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Video games have come a long way since the early seventies. What were once distractions have become a global industry of entertainment, education and communication.
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It’s an industry that defies definition at almost every turn. While you might think of a stereotypical gamer as a 20-year-old male (probably living at home), these days women make up about 50 percent of all gamers, and the average gamer’s age is around 35.
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Similarly, the games themselves work in almost all categories and genres. As English teachers always tell reluctant readers that there is a book for everyone, it’s just a matter of finding the right book, I truly believe there is a video game for everyone. Whether you’re looking for high-octane thrills, spooky mysteries, exciting puzzles, a relaxing simulator, or even want to be a naughty goose wandering around a cartoon village, there’s a game for you.
Which brings us to the question: what format do you play? You can find video games everywhere, from your smartphone to your computer, but most traditional gamers recommend getting your hands on a dedicated game console – many versions are competitive.
Big gamers can get frustrated very quickly about which console is the “best”; Google will quickly find you in conversations about teraflops, refresh rates, and virtual reality. But more than that, it’s a very subjective topic where tribal loyalties are deeply rooted.
Here, I’ll take a look at the differences between consoles, manufacturers, and games to make the options as simple as possible to help you make an informed decision about the best game console for you…
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Perhaps the easiest place to start is the console, which is probably the most versatile. Unlike its competitors Sony and Microsoft (and to a lesser extent Google), Nintendo’s focus is not on advanced graphics or very powerful processors. The company’s entire focus is on fun, enjoyment and accessibility.
The Nintendo Switch is far from the most powerful console out there. Although it offers HD graphics, they pale in comparison to the high-definition 4K output of the PS5 and Xbox Series X (or even the PS4 and Xbox One). Likewise, its built-in power means the console can’t handle some of the more technically demanding games.
However, despite everything, the Nintendo Switch was the best console of 2020 in the UK, Europe and the US. Why? Arguably the Switch is the most interesting of the three.
In terms of appearance, the Nintendo console is very different: a half-inch thick, 6.2-inch screen with control buttons on both sides. It’s comfortable to hold and with a battery life of four and a half to nine hours, it’s perfect for gaming on the go. In addition, there is a stand on the back and the Joy-Con controllers on the sides can be separated and used separately so that two players can play at the same time without buying any additional equipment.
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But the real magic of the Switch (and the trick that gives it its name) is that it can seamlessly switch between a handheld tablet and a TV console. Once you’ve connected the dock to your TV, you can simply place the Switch in its cradle and your game will instantly appear on the screen. Anyone want to use the TV? No problem, slide the Switch off the dock and just continue playing in manual mode.
As a proud owner of the Switch, I can tell you that my usage varies between manual and tethered modes, although I know others who use it almost exclusively for one or the other. Those with poor vision may prefer to see things on the larger screen, although the backlit LCD screen on the handheld version is bright and easy to see, so this won’t be a huge problem.
One thing to remember is that the Nintendo Switch is just a games console. Unlike Microsoft, Sony or Google consoles, this thing can only play games. It is not possible to surf the Internet, broadcast TV programs or watch movies. Since most people have a smart TV or streaming device these days, this probably isn’t a huge drawback.
Another thing to note is that the Switch has a relatively small amount of internal storage. At just 32 GB, it already has about twenty percent of the storage available on the PS5. This means that if you choose to download games instead of using physical cartridges (personally my preferred option because of the Switch’s portability), then you’ll quickly run out of space. A big game like Witcher 3 will eat up all your console storage at once. You can expand the storage with an additional SD card – for an additional fee.
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Anyway, the main reason to buy a Switch is the games. Every console has exclusive games that can only be played on that system and Nintendo is probably the best. Chances are, if you’ve heard of a video game hero, it’s definitely a Nintendo one:
Just a few of the critically acclaimed series are exclusive to Nintendo consoles. For context, nearly half of the best-selling video games are developed by Nintendo and its affiliates.
These games are typically colorful, accessible, fun for all ages, highly inventive, and often (though not exclusively) cartoonish in design. This means that due to system limitations, you likely won’t find the same expansive worlds, photorealistic visuals, and mature themes on other consoles.
This usually gives Nintendo consoles like the Switch their reputation as the best console for beginners or families, but it’s tempting to suggest that experienced gamers won’t enjoy it.
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Traditionally, Nintendo has always run a handheld console and a home console at the same time. You may remember the Gameboy, which was around the same time as the SNES, or the DS, which ran alongside the Wii. That all changed when the Switch mixed both camps.
However, it soon became clear that there was still an appetite for a handheld device and so Nintendo created the Switch Lite.
Unlike the standard version, the Switch Lite does not have a dock and cannot be connected to a TV. The Joy-Con controllers are also integrated into the console, so you can’t slide them off and give it to a friend for multiplayer. The screen is slightly smaller (5.5 inches compared to 6.2 inches on the standard Switch), and you get a slightly more conventionally shaped directional pad on the left.
Other than that, it’s the same console. It can play all the same games, the graphics and processing power are the same, the battery is almost the same.
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The trade-off for losing the ability to switch to the Switch Lite is simple: it’s £100 cheaper. In my opinion, this makes the Lite version perfect for families with young children who don’t trust expensive technology, or as a second console for families who already have a standard Switch, but many gamers who want to play different things occasionally.
While it may be a step closer to a standard console than the Nintendo Switch, Google’s first jump into the world of console gaming remains unusual.
While the controller looks familiar, the “console” is different. The only thing here that plugs into your TV is a small Chromecast device (the black circular thing in the picture above). So no big boxes or docks. Stadia does this because it doesn’t need a lot of things that traditional consoles provide: no hard drives, processors, cooling fans or anything like that. Instead, games are played in the cloud and streamed directly to your TV. It’s like the Netflix of gaming consoles.
There are two related things you should check before investing in Stadia. The first is that you have sufficient internet speed. The minimum requirement is a download speed of 10 mbps (35 mbps if you want to play in 4K quality). As the UK average is 64 mbps you should be fine. The second is your internet contract. If you don’t have an unlimited deal, streaming these games will seriously hurt your pocket (you can limit downloads to 4.5GB per hour, though you’ll sacrifice graphics quality).
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Unlike other consoles, Stadia does not have to rely on any kind of technology that can be squeezed into a physical console. All the processing power and graphics output are handled by massive computers in some remote warehouse, meaning that as long as your streaming connection lasts, games should be perfectly high quality and play smoothly without any lag or slowdown. This is the game that the game developers basically envisioned. I played the famous wannabe
One of the biggest fears players had when Stadia was announced was about latency – the amount of time between when you tap
