Crowdfunded gaming console Ouya will shut down for good on June 25th
Only games downloaded directly to console will be playable.
Ouya console
69
Engadget Review
The initial version of the OUYA shows promise, but it needs a lot of polish before the final retail release if it wants to impress gamers.
Tim StevensApril 03, 2013
Pros
- Low cost
- Small, efficient
- Easily hackable
Cons
- Controller has numerous flaws
- Very limited initial game selection
- No game pricing in store
View All Critic & User Reviews
Ouya console
- Critic Reviews (19)
- User Reviews (26)
- 61AVERAGE CRITIC SCORE19 ReviewsLaptop Magazine50OUYA Gaming Console ReviewThe Ouya Gaming Console lets you play Android games on your TV with an Xbox-like controller, but this Kickstarter-funded device needs work.Wired80Ouya Game ConsoleIf by Christmastime Ouya has gotten its act together and solved them, this machine will be an almost irresistible stocking-stuffer. Maybe just not for everybody.Joystiq70Ouya reviewOverall, I'm pleased with the Ouya. Its library of games isn't out to dethrone Call of Duty or Grand Theft Auto, but the simple, fine-tuned pleasures of games like TowerFall serve as a welcome complement to the cash-infused giants on other platforms.CNET60Ouya Game Console review: Huge disruptive potentiaDespite its low price and free-to-try system, the Ouya fails to reach its potential as a disruptive alternative platform.AllThingsD60Ouya Is a Compact Bundle of Fun, but Not a Be-AllUntil Ouya offers more both in terms in game and media, I think it will be a supplemental device for people who already own consoles. Or it may be a relatively inexpensive, cool-looking console for those who are really into in indie games.Ars TechnicaNot RatedOuya hardware impressions, aka Indie Game: The ConEven for those used to gaming on their PCs or Xbox 360s, Ouya brings a new gaming experience to the living room. Granted, it's a mostly smaller, independent experience, with some titles that are admittedly too casual to bother playing on a television screen.PC Mag40OuyaThe Ouya could be a great, inexpensive Android-based gaming system for everyone. Right now, though, it isn't even close.EngadgetNot RatedHands-on with the Ouya destined for store shelvesOur latest experience with the Android-based gaming device has us feeling optimistic. While there's certainly work left to be done, not the least of which is convincing consumers this is the console they need, it's obvious that the company is taking customer feedback seriously.Engadget70OUYA review (founding backer edition)The initial version of the OUYA shows promise, but it needs a lot of polish before the final retail release if it wants to impress gamers.WiredNot RatedKickstarted, $99 Game Console Ouya Will Launch JunThe interface is simple, just a menu of four words: Play, Discover, Make and Manage. The latter lets you adjust the system settings; the first is a list of the games you own. It’s in the middle two options where things get interesting.EngadgetNot RatedThe final OUYA retail console is ready, we go handThe promise of the console is far more appealing, and the time we've spent with the OUYA has us even more excited for its unknown future.CNETNot RatedConsole on the cheap, games on the free with $99 OI liked what I saw during my brief time with Ouya. The idea of an indie-focused device that nearly obliterates the barrier of entry for would-be console developers gets me excited as a gamer. Its low price, small size, and free-to-try model should appeal to families on a budget as well.AllThingsDNot RatedHands-On With Ouya, the Tiny Gaming Console With BLike the console itself, the Ouya user interface and storefront is pretty simple. From the main menu, you have four options: Play, Discover, Make and Manage.JoystiqNot RatedOuya: Joystiq goes hands onThe Ouya is positioning itself as a different kind of console, and the little box certainly has a lot of potential. Its curated approach to discovery could help the truly good games get the recognition they deserve.Consumer ReportsNot Rated$99 Ouya Android game system: Some shortcomings, bThe Ouya is a bit of letdown right now. In time, with added games and content like streaming video, plus some bug fixes, it could be a contender. In its current iteration I would recommend it only for those who are technically inclined.Kotaku60Ouya: The Kotaku ReviewThe system is a fascinating experiment and can be fun for those for whom $99 isn't much to plunk down for a lark or a risk. I'm not so sure that's who the Ouya was made for. Buyer beware, for now.Associated Press70Review: Ouya brings indie games to your TVIf you're a hardcore gamer, it won't replace your Xbox or PlayStation, but for $100 it's a worthy supplement.Mashable60OUYA: Fun for Hackers, But Not Ready for RetailThis is a key time for OUYA, and if it secures a stronger lineup of games and smooths out some hardware glitches, it may be ready for the mainstream. Right now, it's stuck in limbo as a fun toy for hackers or those who want to explore indie games.TechHive50Review: Ouya is the little gaming console that couThe $100 Ouya doesn't live up to its promise, but tech-savvy enthusiasts willing to deal with its quirks will have fun noodling around with it.Eurogamer60Ouya reviewDespite some irksome teething troubles, the console at least has the basic building blocks in place, and comes with a decent price point - now it just needs the robust developer support that was promised during that famous Kickstarter campaign last year.Penny Arcade70A cube with rough edges: PAR reviews the OUYA consThe OUYA is rough in some ways, and there are lazy-ass games on there, but it's definitely an adventure. I'm a fan.CBC60Ouya console a nice idea, but deeply flawedThere’s no doubt the console touches on several great ideas. ... As is, the device still has several big problems to overcome before it can start to shake things.T360Ouya reviewOn paper, Ouya is undeniably exciting - the scope of Android combined with a proper gaming interface and a super-low price point. However, a lack of quality games - not to mention an absence of AAA exclusives - makes the platform slightly less appealing.TechRadarNot RatedHands on: Ouya reviewThe console still feels pretty enigmatic. Like any video game system, it's going to live or die by its games, and we're still not sure what those will be. While we found the titles from our demo to be well adapted to the console and charmingly odd, none of them struck us as system sellers.VentureBeatNot RatedOuya looks pretty but lacks killer games so far (pWe got a good look at both the user interface for the console and its new games. The look and feel of Ouya is pretty on the big screen, but the company doesn’t have any killer games yet.IGNNot RatedOuya Android Game Console Hands-onBooting into an Ouya game takes just 3-5 seconds from the menu. All the titles looked great on the approximately 40’’ demo display. Perhaps best of all, every Ouya game must offer a free component, allowing gamers try out the title before being asked to pay up.TrustedReviews50Ouya reviewOuya is still a curio rather than a prime-time ready games console. It has bundles of potential, but only ardent fans and hobbyists need apply right now.Digital Trends60OUYA REVIEWThe Ouya is a device with a lot of potential built with love, but technical issues and a weak library that may not get better for a long time limit it.Android Police60Ouya Official Launch Version Review: No.The Ouya is light years away from being any kind of viable game console, even though it has improved in some places like UI lag and the controller. I really wanted it to be better, but it's not competitive even at $99. Do not buy this unless you are primarily interested in modding it.Destructoid60The Ouya is a nice idea ... at leastI'd urge all but the most curious to wait and see ... but I'd still suggest everybody keep an interested eye on it. I honestly want it to improve, and grow into an excellent, successful platform. It's just not there right now, and it has some ways to go.The InquirerNot RatedOuya hands-on reviewOverall, having had a brief play on the Ouya we're pretty impressed, with the device offering an enjoyable and disturbingly polished gaming experience.
- 69AVERAGE USER SCORE26 ReviewsEngadget Reader60May 27, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The Ouya was an interesting concept, but the lack of access to the Play Store, laggy controllers and lack of compelling titles leave little reason to buy it.Engadget Reader70February 26, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A dependable product that doesn't really stand out from the competition. - EngadgetEngadget Reader70December 6, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A dependable product that doesn't really stand out from the competition. - EngadgetEngadget Reader70November 25, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A dependable product that doesn't really stand out from the competition. - EngadgetNuAngel70August 20, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A dependable product that doesn't really stand out from the competition. - EngadgetEngadget Reader80August 1, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!If you're an early adopter and go in with the proper mindset you will be quite pleased. Think of this as a Beta console. The software and hardware issues can all be attributed to the infancy of OUYA and it is reasonable to have high expectations for software updates to repair many of the issues you read about online (wifi weakness, controller lag/connectivity issues, in-game force closings, etc). For $99 I am fully enjoying the OUYA thus far... again, this is not a ps3/xbox killer. But what it IS, is a fun, friend and family friendly console. When OUYA was just a concept and a budding Kickstarter campaign, it was clear from the founders that the intent was to bring gaming back to basics: simple, fun, multi-player games - and thus far OUYA has truly lived up to it's promise. Games like No-Brakes Valet and Ice Rage are unbelievably fun 2-player games that will pass the time quite pleasantly. I am also extremely pleased by the Emulators (GNES, MegaDrive) - both have worked brilliantly thanks to the ability to sideload Dropbox onto the console. If you just want to play the best Android games available - spend $50 on a Moga Pro and go play on your phone. If you want to play games with friends on the big screen and/or you love to tinker and try new things - spend $99 and get an OUYA. The future is promised to no one or no thing, but I love the vision for what lies ahead and like the current product quite a bit. I'm a fan!Engadget Reader70July 25, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!I was a Kickstarter backer of the Ouya. I thought that it would be a great device to play emulated games on. I had no device hooked up to my TV that could do this, so it seemed like an easy buy. It has met my expectations fully. NES, SNES, Sega, GBA etc etc all run well on the Ouya. There are notable exceptions to that rule though, like the N64 and PSone emulators. Those should be able to run on this hardware, but they are still buggy. I am confident that they will run smooth, but that has yet to happen. The OS menu system is OK for what it is. I can quickly get around and I am not lost. I was easily able to sideload APKs and root the Ouya making it more flexible to what I want it to do. Mainly to watch Netflix, sideload Google Service apps, etc. The dev community is working on making this much easier and seamless but they still have a ways to go. One issue that I found with sideloading apps was that uninstalling apps was confusing. It is not a part of the main UI of the interface. You have to go into the Android settings and find Apps to uninstall everything. It is one of those things that feels very unfinished or unpolished. Hell the settings still look exactly like stock Android.My other main gripe about the OS is that there is no way to see how much a game will actually cost until you download it and play it. This is extremely infuriating to me. The impetus of this was that the idea of Ouya was that you could play any game for free before buying it. It is unclear why those two ideas are joined at the hip like they are in the store. I want to know how much it will cost. Some developers have started to add the cost of the game into the general information about the app, but there is no consistency in the Store itself about how much they cost. They need to fix this.Otherwise, there aren't any games that I am itching to get home and play. I tend to stick to emulation because of the sheer amount of games out there in the world, but I'd still like some titles to tell people about. I feel there is one that got close, which is called Towerfall. That's really it. I got what I expected. The Ouya is rough around many edges, but with every passing update it gets more smooth in the OS and the games which I play. I expect it to keep getting better. That is, until they run out of money.Engadget Reader80July 16, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!There's a lot to like about this in spite of a few flaws. - Engadgetscottjl20July 12, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!Definitely not ready for prime time. Small store has a ported selection of the same games you already bought on other platforms. While you can side-load other applications more often than not they will not work properly with the controller. Horrible overscan problem to which the developers response is "adjust your TV". Top it all off, the unit is locked down that you can't easily replace the OS with something more useful like Linux. Easily bricked!Engadget Reader30July 10, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A poor product that's more likely to be frustrating than useful. - EngadgetEngadget Reader90July 9, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetEngadget Reader60July 8, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A forgettable product. It isn't bad, exactly, but also doesn't do anything particularly well. - EngadgetEngadget Reader60July 6, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A forgettable product. It isn't bad, exactly, but also doesn't do anything particularly well. - EngadgetEngadget Reader80July 5, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!There's a lot to like about this in spite of a few flaws. - EngadgetEngadget Reader80July 5, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!There's a lot to like about this in spite of a few flaws. - EngadgetEngadget Reader50July 5, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A disappointing product with a lot of problems. - EngadgetEngadget Reader90July 4, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!Set your expectation on spending a fraction of the cost of a big name console and ~$2.99 per game and you'll be completely satisfied with this device. If you're expecting to spend $100 on the console and another $3 on a game with the result being an Xbox or PS3 killer you're insane. :)There are a number of titles available already that have fantastic game play, graphics and sound. Couldn't be happier with this device and its potential.Engadget Reader40July 1, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A poor product that's more likely to be frustrating than useful. - EngadgetEngadget Reader90June 28, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!Ouya has a number of launch issues, and many of the most promising titles are not yet available. The great UI has some rough edges, and some documentation is not as clear as it should be. Nevertheless, this is a console by developers for developers. The ability to sideload and create custom content means OUYA has the potential to change the face of indie gaming and game-as-art. If you are looking for a mainstream powerhouse, this is not the console for you.Engadget Reader70June 28, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!It's not what I had hoped for, but it's pretty much what I expected. The Ouya is a great little machine, as long as you put it in the right perspective. When I backed this project, I hoped I'd be receiving a magical device that would allow me to pack up my PS3 and Xbox and permanently move my laptop to its bag instead of its perch next to the TV. I hoped the controllers would instantly transport me back in time to when I could actually beat a Mega Man game without dying 500 times (per level). I hoped that I would be able to install and enjoy the vast quantity of android apps in the Amazon app store and on Google Play without repurchasing ANYTHING.HOWEVER:I expected to get an android device with a locked interface that is a little more powerful than a smartphone that is easy to install in my living room, and a couple Bluetooth controllers of unknown quality and usefulness. That is what I received; no more, no less.When I first powered the device up (in early June), I was taken aback at how few applications were available, and how most of the decent ones were emulators. A couple of the kid's games were good enough to keep around for my 4-year old, and the Bard's Tale demo was surprisingly good; if I didn't already own that game (twice), I might have purchased it.I tried out several emulators, and they worked quite well with the 'non-commercial' roms I tried on it. One can assume they would work just as well with anything else one might choose to load on their SD card.Controllers:The design is good, and fits well in my hand. I thought the D-pad was better than many, and the sticks performed pretty well. As far as I could tell I didn't experience any input lag on the physical controls.The touchpad is utter garbage. I only used it when I absolutely had to, because it is slow, unresponsive and inaccurate. I hope this is a driver issue.Hardware quality:I received two controllers. One works very well; no lag, buttons all work. The other is erratic, and frequently causes input to be stuck on one of the sticks. I'll be trying to get it replaced shortly; I may be writing a review on their customer service department in a couple weeks.Other features:When I finished with the games, I admit I was pretty disappointed. I was expecting much more out of this machine; I can only hope it improves with developer support and time. I moved on to its 'undocumented features'.They do NOT make it easy to install your own things on the Ouya. It's not quite as bad as an iphone, but it certainly isn't as easy as it ought to be. I had to install a file explorer app through the built-in web browser, and I downloaded all the .apk files for apps I wanted onto a usb drive before attempting to install anything else; having to navigate the web is a real pain.I finally got the Humble Bundle app, Amazon Appstore and XBMC installed. I was quite disappointed with most of the games I tried to play that weren't built for the Ouya; if it doesn't have controller support built in, it plays terribly. XBMC was great. I have the Ouya connected via ethernet and I was able to directly access full quality 1080p mkv and anything else I tried via SMB without stutter or artificing. Unfortunately, as of this writing I have not procured anything that allows me to control the ouya through my home theatre remote. It's likely something will be available if it isn't already, but right now you're stuck with the ouya controller.Conclusion:Like every other Android device I've owned, you can either choose to live with the way it comes configured, or you can root it and change things. Right out of the box, the Ouya is a mediocre console with zero media capability. I can't recommend it to anyone who isn't a tinkerer. I haven't rooted mine yet since that disables the Ouya market, but right now I don't really see that being inconvenient.At $99, I still think the Ouya is a good buy for the techie, but it definitely needs a lot of work before I'd buy one for someone else.Engadget Reader70June 28, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The OUYA is a weird one, design wise it's flawless, it's one of the nicest and smallest devices I've ever used. The controller is also pretty cool, it's fairly basic but works perfectly well, some of the buttons feel a little cheap though, for example the four main O-U-Y-A buttons, I feel their a little to clicky but really it's down to personal preference. It also has a touch pad in the centre, which unfortunately is a little too small really to be useful and is utilised in very few games. The triggers also feel a little too resistant and a little too large but once again this is probably just down to personal taste.Now moving onto the system software. Once again OUYA have gone for a very minimal design, on the main menu you are presented with four options: PLAY, DISCOVER, MAKE and MANAGE, all fairly self explanatory. Play is where you launch downloaded games, Discover is OUYA's storefront, Make is the developer section and Manage is just the settings menu. The software itself works fine, it has some slight issues but nothing really to noticeable, an example of one of these would be that the cost of in-app-purchases isn't shown in the OUYA store, as all games have to be 'free to try' this can be an issue, I'td be nice to know the full price of a game before downloading what is essentially its trial if that makes sense, this will likely be changed in future updates.OUYA's main problem though is the games, or it's lack of them. As of today OUYA has 196 games and apps available to download, though this is a large amount only a small fraction of them are really any good. This may be a little harsh as I haven't had a chance to play all of them but from what I have I tend they've all been fairly generic and just not very good. Obviously over time this will change as more and more developers support the console, if and when this happens OUYA could really become something special, unfortunately though right now this isn't the case, OUYA is really lacking it's 'killer app'. I'm sure overtime this will change, the console will gain more dev support and system updates will make the whole OUYA experience a whole lot more enjoyable. I don't hate my OUYA, I'm just struggling to love it in the ways that others do. If you plan on buying one as a media centre then this system is perfect for you, if you want one as a games console though it may be worth holding out for a while longer.The OUYA has the potential to be something great, it's just not quite there yet.Engadget Reader60June 28, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!Overall, there is a lot of potential here. The hardware for the most part is pretty good and I imagine the software will get there over the next few months. I think this will be really interesting for the DIY community and I would love to see what college kids in CS classes put out for this. I can see it really finding a home in teaching classrooms. At this point it just needs to bake more. Six months from now and we may have something really cool.Engadget Reader60June 28, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!I had pretty mixed feeling on this from when I first backed the kickstarter project. After experiencing a bad bout of buyers remorse I cancelled my pre-order. As the campaign drew to a close I saw a lot more positives and figured that, worst case, I could run XBMC and NES/SNES emulators on it. I backed them again.Sadly, here we are a year later and I've only now just received my Ouya on the same day as the retail launch. But putting that aside, how does it actually do as a gaming system?It's not great. While there are some promising ports and original titles, they are plagued with glitches, input lag and even the occasional crash. I assume that will improve over time, assuming developers get enough love to bother targeting the Ouya.So then, that takes me back to my worst case: XBMC and Emulators.Back in the day I was pretty good at Super Mario though I had never managed to play all the way to the end. I was looking forward to playing it on the Ouya and, more importantly introducing my kids to it. However, the experience was disappointing at best. Between input lag and the crappy controller I had a difficult time finishing 1-1. Playing through 1-2 was worse. I handed the controller to my six year old and he handed it right back.It was the same with each of the other emu games I tried. So, as a gaming platform it's a complete fail. As I mentioned above it could still improve if developers see the revenue coming in and work hard to fix the issues (assuming the input lag is a software issue and is fixable) and bring some great games to it but for now it's simply not an enjoyable experience. I don't know if they can fix the controllers. I haven't tried pairing my PS3 controllers with it but hopefully that will work well.That leaves XBMC. Given how hardcore the developers on XBMC are, I expect to see good support for the Ouya as long as Ouya stays in business long enough to put enough devices out there for it it be worth supporting.Engadget Reader90June 14, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetIgnoreThis90June 12, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!At this stage in its release Ouya is doing a great job. This is the ultimate indie game console. The games are all free to try. I am having the most fun with the emulators. You can load ROMs using a USB thumb drive and play all your favorite SNES, NES and Game Boy games. The N64 emulator is a bit rough but it was fun to experiment with and is still under development. If Android games are more your style then there is a large and rapidly growing selection to choose from. My controller is late beta version and I have not had any sticky buttons problems so it seems that they have licked that bug. Don't expect a PS4 type experience but if you love to try out new things then add this cute little Android cube to your home entertainment center.Engadget Reader90April 9, 2013Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - Engadget
Key Specs
GAME FORMAT
Downloadable
DRIVE CAPACITY
81
CONTROLLER TYPE
Wireless
VIDEO OUTPUTS
HDMI
BACKWARD COMPATIBLE
No
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