simple gaming console with pacman and solitaire

If you’re shopping for a console to give to someone else, we recommend sticking with whatever brand of console they last had (and saving the receipt). You can read more about the Switch (including the new OLED Model), and why it appeals to so many people, in the Switch section below.

The Nintendo Switch is a nice console with fun games and few downsides, and it’s a favorite among Wirecutter staffers-both the casual players and the video game pros.

The easiest console to find right now is also the most popular. Unfortunately, those previously owned systems are routinely selling for $300 or more at this writing, and new last-gen consoles aren’t being made. Although there are hundreds of great games to play on those last-gen consoles, we don’t think you should pay more than $200 for a used system. Supply still isn’t perfect though, and even used PlayStation 4 and Xbox One last-generation consoles are selling for high prices on online auction sites like eBay. Stock issues have plagued both new console lines since they launched, but in 2023, it’s getting easier to find them regularly at major retailers. Which games you like to play, what level of graphics performance you value, how you play online, and even which system is available to buy all go into deciding which console is best for you. The next-generation PlayStation and Xbox were released in the fall of 2020, and if you aren’t already excited for a particular model, it’s a complicated time to decide what to buy.

Simple gaming console with pacman and solitaire