For anyone who is thinking about getting into video gaming in 2020, you have so many options. It can be so hard to know where to go. There is a seemingly endless number of options out there to choose from. If you find that your gaming options are simply too diverse to choose from, you might end up making the wrong choice. Let's try to find out if buying a gaming console is still a good idea and how to choose the best one for yourself.

In order to choose the right gaming console for yourself, there are a few things on which you should focus. For example:

• Your personal gaming type. What kind of games do you enjoy playing the most?
• Your co-operative gaming type. What kind of games do you play locally/online?
• Your competitive gaming type. Which games do you thrive at when in a PVP scenario?
• Your budget. What kind of money are you looking at throwing into a gaming console?
• Your gaming time. Are you going to be gaming every day or just occasionally?
• Your need for longevity. Are you looking for a console with extensive features already built-in? Or one with long-term potential?
• Your personal preferences. Everyone has their own 'type' of brands they like; who caters to you the most?

All of these questions, of course, will be difficult to sum up without really giving it a proper thinking process. We recommend that you consider all of the above very carefully, as it will play a role in deciding which will be the best console set up for you. Everything listed above should be taken into consideration when shopping for the perfect gaming setup for you.

However, without any further delay, in this post, we will try to help you make a choice with which you will be happy. So which gaming consoles are worth investing your hard-earned money into in 2020?  

The PC

Trying to answer the question above we must start with the gaming PC. While not a "gaming console", your PC could be the most powerful gaming machine. The one thing that a good gaming PC has over any other console is that it can handle both 60 frames per second and 4K graphics. Most consoles, like the PS4 Pro, can only handle either 30 frames per second and 4K graphics, or 60 frames per second and 1080p.

If you are looking to spend plenty and gain functionality outside of gaming, go for a gaming PC. They will cost you much more as you are buying each part yourself, but you will generally get more prolonged usage out of a gaming PC. Your typical games console will get around 4-5 years of excellent game releases, and then you will need to get a new version. 

With a PC, buying high-end means, you should be getting 5-6 years out of your PC without having to go through a significant upgrade. It's hard to know, though, as it depends on what you intend to play. For gaming selection (thanks to tools like Steam, GOG, and Epic Games Store), though, the PC probably wins the day.

It's got the greatest variety and arguably the best longevity – but also the highest price.

 

PlayStation 4

The Sony PlayStation 4 is easily the best place to start if you are looking for awesome console exclusives. Let's make no fuss about it; the PS4 won the console war decisively against the Microsoft Xbox. While the Xbox wins in terms of technical performance, the PS4 has better games to pick from.

Major PS4 exclusives worth trying out include God of War, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Spider-Man, and Final Fantasy VII Remake. This is only a small list of games for which Sony's PS 4 has gaming exclusivity. Some other major games will be coming out before the release of the PS5. The PS4 is a good investment, and you should have no problem at all, finding most games that you'll love playing on it. From sports games to shooters, RPGs to adventure games to simulation efforts, you should have no issue at all in finding your niche on the PS4. The only problem is that you can't help but feel like your PS4 is somewhat outdated even as soon as you take it out of the box.

Compare it to a PC or an Xbox One X, and the level of detail is not impressive enough. However, for the price, the PS4 is it's a great bit of kit.

 

Xbox One

The Xbox One is a complex beast, as it comes with numerous styles. Today, you will find that you either have the weaker but super-affordable Xbox One S, or the more powerful but more expensive Xbox One X. The One X is easily the most powerful of the latest consoles, offering incredible power and opportunity to play games from previous Microsoft consoles.

However, the lack of awesome exclusives outside of a select few can be quite jarring. The likes of Gears of War, Sea of Thieves, and Forza Horizon 4 are all good titles to explore. But you can play them all on the PC, too. If you are looking for a simple and affordable option with a decent gaming catalog, though, the Xbox One is an excellent investment.

There's also another point to be made regarding the Xbox gaming experience! The use of its powerful subscription service also means you can get access to a ludicrous amount of games for a small monthly fee. If you are looking for a solid gaming package that still feels technically impressive, it will make a lot of sense to look into getting an Xbox One.

Otherwise, though, a PC might be your best bet if you aren't a huge "Sony only" exclusives.

SNES Classic

While some might not be sure about buying something so old, the SNES Classic consoles out there today are massively exciting. They come bundled with some of the biggest SNES games in the gaming catalog history, and a fine range of extra features not available back in the day.

If you are looking for a proper way to relive the pleasant nostalgia of the 'good old days,' then investing a few bucks into a SNES Classic is a good idea. The only problem with these is that unless you want to get into ethical grey areas, you are stuck with the games which are on the model that you choose to buy. This could mean lashing out more than $100 and getting a fraction of the games you wanted!

Sure, you could always add them on yourself – but this means delving into the awkward world of emulation. Many people just don't want to do this as it's an obvious legal issue. So, if you are looking for something with a complete plug-and-play list of games installed that is dripping with nostalgia, start here. Just be sure to look closely at the games list in advance to purchasing one – very carefully.

 

Nintendo Switch

For many gamers, the Nintendo Switch is the only console they need. Suitable to both TV and handheld gaming and with a dream-like list of exclusive games and accessories, the Switch does make gaming so simple. The only problem we have with the Switch is the enduring cost of its games and the cost of its appliances and extra features.

If you are finding the PS4 and Xbox One too similar, though, this is the alternative. It's an excellent console for co-op gaming, for entertaining party gaming, and sprawling RPG games. From Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Xenoblade Chronicles to a massive collection of Mario and other Nintendo legends games to pick from, you really would struggle to run out of Switch games.

Finally, add one of the most diverse indie stores in existence for the Nintendo, and you can find anything from old SNES and above classics, but also new games being released all the time. In our opinion, the Switch is the most comprehensive of the new modern games consoles. You have to remember, though, you'll need to have pretty deep pockets if you want to go down the route of owning one and investing in its unique collection!

Mobile gaming

If you are going to go down the route of playing mobile games, then we can only recommend you look at getting a good iPad. They can be quite expensive for the pro models, but the quality of mobile gaming today is far superior to what many of us were used to even 4-5 years ago. Many popular mobile games exist today, most of which are free to play with numerous in-game products to buy and the like.

Overall, though, mobile gaming is probably the best place to start for those who want a lite gaming experience. You can often find it quite easy to enjoy mobile gaming as it's so light and friendly and easy to set up in comparison. There are also a lot of mobile gaming accessories that you can add to your tablet or even cell phone to enjoy the joystick gaming style. If you are looking for cutting edge power and features, though, mobile gaming is not going to give you what you were looking for.

What is right for me?

It's hard to say – it just depends on the kind of gamer you are or wish to be. With so many options, though, one thing you are never going to be is short of options to pick from. So, regardless of what you think is right for you, one of the above is sure to be the ideal starting point on your gaming journey. You will need to be in control of choosing which one to go with! 

We hope to have helped you gain more understanding of your gaming options. Let us know what your favorite consoles in 2020 are in the comment section below.