What’s the best game console for kids?
If your kids are at the age where you’re considering buying a game console, now might be the right time. Whether you want the immersive virtual reality of the Sony PlayStation or the portability of the Nintendo Switch, today’s consoles offer more realism, interactivity, and flexibility than ever before. The question still remains: Which console is best for your family’s needs?
Best for Families with Young Kids: Nintendo Switch/Switch Lite
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With games such as Super Mario Party, Luigi’s Mansion 3, Ring Fit Adventure, or Mario Tennis Aces, as well as cool activity packs such as the Labo Toy-Con Variety Kit, Nintendo maintains its position as the best option for families to use together. The Switch works both as a stationary console that plugs into your TV and a portable gaming device with two built-in controllers and a touchscreen. The recently released Switch Lite, on the other hand, uses the same games as the Switch, but it’s strictly a portable station that’s designed only for gaming on the go. While the Switch library does offer its share of mature games, the consoles include parental controls so you can help your kids regulate their use.
Best for Tweens and Families: Microsoft Xbox One S and Sony PS4
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These may be the basic systems from Microsoft and Sony, but they’re still very powerful and run all of the games that you can get your hands on. One of the big advantages is that you can often find these machines bundled with a few games to play along with the system. Xbox One S is a better choice for families who already own a lot of Xbox games, as it will play some Xbox 360 titles. If you’re tired of discs cluttering things up, consider the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition console which stores all your games in the cloud. The PS4, by contrast, provides access to older PS3 games through its digital store and its PS Now service.
Of course, violent games such as Resident Evil 2, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Wolfenstein: Youngblood are available for each, but so are family-friendly titles such as The Lego Marvel Collection, Madden NFL 20, and The Jackbox Party Pack 5. Plus, both systems contain parental controls with customizable family settings to control screen time and purchase limits, as well as content filters to block inappropriate games for kids.
Best for Tweens, Teens, and Serious Gamers: Microsoft Xbox One X, Sony PlayStation Pro
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If your kids are really passionate about games, then these machines are the best — if not the only — choices. Keep in mind that, though there are plenty of games for each console designed for tweens and younger, the vast majority of Xbox One X and PlayStation 4 games are intense and mature. But there are still plenty of titles to get these players hearts pumping, whether its the galactic action of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, the multiplayer focused adventure of Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, or the stadium rocking noise of FIFA 20.
Sony has the edge for serious gamer families with its PlayStation VR headset designed to work with the PS4 and PS4 Pro. PSVR provides a totally immersive, virtual reality game experience. There’s a number of impressive games for the headset, like the anti-bullying-themed Concrete Genie, the colorful and entertaining links of Everybody’s Golf VR, and the soaring adventure of Falcon Age.
Along with Fallen Order, gamers can easily explore engaging titles like the time-traveling Outer Wilds, the fuel-injected speed of Need For Speed Heat, or the colorful multi-player fights of Plants Vs. Zombies: Battle For Neighborville.
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I wrapped Christmas gifts on my living room floor, next to our Christmas tree, at the perfectly sensible hour of 5:30 p.m. this week. The kids were not in bed. One, in fact, was all of 200 feet away, watching “Gilmore Girls” on her phone.
Catherine Monsalvo was taking a handful of college courses at West Chester University last year, working part-time as a personal care assistant, and raising her elementary-school-age daughter.
