Best Video Game Consoles in 2021

Best Video Game Consoles TechnoBuffalo 2021

There are a lot of video game consoles on the market, even between "The Big Three" companies like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo. Some of these are better suited for specific purposes than others, whether you want on-the-go gaming or a system that delivers the very best graphics possible. Because of its versatility and affordable price, the Nintendo Switch is easily our top recommendation. Those looking to spend extra for more premium features can look towards the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Nintendo Switch tries to give you the best of both worlds — form, and function — and succeeds for the most part. It's certainly not as powerful as the competition, but it still has enough power to run most AAA games today, an aspect that more third-party developers are taking note of. Now you can play games like Skyrim and The Witcher 3 on a machine that also runs Pokémon and Super Mario. That's impressive. Not only can you take a game like DOOM on-the-go, but you can also play a main Pokémon game on your television.

Players aren't tethered to their television anymore, either. Nintendo Switch systems can be brought anywhere because they are also handheld. This makes it the perfect party console because everyone can bring theirs and have fun together. It's lightweight, portable, and can even fit in your pocket if you've got some big pockets.

Where the Nintendo Switch lacks is its online capabilities. Yes, it's premium online subscription service is much less than the competition, but that's because it's an inferior service. Online gameplay just isn't as good on Nintendo Switch as it is Xbox or PlayStation. On top of that, a lot of people have found Joy-Con drift to be an issue, meaning even if you aren't moving the Joy-Con's thumbstick, it will register in-game as if you are. Not exactly conducive for perfect accuracy.

Best Graphics: Xbox One X (Gears 5 Bundle)

The Xbox One X is by far the most powerful console on the market. It sports six teraflops of computing power, making games run faster and look better than any other console before. If you're looking for a console with the best performance, look no further, because you won't beat the Xbox One X. It doesn't always offer 4K resolution and 60FPS at the same time, but you'll have plenty of games offering a choice between either.

Microsoft also ensures that Xbox is the best place to play by creating a welcoming gaming ecosystem. Xbox Game Pass is a monthly subscription service that gives players access to hundreds of titles in a rotating catalog like Netflix. But these games are downloaded directly to your console instead of streamed, making the performance and reliability that much better. This only complements the console's backward compatibility, allowing people to still play their old Xbox 360 games — provided the games support such features.

What some people consider the bread and butter of every video game console, its exclusive games, tend to be arguably inferior on Microsoft's part. The company just doesn't have acclaimed exclusive franchises like The Last of Us, God of War, Uncharted, and Horizon Zero Dawn. It notably has Gears of War, Halo, and Forza, but many have either found those to have grown stale or believe they can't compete with the likes of what Sony can offer. Microsoft is investing more in first-party titles, but Rome wasn't built in a day.

Best Exclusives: PlayStation 4 Pro

Sony's known for its top of the line exclusives. PlayStation is the only place to play masterpieces like The Last of Us and God of War, not to mention upcoming games like The Last of Us Part II and Death Stranding. The quality of Sony's portfolio is nearly unrivaled, and some of these games are certainly worth buying a console for alone.

PlayStation is also the only console to offer proper VR support, and PSVR runs best with a Pro. There are definitely some aspects that hold it back from being amazing, like all of the wires. But other consoles simply can't compete when they don't even have a dedicated VR headset — and no, Nintendo Labo VR does not count.

As good as the PlayStation 4 Pro is, it falls behind Xbox in terms of features and power. It can offer 4K and 60FPS gaming, just less often. And it doesn't have any backward compatibility nor a service to genuinely rival Xbox Game Pass, as much as PlayStation Now may try.

Best Starter Console: PlayStation 4 Slim

The PlayStation 4 Slim is what you get when you want Sony's exclusive games but don't want to pay the extra money for better performance. A standard PS4 gets the job done admirably and still provides a substantial gaming experience at 1080p and 30FPS, which is good enough for most consumers. Plus, it has its own dedicated virtual reality headset, which is something Xbox cannot say.

There's a lot to love and not a lot to hate here. Its most significant downsides are that it isn't as powerful as the PS4 Pro or Xbox One X, and it's not portable like the Nintendo Switch, which is understandable given its nature as a home gaming console.

Best Value: Xbox One S (Gears 5 Bundle)

When the Xbox One first launched it was criticized for being bulky, heavy, and underpowered. The Xbox One S rectified this. It's not leaps and bounds more powerful, but it does feature a slight boost in performance over its older sibling. What makes it better is its design. It's no longer an unwieldy VCR with an external power brick. Now everything is internal, and it's a much more appealing machine to keep on your entertainment stand.

Again, like the Xbox One X, don't go looking for the best of exclusives here. Some people swear by what Microsoft offers, but by and large, most people agree that Sony is where it's at when it comes to exclusive games.

Best Handheld: Nintendo Switch Lite

The Nintendo Switch Lite is effectively Nintendo's latest handheld device after the 3DS. It's no longer compatible with televisions like its counterpart, but its focus on portability shaves a significant amount of money off of its price point, and it doesn't sacrifice any of the games that you love. All Nintendo Switch games are playable on the Nintendo Switch Lite; sometimes you may need to buy some extra accessories, though.

The smaller screen size may turn off some people from buying it, but that's also a selling point to others. If you were content with a Nintendo 3DS and what that system had to offer, you'll be more than happy with a Nintendo Switch Lite. Plus, it has a longer battery life and a proper D-pad, and you can't go wrong with that.

Best Re-release: SNES Classic

Nintendo knew there was a market for classic mini consoles and it cashed in with the SNES Classic. It's an affordable way for people to play games otherwise unavailable to them or just a great way for older people to re-experience the games they loved as children. It may only come with 20 games, but one of those is the never before released Star Fox 2.

Since this console was so popular and Nintendo did not continue to produce them, you're likely going to have to settle for a used or refurbished SNES Classic. If you want a brand new one, don't be too surprised if the asking price is a lot more than it originally retailed for.

Most Nostalgic: NES Classic

Here's a nostalgia punch for everyone. Nintendo decided to re-release the NES as the NES Classic, a mini-version of the beloved system that kickstarted home console gaming. Now you can play your favorite childhood games on your modern-day television via HDMI, and it comes packed with some extra special features like the ability to rewind your gameplay.

You'll need to be content with only having 30 games included, though. What's more is that Nintendo did not make a large quantity, and given how popular the NES Classic was, it quickly sold out at most retailers. You're looking to pick it up used or at some astronomical price otherwise.

Bottom line

You can't go wrong with a Nintendo Switch. There's a reason it's one of Nintendo's best-performing consoles. It finally has proper third-party support and is the perfect hybrid console for when you want to relax on your couch and play on the television or undock it and take it on a car ride. When you factor in its stellar exclusives lineup and the digital SNES and NES shops, picking up a Nintendo Switch is a no-brainer.

If you want the best graphics possible without splurging on a dedicated gaming PC, you'll want the Xbox One X. It's the priciest console available, but that's because it delivers a powerful product. Staying ahead of the curve in terms of performance isn't cheap.

As for those who are looking for the best games, especially single-player games, pick up a PlayStation 4 Pro. Your taste in games may be subjective, but most people will agree that Sony offers some Emmy-worthy adventures in a variety of different genres. You're bound to find something that you like, whether it's during the post-apocalypse or in an otherworldly realm altogether.

Why Trust Us?

At TechnoBuffalo, we recommend the best products to enhance your life. As expert curators, we handpick products based on quality and usefulness to positively impact your day-to-day, from cart to doorstep. We take our responsibility seriously — testing products, reading reviews, and sourcing knowledgeable outlets to ensure our selections are worthy of your time and money. We deliver detailed product overviews, balancing objective information with subjective opinions, so making the best choice for your home and lifestyle is as easy as possible.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Jennifer Locke has been playing video games nearly her entire life, starting all the way back with an NES and now primarily gaming on PS4 Pro, Xbox One X, and Nintendo Switch.