JasperMyst Powered by Friendship™ Member Sep 25, 2023 677 I've been reflecting on the impressive lineup of quality first-party games Nintendo has delivered over the past few years. It's truly remarkable. I don't want to diminish Sony or Microsoft's efforts, as their games, tailored for more powerful platforms, often demand significantly longer development times due to their focus on graphical fidelity and technical complexity. In contrast, Nintendo prioritizes fun and accessibility, which allows for a faster-paced release schedule. In 2024, Nintendo released an impressive 10 first-party titles on the Switch, though their quality varied. Sony, meanwhile, offered four first-party releases for the PS5: two new titles, Astro Bot and Helldivers II, alongside remasters of The Last of Us Part II and Until Dawn. Microsoft also delivered four first-party titles for Xbox Series X|S: all new releases, including Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, showcasing a focus on original IPs. Compiling data from previous years would be overwhelming, but the contrast in 2024 alone highlights the distinct approaches. If I were to compile all the previous years it would honestly be overwhelming but it's still crazy to see the difference. In your opinion, which console provides the best first-party experience, and why? Does it matter to you at all? Would love a discussion around this topic.  defaltoption Plug in a controller and enter the Konami code The Fallen Oct 27, 2017 12,279 Austin Its Nintendo, it'll always be Nintendo but Microsoft is having a killer couple years and on any other console it'd be talked about non stop but xbox sells like shit and its their own fault so..   OP OP JasperMyst Powered by Friendship™ Member Sep 25, 2023 677 defaltoption said: Its Nintendo, it'll always be Nintendo but Microsoft is having a killer couple years and on any other console it'd be talked about non stop. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Really hoping to see more of double fine! It's been too many years since Psychonauts 2. They better be cooking good.  Platy Member Oct 25, 2017 30,585 Brazil anyone not voting nintendo is insane but i am very impressed with microsoft's input recently! Sony .... is not having the best of their days with all the studios closing =P  JRedCX Member Nov 10, 2020 983 It's terms of quantity yeah it's Nintendo. I'm not interested in a lot of their game but they are pretty good. As far as Sony and Microsoft, you omitted a lot of games. For PS Stellar Blade, Rise Of The Ronin, Concord (It's dead but they still release it), Horizon Zero Dawn Remaster and Lego Horizon. For MS Age Of Mythology and Ara for example as well.  Captain_Vyse Member Jun 24, 2020 7,092 Easily Nintendo.   Hexa Saw the truth behind the copied door Member Oct 25, 2017 5,167 Even if your favorite franchise is from Sony or MS, you just have to give it to Nintendo due to the sheer volume of output and that output being consistently high quality.   Zool Member Oct 28, 2017 2,358 defaltoption said: Its Nintendo, it'll always be Nintendo but Microsoft is having a killer couple years and on any other console it'd be talked about non stop but xbox sells like shit and its their own fault so.. Click to expand... Click to shrink... This. MS is delivering but for the media it's too late…   Biosnake Member Oct 25, 2017 14,307 Where is the "None of the above" option   Jaded Alyx Editor-in-chief at SpecialCancel.com Verified Oct 25, 2017 39,730 I don't think there's a big publisher anywhere that puts out as many games per year as Nintendo usually does. And they are typically of high quality.   OP OP JasperMyst Powered by Friendship™ Member Sep 25, 2023 677 Biosnake said: Where is the "None of the above" option Click to expand... Click to shrink... Will do.   Soapbox Member Oct 28, 2017 33,110 Last year it was Microsoft. And South of Midnight might be the best First party game so far this year so it might be too little too late but the output is finally starting to show.   Burt Fight Sephiroth or end video games Member Oct 28, 2017 9,472 I'm looking at Nintendo Metacritics for 2024, 2022, 2021, and I don't get it   Renna Hazel Member Oct 27, 2017 13,021 Very very very easily Nintendo. I'd take them over the other two combined.   GalvoAg Member Oct 30, 2017 2,544 Dallas Nintendo for me and it's really not close, they're the only games I play on there system. Sony after that but they have been lackluster for me this gen, they do have some bangers but have been getting away from single player which I love from them.  Boopers Member Nov 1, 2020 4,062 Vermont usa Nintendo consistently delivers good products.   Salikawood Member Dec 26, 2024 1,245 Sony makes good games that I like when they decide to release one ! But Nintendo is so way more consistent that's it's kinda crazy  SupersonicHypertonic Member Apr 20, 2022 3,372 Nintendo without a thought. Occasionally another might put out a strong line up like Sony in 2024 but overall Nintendo is unmatched in consistently putting out a steady flow great games in aloside its all timers.   Renna Hazel Member Oct 27, 2017 13,021 Burt said: I'm looking at Nintendo Metacritics for 2024, 2022, 2021, and I don't get it Click to expand... Click to shrink... In 2022 Nintendo published Pokemon Arceus, Kirby FL, Xenoblade 3, Splatoon 3, Bayonetta 3, Pokemon S/V, Switch Sports, Mario Strikers, Fire Emblem Warriors. Plenty of those games scored over 80 on metacritic. I'd call it a really good year.   Modest_Modsoul Living the Dreams Member Oct 29, 2017 27,886 It helps if your first party projects doesn't developed with $200/300 million budget & took 6 to 7 years to make and still pulling high quality games/products.   DontHateTheBacon Unshakable Resolve Member Oct 27, 2017 14,134 No publisher, first party or otherwise makes as many great games as Nintendo does internally.   shintoki Member Oct 25, 2017 17,793 I think MS normally has a more interesting line up these days but its Nintendo still. Like Indiana, South of Midnight, Doom III, Flight Sim 2024, Avowed, and Expansions for their RTS all released in the past six months or very soon and I like the different genres. But I think Nintendo normally has the higher highs with their first party entries.   Angst Member Oct 27, 2017 4,148 If you asked me this during the PS4 era I would've said Sony honestly. If you asked me this during the late PS3 era I would've also said Sony. Now? It's Nintendo.  Platy Member Oct 25, 2017 30,585 Brazil JRedCX said: you omitted a lot of games. For PS Stellar Blade, Rise Of The Ronin Click to expand... Click to shrink... exclusive/money hating something is different from first party. Sony don't own the devs or the IP of stellar blade and rise of the ronin I THINK the Ara game is not developed/ip owned by a microsoft studio either.  JigglesBunny Prophet of Truth Avenger Oct 27, 2017 35,747 Chicago 1. Nintendo 2. Sony 3. A dead salmon 4. Microsoft Microsoft during the Xbox and Xbox 360 era? An absolute powerhouse. Microsoft since the Xbox One generation? We're lucky if we get one compelling first party title every other year. Though I don't know, I guess Bethesda and Activision titles count as first party titles now so that's not really fair to say. Feels like "cheating" to count them, but that's just because it's still all so new and absurd. I mean, they've got Doom. That's lapping whatever Sony and Nintendo put together this year or the next for me.  werezompire Zeboyd Games Verified Oct 26, 2017 14,825 I used to like a lot of Sony 1st party games. Now, not so much. In a better timeline, we'd have a new Tokyo Jungle, a Gravity Rush 3, Slitterhead would have had double the budget and would be praised as the brilliant game that is, the Wild Arms series would still be alive, and so on and so on. I do like Housemarque and the Spider-Man games are kind of fun. Astro Bot is overrated, but it's kind of fun. That's about it. As far as I'm concerned, Microsoft doesn't have any 1st party games. Not interested in the output of the studios they purchased and all their games are available on PC anyway. Nintendo is great.  nial Member Jan 25, 2025 694 JasperMyst said: In 2024, Nintendo released an impressive 10 first-party titles on the Switch, though their quality varied. Sony, meanwhile, offered four first-party releases for the PS5: two new titles, Astro Bot and Helldivers II, alongside remasters of The Last of Us Part II and Until Dawn. Click to expand... Click to shrink... What? And Rise of the Ronin, Stellar Blade, Lego Horizon Adventures, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, MLB The Show 24 and Concord (which was a big flop, but still counts)? And Until Dawn is a remake. Platy said: exclusive/money hating something is different from first party. Sony don't own the devs or the IP of stellar blade and rise of the ronin I THINK the Ara game is not developed/ip owned by a microsoft studio either. Click to expand... Click to shrink... They're the publishers. That's like saying that Bayonetta 3 here does not count: Renna Hazel said: In 2022 Nintendo published Pokemon Arceus, Kirby FL, Xenoblade 3, Splatoon 3, Bayonetta 3, Pokemon S/V, Switch Sports, Mario Strikers, Fire Emblem Warriors. Plenty of those games scored over 80 on metacritic. I'd call it a really good year. Click to expand... Click to shrink...   JRedCX Member Nov 10, 2020 983 Platy said: exclusive/money hating something is different from first party. Sony don't own the devs or the IP of stellar blade and rise of the ronin I THINK the Ara game is not developed/ip owned by a microsoft studio either. Click to expand... Click to shrink... They are games published by Sony and Microsoft... What are you talking about?   Justin Iacobellis Member Oct 27, 2017 2,333 United States Angst said: If you asked me this during the PS4 era I would've said Sony honestly. If you asked me this during the late PS3 era I would've also said Sony. Now? It's Nintendo. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Agreed. Sony's output has slid downhill with respect to quantity, especially if remakes/remasters are not your cup of tea. However, Nintendo has managed to keep the Switch exciting year-after-year, even as the hardware has increasingly shown its age.  nial Member Jan 25, 2025 694 Justin Iacobellis said: Agreed. Sony's output has slid downhill with respect to quantity, especially if remakes/remasters are not your cup of tea. However, Nintendo has managed to keep the Switch exciting year-after-year, even as the hardware has increasingly shown its age. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Kind of ironic as remasters and remakes do make up for a good chunk of Nintendo's output.   Bishop89 What Are Ya' Selling? Member Oct 25, 2017 42,184 Melbourne, Australia Sony easily. They might not make as many games as Nintendo but I vastly prefer there output.  Justin Iacobellis Member Oct 27, 2017 2,333 United States nial said: Kind of ironic as remasters and remakes do make up for a good chunk of Nintendo's output. Click to expand... Click to shrink... While still keeping their catalog fresh with brand-new and (in my opinion) quality games. The extent of ports to Switch, especially those lifted from Wii U, are outnumbered by the amount of Switch exclusives.  Platy Member Oct 25, 2017 30,585 Brazil JRedCX said: They are games published by Sony and Microsoft... What are you talking about? Click to expand... Click to shrink... nial said: They're the publishers. That's like saying that Bayonetta 3 here does not count: Click to expand... Click to shrink... So a game like fit boxing can be first party in a region and 3rd party in another? Sorry but this doesn't work for me. I don't think just publishing makes something first party, sorry  Kratos2098 Member Feb 18, 2022 2,680 If you want numbers then Nintendo but a lot of the stuff they put out is mid tier like Princess Peach or the sports titles that are half baked. I mean not that many people are out here buying Another Code or Endless Ocean. Sony may not put out the quantity but I find their games stay with me a lot longer because the quality is so high whether that be an Astro Bot, God of War, Spider-Man, Horizon etc. There's a reason why their games win far more GOTYs than Nintendo does   rokero One Winged Slayer Member Oct 28, 2017 415 Nintendo followed by Microsoft   Stormblessed Member Feb 21, 2019 1,491 Sony was cooking on ps4 but has fallen off. Nintendo is steady but only wows me every couple of years. Microsoft had my favorite last year(Indy) but has underwhelmed me this year. 3rd parties usually supply me with my favorite games.   TGB86 Member Jan 27, 2021 1,463 Easily Nintendo. But I do think the breadth and diversity of Microsoft's offerings are pretty impressive at this point (as you would hope, given how much they've invested in it). All three are pretty strong, really, but I find Sony's the least interesting.   Shaman Member Jan 18, 2024 3,405 Nintendo no doubt. Microsoft are starting to kill it recently Sony is doing alright but not their standard  mrmickfran The Fallen Oct 27, 2017 32,813 Gongaga Nintendo's the only one that I would buy a console solely for their games (And I did! The Wii U era was hell.) Sony has a few games that I like (Spider-Man, The Last of Us, Bloodborne) but against Nintendo it just doesn't compare. I could probably count the number of Microsoft games that I care about on one hand (Rare Replay, OG Ninja Gaiden 2, Hi-Fi Rush, Doom, Forza Horizon 5)  Mekanos ▲ Legend ▲ Member Oct 17, 2018 48,167 Nintendo is the main reason I play video games, so kind of an obvious choice for me.   JRedCX Member Nov 10, 2020 983 Platy said: So a game like fit boxing can be first party in a region and 3rd party in another? Sorry but this doesn't work for me. I don't think just publishing makes something first party, sorry Click to expand... Click to shrink... I didn't know that funding and publishing a game is not even consider one of their publisher's catalogue anymore. Crazy stuff /s   mrbogus Member Jul 14, 2019 3,435 These days its Sony for me. I can only take so many Mario and Zelda games. Sony offers more variety even if the output is sparse.   goflyakite Member Jul 21, 2023 1,416 Nintendo's quantity is impressive while still maintaining good quality, but basically every Switch exclusive I've played has underwhelmed me.   Killer Member Oct 27, 2017 2,862 Microsoft 1st party games kinda died with Xbox 360.   Neiteio Member Oct 25, 2017 26,641 mrbogus said: These days its Sony for me. I can only take so many Mario and Zelda games. Sony offers more variety even if the output is sparse. Click to expand... Click to shrink... This conveniently ignores that fact that Nintendo has like 10x the franchise variety, with series like Pokémon, Pikmin, Animal Crossing, Splatoon, Fire Emblem, Xenoblade, Kirby, DK, Metroid, etc.   Gamer @ Heart Member Oct 26, 2017 11,270 We are a year and a half into the MS acquisition spree FINALLY paying dividends because games take so long to make now. It's good eat'n, and the variety from genre and big/small great. Nintendo has been delivering for decades with only a few notably lean years in between. But obviously, their output covers a lot of IP and genre that it's rare it all aligns with one person's taste. Sony has been basically down to 1.7 games a year for the past 5 years. Unlike Nintendo, there aren't half a dozen smaller releases in between tent poles releases to fill in the gap There is clearly one 'winner' here in terms of output. For every Spiderman from sony or Bethesda release from MS, there are two releases like a new 3D Kirby or FE/Warriors from Nintendo and it's partners in between the big Zelda and Marios.  Creepy Woody Member Nov 11, 2017 2,766 Australia If you're asking right now, no contest, Nintendo.   Breadfan78 Member Dec 8, 2022 784 MS Nintendo 400 miles Then Sony I don't count 3rd party exclusives for Sony and they have nothing I'm interested in.  RobbRivers Member Jan 3, 2018 2,290 nial said: What? And Rise of the Ronin, Stellar Blade, Lego Horizon Adventures, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, MLB The Show 24 and Concord (which was a big flop, but still counts)? And Until Dawn is a remake. They're the publishers. That's like saying that Bayonetta 3 here does not count: Click to expand... Click to shrink... Are you sure Rise of Ronin suits like a full 1st party game? In console it is published by sony, but in pc by tecmo koei. Like death stranding, that finally was published on xbox and pc too by 505 games.  Foreign Jackass Member Oct 27, 2017 1,062 lol at the request for none of the above come on, now