BROKE ASS BUYING

None of us can afford the brand new and extremely expensive PlayStation 5 or XBOX Series X right now; it just isn't in a student budget. However, what students can look at buying for themselves now is the suddenly much more affordable PlayStation 4, XBOX One, or Nintendo Switch. These alternatives provide for a better priced console with some still-incredibly-fun games. While these consoles will be phased out over time, they are still getting updates and new games for a little longer.

$600 Best Games: God of War, Marvel’s Spiderman, The Last of Us Part 2

The PS4 runs at a slightly better frame rate than the XBOX One, and it has a larger harddrive and more exclusive games. While the PS4 and the XBOX One are similar, I would recommend the PS4 simply because of its superior technology and wider selection of games. However, because of its superior tech performance, it is also more costly than the XBOX One.

$300 Best Games: Mario Kart 8, Animal Crossing, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The Nintendo Switch often gets dismissed as a child’s console, but it is also the console I would recommend to couples who live together in isolation. The portable style, the light-heartedness of most games, and the larger focus on cooperative gameplay make it the most enjoyable console to play with a partner. This console is Nintendo’s most recent offering, but it has a similar price to the older consoles. The only downside is that this console does not have access to many of the major blockbuster games that the others have.

$450 Best Games: Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Sea of Thieves

The primary reasons get an XBOX One is to play your old XBOX and XBOX 360 games, to play the XBOX exclusives, and to play games online with your other friends who have an XBOX. The XBOX has a wider selection of streaming services and video watching options than the PS4, and it's more affordable. If you're planning on using this console for streaming, I would recommend the XBOX One.

If video gaming is part of your social time, but your budget can’t withstand the top tier consoles, there are some possibilities to keep you and yours entertained through the holidays, during the pandemic and beyond.