Video Game Console Buying Guide for Parents 2020

IdeasBuying Guide
Written By David Reneau
kid playing a nintendo switch video game console buying guide 2020

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

It’s been 3 years since I wrote one of these, but with the new generation of consoles coming out this year, I figured it was time for an update.

If you’ve been looking to buy your family a new video game console, the choices can seem endless and confusing. The web is full of unboxing videos, reviews, and tech specs, but unless you’re into computers and gaming many of those are irrelevant at best or nonsensical at worst. (I’m not entirely certain what a teraflop is anyway).

The big question I get from parents is, “Which is best for my family? Especially if I want to keep my kids safe from all the garbage online and negative content in games.”

The biggest change this time around is the end of the “console wars.” If you even casually gamed as a kid you know there was always a competition to who had the best system, be it Nintendo, Xbox, PlayStation, or Sega. This battle has been raging for almost 25 years, but I think we’re coming to the end because the goals of the three main systems have changed. I’ll talk more about those goals along with their online options as I make my recommendations.

When buying any game, be sure to look for the rating usually on the bottom left-hand side of the game or graphic. Any game rated E for Everyone would most likely be safe for your kids. However, many of the games marketed to your kids are rated T for Teen and M for Mature for a reason and should not be played by kids under the age of 13 due to their language, violence and more. You can read the rating on game box or check the IMDB parents’ guide to find out why it's rated what it's rated.

1. Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite

If your kids are under the age of 10, this is the best system for your family. It has fun, easy, and safe games for your whole family. In fact, as of this writing on Amazon, there are 88 games for this system that are rated E for Everyone. Compare that with Xbox at 59 and PlayStation 4 at 76, many of which are sports games.

The Nintendo Switch is Nintendo's newest console, even if it’s 3 years old now. Many of its exclusive games are the best out there and always in high demand. The coolest feature of the switch is its portability. The Switch is not tethered to your TV but can be picked up and taken with you. It's the best of both worlds. Unfortunately, none of the games you may have purchased for earlier Nintendo systems are compatible with this system. Nintendo has, however, stepped up their graphics game and third-party distributors like EA, Blizzard, and others carry some of their best titles to the system like the always popular Fortnite and Minecraft.

The Nintendo Switch Lite is identical to the Switch, however it is mobile only. It does not connect to the TV and the joy-cons are permanently attached to the system. Consider this device an upgrade to Nintendo DS (Gameboy) line of systems.

Nintendo’s goal for this generation, like many before it, has been to go for the casual and uninitiated gamer. The games are fun and easily approachable. I bought one of these for my 5-year-old son last year, and he absolutely loves it. After setting up a Nintendo account and adding him as a child, I can control what he plays and how long he plays with an app from my phone.

There is online play for games like Splatoon 2, Super Smash Bros Ultimate, and others but for a super low fee of $3.99/month or $19.99/year. A bonus with this subscription is access to some of their original NES and SNES titles like Super Mario Bros and The Legend of Zelda. It’s great for the nostalgia.

Parents Beware with this console, the Switch system has a problem called joy-con drift where, after a while, the joy-con will start moving the character on the screen without you doing anything. Nintendo will fix the problem for free, but you have to send the joy-cons in and wait a few weeks. It’s a systemic problem that many in the gaming community are angered by, but it is what it is. A new set of joy-cons (the Switch’s controllers) are $80 and come in a variety of colors.

2. Xbox Series X and S

The Xbox Series X and S are one of the most popular consoles out there for gamers. Even though you have to pay $60 for an Xbox Live annual gold membership to gain full access to the web, it is well worth it. With Xbox Live Gold you get access to an entire suite of apps and your kids can play online with their friends. In addition, with their “Games with Gold” program you get 4 free games every month! This system is made for gamers and markets to older players with its biggest titles being Gears of War 5 (rated M for Mature) and Halo: Infinite. The Series X model is more expensive and is the arguably the most powerful console on the market. It has native 4k graphics, better processor, and plays at 120 FPS. It's the Cadillac of systems. One notable difference is that only the Series X comes with a disc drive. So, if you want to buy physical copies of games this is the option for you.

The Series X's little brother, the Xbox Series S, is smaller physically, has a smaller hard drive and will only present in 1440p resolution. It also does not have a disc drive so the only games you can play on it have to be purchased and digitally downloaded from the Xbox game store.

Microsoft’s goal with their systems is not about selling the next console but getting their player base to sign up for Xbox Game Pass. Game Pass is like Netflix for games. They have a regularly rotating set of over 100 games that you can download and play for $9.99/month. In addition, all their first party games, meaning made by Microsoft or one of their developers, are added to Game Pass on day 1 and are playable without buying the game. The best deal in my opinion though is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate that gives you Xbox Gold and Game Pass not only on your Xbox, but also on your PC and Android mobile devices. To further support their goal of signing up for Game Pass, almost every Xbox game all the way back to the original Xbox is compatible with any other Xbox you may buy. In addition, if you have an Xbox One controller laying around you can play with it on the Series X|S. With controllers setting you back between $60-$150 that’s a good deal.

I have an Xbox One in my home (2 generations back) with Game Pass Ultimate. It's not very kid friendly, but it's a great addition to your home entertainment system because it has a built in Blu-ray player and a massive list of streaming apps for TV, movies, and music. There are parental controls with timers and limits on content, but since my son doesn’t play this system regularly and usually under my personal supervision, I don’t have these set up. However, I know that as he gets older, I will need to do so.

3. PlayStation 5 and PS5 Digital Edition

The Sony PlayStation 5, and by extension – the digital edition, is the other big man on campus. I put this one last simply because I’ve never owned one. I played my brother’s PS2 for Guitar Hero, but that’s about as far as my PlayStation experience goes.

Like Xbox, It has many of the same game offerings, similar graphics and online access pricing structures. PlayStation is following more of the classic new generation script. They want everyone to buy their new system. Unfortunately, PlayStation 4 games are the only current games that will be backwards compatible, and you’ll have to buy all new controllers and accessories to play.

Sony’s competitive advantage is their exclusives. They are a master at getting games that are only for them and advertise the heck out of them. (We’re looking at you Spiderman, I’m not bitter.) Also, even titles that can be purchased on multiple systems frequently have features that you can only get on PlayStation.

Also, like Xbox, PlayStation has a paid web service called PlayStation Plus to play multiplayer and interact online for $60/year or if you want to try it out for a month it’s $9.99. This service is the most similar to Xbox Gold and will give you up to 4 free games a month along with other perks.

Sony is lite on their kid game offerings and market more on the T for Teen and M for Mature markets. If your kids are older and you think they’re ready for that kind of content, the PS5 may be the direction for you.

With so many systems out right now and many of them becoming complex all in one entertainment systems it's hard to decide. Keep in mind that even though the technology market is constantly changing, video game consoles stay current for a long time. This last generation cycle lasted 3 years, and with Xbox and PlayStation’s new upgrade policy that allows backward and forward compatibility you can be happy with your system for years.

When buying your system think about buying multiple controllers. Each system can support up to 4 players at a time with many of the games I listed supporting local multiplayer. This way your kid's siblings, friends and even you can play with them!

Whichever system you choose, your kids will most likely be ecstatic. Just take the time to be informed about the latest games. There are many sites like IGN.com and GameSpot.com that provide reviews and content advisories for each game. You control what games are played in your house so take the time to set-up parental controls and be interested in what your kids are playing. You may be amazed at what you discover.

Happy gaming and Merry Christmas!

David Reneau https://davidreneau.org
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