The best gaming consoles

The Xbox One S offers great capabilities — from running the latest triple-A games to playing 4K Ultra HD Blu-Rays — and accomplishes it at a price that should make other console makers blush.

It might seem redundant to have two Microsoft consoles on our list, but the Xbox One S is far from old and busted even if the Xbox One X is the new hotness. Although the Xbox One X boasts more impressive hardware, the S is our top pick for buyers who want an affordable all-in-one gaming and multimedia machine that can play the latest AAA games as well as stream shows and movies via popular services like Netflix and Hulu. The console also offers a true 4K HDR experience with compatible TVs, including the ability to play 4K Blu-Rays, and comes in at half the price of the newer X.

The Xbox One S is the second revision of Microsoft's eighth-generation console. It's a slimmer, smaller update to the original system, with improved hardware and the ability to stream 4K video and play Ultra HD Blu-Rays, according to Digital Trends. Even the controller was upgraded with new Bluetooth connectivity that lets you use it with Windows 10 without the need for a wireless adapter, a nice bonus for PC gamers.

The PlayStation 4 might have a slight edge when it comes to its game library, but the Xbox One is no slouch with its own solid lineup of triple-A and indie titles as well as huge exclusive franchises like "Halo" and "Gears of War." It's also backwards compatible with a large and growing number of Xbox 360 titles. But where the Xbox One S really stands out, in our opinion, is in its multimedia capabilities. Along with a 4K Blu-Ray player, the Xbox offers great support for popular streaming services like Netflix, making the console a great all-in-one entertainment machine.

Another big point for the Xbox One S is its low cost relative to the X and the PS4 Pro, and there is a myriad of bundles available at different price points, including many special edition consoles, to suit almost any taste. Considering its hardware and extensive multimedia capabilities, the S is arguably the best value in a home gaming console right now.

Although the Xbox One S can stream in 4K and has an Ultra HD Blu-Ray player, be aware that it cannot render games in 4K — to do that, you need a system designed for it like the One X or PS4 Pro. Furthermore, while Microsoft has said that future games developed for the X's beefier hardware will still be playable on the S (although at lower settings), this still leaves some questions as to how well the older system will handle newer titles and how long Microsoft intends to support it. Nonetheless, it's highly unlikely that Microsoft will drop support for the Xbox One S any time soon, so this should not be a major concern for the foreseeable future.

Pros: A 4K HDR Blu-Ray player, improved specs over the original Xbox One, more affordable than other consoles, backward compatibility with many Xbox 360 titles, numerous bundle options available, and great streaming support

Cons: Cannot render games in 4K, and it's unclear how well the console will be able to handle future titles developed for the Xbox One X

Buy the Xbox One S on Amazon for $199

The Nintendo Switch is a great console for families, people who love multiplayer titles, and casual gamers, and its unique design lets you play at home on a TV or take it on the go.

Nintendo is a brand that needs little introduction. This Japanese company made gaming consoles mainstream (and probably saved the game industry) with the 1983 release of the Famicom, later released in the West as the now-legendary Nintendo Entertainment System. Nintendo has continued to innovate and redefine the home gaming market with unique products like the motion-controlled Wii, but the new Nintendo Switch might be the most ambitious console design yet, according to Digital Trends and other reviewers.

The developers at Nintendo love to re-invent the wheel (or in this case, the console) and the Switch does exactly that. Its 2-in-1 hybrid design lets you use the Switch as a home gaming system with its docking station plugged into your TV, or if you want to use it as a portable device, the tablet-like "body" of the system can slide out of its dock so you can take your games on the go.

The Nintendo Switch also offers a great at-home social gaming experience, something that modern consoles have largely ignored in favor of online-focused multiplayer. While the Switch does feature online play for multiplayer games like the delightful "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe," its removable control paddles also make it simple to hand out controllers and let your friends and family join in the fun right beside you. For those interested in online multiplayer gaming, Nintendo Switch Online is less than half the price of Xbox Live Gold and PS Plus for a 12-month subscription.

The biggest question mark with the Nintendo Switch pops up in regards to what is arguably the most important part of choosing a console: the games. Right now, the Switch has a somewhat skimpy lineup of titles, and it's unclear how the system will handle older games. Both the Wii and the Wii U were backward compatible with previous-generation game discs, a great feature that the Switch notably lacks. The hardware is also weaker than that found in other consoles — something that has been common with Nintendo consoles since the GameCube — which brings into question its future ability to handle modern triple-A games.

Backwards compatibility isn't a deal-breaker for most buyers just looking to enjoy newer games, however, and while the Switch library is a bit light at the moment, it's a completely new console (not just a hardware upgrade like the PS4 Pro or Xbox One X) but already offers some great single- and multi-player games like "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" and "Splatoon 2." Owners can also expect plenty of Nintendo's famous first-party franchises, including Super Mario, Kirby, Super Smash Bros, and Mario Kart, coming to the Switch in the future. Numerous third-party developers have also pledged to bring their games to Nintendo's new system.

Pros: A unique form factor lets you switch from console to portable mode, it's great for at-home and online multiplayer gaming, and it's a good choice for kids and families

Cons: Game library is somewhat lacking at the moment, weaker hardware compared to other consoles, and it's unclear how the system will handle legacy media

Buy the Nintendo Switch on Amazon for $298.99

With a great library of first- and third-party titles, backward compatibility with the huge catalog of DS games, and large and vibrant dual display, the New Nintendo 2DS XL is the top choice for gamers on the go.

Nintendo has been the king of handheld gaming since the classic GameBoy became a hit in 1989. There have been a number of competitors over the years (remember the Sega Game Gear?), but none have come close to knocking Nintendo off of the throne. The New Nintendo 2DS is the company's latest foray into portable game systems — the Switch's hybrid design notwithstanding — and despite being out for several years now, still enjoys massive popularity.

The 2DS carries on everything that was great about the DS: a fantastic library of first-party Nintendo titles like Zelda, Pokemon, Mario, and Fire Emblem, a long list of great third-party games, and an intuitive and responsive dual-display touchscreen setup.

Like most other recent Nintendo systems, the New 2DS XL also offers backward compatibility with last-generation games. The first GameBoy Advance and GBA SP could play original GameBoy games, while the Nintendo DS and DS Lite featured a slot for GBA cartridges. The 2DS, including the latest revisions, is fully compatible with the entire backlog of DS games. The DS had a huge and awesome library.

True to its name, the XL is fairly large in the hands for a portable device — imagine two large smartphones connected by a hinge — so it's less pocket-friendly than smaller systems like the standard New 3DS or the original 3DS.

While the large screens are great, the XL's size can wear on you after awhile if you're playing it for extended periods or carrying it around all day. It's also not ideal for little hands.

Pros: Great first- and third-party titles, lots of casual and kid-friendly games, and complete backward compatibility with the huge DS library

Cons: It's fairly big for a handheld system (and for little hands)

Buy the New Nintendo 2DS XL on Best Buy for $149.99

Serious gamers who don't want to mess around with building a desktop PC would be hard-pressed to find a more powerful and efficient 4K-capable gaming machine than the Xbox One X.

Hardcore gaming enthusiasts tend to be more demanding of their hardware than most people. Many choose to build gaming PCs, and while this is a great option, it's also expensive (although cost-efficient), time-consuming, and can be a hassle for the uninitiated. A powerful system like the Xbox One X, on the other hand, proves that gamers can enjoy the benefits of great hardware with the plug-and-play convenience of a console.

The Xbox One X is Microsoft's second revision of the Xbox One and features the most advanced hardware of any gaming console yet, with 6 teraflops of graphical processing power (compare this to the 4.2-teraflop PS4 Pro GPU) which delivers 40 percent more power than any other current system is capable of. It also employs a boosted 12GB of RAM, 4GB more than the 8GB that has been standard on other modern consoles like the PS4 and original Xbox One.

As has already been explained, more powerful hardware makes for an improved experience even if you aren't playing in 4K, although if you consider yourself a gaming enthusiast then you likely already own a UHD TV or plan on getting one in the future. Developers have stated that they plan to take advantage of the Xbox One X's power for upcoming games, while Microsoft has guaranteed that these newer titles will still be playable on standard Xbox One and Xbox One S consoles, albeit at lower specs.

Along with its boosted power, the Xbox One X retains all of the features we love about the Xbox One S: a 4K Blu-Ray player (the most notable omission from the PS4 Pro), great multimedia streaming options, and backward compatibility with many Xbox 360 games. Microsoft is even starting to roll out support for original Xbox titles as well. This gives the Xbox One X a big leg-up over the PS4 for gamers who want to enjoy their old favorites on new hardware. One thing that the Xbox lacks, however, is a dedicated VR headset. Microsoft does have plans to bring virtual reality to the console in the future, according to Wareable, but for now, the company remains well behind the VR curve.

This beefy console comes with a hefty price tag and will set you back $500. Also, like all Microsoft consoles since the original Xbox, the Xbox One X requires a monthly subscription to the paid Xbox Live Gold service in order to enjoy online multiplayer. This is, sadly, becoming par for the course for consoles, with Nintendo being the last holdout (at least until 2018, when the paid Nintendo Switch Online service launches). However, this isn't necessary to enjoy most games and doesn't really affect single-player titles.

Pros: The most powerful hardware available on a gaming console, true 4K HDR capability with a 4K Blu-Ray player, and backward compatibility with many Xbox 360 games

Cons: It's the most expensive console on the market, and no VR capability as of yet

Buy the Xbox One X on Best Buy for $349.99