The article ranks each decade of video games from the 1970s to the 2020s, weighing hardware, games, innovation, quality, fan opinion and lasting influence. It argues that early decades helped establish the medium but are less compelling than later ones, while the unfinished 2020s still have time to improve their standing.

The 1980s rank last, despite the arcade boom and the NES-era resurgence led by *Super Mario Bros.* after the North American video game crash. The 1970s place second-last: they launched commercial hits such as *Pong*, *Space Invaders* and *Asteroids*, but games were still relatively rudimentary. The article says the 2020s have produced excellent games and influential hardware, including the PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2, though market saturation and the decade’s incomplete record hold them back.