Over the last year, gaming as a hobby has grown in popularity because you can maintain social distance while still having fun with friends. While playing video games is a lot of fun, it can be confusing where to start. There are different types of video game consoles, different game genres and many different games to choose from.
This four-part article series aims to help anyone who is interested in gaming or may be new to gaming decide what they’d like to begin with. If you want to play video games, a great place to start is to look into the different types of video game consoles that are currently offered.
Nintendo Switch
This is probably the most affordable and user-friendly video game console if you’re just starting out, but this console has its drawbacks as well. The Nintendo Switch is a handheld gaming console made by Nintendo that supports Nintendo games. The Nintendo Switch comes in three different versions: the Nintendo Switch OLED Model which will release on Oct. 8 and has enhanced audio and visual effects ($349.99), the classic Nintendo Switch which features handheld, tabletop and TV mode ($299.99), and finally the Nintendo Switch Lite, which is a smaller and more affordable version of the classic model that only offers handheld mode ($199.99). While the Nintendo Switch may be a cheaper console option than others, many of the popular Nintendo Switch games retail for $60 and may be hard to find on sale. In addition to this, Nintendo offers a slim selection of games, mainly focusing on titles produced by their own company or indie gaming studios.
Xbox
If you’re looking for something a little more serious than a Nintendo Switch but not as expensive as a computer, Xbox consoles might be your best bet. Xbox consoles are meant to be hooked up to a TV screen and played with a handheld controller. They’ve recently released two new consoles: the Xbox Series X ($499.99) and the Xbox Series S ($299.99). The Xbox Series X supports both physical game discs and digital games, while the Xbox Series S supports only digital games. If you’re looking to purchase the Xbox Series S, keep in mind the storage size of your games, otherwise you might need to purchase additional storage. Xbox boasts a wide variety of games from different studios that range in prices, and you can also play some Xbox games on a computer if you purchase the Xbox game pass.
PlayStation
PlayStation consoles are similar to Xbox consoles in the way that they are meant to be hooked up to a TV screen and played with a handheld controller. PlayStation is run by the company Sony, and just released their newest consoles late last year. The PlayStation 5 is offered in two different console editions: the classic PlayStation 5 console which has a disk drive for physical games as well as storage for digital games ($499.99), and the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition console which only supports digital games ($399.99). PlayStation has a variety of games, but mainly focuses on games made or funded by Sony.
PC gaming
This may be the most expensive way to play video games, but in my opinion, the most accessible if you’re looking to play a wide variety of games. PC gaming refers to playing video games on a desktop computer with a mouse and keyboard. There are many different places to get a computer for gaming; Best Buy often has sales and discounts on their computers, but if you’re looking for a video game centered company, Digital Storm is a great place to get a powerful computer on the cheaper side of the spectrum. That being said, desktop computers usually range from anywhere between $600 and $5000, but can last decades without needing a serious upgrade. Most games, except for console exclusive games, are available to play on PC.
