Best game consoles for kids

This versatile gaming console gets top marks for its portability, wireless capacity, and its easy-to-set-up linkage to your TV or tablet. It has multiple hot games from Super Mario Odyssey to Animal Crossing, so there are options for most members of the family, and it connects over wifi, which means up to eight consoles can be joined for a multiplayer experience (hello, family game night). And the easy-to-use parental controls offer some piece of mind and ensure only appropriate games and content are accessible to your little ones. 

Heads up

Despite Nintendo's claims to the contrary, the battery lasts for 2-3 hours when you play most games, so have a charger on hand for longer sessions when using the Switch out of its charging dock. 

Parents say

"We love our Nintendo Switch. My 2- and 4-year-old can both play games on it and there’s lots of things we can play as a family."

Specs

• Play modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld
• Includes Nintendo Switch console, Nintendo Switch dock, two Joy-Con controllers, Joy-Con grip, two Joy-Con wrist straps, high-speed HDMI cable, Nintendo Switch AC adapter
• Choose from 64, 128, or 256 gigabyte memory card add-on
   

The Nintendo 2DS XL is perfect for gaming on-the-go, with a lightweight and ergonomic design that hands players the power of the Nintendo system in a sleak, streamlined package. The massive 4.88 inch screen folds like a clamshell, which helps avoid screen-related accidents. The Nintendo 2DS XL also comes pre-loaded with everyone’s childhood favorite, Mario Kart, and you can play all Nintendo 3DS, New Nintendo 3DS, and most Nintendo DS games on this system.

Heads up

While this system is great for kids, it was designed with adults in mind, so teaching your little ones to be gentle is important. In addition, in September 2020, Nintendo officially discontinued the 2DS XL, so it'll get increasingly hard to find before it's unavailable at all. 

Parents say

"All my kids love theirs and use them all the time!. All my son’s friends have them too so they trade games and sometimes can play with each other if they have the same games (Mario Kart is a big hit)."

Specs

• Play mode: handheld
• Choose from black/turquoise, orange/white, or purple/silver
   

The perfect option for young kids, the LeapPad is kid-friendly right out of the box with a built-in bumper to shield the sides of the screen from damage, a kickstand to prop it on surfaces, and a 7-inch shatter-safe screen. It also comes pre-loaded with dozens of educator-approved apps focused on math, reading, writing, coding, problem-solving, and creativity. The parental controls allows you to set time limits and add websites to LeapSearch, LeapFrog’s kid-friendly web browser. Plus there are over 750 games, apps, videos, and music files available through LeapFrog’s learning library. Another feature kids just adore: they can take photos and videos, with front and back cameras. 

Heads up

This system comes with many apps and games bundled, but additional games are pricey, running from about $10 to $40. 

Parents say

"I really love LeapFrog and their products. My mother-in-law is a first grade teacher and she has always raved about how great LeapPad Academy is for phonics and learning aids. The games are pricey, and there aren't many for my child’s age right now. We did buy him one of the Toy Story games for 4-7 year olds and he has figured out a lot of the game himself. So far he really likes the videos and shows you can buy."

Specs

• Play mode: handheld
• 7-inch screen
• 9 x 6.38 x 1.02 inches
• 1.28 pounds
• Choose from green or pink
• Requires one rechargeable lithium ion battery, included
• Recommended for age 3 and up

Take everything you love about the Nintendo Switch and make it smaller and lighter, and you’ve got the Nintendo Switch Lite. It has a sleek design, just one piece to hold, keep track of, and store, and an integrated control pad that makes game play super simple. And if you’ve already got a Switch at home, the Switch Lite is compatible with all physical and digital Nintendo Switch games that support handheld mode, and has wifi to go online for more NES games (for a price). Kids and parents alike enjoy the Switch Lite's trendy colors, too. 

Heads up

Games must support handheld mode in order to play with the Switch Lite, and the console makes playing with others more complicated, so multiplayer family games are best on another system. 

Specs

• Play modes: TV mode, tabletop, and handheld
• Includes Nintendo Switch Lite system and Nintendo Switch AC adapter
• Choose from 64, 128, or 256 gigabyte memory card add-on
• Choose from blue, gray, yellow, turquoise, or coral

If your child is ready to level up to a more complicated and high-definition gaming console and are interested in racing games, the Playstation 4 is where it's at. It connects to your TV and has all the latest games with intensified 4K quality. It has a built-in parental control system where you can control how much play time they get. And bonus points, it reads Blu-Ray disks so it also works for family movie nights.

Heads up

The Playstation 4 is not geared towards children, so there are a lot of games out there that aren’t appropriate for young kids.

Specs

• Play modes: TV Mode
• Includes 1TB PlayStation 4 system, DualShock 4 wireless controller, mono headset, HDMI cable, AC power cord, USB cable