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THE BEST GAME CONSOLES Updated November 29, 2024 If you’re looking for a new game console, narrowing down which one to buy can be challenging. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S have

very similar features and game libraries, and then there’s the Nintendo Switch, which is more family-friendly (but far more portable and endlessly fun). For PC gaming enthusiasts, handheld

consoles like the Steam Deck make it easy to take your favorite games on the go. The Nintendo Switch is the most popular console. It has plenty of fun games and few downsides, and it’s a

favorite among Wirecutter staffers—both the casual players and the video game pros. You can read more about the Switch and why it appeals to so many people in the Switch section below. But

if you’re ready to jump into the current generation of video games with more realistic graphics and more sophisticated multiplayer, we’ve been testing the PlayStation 5 Slim (disc or

digital) and playing with the Xbox Series X and Series S since their release in late 2020, and we can guide you through the differences, or let you know if you should grab the new

PlayStation 5 Pro. If you already know which platform you’ll choose, we also have separate guides dedicated to Xbox Series X|S options and PlayStation 5 options. If you’re looking to take

your PC gaming on the go, the Steam Deck kick-started a new generation of PC-based handheld gaming consoles that offer a great experience—if you’re willing to deal with some

PC-gaming-related weirdness. SONY PLAYSTATION 5 With the PlayStation and Xbox platforms offering similar graphics capabilities (at least on paper) at similar prices, the reasons to choose a

PlayStation 5 Slim or PlayStation 5 Pro over an Xbox Series X or S revolve mostly around which games you want to play and how you want to play them. TOP PICK SONY PLAYSTATION 5 SLIM THE BEST

PS5 This version of the PS5 has a disc drive, so you can watch UHD Blu-ray movies, as well as play new or used PS5 and PS4 game discs. The rest of the features and hardware are the same. If

you have a big collection of physical PlayStation 4 games, if you want to watch 4K Blu-ray discs on your console, or if you’re a deal hunter looking for discounted new and used games on

disc, you should get the standard Sony PlayStation 5 Slim so that you can use its UHD Blu-ray drive. BEST FOR... SONY PLAYSTATION 5 SLIM DIGITAL EDITION SAME, BUT NO DISC DRIVE The PS5 Slim

Digital Edition doesn’t include a disc drive, so you can’t watch Blu-rays or take advantage of new or used games or old PS4 discs. But if you’re comfortable going all digital, it has the

same graphics, CPU, memory, and storage hardware as the standard PS5. The Sony PlayStation Slim 5 Digital Edition usually costs $50 less than the version with a UHD Blu-ray drive, and it

does everything the standard version does aside from playing discs. If you don’t want to spend $500 on a new console, if you don’t buy or watch movies on UHD Blu-ray, or if you don’t care

about disc-based games, the Digital Edition might make more sense, especially if you take advantage of a PlayStation Plus game subscription. You can always add a disc drive later—but it’ll

cost you. UPGRADE PICK SONY PLAYSTATION 5 PRO BETTER PERFORMANCE FOR A LOT MORE MONEY The PlayStation 5 Pro delivers the best performance of any PS5 model, but the visual benefits it

provides might be hard to spot if you’re too far away from your TV. It also doesn’t come with a disc drive, despite a much higher price. The PlayStation 5 Pro includes more powerful graphics

hardware combined with new upscaling tech to deliver better performance, better visuals, or sometimes both, across many PS5 games, and it also comes with Wi-Fi 7 support and 2 TB of

storage. But at $700, you’re paying a high premium for visual improvements you might not notice if you sit too far from your TV, or if the TV is smaller than 65 inches. And like the PS5 Slim

Digital Edition, the PlayStation 5 Pro doesn’t come with a disc drive for physical games and media, though it supports the same add-on drive as the PS5 Slim Digital Edition does—or, if

you’re upgrading from a standard PS5 Slim, you can pluck the drive off that and add it to the Pro. But the most important factor to consider is which games you want to play. While

PlayStation has expanded its PC-release strategy, its biggest games—like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Gran Turismo 7—still debut on the PlayStation 5 first. Plus, the PS5 also plays virtually

all of the PS4’s enormous library of games, and many of them run better on Sony’s newer hardware. Both console platforms will continue to get some of the same major titles as well, including

installments from franchises such as _Call of Duty_ and _Madden_. Even after Microsoft purchased the makers behind major series like _The Elder Scrolls_, _Fallout_, and _Doom_ in the fall

of 2020 and acquired the developers of _Call of Duty_, _World of Warcraft_, _Diablo_, and more in 2023, the majority of games continue to be multiplatform. However, this has tipped things in

Xbox’s favor when it comes to big games available in its subscription Game Pass offering, which in 2024 included _Diablo IV_ and _Call of Duty: Black Ops 6_. While some games still lock you

into playing games with other players on the same platform, cross-platform multiplayer allowing interaction among players on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC is now fairly common, so this is less

of a concern than it has been in the past. Both the PlayStation and Xbox platforms require subscriptions for access to even basic online functions. For PlayStation, this subscription is

called PlayStation Plus; for Xbox, it’s called Xbox Game Pass Core. The PS Plus subscription service has three tiers of membership: PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra, and Premium. The

baseline subscription, PS Plus Essential, costs $80 per year; the annual prices rise to $135 and $160, respectively, for Extra and Premium. Members of any tier gain access to online play,

special discounts on some titles during sales, and two free games a month (of varying quality). You keep the free games as long as you have a PS Plus subscription, but you lose access to

them if you cancel, even if you’ve already downloaded them. Those who subscribe to the more expensive PS Plus tiers, Extra and Premium, gain access to additional game catalogs. You do not

have to pay for PS Plus to use streaming video services like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. You don’t need PS Plus to use the PlayStation 5’s party voice-chat system to voice-chat with

friends (Xbox Live doesn’t have this restriction, either). The PS5 has its own native VR headset, called the PlayStation VR2. It’s a great device that’s comfortable to wear and easy to set

up, but most people shouldn’t buy it because most of the games you can play on the PS VR2 are also playable elsewhere, including on cheaper all-in-one headsets like the Meta Quest 3S. The

PS5 and the Xbox Series X are similarly competent media centers for a living room. Both output 4K video and have Blu-ray UHD disc drives, so you can watch digital movies or discs that you

already own. The PS5 does not support Dolby Vision or or DTS:X, though—if you don’t know what those things are, don’t worry about it, but if you want to take advantage of either standard,

the Xbox may be a better choice. If you’re considering either of the cheaper versions, the $400 PS5 Slim Digital Edition or the $300 Xbox Series S, you’ll have to be comfortable with giving

up a disc drive completely. Those models still support 4K video, but you’ll have to stream or own digital films. If you’re ready for a PlayStation 5, there’s one last thing to keep in mind:

its size. The PS5 is a huge console—yes, even the current, revised “slim” model—and it can’t fit well in a lot of media centers, vertically or horizontally. If you really want a PlayStation,

we don’t think its size is a reason to skip it. But measure your space to make sure you know where it will fit. MICROSOFT XBOX SERIES X AND XBOX SERIES S TOP PICK MICROSOFT XBOX SERIES X

THE BEST XBOX Get the Series X if you’ll use it with a 4K TV (now or eventually), want the absolute best in graphics like raytraced lighting effects, or if you want a disc drive for games

and movies. BEST FOR... MICROSOFT XBOX SERIES S (512GB) LESS FOR LESS The Series S doesn’t take full advantage of TVs with 4K resolution, and it lacks a disc drive, which is a downside if

you own a lot of physical games or movies or like to buy them used. But it still lets you play the new generation of games, and it’s a great value paired with a Game Pass Ultimate

subscription. With the Xbox and PlayStation platforms offering similar graphics capabilities (at least on paper) at similar prices, the reasons to get an Xbox instead of a PlayStation

revolve mostly around which games you want to play and how—that, and Xbox Game Pass. Last generation, the Xbox One didn’t have as many critically acclaimed exclusive games as the PS4 did,

but it still had a solid library of titles you couldn’t get on PlayStation. The Series X and Series S will continue many of those franchises, including _Halo, Gears of War, Doom,

Wolfenstein, The Elder Scrolls, Fallout_, and more, and many of their subsequent titles will also launch on Game Pass on day one. Microsoft has also acquired Activision Blizzard, the company

behind franchises like _Diablo, Overwatch, World of Warcraft_, and _Call of Duty_, but _Overwatch 2_ and _Diablo IV_ launched on multiple platforms, and upcoming games will follow suit for

some time. Microsoft has also confirmed that future _Call of Duty_ installments will not be exclusive to Xbox consoles. Additionally, Xbox has begun to experiment with putting some of its

games on the PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, though many of its games will continue to be exclusive to Xbox hardware and Windows PCs. Game Pass is a major reason to consider an Xbox over a

PlayStation. For $17 a month, Game Pass Ultimate gives you access to more than 400 games across Xbox consoles, PC, and streaming, plus online multiplayer. The subscription service offers

access to major titles—every _Forza_ title, every _Gears of War_ game, every _Halo_ title, most of Bethesda’s game library, and more, including the latest _Call of Duty_ game, _Call of Duty:

Black Ops 6_, and Blizzard games like _Diablo IV_. The number of titles, along with Microsoft’s commitment to put the games it makes (or funds) on the service the same day they launch, sets

Game Pass apart from the closest equivalent on a PlayStation, PS Plus. As media centers, the Xbox and the PS5 are similarly competent and capable of serving as the brain of your living

room. Both can output 4K video from digital collections or streaming services. And the Xbox Series X and the standard PS5, each costing $500, both have a UHD Blu-ray drive if you want to

watch 4K movies on disc. Unlike the PS5, both versions of the new Xbox support Dolby Vision video from streaming services, so if you’ve built a home theater setup around that (or, say, DTS:X

surround sound), choosing one of the Xbox consoles makes sense. The Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S play the same games, but they’ll look and perform a little differently from one

another. The Series X is more powerful, and will play games at higher resolutions and often higher framerates, with more visual details and bells and whistles, than the Series S. But for

gamers on a budget, for kids, or for a bedroom or office, the Series S is a great option. The Xbox Series S is available in three configurations: a white, 512 GB version at $300 or 1 GB for

$350, and a black 1 TB version at $350. The cheaper version is often discounted by $50 or more, so unless you plan on storing a lot of large games on your console all the time, we think the

cheaper option is a better way to go. MOST FLEXIBLE CONSOLE: NINTENDO SWITCH, SWITCH OLED MODEL, OR SWITCH LITE TOP PICK NINTENDO SWITCH FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO PLAY GAMES EVERYWHERE If you

want a console that you can disconnect from the TV and take with you, or if you just prefer Nintendo’s games, the Switch is for you. BEST FOR... NINTENDO SWITCH OLED MODEL THE MOST PREMIUM

SWITCH EXPERIENCE The Switch OLED Model has a beautiful screen and other improvements that make it worth the extra money, but it’s probably not the best option for younger kids. BEST FOR...

NINTENDO SWITCH LITE A LIGHTER, HANDHELD-ONLY VERSION The Switch Lite is smaller and lighter, but its lack of TV support means you can’t play multiplayer games with family or friends on the

couch. There’s a new Nintendo console on the horizon, and we expect to see it sometime in 2025, but for now you can’t beat the Nintendo Switch’s lineup of games if you have players of all

ages in the house. The Switch’s library is mostly missing big franchises like Call of Duty, in part because it’s not as powerful as a PlayStation, an Xbox, or a modern PC. And the Nintendo

Switch isn’t trying to be the center of your entire TV setup—it can’t do anything in 4K, and it doesn’t offer many streaming video apps. But it continues to do the thing that Nintendo

consoles do best: play excellent, family-friendly, genre-defining Nintendo games from classic franchises like Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon. Better yet, it acts as both a home console and a

portable device. There are three versions of the Switch, all of which share the same basic design and run the same software and games. The original base model has a 6.2-inch LCD screen,

detachable controllers, a kickstand that might let you prop it up on a table if you cross your fingers and wish really hard, and a dock that connects the Switch to your TV. The Switch OLED

is similarly configured, but it features a 7-inch screen with a small bezel that makes its viewable screen appear even larger compared with that of the base model. The titular OLED

technology behind that screen lends it “perfectly” dark blacks and vibrant colors, and it also features improved speakers, more internal storage, and a built-in stand that’s actually useful.

Both the original and OLED versions of the Switch can be played in handheld mode or on your TV, and their detachable Joy-Cons can be split as individual controllers for multiplayer games,

or combined to make one gamepad. In contrast, the handheld-only Switch Lite has built-in controls that can’t be detached, a 5.5-inch screen, no kickstand, and no TV output—but it’s also

cheaper. We recommend the full-size Switch to almost everyone, especially if you’re buying your household’s first Switch or if you want to play multiplayer games like Mario Kart or Smash

Bros. on your couch. The Switch Lite is best for someone who doesn’t care about connecting the console to a TV, or as a second Switch for a family member with smaller hands. The Switch’s

portability and its detachable Joy-Con motion controllers allow it to do some oddball things. A few of the Switch’s multiplayer games, such as Nintendo Switch Sports, Super Mario Party, and

Snipperclips, make use of the motion controllers, for fans of Wii-style party games. For action-heavy single-player games, Nintendo also offers the more traditional (and excellent) Switch

Pro Controller. Nintendo charges you to play multiplayer games online, and it costs $20 a year. This membership also grants access to discounts from the Nintendo eShop, downloadable content

for some games, and a library of more than 100 classic titles from the Nintendo, Super Nintendo, and Game Boy eras. And for $50 per year, you can tack on the Online Expansion Pass, which

expands this catalog with over 80 titles from the Sega Genesis, Nintendo 64, and Game Boy Advance. TOP PICK SAMSUNG PRO PLUS MICROSD CARD (512 GB) SPACE FOR MORE GAMES The 512 GB Switch card

will give you plenty of room for screenshots and games once you fill up the Switch’s 32 GB of storage. The base-model Switch has only 32 GB of internal storage—the OLED model has 64—and it

fills up fast. _The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom_, for example, devours 16.3 GB all by itself, and many of the Switch’s best third-party games are available only via download.

However, you can expand the console’s storage with a microSD card—128 GB to 512 GB of space will be plenty for most people. You might find yourself spending cash on other accessories for

your Switch, too. The Joy-Con controllers are tiny and can be hard to hold, even with the included comfort grip, so the Switch Pro Controller is a great option if you plan on playing with

the Switch docked to a TV. And if you plan on traveling with your Switch, you may want a protective carrying case, or a more compact replacement for Nintendo’s bulky charger. MORE POWERFUL

HANDHELD GAMING: STEAM DECK LCD AND STEAM DECK OLED If you like the idea of a Nintendo Switch but want access to the world of PC gaming, a handheld gaming console like Valve’s Steam Deck is

probably the best way to get it. Gaming laptops need a surface to rest on and require a separate mouse or controller, and they’re often expensive, loud, and heavy, but portable PC-based

handhelds like the Steam Deck don’t have trackpads or keyboards; instead, they have inputs similar to those found on a gaming controller. It’s not as beginner-friendly as a console, and

you’ll often have to tweak settings, install third-party software, and more. But that’s part of what many people like about PC gaming in the first place. TOP PICK STEAM DECK LCD THE BEST

HANDHELD GAMING CONSOLE The LCD version of the Steam Deck isn’t the most powerful PC-based gaming handheld, but it offers the best interface, reliable performance, and fantastic battery life

for a great price, all of which make it an excellent console for beginners. UPGRADE PICK STEAM DECK OLED MORE STORAGE, A VIVID SCREEN If you love your Steam Deck and want a better screen,

or if contrast and more storage are important to you, the OLED version of the Steam Deck is a solid upgrade option. The original Steam Deck kicked off the current wave of handheld gaming

consoles, and it’s still the one that most people should buy. Of the PC-gaming handhelds we’ve tested, it’s the most console-like, so it’s perfect for people who don’t want to navigate

Windows on a small screen, and it’s easily the most intuitive to navigate, even if you own hundreds of games on Steam. Plus, the controls are great for interacting with almost any kind of PC

game, and the Steam Deck has excellent battery life. But for more demanding titles, its older hardware is starting to show its age, and 256 GB of storage may not be enough for you to

install more than a couple of the most popular PC releases. The Steam Deck is also limited to Steam titles (unless you’re willing to jump through an awful lot of hoops and deal with limited

compatibility), and a number of popular multiplayer titles just don’t work on it—and Game Pass isn’t supported at all. Still, it remains one of the best ways to take your big Steam library

on the go—or to jump into PC gaming for the first time. If you’re looking to splurge, the Steam Deck OLED version is essentially the same hardware as the original Steam Deck, save for a

striking OLED screen. It also offers double the storage of the original Steam Deck, Wi-Fi 6E support, and a slightly larger battery. _This article was edited by Caitlin McGarry._