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The Xbox Series X is one of the best game consoles that you can buy. It’s packing some seriously powerful specs, capable of playing games in 4K up to 120fps. The likes of Forza Horizon 5 demonstrate how fantastic games can look on this console, while the ultra-fast SSDs also make games load up in a blink of an eye.

But the biggest selling point of the Xbox Series X is the optional Game Pass subscription, which gives you access to large library of games for a reasonable monthly fee. What’s more, future first-party games such as Starfield, Redfall and Scorn will all arrive on Game Pass on launch day, so you don’t need to miss out by avoiding the expensive upfront cost.

Of course, the Series X isn’t perfect. It’s very expensive and it’s not exactly the best look console we’ve ever seen. But when you consider that Microsoft has signed up the makers of Elder Scrolls and Call of Duty, there’s no worry that this console will have a lack of games compared to its rivals.

Reviewer: Jade King
Full review: Xbox Series X Review

Sony has continued its strong form into the current generation with the PS5, with the new console capable of a 4K performance while also packing features such as ray tracing. Sony has also made a big deal out of the SSD speeds, which can load up massive worlds in a couple of seconds.

The PS5 may not have a killer feature like Game Pass right now, but the haptic feedback of the DualSense controller is still mighty impressive. And there are already plenty of great games here such as Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, Demon’s Souls and Miles Morales. Sony is showing no sign of slowing down either.

There’s also a PS5 Digital Edition available for £359.99 if you’re not fussed about having a disk drive, although it’s admittedly difficult to find in stock.

Reviewer: Jade King
Full review: PS5 Review

The Nintendo Switch may have launched five years ago, but it’s still one of the best game consoles, especially for portable play. It’s cheaper than the OLED model, more versatile than the Switch Lite and no other company has even come close to rivalling it – at least until the Steam Deck arrives.

The Switch also has an impressive line-up of games, including Breath of the Wild, Animal Crossing: New Horizons and the recent Pokémon Legends: Arceus. And don’t forget this console’s versatility, as you can be used as a portable or even docked up to the TV so you can play the likes of Mario Kart on split-screen.

The Switch is arguably starting to show its age, relying on the cloud to play modern third-party games if you’ve got a fast enough internet connection. But there are still some exciting games in development for the Switch, including Breath of the Wild 2 and Splatoon 3.

Reviewer: Stuart Andrews
Full review: Nintendo Switch Review

If you’re concerned about the rising cost of game consoles, then the Xbox Series S is your best option. It supports a 1440p resolution and ray tracing, and even has speedy SSDs for instant loading times. It may be incapable of hitting a 4K resolution for most games, and lacks a disk drive if you like to buy physical games, but those are fair compromises considering the cheap price.

It also benefits from the absurdly good value of Game Pass, sharing the exact same library of games as its more powerful sibling. Yes, that means you’ll be able to play the likes of Halo Infinite, Starfield, The Elder Scrolls and all of the upcoming Call of Duty games.

However, its stingy 500GB of storage space can’t be ignored. In order to install multiple games on the drive, you’re going to have to invest in a memory card, and that certainly isn’t cheap. But even with that added to the shopping cart, this is still one of the best game consoles available for those on a budget.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: Xbox Series S Review

The Nvidia Shield TV (2019) is a left-field choice on this list, as it isn’t technically a gaming console. Instead, this is a premium Android streaming box that lets you watch all of your favourite TV apps in 4K. But with Nvidia’s GeForce Now app integrated, it’s also capable of streaming PC games via the cloud.

GeForce Now is a free to sign up to, linking up to the likes of your Steam and Epic Games Store accounts in order to access your game library. There’s a modest list of games that are actually supported, but there are some big hitters here including Fortnite, Cyberpunk and Control. Of course, you’ll need a fast internet connection in order to ensure a fast performance, which is the platform’s greatest limitation.

You can also choose to pay £8.99 per month to the upgrade the performance to 1080p at 60fps, or £15 per month (£89.99 per 6 months) to get games running in 4K HDR. Those subscription costs aren’t exactly cheap, but it’s decent value when you consider you’re getting the performance of £2000+ gaming PC.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: Nvidia Shield TV (2019)

The Nintendo Switch OLED is the latest iteration of the popular portable console, with a brand new OLED panel taking the visuals to new heights. Colours look far more vivid and natural here compared to the standard Switch, making the likes of Breath of the Wild and Metroid Dread look outstanding.

Unfortunately, the Switch OLED isn’t more powerful than the OG hybrid console, which means there’s no real reason (aside from a new Ethernet cable on the dock) to buy this version if you mainly play via the TV.

But for those who love portable play, the Nintendo Switch OLED is definitely worth considering, despite the never-ending rumours an incoming Switch Pro.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: Nintendo Switch OLED Review

The Nintendo Switch Lite is the cheapest portable games console on this list, making it an ideal option for children. It loses the ability to dock to a TV like the standard Switch, but it’s still a great option for on-the-go gaming.

Since the Joy-Cons are fused to the sides of the handheld console, it’s not capable of playing select games that require complex motion control, but it otherwise shares the same game library as the Switch and Switch OLED. Yup, that means you can play all of the best Mario, Zelda and Pokémon games here.

But it’s worth remembering that its inability to connect to the dock means you won’t be able to play multiplayer games such as Mario Kart and Smash Bros on the TV for some split-screen action.

Reviewer: Jade King
Full review: Nintendo Switch Lite Review