The top 12 best gaming consoles for 2024. Part 2
By ForGeeks We’re continuing our roundup of consoles that you can safely buy in 2024 to enjoy both old favorites and high-profile new releases. You can read the first part of the roundup here.
We’re going to continue with our selection of consoles that you can buy in 2024 to enjoy both old favorites and high-profile new releases.
Nintendo Switch OLED
We chose OLED to take advantage of the larger, brighter screen. It’s amazing how much better the new OLED screen looks compared to the LCD of the original model. And the new model’s larger 7.0-inch screen — is a significant improvement, allowing you to use your device more effectively without increasing its overall size.
And the new model’s larger 7.0-inch screen — is a significant improvement, allowing you to use your device more without increasing its overall size.
This console — is a great choice because it utilizes all of the accessories from the previous model, including Joy-Con controllers, a docking station, microSD cards and, of course, games. That means users who choose to upgrade their console can use all of their old accessories on the new OLED model.
The console is a great choice because it uses all of the old accessories from the previous model.
Although you can play all the same games on the Switch OLED as on the original Switch, the games just look better on the new device — at least in portable mode. If you put both systems side by side, it’s easy to see the difference between the two screens. Since the OLED has a built-in LAN port in the dock, you’ll be able to plug in an Ethernet cable and enjoy online gaming without issues or lag.
Users who like to play games in desktop mode will be happy with the new Switch OLED stand, which takes up the entire back of the system. It’s a huge improvement over the thin and flimsy stand on the original model. Overall, the original Switch still gets the job done, but the OLED model is much better. Like the original Switch, the OLED doesn’t allow you to run higher quality games, but it’s perfect for those who love high-quality Nintendo games or ports of old favorite classics.
The OLED does not allow you to run games at a higher quality, but it’s perfect for those who love high-quality Nintendo games or ports of old favorite classic games.
Steam Deck OLED
Nintendo Switch is, of course, a good thing. However, the system limits players to the quality of games, support for new ones. Oh, and not all games that are available on PC can be run on Switch. Steam Deck makes that dream a reality, giving you access to the vast amount of games available on Valve’s platform without sacrificing quality. Sure, the games don’t look and run as great as they do on a powerful PC, but Steam Deck does its job surprisingly well.
If you’re deciding between the standard Steam Deck and the OLED version, the upgraded screen is definitely worth your slightly higher price tag. With a much-improved screen, the updated version of the Steam Deck retains its place as the leader among handhelds.
With a much-improved screen, the updated version of the Steam Deck retains its place as the leader among portable PCs.
Besides an extensive lineup of games, Steam Deck offers plenty of control customization, a clean user interface, and a reasonable price. It can’t be overemphasized how nice it is to log in and see all the games you’ve purchased over the years on Steam. Of course, not all games are compatible with the device, but almost all new releases run on Steam Deck, making it well worth the purchase.
Steam Deck is a great buy.
Asus ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme)
ROG Ally — is Steam Deck’s first real competitor. If you look at the comparison between the Steam Deck and the Asus ROG Rally, this new handheld is clearly faster and has more serious hardware.
“Many feel that the Asus ROG Ally eliminates almost all of the issues that you could experience when playing on the Steam Deck. The ROG Ally has a more comfortable design, and the screen seems better.
“
The ROG Ally won’t have the same level of performance as the PS5, of course. It feels more like a gaming laptop squeezed into a portable device than a console, and it has its software shortcomings. But if you can live with that, it’s a great device — perfect for those who need a little more control over what they can do.
The ROGly is a great device.
PlayStation 4 Pro
Although many gamers are moving on to the PlayStation 5, last generation’s consoles can and should still be played. The PlayStation 4 Pro is still a serious gaming machine with an extensive library of games, and its price tag (as well as the cost of games, accessories, etc.) will only continue to drop. The PS4 Pro is also a little easier to find than the PS5, although most modern consoles suffer from low availability after the recent chip shortage. The PS4 Pro will deliver an impressive gaming experience for 4K TV owners, thanks to improved graphics and sharper visuals in 4K-enabled games.
The PS4 Pro will also deliver an impressive gaming experience for 4K TV owners, thanks to improved graphics and sharper visuals in 4K-enabled games.
It goes without saying that there’s a huge difference between the PS4 Pro and PS5, and it’s not even worth hiding. However, it’s still a decent gaming console that’s worth paying attention to, especially if you don’t mind saving money. As well as a few games exclusive to the PS5, you’ll get access to most of the major games out now, and all of the most popular free-to-play titles.
Price is one of the biggest factors in deciding whether to upgrade — there’s no shame in buying a last-gen console and playing it until the PS5 becomes more affordable.
Price is one of the biggest factors in deciding whether to upgrade — there’s no shame in buying a last-gen console and playing it until the PS5 becomes more affordable.
Nintendo Switch Lite
If you plan to use the Nintendo Switch only in portable mode, the Nintendo Switch Lite is ideal. It’s cheaper, it doesn’t have the TV dock support of the standard system, but it’s smaller. It also lasts longer on a single charge. It’s also compatible with almost all Nintendo Switch games, and is ideal for games like Pokémon Sword and Shield.
Giving up the Joy-Cons, the Switch Lite gets an all-in-one design. It’s almost an inch shorter in width, making it more compact than the original. At almost 300 grams, it’s lighter, but not so much that it feels flimsy. Because of its smaller size than its predecessor, the button layout had to be changed a bit, but the console is still incredibly comfortable and easy to operate.
There are no obvious differences in gaming performance. The Switch Lite doesn’t support HDMI or Joy-Cons, nor does it have TV support or motion controls, which limits your gaming options somewhat, but you’ll still have most of the Switch library available to you.
SNES Classic Edition
In the 16-bit era, Nintendo was at its peak, releasing popular games like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Super Metroid, along with cult hits like Earthbound. Third-party companies weren’t left out either, with Square Enix’s Final Fantasy VI and Konami’s Super Castlevania IV ranking among the best games of all time.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
With the SNES Classic Edition, you can enjoy all your favorite Super Nintendo classics the way you remember them from retro gaming. There’s even a CRT filter option that mimics the look of your old TV.
The SNES Classic Edition is a great way to enjoy all your favorite Super Nintendo classics the way you remember them with retro games.
Saving old Nintendo games on the SNES Classic makes it a lot less frustrating than it was 25 years ago. Plus, the SNES Classic Edition — it’s the only way to play Star Fox 2 outside of the Switch Online service, which Nintendo canceled shortly before the game’s release date.
Sega Genesis Mini
Despite the SNES Classic being a major retro pick, there are some classic games that can only be found on the Sega Genesis. From groundbreaking platformers Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Earthworm Jim to cult action games Streets of Rage 2 and Mortal Kombat II — let’s face it, Sega has just as many great games as Nintendo’s comparable console.
Sega has a lot of great games.
The Sega Genesis Mini features 42 games, 40 of which — are Sega classics, and will be sweetened by the once-released Tetris on the Genesis and the arcade shooter Darius. The bundle will include a miniature version of the Sega Genesis console and two classic controllers. The console is ready to plug and play, and includes a power adapter and HDMI cable.
The console is ready to plug and play, and includes a power adapter and HDMI cable.
The games are presented pretty much as they were, but the console has a save-anywhere feature, which is a huge time saver. Overall, choosing a retro console depends largely on whether you prefer — Sega or Nintendo. There are certainly no wrong choices, and the fact that these consoles are still causing a stir decades later is a case in point.
And the fact that these consoles are still causing a stir decades later.
