Three gaming consoles you need to know about.
Choose wisely.
It’s that time of the year again. When you, your kids, or your partner create their holiday wish list, a video game console may make the cut.
Perhaps you’ve been playing on a last-generation console with hundreds of cheaper games for some time now. Yet, after a while, most people want to upgrade their play with a brand-new console that supports new releases and older games.
If this sounds like you, now is the time to start your research. After all, Black Friday is a popular time to buy Christmas and Hanukkah gifts. In this blog, we’ll give you the breakdown of the top gaming consoles that’ll top your list.
Overview
- Video Game Consoles of 2022
- Video Game Console FAQ
- Final Thoughts
- Sources
And without further delay, here are the 3 video game consoles you need to know about this year:
1. PlayStation 5
Sony’s PlayStation 5 launched in November 2020, and retailers couldn’t keep it in stock. Today, this next-generation gaming console is still hard to come by thanks to both online scalpers and bots that snatch up supplies before consumers can purchase them and an overall supply shortage that’s affecting the entire electronics industry.
How do you know if you want a PS5 versus an Xbox? It mostly comes down to the games you want to play and how you want to play them. While both the PS5 and the Xbox have exclusive games, the PS4 has more top-rated titles that are only available to it. The Xbox Series X, on the other hand, not only has fewer exclusive titles, but those that do exist are available on the PC. Any successful exclusive titles are also likely to get sequels on the PS5 as well. Finally, there will be some major game titles that are available to both video game consoles.
PlayStation 5 — Features:
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Comparable to the power of the Xbox Series X – 825 GB SSD
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All about the games with the most exclusive titles
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DualSense controller that employs inventive and subtle haptics
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Distinct from Switch and Xbox because it must be connected to your TV, PC, or smartphone screen on your local network
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Big, bulky, and difficult to maneuver into an entertainment system
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Extra internal storage space isn’t possible at the moment
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Allows you to play online with a subscription to PlayStation Plus ($60/year)
Popular PlayStation 5 Games
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Among Us: Crewmate Edition (rated E for Everyone)
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Kena: Bridge of Spirits (Deluxe Edition)
2. Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is a small, lightweight gaming console that’s beloved by families because of its kid-friendly nature. It’s a simpler option than either of the two discussed above. It isn’t fancy or flashy. It can’t do anything in 4K, it doesn’t offer streaming video apps, and it won’t be the central aspect of any TV set-up. That said, if you’re an adult making your wish list, don’t be so quick to write it off. It has a lot of appeal depending on what you’re seeking.
What makes it great? For one, it’s small and lightweight. You can either hold it in your hands and play games on a colorful six-inch screen, or you can use it as a docked device on your TV. If you’re looking for the cheapest option of all, then the Nintendo Switch Lite, depending on availability and seasonality, can usually be found online for $199-299. It skips the dock option and allows you the handheld option only. With that, however, you probably don’t want to buy the Switch Lite as your primary gaming option. Most people will purchase the Switch Lite as a second Switch after they already own the gaming console. It can be used by those with smaller hands or by anyone who doesn’t feel the need to connect to the TV.
Series like Super Mario, Pokémon, and The Legend of Zelda are some of the most popular children’s games that this top gaming console supports. However, indie games and third-party ports are also popular for adults, which may appeal to you.
Nintendo Switch — Features:
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Small, lightweight, and creative
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Flexible — play it two ways (handheld or docked)
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Fun for both kids and adults
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Oldest and least powerful of these three machines
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Overdue for a 4K successor
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Some fun exclusive series such as The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon, Super Mario, Super Smash Bros
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Requires a microSD card because the Switch only has 32 GB of internal storage
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Little ability to stream video with just Hulu and YouTube
Popular Nintendo Switch Games
3. Xbox Series X
Just like the PlayStation 5, the Xbox Series X has been a difficult gaming console to find since it launched in November 2020. However, if you manage to get your hands on one then you’ll have the most powerful and best video game consoles on the market. As noted above, your decision to get an Xbox over a PS5 comes down to the games you want to play and how you want to play.
Xbox Game Pass also factors into a lot of people’s decisions. Game Pass is a video game subscription service from Microsoft for use with its Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One consoles, Windows 11, and Windows 10 as well as Android and iOS devices via Xbox Cloud Gaming. When you pay $15/month, you’ll be able to download more than 300 games on an Xbox or PC, or you can stream them to your Android or iOS smartphone.
X Box Series X — Features:
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Most powerful processor
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More storage space than either the PS5 or the Switch
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Part of a larger Xbox ecosystem that lets you save your progress and pick up wherever you left off
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Best place to play multi-platform series
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Provides access to the Game Pass for an additional cost ($15/month)
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Allows you to play online if you have Xbox Live Gold ($60/year)
Popular Xbox Series X Games
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Destiny 2: Beyond the Light
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Gears 5
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Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Xbox Series X vs. PlayStation 5
Video Game Console FAQ
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We wrote this article to answer that! And at the end of the day, you can’t argue taste. The video game consoles featured above are our favorites, but if you’re still unsure, we recommend perusing some of the sources below.
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Yes, 2022 may be a big year for gaming consoles. There are rumors of Nintendo launching a new console by March. And Microsoft has also hinted at plans to release a Xbox Series S refresh sometime in the latter half of 2022.
And for more on video game selection, we compiled a Guide to the Best Video Games for Kids (parents can enjoy, too).
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This is a difficult answer. Price-wise, the best time to buy a gaming console is two years after its release. But most of us can’t wait that long! So we recommend capitalizing on Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.
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There are now a number of retailers, in-store and online, where you can buy video game consoles. Some of the most popular include Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart. But there are hundreds more.
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One of the most common questions we get is “who buys video game consoles?” Two of the most popular stores where you can sell your gaming consoles are GameStop and Swappa.com.
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Yes, though this has become a harder and harder to find option. Growing up, even Hollywood Video rented out gaming consoles. Today, companies like GameStop may work with a 3rd-party vendor to offer gaming console rentals. There are also a number of online options to rent video game consoles, like GameFly and www.rentacenter.com.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this quick overview helps you to identify which of the these video game consoles is a great fit for you or your household. Overall, if you’re struggling to decide which top gaming console to select, the right choice may be what your friends have.
Normally, you may not allow your decision to be altered so drastically by what others are doing. However, Sony doesn’t typically support cross-platform multiplayer with either the Xbox or the Switch, which means you won’t be able to play with others you know unless you have the right gaming console. This is something to keep in mind if you look forward to the “community” aspect of gaming.
Happy shopping!