The best game consoles for kids
In the meantime, some game consoles are bustling on the market. We will show you the best devices for your children and take the different age groups into account.
The latest consoles in the children's check: PS4 vs. Xbox One vs. Wii U
The NextGen consoles PlayStation 4 from Sony and Xbox One from Microsoft have been on the market since November 2013. These consoles impress with high-tech hardware and particularly good graphics. The Wii U was released exactly one year earlier and is technically subject to the NextGen consoles.
- The PS4 is undoubtedly a great game console. But the game selection looks a bit thin at the moment, especially when it comes to children's games: Children's games are, for example, "Knack", "Rayman Legends" or "Fifa 14". Most games are from the genre shooter or action adventure. Therefore, the PS4 is more suitable for children from 12 years.
- The Xbox One is no different. Here, too, there are mainly shooter or action adventure games. The games "Forza Motorsport 5", "Kincet Sports Rivals" or "Lego Marvel Super Heros" are suitable for children. The Xbox One is also more suitable for children from the age of 12.
- The Wii U is different: for the Nintendo Wii U you get a larger selection of games for children. These include the Super Mario games "New Super Mario Bros. U" or "Mario Kart 8". But also "Lego Marvel: Super Heros", "Lego City Undercover" or "Disney Planes" make children's hearts beat faster. Nintendo generally scores in games. In addition, the Wii U is backwards compatible compared to PS4 and Xbox One. So you can also enjoy old Wii classics.
Trailer: Party hit "Mario Kart 8" for Wii U
In terms of hardware, the Wii U is subject to the two competitors. Graphically, the classic "Mario Kart" doesn't have to hide either, as our trailer shows:
Cheap alternatives for children - the previous models PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii
If you want to save money, it is worthwhile to fall back on the previous models. Since the PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii have been on the market for a long time, the game selection is currently much larger.
- You can get the PS3 from around 170 euros. This makes the purchase significantly cheaper than that of the PS4, which currently costs 399 euros. In addition, the games are cheaper and the selection of children's games is larger. Depending on the games, your children can even play games from the PS2 or PSone on the PS3. PSone Games can be downloaded for a fee from the PlayStation Store.
- You can currently also buy the Xbox 360 for around 170 euros. The Xbox One with Kinect, on the other hand, costs you around 450 euros. With the previous model you save a few hundred euros.
- The Wii U including Mario Kart 8 or New Super Mario Bros. U costs around 300 euros. You can get the Wii as a pure console for around 100 euros. As a set with Mario Kart, Wii Wheel (steering wheel) and Wii Remote Controller just under 200 euros. The game selection is gigantic. For the Wii you will also find numerous good children's games.
Conclusion: Which game console should I use?
For children, Nintendo's Wii U or the Wii is clearly the best. The consoles score with a large selection of games for children, because most games are suitable for children from 0 or 6 years. The Nintendo consoles are also at the front in terms of price and are best suited as a family console, since you can often play in pairs or four.
- However, NextGen consoles are very popular among young people. However, you should consider together whether the games are suitable for your teenagers.
- When purchasing, you can also choose the cheaper bundles for the Wii U or bundles for the PlayStation 4.
In another practical tip, we will show you the differences between Wii and Wii U.