How Do I Choose a Games Console for the Family?
A games console is a significant purchase — £250–500 plus games — so choosing wrong stings. If you’re asking how do I choose a games console for the family, here’s the honest comparison of the three options, judged on what actually matters to families: games, cost, parental controls, and who’ll use it most.
There’s no single winner — but there is a right answer for your family.
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Nintendo Switch: the family favourite
The Switch is the default family choice for good reasons. Its games are the most family-friendly in the industry — Mario, Zelda, Pokémon, Animal Crossing — colourful, creative, and playable by all ages together. The Joy-Con controllers enable instant multiplayer: Mario Kart with four players needs no extra purchases.
It’s portable (handheld mode is perfect for car journeys), the cheapest of the three, and Nintendo’s parental controls app is excellent — play-time limits, content restrictions, activity reports. Downsides: less powerful (games look simpler), online features are clunky, and older teens may find the library ‘young’. For families with kids under 12, it’s the clear pick.
PlayStation 5: for teens and parents
The PS5 is the powerhouse: stunning graphics, the best single-player epics, and the console older kids actually want. If your teens are asking for a specific console, it’s probably this one — and there’s genuine value in getting what they’ll actually play.
Family considerations: strong parental controls (spending limits, play time, age-gated content), an excellent games subscription (PlayStation Plus Extra has hundreds of games), but higher cost and games skew older — you’ll be managing age ratings actively. Best for: families with teens, or parents who game themselves.
Xbox Series X/S: the value play
Xbox’s killer feature is Game Pass — a Netflix-style subscription with hundreds of games included. For families, this is transformative: kids can try dozens of games without you buying each one. The Series S is the cheapest current-gen console by a mile.
The library leans slightly older than Nintendo’s but Game Pass includes plenty of family titles. Parental controls via the Xbox Family Settings app are robust. Best for: budget-conscious families who want variety without buying £60 games individually.
The decision framework
Kids under 10? Switch, no contest. Teens? Ask them — but PS5 or Xbox depending on their friends (multiplayer happens where friends are). Tight budget? Xbox Series S + Game Pass, or a second-hand Switch. Parents who game too? PS5 or Xbox.
Whatever you choose: set up parental controls on day one (before the kids do), agree screen-time rules as a family, and check PEGI ratings (pegi.info) before buying games. The console is the easy part — the rules around it matter more.
How do I choose a games console for the family? Your questions answered
Should I buy new or second-hand? Second-hand consoles are excellent value — previous-generation models (PS4, Xbox One, Switch) play thousands of great family games at half the price. Buy from reputable retailers with warranties (CEX, Game’s pre-owned) rather than strangers. The games are the same; only the graphics are older, and kids genuinely don’t care.
What about handhelds for kids? The Switch Lite (£200) is the perfect child’s console: cheap, durable, portable, huge library. For younger kids, a tablet with good games can suffice — but dedicated consoles offer better parental controls and no ad-driven shovelware. The Lite plus a few Nintendo games is the under-10 starter pack.
Do we need more than one console? Usually not — one shared console teaches turn-taking (with rules). The exception: big age gaps where teens want PS5/Xbox and young kids want Switch. Even then, consider one console plus a tablet for the younger ones. Two full consoles is a luxury, not a need.
Setting up for success: day one checklist
Unbox day done right: update the system software first (it takes a while — do it before the kids are watching). Create the parent account, then child accounts with correct ages — this drives the content filters automatically. Set play-time limits and spending controls before handing over the controllers.
Install two or three games in advance so there’s something to play immediately — nothing kills excitement like a two-hour download. Agree the family rules together: when gaming happens, for how long, and what the homework/chores deal is. Write them down.
And the crucial bit: play together. The first session as a family — Mario Kart, cooperative LEGO, whatever fits — sets the tone that gaming is shared fun, not solitary exile. A console played together brings families together; a console played alone in bedrooms does the opposite. Day one sets the pattern.
Buying second-hand consoles: what to check
Second-hand consoles save serious money — but check carefully. This checklist avoids expensive mistakes.
- Where to buy: CEX, Game’s pre-owned, and manufacturer refurbished stores offer warranties — worth the small premium over strangers. eBay and Marketplace are cheaper but riskier; check seller ratings obsessively.
- What to test: powers on, disc drive reads (if applicable), controllers connect and all buttons work, connects to Wi-Fi, no excessive fan noise (a sign of overheating issues), and the account is wiped (no one else’s login).
- What’s included: power cable, HDMI cable, at least one controller. Missing accessories add up — factor them into the price comparison.
- Generation matters: previous-gen (PS4, Xbox One) plays thousands of brilliant family games at half the price of current-gen. For kids under 12, previous-gen is the value king. The games didn’t get worse when new consoles launched.
The takeaway
Choosing a family console: Nintendo Switch for younger kids (family games, portability, price), PlayStation 5 for teens and gaming parents, Xbox Series S + Game Pass for maximum value. Match it to your kids’ ages, set up parental controls immediately, and check PEGI ratings.
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