The Magnavox Odyssey² (called the Philips Odyssey² outside the U.S.) launched in 1978 and sits right in the heart of second-generation gaming, going head-to-head with the Atari 2600 and Intellivision. What made it stand out to collectors was the built-in keyboard, which gave it a weird but charming mix of arcade action and early “educational” games—something no other console at the time really nailed.
Powered by an Intel 8048, the Odyssey² is best remembered for cult favorites like KC Munchkin!, Pick Axe Pete, and Quest for the Rings. It never outsold Atari, but today it’s a solid piece of retro video game history, especially appreciated by collectors who like quirky hardware, unique cartridges, and under-the-radar classic consoles.