Kids First Console

LNiko123456 on 20/09/2018 - 19:06

I'm looking at getting my 6 turning 7 year old son a console, and I'm confused which direction to go.

I was thinking a One S because he could play Minecraft and it seems age appropriate.. and game prices seem reasonable.

But then I saw Spider-Man and it looked like something I might want to try (I'm not a gamer).

Is Spider-Man worth it? If I got a PS4, would it be harder to find age appropriate games? I can't see myself becoming much of a gamer.. no time.. I don't want my son playing violent games at this age.

I would consider a Switch because it a) is built in for 2-player, except b) I don't really want my kid dragging a screen everywhere he goes.

I hope other parents find it this confusing which one to choose.

Gaming Game Console

Comments

  • StickMan on 20/09/2018 - 19:14
    +10

    Switch will have the best percent of kid-friendly titles. The other consoles, are all aimed at teens and adults, and so the games are violent/etc.

    You can probably pick up a Wii and games for <$50 if you want to start with that.

    • HighAndDry on 20/09/2018 - 20:14

      Switch hands down. Not only does it have the most kid-friendly titles, but just its play style which is more hands on and… movement-oriented (how do I word this better?) makes it more suited for kids who should be moving around more and will find that more fun.

      • subywagon on 20/09/2018 - 20:47

        Switch for sure.

  • Godric on 20/09/2018 - 19:19
    +11

    Switch, or second hand Wii U or Wii with a heap of games for cheap

  • So lo on 20/09/2018 - 19:26
    +1

    My daughter is 6 weeks turning 7 weeks, and I too am considering her gaming future.

    I have gotten her a SNES Classic and loaded it with all the real classics that are missing, Donkey Kong Countries, Chrono Trigger, etc etc.

    Now I will just have to test out these games for her. FOR SCIENCE.

    • o53djz7qTPY4der on 20/09/2018 - 19:30
      +3

      My daughter is two and a half. I have recently been playing all the Mega-Drive classics with here. She loves Sonic and California Games. Every now and again she'll watch me on the PS1 emulator with FFVII or RE.

      • AlienC on 11/12/2018 - 09:09

        You are a good father/parent.

        My best memories was watching my own dad play games on the pc and ps1.

        I will never forget those moments, something about watching someone else play locally in real life is so soothing and relaxing more so than just chilling watching tv imho.

        Get her into racing games and maybe even a racing sim setup.. I reckon that would be a pretty cool thing for a child.. then VR when she grows up.

  • bazingaa on 20/09/2018 - 19:29
    +3

    any Nintendo

  • qwerty on 20/09/2018 - 20:10

    PS4 has tons of kids games - all the lego games , little big planet crash bandicoot , ratchet and clank , kingdom hearts , dragon quests , sonic then you throw in all the sports and racing games

    But with xbox you have similar titles but can always go the cheaper option of backwards compatibility

    Id get him one of those 2 main ones and minecraft and either minecraft story mode or Terraria

  • Randxyz123 on 20/09/2018 - 20:35
    +1

    The switch is the clear answer here.

    Portable or at the tv, can do online, can play heaps of classics and can do multiplayer so you can kick his arse at Mario Kart (set all the time trails while he's asleep)

  • Smashed Avo on 20/09/2018 - 20:36
    +1

    I'd start him out on the classics - go oldschool SNES/N64/Saturn/PS1 era. If they develop an appreciation for gameplay >>> graphics, substance >>> style, they will really have a better gaming experience overall. Then you can drop a few hundred on a modern console at a later point if they decide the AAA titles are what they actually enjoy.

    • Niko123456 on 20/09/2018 - 20:39

      That's something I should have mentioned. I downloaded a snes emulator and got a couple of usb controllers.. playing a bit of street fighter which was fun because it is very button mashable.

      I appreciate all the advice so far though.

  • djkelly69 on 20/09/2018 - 20:43

    I got a One S in a similar situation and am happy with it. Keep in mind you will likely need Xbox Live with most games as well.

  • ShortyX on 20/09/2018 - 21:00

    Xbox has a good family setup with locking down child accounts by default (eg, preventing purchases, preventing chatting to randoms,etc), weekly email reports showing screen time, allowing shared games purchases, etc.

  • Quantumcat on 20/09/2018 - 21:07
    +3

    Get a Wii (~$30) or Wii U (~$150), hack it,add all the games they'll ever want.

    Switch second choice but they won't know the difference (too young for serious peer pressure).

  • MrHyde on 20/09/2018 - 21:24
    +3

    I got my kids a Wii from a recent deal and they love it.

    They have not asked for a more modern console and are enjoying the large number of games on the Wii as well as moving around.

    The advantage has been that they themselves stop playing after a while cause they get tired.

  • Strahany on 20/09/2018 - 21:56
    +1

    The problem with Nintendo consoles is that the games almost never go on sale, so it would be more expensive in the long run than a PS4 or Xbox One where you can just wait for the price to come down (having said that, the Nintendo Switch has a root level exploit so people are acquiring games for "less than retail" and emulating on it). More importantly, though, would be the available games which depends on your stance on what's appropriate for a child. If you don't want any exposure to M/MA rated games, then the Nintendo Switch would give you the greatest selection due to their plethora of kid-oriented titles. That isn't to say that they're lacking on PS4/Xbox One, just that the better games on these platforms are more mature.

    If you want the cheapest - PS4/Xbox One (or Switch if you run the exploits, but we can't advocate such things here)
    If you want a cheap 4K Blu-Ray player - Xbox One S
    If you want to play some games yourself - PS4 (this is coming from an Xbox fan - there are too many awesome exclusives on the PlayStation to ignore)

  • spackbace on 21/09/2018 - 00:34
    +2

    Another recommendation for a hacked Wii. Load it up with games (so many kids ones out there that would be in bargain bins if you didn't know where to look online) and let them find what they like

    Dad to 4yo & 6yo girls here :)

  • Danstar on 21/09/2018 - 07:59

    Xbox.

    Backwards compatibility, cheaper, and can cross play with others platforms for Fortnite (minus PS4 players)

    As for the exclusives on PS4, if you're not interested in them, there is no other real benefit on getting PS4

    I also find the controller on the Xbox way more comfortable and sturdy

  • Axelstrife on 21/09/2018 - 11:52

    Get a PS4. Both consoles have the same games except for exclusives which PlayStation are far better and there are more of them.

    • Danstar on 22/09/2018 - 11:04

      Like4 extra exclusives lol

      • Ninternet on 23/09/2018 - 09:17

        Both of these comments are short sighted considering the Switch basically has more worthwhile exclusives than the Xbox already, but Axelstrife stated the term "both consoles".

        Also the PS4 exclusive titles are severely outnumbering Xbox at this rate.

        I love my Xbox, but you gotta face the facts

        • Danstar on 23/09/2018 - 11:04

          But you have to want those exclusives.

          No point in buying a specific console for “exclusives” that you don’t want or will never play

        • Ninternet on 23/09/2018 - 18:48
          +1

          @Danstar:

          Okay well imo

          PS4 Must haves:
          Uncharted Trilogy
          Uncharted 4
          Uncharted: Lost Legacy
          Last of Us Remastered
          Spider-Man
          Shadow of the Colossus
          Ratchet and Clank
          Horizon Zero Dawn
          God of War

          Switch Must haves:
          Super Mario Odyssey
          Breath of the Wild
          Splatoon 2
          Golf Story
          Dkc Tropical Freeze
          Bayonetta 2
          Snipperclips
          Hyrule/Fire Emblem Warriors

          Xbox One Must haves:
          Halo Master Chief Collection
          Sunset Overdrive
          Forza Horizon 3
          Gears of War 4
          Rare Replay

          Then of course you have the fact that, unless you get the One X, games run better on PS4 or, if they're on Switch, more conveniently on that platform.

          I love my Xbox One S as a 4k Blu ray player, CD player and general media device though (the others don't come close in that regard)

        • Danstar on 24/09/2018 - 01:03

          @Ninternet: meh :D

          I always found uncharted one of those games that get hyped up so much and end up in bargain bin after a month

        • Ninternet on 24/09/2018 - 02:18

          @Danstar:

          Same could be said for any primarily-single player game not released by Rockstar or Nintendo

  • lactose_the_intoler… on 25/09/2018 - 14:17

    I have all three, if i had to pick one for the kids it would be the Xbox based purely on Games Pass, being able to throw $11 at it and have a whole library of different games to play at the drop of a hat is a godsend.

    Switch would come second but as others have mentioned expect to pay top dollar for every game you buy for it.

    On a side not Spider-man is great, i have thrown the controller in all my friends and families faces and have yet to see someone not crack a smile at the simple joy of swinging around New York

  • N1NJ4W4RR10R on 07/10/2018 - 18:37
    +1

    Out of xbox/PlayStation, go PlayStation. They'll have the same games for the most part, but PlayStation has much better exclusives.

    For a kid though, I'd go for the switch. Games are much more kid friendly (and generally better IMO). Plus, Pokemon.

    Alternatively, a 3DS is a cheap/good buy.

  • AlienC on 11/12/2018 - 09:11

    At that age Pokemon and Final Fantasy and fighting games like Tekken was life.. so maybe Playstation and whatever console Pokemon is on nowadays.

    • Ninternet on 12/12/2018 - 23:31

      It has been and always will be Nintendo that has Pokemon. Your comment sounds like you only had a PS1 and a Gameboy as a kid and therefore you don't realise Final Fantasy and Tekken are multiplatform titles now

      • AlienC on 13/12/2018 - 05:18

        Yes. I am very much out of the loop nowadays.

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