PlayStation 1

PlayStation 1 revolutionized gaming in 1994 by abandoning cartridges for CD-ROM technology, courting third-party developers to build a library of over 7,000 titles, including genre-defining hits like Final Fantasy VII and Metal Gear Solid. Selling over 102 million units, it outperforms #2 Super Nintendo by 53 million units, thanks to its ability to store 650 MB per disc—650% more data than typical cartridges of the era. This shift not only brought cinematic storytelling but also reshaped demographics, attracting adult gamers previously ignored by rivals.