Why is a group of four players the standard for the majority of games?

Question

Be it TTRPGs, board games or video games, a group of four players is the standard size.

DnD and adjacent systems balance their challenges around a party of four. Most boardgames come with four colours for players to choose from. Most video game consoles only can connect four controllers and most video games like Smash Bros and Mario Kart only have four slots? Why is that?

In: Other

Answer 1

My guess is it is a holdover from the arcades. 4 player cabs where crowded as heck, but you could just make it work if 1 or 2 of you where pretty small. Then consoles with more then 2 controller ports ( with an adapter *sold separately*) came and the geometry of the TV became the limiting factor, 4 way split, split it up any more then that and players either wont have an equal amount of screen space and/or no one will be able to see because the screen space they own is too small.