Ready to Buy a Game Console for Your Kids? Consult This Cheat Sheet

From the beginner to the serious gamer, there’s a console for everyone — here's how to choose.

November 02, 2021

By: Amanda Mushro

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Photo By: 10'000 Hours

Here's Our Gaming Cheat Sheet For Parents

If your kids are ready to enter the world of gaming or you're looking for a game console that has games for everyone in your family, you’ll quickly learn that things look a lot different than when you were a kid playing video games. With so many gaming consoles to choose from, it can be confusing and overwhelming to find the system that works for you and your gamers. So before you choose, check out our parents guide. Consider this the parents' cheat sheet to the best gaming consoles for you and your family.

Best for Younger Kids: Nintendo Switch

This system is a great option for families with young kids because it offers a variety of games for younger players and the controllers are easy to maneuver. Plus, many of the games have multiple players so everyone can have a turn. It also offers plenty of portability since the Switch works both as a stationary console that plugs into your TV and a portable gaming device. So your kids can take their Switch with them to another room in the house, in the car, or when they are on-the-go. With tons of family-friendly games, you’ll be able to have a family game night with your kids and with plenty of more advanced games, older kids have gaming options to choose from as well.

BUY IT: Amazon, $264.99

Best for Teens and Adults: XBox One X

For the tweens, teens, and adults who are serious gamers, XBox is a great gaming choice. Games are played in full HD and 4k so they always look amazing. Many of the older XBox games are compatible with this system. So if you have a library of XBox games already, they will work with this new system. Also, the XBox can be used as a streaming device when you aren’t gaming and you’ll be able to download and streaming service from the XBox. With access to the internet, you can easily purchase and play more games. This also means you’ll need to keep an eye on what your kids are playing because many of the games are mature and have content not appropriate for all ages.

BUY IT: Amazon, $496.95

Best for Serious Gamers: PS4 Sony Playstation

The PS4 is made for serious gamers and is known for having a wide variety of games. Like the XBox, you get apps for streaming videos, such as Netflix and Amazon Video, but experts agree this console is made for gaming more than entertainment. Another cool feature is the Playstation has a range of "PlayLink" games you can play on your phone so up to six people can play together without buying tons of controllers. You can even access older games and add them to your library by accessing the digital store. There are parental settings and controls you can add to the system If you are looking for a system that is kid-friendly, this one might not be a good option right now since it is geared to older players.

BUY IT: Amazon, $462.75

Best for Something New and Different: Oculus Virtual Reality

While the Oculus is a different type of gaming system, this virtual reality game console is just as fun as it is unique. With a variety of VR games to choose from, everyone will find something that will entertain them. The games are fully immersive and give players a completely different gaming experience. One downside is that only one person can play at a time but if connected to the app, you can see what the player sees inside the headset.

BUY IT: Amazon, $399.00

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