Console deals

Buying advice

The first thing that matters is which games you actually want to play: many titles are exclusive to one system, and downloads you buy cannot later be moved to a console from another manufacturer. So check before buying whether the games you want, and possibly your older collection, run through backwards compatibility. Second, the fit with your TV or monitor counts: a console that outputs high frame rates or 4K only helps if the display and the cable support it. Third, factor in the online subscription, because online multiplayer costs extra on most systems, and some subscription tiers include a game library that can replace buying individual titles.

Older or more compact systems such as the first Switch generation usually cost roughly 200 to 350 euros and are enough for casual players, families and use on the go. Current home consoles and the Switch 2 currently cost about 450 to 750 euros in most cases, depending on the disc drive, storage size and bundled game. Pro models with more graphics power sit clearly above that and mainly pay off with a large 4K TV. Because consoles have become more expensive recently, it is worth looking at bundles in which the game costs less than it would on its own.

You can recognise a good deal by a price clearly below the usual level of recent weeks; price history charts help with that assessment. Discounts appear more often around November, at the turn of the year and shortly before a revised version is released, when previous models are cleared out. Include the follow-up costs: a second controller, expansion storage, a subscription and games often add up to more than the console itself.

What to look for

• Bundles with a game are often cheaper than buying the console and game separately; compare the bundle price with the price of the console on its own.
• Digital editions have no disc drive: games are only available as downloads, and used discs are out.
• Plan for storage early: big games quickly take up 100 GB and more.