Video games have been in existence for over twenty years, but it has only been in the 21st century that online game rentals have begun. The first company to offer online game rentals is Gamefly.

Sean Spector and Jung Suh were two very frustrated gamers. Like most gamers they were fed up with late fees and the limited selection that was offered at video game rental locations. After searching around the internet and trying out different sore rental chains, they soon realized there was no company out there that offered a rental service to suit their gaming needs.

In 2002 they partnered up with Toby Lenk and Gamefly, the online gaming rental giant, was birthed. When Gamefly was created they had a set of beliefs that they felt needed to be fulfilled by their company. A few of these beliefs were that gamers needed to have a wide selection of old and new titles to choose from, affordable costs with different plans available, an opportunity to review games that they have played and an option to buy used games that they enjoyed. These beliefs set the basis for Gamefly and have been the root of its success ever since.

Gamefly offered gamers something that had never been available to them before. Instead of driving to your nearest rental store, you can wait for your game to arrive in the mail. Like Netflix, you set up your account online and add games to your queue. Based on what plan you have Gamefly will ship out the first game on your list, if that game isn't available they will ship you the second one and so on. Within a few days your game arrives and when you've finished playing just mail it back in the prepaid envelope.

The different subscription plans make it easy to choose more then one game at a time. For $22.95 a month you can have two titles out at a time. If you feel the need to take out more then two games, Gamefly offers plans that go up to 4 games at a time for only $36.95 a month. In order to get the higher plans, you must have an account in good standing with them for at least 60 days.

If you're looking for a place that offers multiple game system rentals, Gamefly is the place. As of now they currently rent PS2, PS3, Xbox, Xbox360, Gamecube, Nintendo DS, Gameboy Advance and PSP games. Some gamers have more then one gaming system in their home. Take me for example; I currently own an Xbox360, Playstation 2, Gamecube and Nintendo DS. If I'm subscribing to the two at a time plan, I can rent a Nintendo DS game for my travel leisure and a PS2 game for home.

Gamefly also offers their customers a rewards program, that contains discounts and Gamefly dollars that can be used towards buying any used game in their store. If a game is not yet available for purchase, hit the red button that says "buy alert" and you'll be the first one notified when the game does becomes available. With so much to offer it's no wonder why Gamefly has stayed at the top of online game rental companies.