Most popular game systems

If you're not attached to physical media, Microsoft also sell a digital only Xbox One S. It doesn't have a disc drive, but it's even cheaper than the normal model.

Otherwise, consider classic or used consoles. Most cities have small, local game stores where you can often find deeply discounted — albeit used — consoles and games. You can also save a ton by buying used accessories. Most of the time, the people running these stores are avid gamers as well and can give you recommendations and keep you notified of upcoming releases, sales and in-store events.

Gaming consoles are designed primarily for adults, as they can advertise mature games with scary or inappropriate content. Additionally, their interfaces can be rather utilitarian, making them hard for young children to use. Also, if you save your credit card information on the system for game purchases, it may be easy for your child to buy games without your permission.

But knowledge of this, along with adjusting the parental controls on your console, makes any game console infinitely more kid-friendly. A handful of games on the Xbox and PlayStation are great for kids, but again, neither console is really geared toward children.

Nintendo is the obvious choice for family-friendly gaming. The Nintendo Switch also has a ton of exclusive and indie titles available that kids should enjoy. The Switch supports both solo and multiplayer gaming on its small screen, and you can choose to play it on your TV or handheld on the go. With their small designs and simple interfaces, the Nintendo consoles are great options for younger kids. Gaming consoles are obviously a luxury, but they are rapidly becoming the center of living rooms and entertainment centers, since they combine gaming, listening to music, watching videos, chatting with friends, browsing the web, livestreaming, shopping and more.

Consoles are a fantastic way to combine all of your digital entertainment into a single place. Consider your gaming habits, title preferences past, present and future along with your budget to ensure you find the perfect console for your needs.

For most gamers, a functional console, a comfortable place to sit and a steady supply of new games is all they need. Other gamers, however, have discovered that they want more, like a community built around gaming — a place where video game lovers can come together to share strategies alongside tales of victory and failure, and maybe even some laughs along the way. Luckily, such a place exists: the internet.

Gamers around the world share videos with friends and fans alike on websites such as YouTube and Twitch. Here you can find live streams of your favorite gamers playing the latest AAA and indie titles, or even watch e-sports competitions.

There are also millions of other popular gaming-related videos, including strategies, gaming news, rage quits, walkthroughs, fail compilations, achievements, tips, game reviews and more. Individual games and gamers alike have garnered cult followings online.

They exist for bigger topics, like for certain console or game studios, as well as for more precise interests, such as a particular game franchise or character.

Even offline, much like the comic book and general geek communities, the video game community boasts multiple annual conventions. The community in general has generated as much merchandise, cosplay, meetups, fanfiction, movies, internet shows, and music as other mediums do. A huge factor in what console you should buy is the kind of TV you have. The thing is if your TV isn't 4K you're not going to get the full effect of the improvements these new models offer. If you're planning to wait a few years before you upgrade to 4K, then getting the Xbox One X or PS4 Pro just isn't worth the extra money.

There's no use in getting a video game console if it doesn't have decent games to play. The Xbox One and the PS4 have very similar libraries, so it comes down to which system has the better exclusives. Exclusives are games that only come out for one particular console. For example, you'll always see games like Call of Duty come out on both Xbox and PlayStation, but you'll only ever see Halo on the Xbox.

There are also some games that may have limited-exclusivity to a particular console or limited-exclusivity for downloadable content. The Nintendo Switch is in another bracket entirely when it comes to its library. A lot of the games that are available for it are titles that were originally released for other consoles. Usually, they don't have as good graphics because the Switch isn't as powerful as Microsoft and Sony's systems.

However, Nintendo produces some of the best system-exclusive games, so if you're a huge Mario, Zelda, or Metroid fan, the Switch is the only console where you'll find those. You can do more than just play games on a console. These robust devices can provide a whole suite of functions to make them an all-in-one entertainment device.

Sony and Microsoft's consoles are also equipped with Blu-ray drives that will allow you to watch standard Blu-ray movies. If you're looking for something a little more cutting edge when it comes to media playback, you'll want to get an Xbox One S or Xbox One X.

Both of these consoles have 4K Blu-ray players built in, which will allow you to watch movies in stunning quality. The Nintendo Switch, unfortunately, doesn't have much in the way of non-gaming activities. The Switch also lacks an optical drive, so there's no watching your Blu-rays or DVDs with that console.

In days past, each video game console had its own architecture. This means that each one was designed from the ground up with custom sets of instructions that did not work with any other machines. That's all changed in the latest console generation. They use the same x CPU instruction set that your Windows, Linux, or Mac computer does, and that makes it easier for game developers to get their products to run on PC and console. The Nintendo Switch is a bit different. It uses the ARM instruction set, which is the same as the one your phone or streaming box is designed around.

It's not too hard for developers to port a game from x86 to ARM, but because the Switch is a bit different, you'll likely see some games come out for it a little later than they did on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Buying a video game console is a significant purchase, so it's good to have an idea of when it'll be obsolete. Consoles, unfortunately, aren't like toaster ovens. As the years pass, technology improves and becomes cheaper, and eventually, your console will become outdated.

Many systems on the market right now are considered to be part of the ninth generation of video game consoles. Best for Affordable Gaming:. The relatively affordable Series supports p gaming and can tackle all the games as the more chunky Series X can without breaking the bank. Best Handheld:. A cheaper, more portable option for gamers who want to experience all the best Nintendo titles on a budget. Best Streaming Platform:. Best Re-Release:. Resurrects the glorious gaming era of the s.

Best Versatility:. Amazon's platform in the gaming streaming world comes at an affordable price with great performance. Our Picks. About Our Trusted Experts. What to Look for in a Gaming Console. Best Games: Sony PlayStation 5. Sony PlayStation 5 Review. Best for Mobility: Nintendo Switch. Nintendo Switch Review. Xbox Series X Review. Xbox Series S Review. Best Handheld: Nintendo Switch Lite. Nintendo Switch Lite Review. Best Streaming Platform: Google Stadia.

Google Stadia Review. What We Don't Like Difficult to find in stock. Best Versatility: Amazon Luna. View On Amazon. Amazon Luna Review. The 9 Best Android Phones of Final Verdict The best handheld gaming console to buy is the Nintendo Switch. Do you need a stable internet connection to use these consoles? Can you upgrade your consoles? Why can't you find a Playstation 5 or Xbox Series X anywhere?

Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Email Address Sign up There was an error. Please try again. With stock issues continuing to plague both new console lines, even used PlayStation 4 and Xbox One last-generation consoles are selling for high prices on online auction sites like eBay. The easiest console to find right now is also the most popular.

Sticking with one brand means that they can still play the games they already have and connect with the same friends online. If you see one of those consoles available with no price gouging, be ready to jump on it. With the PlayStation and Xbox platforms offering similar graphics capabilities at least on paper at similar prices, the reasons to choose a PlayStation over an Xbox revolve mostly around which games you want to play and how you want to play them.

The rest of the features and hardware are the same as in the other version. You can still expect the successful exclusives to get sequels on the PlayStation 5 first, but few are available so far, and in , most of them will still appear on the PlayStation 4, as well. Both new console platforms will get some of the same major titles, as well, including installments from franchises such as Call of Duty, Destiny, and Madden. If you plan on playing online games, get the console your friends have.

In addition to online play, PS Plus members with a PlayStation 5 console get access to a collection of 18 games —including some major titles.

Most notably, Microsoft releases all the Xbox games it makes or funds to Game Pass players the day those games launch, including big titles like Forza Horizon 5 , Halo Infinite , and the upcoming Starfield. But to do so, you need to use all the same accessories—including the camera, which needs a special adapter to connect to the PS5 —from your PS4. Both Sony and Microsoft have made their new consoles backward-compatible with some exceptions , so when it comes to your buying decision, the difference lies in what older games you own and what older games you want to play.