Game systems

Rod Becks Mullet

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SoSH Member
Aug 9, 2001
2,095
NYC
I need a little help (dopes: feel free to move to Blind Leading the Stupid) as I'm looking to purchase a gaming system for my kids this Christmas. Oldest is about to turn 8, I've got a son in the middle who is really into baseball and soccer, so sports games are a must. Looks like my best options are Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4 or XBox One.

I'm totally clueless, it's been 15+ years since I've touched a controller and imagine that these are nothing like what I was used to growing up. I'll take any and all advice to help steer me in the right direction.
 

Kliq

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Mar 31, 2013
22,673
For young kids I would go with the Switch; it's very user friendly and almost all of the biggest titles are rated E and appropriate for all ages. PS4 and XBOX offer better graphics and probably better performance for sports games, but the titles on the Switch should be good enough for a kid that young; I'm not sure though because I haven't played any of the major sport titles on the Switch.

One critical question you should ask your kids is what console they play at their friends' house. Gaming, even for young kids, is becoming more and more of a social activity and they are going to want to play online with their friends, if not right now then certainly in a few years. If you want to buy something that they are going to use for years, try and get the console that their friends have.
 

Batman Likes The Sox

Not postscient
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Dec 28, 2003
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Yeah I agree this would make more sense in the games forum, but I have two boys, 6 and 8 years old, and there's no question that the right choice is the Switch. Just a wide variety of games, many downloadable, that are perfect for the age range. Happy to provide many suggestions if you head in that direction.

In a couple years when you've got a pre-teen it will be the perfect time (I suspect) to add a PS5 (yes, that's a 5) when it first comes out.
 

Blacken

Robespierre in a Cape
SoSH Member
Jul 24, 2007
12,152
Buy a Switch unless you have a compelling reason not to. Sports games are better on the PS4 but it's designed more for teenagers and adults and it shows.

Don't buy an Xbox One unless the kids want Halo games (and kids that young probably barely know what Halo is).
 

bohous

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Jul 21, 2005
4,420
Framingham
For young kids I would go with the Switch; it's very user friendly and almost all of the biggest titles are rated E and appropriate for all ages. PS4 and XBOX offer better graphics and probably better performance for sports games, but the titles on the Switch should be good enough for a kid that young; I'm not sure though because I haven't played any of the major sport titles on the Switch.

One critical question you should ask your kids is what console they play at their friends' house. Gaming, even for young kids, is becoming more and more of a social activity and they are going to want to play online with their friends, if not right now then certainly in a few years. If you want to buy something that they are going to use for years, try and get the console that their friends have.


Buy a Switch unless you have a compelling reason not to. Sports games are better on the PS4 but it's designed more for teenagers and adults and it shows.

Don't buy an Xbox One unless the kids want Halo games (and kids that young probably barely know what Halo is).
All good advice so far and I agree that the Switch is the best option at this age range. But to address the quoted, it's all about Fortnite right now (Halo is pretty much dead). If he has friends playing Fortnite and you are cool with it (understandable if you want to steer clear with an 8yo) you might want to take that into consideration. Fortnite is available on Switch but if all of his friends are playing on XB the cross platform compatibility can be complicated.
 

Rod Becks Mullet

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Aug 9, 2001
2,095
NYC
thanks for all the input, sounds like the Switch is the way to go. There are a couple kids on the street with systems, don't think too many of his friends have one as of now. I assume we could always get a second one when the kids get older and have their own interests.
 

GoJeff!

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May 30, 2007
2,011
Los Angeles
thanks for all the input, sounds like the Switch is the way to go. There are a couple kids on the street with systems, don't think too many of his friends have one as of now. I assume we could always get a second one when the kids get older and have their own interests.
My sons strongly recommended the PS4 over the switch. At least that's the input from the 8-12 year old crowd.