out earlier. The switch is obviously the superior console because it came out later. This logic of course only applies because of the comparable total sales of hardware and games and huge mass market appeal. An early console flop does not necessarily have a greater legacy and a modern console flop does not necessarily have a superior experience.

Neither. For me, that's going to be either NES or SNES.

Playstation 2 is my 4th favorite Sony console (I didn't own the PS1) It was fine, I didn't use it much compared to later Sony consoles. The Switch is no SNES or N64 to me, but I have it higher than the PS2 in my rankings.

I dunno. I go back and forth all the time. They’re 1a and 1b to me.

For me personally it's Switch 1, it's my favorite console of all time. But I am naturally more biased towards Nintendo games in general.

When it comes to an objective level it's harder for me. I think the PS2 probably was the more consistently complete system but I think the Switch hit higher peaks than PS2 but definitely had lower lows than PS2.

I think Switch peaked higher than PS2 when it comes to quality exclusive 1st party library and innovation with its hybrid concept. But had a lower lows than PS2 did by missing out on some key 3rd party games, underpowered hardware, and the joy cons not being very good controllers.

I think as of right now the general public will still pick PS2 just cause the nostalgia glasses are on for that console right now, but I'm sure in 20 years people will look back at Switch 1 just as fondly.

So from an objective level it's hard for me to pick an answer for Switch v PS2

Well, in the end, the console's games is what really matters, am I right? So just for that, I voted for the Switch. The PS2 has a huge library of games that I don't care about, so I would never consider it as a top-tier video game console for me

You made this question a bit prematurely!

Whenever something like this comes up I always just think of scenario of "If I'm stuck alone on a island which console would I want between X and Y (and assuming you can use it for all the system's features)"

Personally I'd rather have the PS2. It's library of games is just vase and diverse that you have such a variety of excellent games to choose from. Give me GTA, MGS, FF, GoW etc... Throw in PS1 games cause of backwards compatibility then it's even more solid. And since I'm stuck on the island then it's nice that the PS2 is also a DVD player as well. With all of that, I can see myself being glued to the PS2. The Switch however, has an impressive library and some great classics online but there just wasn't enough that would make me want to stay stuck to it. If Switch had actual streaming apps that's not Youtube then that would be something to consider.