[Closed] Games console for kids

Switch would be the natural choice. By the time he's 8-10 there is likely to be a next generation of console knocking around

EDIT: Also, by the time he's that age he will likely be with a group of friends who all want the same console so they can play together. There's a 50% chance that won't be a Playstation.

I did also have that in my mind that the next PS version would more than likely be out within next 2 years.

^^^this. (Edit..martinhutch)

My older lad likes his xbox but my younger lad is a nintendo ds/switch fan.

Same dilemma in this house. 7yo girl, 5yo boy. I have a ps3 (untouched & no new games since I had kids) which the kids struggled with last year so I bought a second hand Wii for buttons with all the usual Mario stuff and the kids were obsessed.

Playing the Mario games has tought them how platform games work and they've both migrated over to the ps3 now. Minecraft & lego games mainly but they do play a lot of other stuff I've downloaded free from PlayStation plus over the years

We were going to get a Switch but my wife asked both of them off they prefer the Wii or PS3 & the PS3 won. We're getting a PS4 as we think it will have much more longevity and far more games than the Switch with the added bonus that me & the Mrs will use the PS4 too.

Never seen the DS appeal, I know kids love them, I think it’s down to I never really like a small screen when I was younger and preferred the console and TV set up.

the switch I suppose has the benefit of both worlds

Tomfun id say that’s a sensible choice since they’ve experienced the wii and developed on to PS3.

I am all for PS4 but that’s prob as I want one back in the house but for the kids and fun and first console hmmm it’s a tough decision

Bought a switch with Mario Kart 8 for my 5/7yos (now 7/8)

Wish I'd bought a used wii as games would've been much much cheaper.

They now have Mario Kart, Lego city and portal knights.

I'm waiting patiently for yoshis world as it looks beautifully created.

Not sure what else to add, certainly not Fortnite like many of their school mates are playing!

Younger kids, the Switch.

PS4/Xbox One - older kids/adults.

PS the DS still get's used by my son and his mates !!!  They are all at college...

Yeah DS is popular no doubt about that, it’s just a thing I have with playing on small screens but it’s somrthing I’d probably consider for their bdays a DS  as can pick them up fairly reasonably priced.

I think I may end up siding with the switch and look at it all again next year to what the PS status is or might just pick up a 2nd hand PS4 in January for myself and slowly introduce them to it and switch for Xmas for them

Nintendo make the best games. Always have.

They might have a certain look that puts off some people and appeals more to kids, but that has no bearing on the quality, design and replay value of the games.

A Wii costs peanuts and has an amazing library of superb games that appeal to pretty much everyone. Personally, I'd start there.

Nintendo do the 'playable stuff' - bit old skool like Pac Man - my all time favourite, then frogger.

The DS has a real life in it - couldn't believe it when my son got his back out a year or so ago - he has an all singing/dancing gaming PC with 3 massive screens....

Phones have almost killed off most handhelds - we still have our PSP - really nice bit of kit, and I even got a new battery for it a year ago.  Must dust it off.

My kids love the Wii. Getting them a Switch for Xmas.

Not sure if Wiis are peanuts now, the accessories and games certainly aren't!

Secondhand about £20-£30 from CEX, most  secondhand games are under a tenner.

If you like games, it's daft not to have one.

Still love my 2DS XL, would like a 'New' 3DS XL (the improved model) but they don't make them anymore and they're pricey secondhand. Shame.

The games they would look to play would be...

Switch - Mario Kart, Mario Odyssey, Pokemon, Lego, Cars (Dinsey), Sonic

PS4 - Is same as above with out Mario and Pokemon, there is more lego games on PS4 but the ones they would want are on both platforms.

I just see the switch as a more entry level kids console over the PS4, obviously that is not the case and just my opinion

I bought a 2nd hand Wii U for the kids last year (7 and 4) and it’s beem great. I spent about £100 on it and you can get plenty of games still. I rarely pay more than £15 for one.  Great games too - Zelda, Splatoon and all the Mario and Donkey Kong stuff.

Might be a reasonably priced way of getting them started.

TS

Wii is more than enough, my daughter (5) has been playing my DS to death and we introduced her to the Wii, not go the hang of the controls yet but the added bonus of Gamecube controllers means I dont expect she will be struggling for long.

As said, Nintendo make fantastic games. Yes there is a lot of 3rd party crap but there are some proper gems as well. There's a reason the software isn't cheap.

My boy is getting an xbox 360 we got for free for his 8th birthday this week. I'm sure it'll be a while before he has to have the latest thing. Got lego star wars and clone wars games, I'm sure he'll love it.

Nintendo every time. As it’s getting to that cold, wet hibernation time of year, nothing swallows a Sunday afternoon like a Mariokart tournament.,

And this is just one of the most wonderfully subversive things ever..,

nothing swallows a Sunday afternoon like an interesting swearword tournament

FTFY.

Picked up a second hand Wii and a load of games/accessories 18 months ago when Monkey was 6yrs.  It gets a run out during the darker months and then is put away for the rest of the year.  We have Mario Kart, various Mario Land/Galaxy, FIFA, Shaun White and misc sports games.  Dirt cheap and kids generally know no different.

He also has his own Fire tablet but that's getting real laggy (and I spent bloody ages hacking it at the start to run Google Play games).  Also has access to my iPad.

My PS4 is out of bounds and he doesn't hassle me over it.

Just thinking about it now, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">all</span> of his friends (that I'm aware of) that have access to the more hardcore consoles, ie PS4, XBox are actually properly addicted.  Okay, some might say that's a parenting thing - and yes it is.  But I think it's too easy to give young kids a taste of something that powerful and then moderate it when subconsciously there's an addiction kicking in.

If I was gonna splash the cash now I'd go for a Switch.  I'd like one.  No doubt monkey jnr would too.  But he has a Fire, an iPad and a Wii and a shed load of 'normal' toys to play with.  He can make do IMO.

We have a wii u, used about five times as my boys are both Xbox fans.

for sale if anyone wants.

Xbox not an option sorry Xbox lovers!

...

My dilemma is I just think PS4 is far better console and games

Your dilemma is wanting a console for yourself rather than for the kids.

Who's the adult in the house? Get the kids a switch and yourself a ps4

PS3 still has a far bigger selection of AAA games for younger kids than the PS4 has. they're dirt cheap (Games and console) and kids don't notice any difference between the graphics until they're older and playing more advanced games and online with their mates.
PS+ subscription gives you roughly 4-6 free PS4 games each month, 2 of which are usually PSN games that are suitable for kids. You also get exclusives and discounts and can't play online without PS+ You can share PS+ with your other sony consoles/logged in adult users.

Switch now and PS4/5 in a couple of years, unless your want to mostly satisfy your own gaming needs in which case PS4 now (there are quite a few good child-friendly PS4 games anyway).

Why no XBox?

Microsoft has loads of good features for monitoring and controlling child usage (including remotely and via a PC).

Most of the 360 back catalogue has been made compatible and there's loads of kid friendly choice in there.

Can't comment on others and you may have good reason to avoid but I couldn't think of one.

The Switch is an incredible console and has plenty of games for adults too. It's not all about the graphics.

Worth it just for the Mario games, also Mario Party which I don't think anyone mentioned yet. That was one of the few games my brother and I could get our mum to play with us back on the N64.

My lad loves Mario Party 8.

Some of the mini-games are fun but it's the most tedious, drawn-out affair peppered with pointless cut scenes and filler.

And he even likes to have CPU players as well, so we have to watch all that shit for a pretend person as well.

No real point to that, just wanted to vent.

Thanks for all the comments

In all honest this is 100% about the kids I haven’t played a games console in years, actually don’t know when I’d get to play one. Can certainly play along with the kids  as people had mentioned during the winter months.

PS4 is just what I had in mind then I seen the switch reviews.

I think I’ll look to go with the view of switch now and see what develops in the PS world over the next 12-24 months.

I just know we are going to more than likely end up with both at some point and likely then sell on the switch but just wondered if I’d be better just going straight to PS4 now, that was the main reasoning around this post.

Switch appears to be a good starter

The reason for no Xbox is purely down to I always had PS and hated the Xbox controller from what I remember of it.

The reason for no Xbox is purely down to I always had PS and hated the Xbox controller from what I remember of it.

But

In all honest this is 100% about the kids I haven’t played a games console in years

These two comments seem at odds.  What relevance has your vague memory of a controller for a different system have when you're buying it for someone else?

I'm not playing the Xbox fanboy card here - I've said elsewhere, I have little brand loyalty - but I'd respectfully suggest that to dismiss an entire platform out of hand simply because you didn't like the controller on one two generations ago is perhaps a little short-sighted.  I remember the original (pre-Dual Shock) PS controller, it was awful.  If nothing else, why not pop into Game and give one a fondle?

TBH though, given the age of the kids I think the best suggestion on here has been to get a PS3.

Appreciate there will be all views and opinions on all consoles but for me the choice is only down too PS4 or switch.

xbox I just don’t like in general I’m on the PS side 🙂

thanks again for all comments

So ok, look at it this way.

Which games do  you  your kids want to play?  Get whichever console gives you the most options, which I expect will be the Switch.  Nintendo tends to be the most family-centric of the big three.

my 7yr old girl likes playing (and can play well) little big planet 3, Rayman and Unravelled on my PS4.

Unravelled 2 is spectacular and great fun when played in co-op with each other.