The next generation of console gaming arrives at the end of this year, when the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X hit stores. Expect them to be the classic impossible-to-get holiday gift, arriving in small quantities and marked up by online resellers.
As exciting as those consoles look, however, the current gaming landscape is arguably stronger than ever. The Switch, which debuted in March 2017, is Nintendo’s biggest hit since the Wii, with its unique ability to let you play games on your TV or on the go. And anyone who buys games for the PS4 or Xbox One can be secure in knowing they’ll work on the PS5 or Xbox Series X (respectively) going forward.
Make no mistake, you don’t need a dedicated console for gaming these days. PCs are the best way to enjoy games with all the graphical bells and whistles turned on (at least for gamers with deeper pockets and the patience to tweak settings and optimize drivers). And “gaming as a service” is already available in the form of Apple Arcade, as well as game streaming services like Microsoft’s Project xCloud and Google’s Stadia — expect those options to increase in a future where 5G and superfast broadband are the norm.
Read more: Best gaming PCs for 2020
But if you’re homebound because of COVID-19 and looking for a less passive distraction than bingeing endless hours of TV shows, dropping $200 to $300 on a plug-and-play game console has its appeal. We’ve updated and streamlined our recommendations for the current marketplace in mid-2020 below, focusing on the big three platforms — Switch, PS4 and Xbox One — along with some affordable retro gaming options, too.
Just note one important caveat: Demand for all three has spiked to unprecedented levels because of the coronavirus pandemic, so these remain harder to buy than at any point since they first launched. Don’t be afraid to opt for used or refurbished models, and don’t pay any prices that are exorbitantly marked up beyond list price.
Óscar Gutiérrez/CNET
The Switch lacks the flashy visuals and many of the triple-A “hard-core gamer” titles (Red Dead Redemption 2, the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077) that you’ll find on the Xbox One and PS4. But you’ll be too busy playing a long list of exclusive Nintendo franchises like Zelda, Mario and Animal Crossing to care. Unlike rival consoles, it can also hot-swap between playing on your TV and gaming on the go — just pop it in or out of the included charging cradle. So, while you’re unlikely to take ia Switch on a plane in the age of COVID-19, you can move between rooms when other family members need the TV without skipping a beat.
Yes, plenty of great old-school NES and SNES games are here, as are vast numbers of kid-friendly titles like Pokemon and Minecraft — but the Switch has more M-rated games like Wolfenstein II and The Witcher 3 than all previous Nintendo platforms. (Yes, Fortnite is here as well.) The only problem? The Switch has been nearly impossible to buy for months, which is why many people have been opting for the Switch Lite instead (see below).
See complete Switch coverage at GameSpot.
Watch this:
Nintendo Switch 2: What we want to see
6:22
Aloysius Low/CNET
The PlayStation 4 has trounced the Xbox One in the sales charts since both debuted back in November 2013, and with good reason: The PS4 started off at a lower price, and was laser-focused on producing a great gaming experience, with an impressive list of exclusive franchises like God of War, Uncharted, Spider-Man and The Last of Us, none of which is available on Xbox or Switch. (Gaming is central to the PS4, but it can also play Blu-ray discs and stream Netflix, Hulu, HBO and most other popular entertainment apps.) The PS4 also has the best virtual reality integration of the current console trio, thanks to the PlayStation VR add-on.
While there is a PS4 Pro model that offers better graphics on some games, anyone buying a PS4 this close to its successor’s launch is probably better off getting the current “slim” version of the PS4, which is remarkably compact but fully featured. Unfortunately, with entertainment-starved millions stuck in lockdown, even this older PS4 is nearly impossible to find, and you should note that it sold for $200 last Black Friday season — keep that in mind if you’re paying closer to $300, especially if there are no bundled titles. Thankfully, any games you buy should work on the PS5, which offers a much cleaner upgrade path than the last PlayStation replacement cycle (no, PS4s can’t play PS3 games unless you spend up for a PlayStation Now subscription).
See complete PS4 coverage at GameSpot.
Sarah Tew/CNET
As we said above, the Xbox One stumbled out of the gate in 2013, and its lineup of exclusive games falls short of the PS4’s. As Microsoft starts to focus on the upcoming Xbox Series X, it has ended production of the Xbox One X (which enabled 4K gaming) and Xbox One S All-Digital Edition (which lacked an optical drive). But the remaining option — the Xbox One S — is still much better than earlier Xbox One models for three main reasons. Firstly, it’s got a smaller chassis, having shed the Buick-size power brick of the original Xbox One. In nongaming entertainment options it edges out the PS4 because it can play 4K HDR Blu-rays, and it works seamlessly with infrared universal remote controls.
Lastly and most importantly, though, there is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. In addition to activating online multiplayer options, this subscription service opens the door to accessing dozens of additional titles at no extra cost. That includes any forthcoming Microsoft titles like the upcoming Halo Infinite and Psychonauts 2. Microsoft is also touting a program called Smart Delivery that will automatically slot versions of games that are optimized for the Series X from your cloud library, if and when you upgrade, so you shouldn’t need to repurchase specific titles to see them in their next-gen glory.
Furthermore, Microsoft is even extending its Project xCloud online gaming service to Game Pass Ultimate subscribers at no extra cost, meaning you’ll eventually be able to play streaming-based versions of many titles via phones and laptops, so long as you have a solid broadband connection.
See complete Xbox One coverage at GameSpot.
Marta Franco/CNET
The Switch Lite can’t connect to a TV like a regular Switch can, and it’s got a smaller screen than the OG Switch. But it lets you play 99% of the same games, and it costs $100 less. For many — especially now that everyone is stuck at home — the lack of TV output is a deal breaker. On the other hand, the Switch Lite can sometimes be found in stock without crazy marked-up pricing, unlike nearly all of the other consoles listed above. For that reason alone, it’s worthy of consideration for many.
Read our Nintendo Switch Lite review.
Retro game options
And for gamers who came of age in the ’80s and ’90s, reliving the hoary days of 8-, 16- and 32-bit gaming is the electronic equivalent of comfort food — returning to a carefree world where your biggest problem was that the Princess was in another castle. It’s now easier than ever to replay your memories of Atari, Nintendo, Sega — and even Turbografx 16, if you were that guy. Just keep two things in mind: These old-school games are probably less fun than you remember, and they’re definitely much more difficult and unforgiving than nearly any modern game.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Alas, the beloved NES Mini and SNES Mini have been discontinued, but you’ll find the bulk of those games available for download at no extra charge on the Switch’s Nintendo Online Service ($20 per year). The Nintendo 2DS/3DS platform, meanwhile, is also a retro gaming paradise — if you can find the cartridges you’re looking for. But that system is on life support as Nintendo has doubled down on the Switch; new games are basically nonexistent, and good luck finding anything but used or refurbished hardware. (Pro tip: Seek out the 2DS XL, which was the best iteration of that platform.)
That said, there are a couple of current retro consoles that let you score dozens of titles in one shot for $50 to $100. If nostalgia is your thing, these might help you kill time until you can find an Xbox, PlayStation or Switch in stock.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Sega’s answer to the NES and SNES Mini is largely a winner. Like those now-expired Nintendo options, this micro console includes two vintage controllers (just like the old days, they’re wired) and an easy HDMI hookup for connecting to any modern TV. There are 42 old-school games built in, and that’s the list you’ll want to check: If replaying Ecco the Dolphin, Toejam and Earl, Virtua Fighter 2 and Altered Beast is your idea of a good time, then by all means take the plunge. Just keep in mind that this unit frequently goes on sale for $50 (that’s the price you should wait for), and console owners would be better off buying the Sega Genesis Classics, a fantastic $30 retro collection for Xbox, PS4 or Switch that nets you 51 titles, many of which are the same ones you’ll find on the Genesis Mini.
Read our Sega Genesis Mini review.
Watch this:
The Sega Genesis Mini is so rad
4:21
Evercade
This new handheld console has a 4.3-inch screen (reminiscent of the late, great Sony PSP) and takes cartridges that package retro game collections by publisher, each of which cost about $20 and house up to 20 games. Kick things off with the $80 Atari bundle or the $100 Evercade Premium Pack, which adds Data East and Interplay cartridges. See Evercade’s site for the full breakdown of which games are on which cartridge, but this system is more about deep cuts, like titles from the rarely seen Atari 7800 and Lynx consoles — you won’t find any Nintendo games here. Still, this handheld packs a nice surprise: Unlike the Switch Lite, it can also output gameplay to your TV screen. But since external controllers aren’t supported, you’ll need both a long HDMI cable and a mini-HDMI-to-HDMI dongle to make that setup work.
Read our Evercade review.
Watch this:
Evercade plays 100s of retro games and it doesn’t suck
6:12