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What game console should I get in 2025?
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The console wars aren’t just between Xbox and PlayStation anymore. Whether you want 4K graphics or a console you play anywhere, here’s our guide to some of the best games consoles you can get in 2025, depending on your playstyle
By Virgin Media Edit
- Published
- 23 July 2025
Understanding the types of game consoles in 2025
In 2025, choosing the best console isn’t just about which console has the best visuals or exclusives – it’s about where, how, and why you want to play. So, the first step is figuring out your playstyle: do you want to game on your living room TV, on a portable handheld, or completely over the cloud?
To help you out, here’s a breakdown of the main types of consoles you can get today and the most popular examples of each of them:
Home consoles are the classic setups you’re used probably used to. You connect them to a TV or monitor, grab a controller, and play your games on the big screen, making them perfect for long gaming sessions on the couch or playing online or split screen with friends.
You’ll need a TV and a steady power supply to play on home console, but in return you get the best visuals and most advanced features that games consoles have to offer.
Examples: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Hybrid consoles offer the best of both worlds. You can play them connected to your TV just like a home console or undock the device and take it anywhere to play on the built-in screen. This flexibility makes hybrid consoles great for gamers who want to switch between relaxing at home and playing on the go.
Examples: Nintendo Switch, Switch 2
Handheld gaming PCs are small but powerful devices that let you play your favourite PC games on the go. They usually look similar to the Nintendo Switch but but run PC operating systems and support popular gaming platforms like Steam, Xbox Game Pass, and Epic Games Store, giving you the freedom to access a vast library of PC games, from indie titles and AAA releases, all in the palm of you hands.
Examples: Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally
Cloud and companion devices let you stream games over the cloud rather than running them on your device. Some devices stream games directly from your own console over WiFi, while others connect to cloud servers to play games hosted online.
These devices are lightweight and easy to carry since they don’t need powerful hardware, but you’ll need a superfast stable internet connection for everything to run as it shouldThey are great for casual gaming or as a secondary device to complement a main console.
Examples: PlayStation Portal, Logitech G Cloud
What is the best game console in 2025?
The best gaming consoles in 2025 really come down to what you’re looking for as a player, but the most popular consoles are the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch 2. The PS5 and Xbox Series X bring powerful performance and a wide array of AAA games, while the Nintendo Switch 2 is one of the best hybrid consoles you can get for both docked and handheld play.
Beyond those, handheld gaming PCs like the Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally are getting more and more popular for PC gamers looking for a secondary console to play their favorite games. These devices let you play full PC games on a portable screen and access huge libraries like Steam and Xbox Game Pass. They're great for gamers who want flexibility and already enjoy PC gaming.
For cloud gaming, streaming-focused devices like the PlayStation Portal let you continue gaming without needing a TV, making them ideal if you just want a lightweight way to stay in the game and have ultrafast broadband at home.
In the end, the best console is the one that fits how – and where – you like to play.
Game Console buying guides
With so many great options in 2025, it can be hard to know where to start. Let's look at each console individually and explore makes them special, what you’ll need to get started, and who they’re best for:
The PlayStation 5 is still one of the most popular and powerful gaming consoles on the market. Whether you're a longtime PlayStation fan or new to the platform, the PS5 offers a top-tier gaming experience with advanced hardware, stunning visuals, and a strong lineup of games. If you’re considering a home console that delivers both performance and content, the PS5 is still a one of the best consoles to choose from in 2025.
Here are just some of the reasons the Switch 2 might be for you:
Incredible visuals
The PS5 runs on a custom AMD CPU and GPU, supporting up to 4K resolution and 120 FPS for incredibly smooth and sharp gameplay. Load times are near-instant thanks to its ultra-fast SSD, and you get stunning visuals and silky smooth gameplay on every game you play.
Exclusive games
PlayStation continues to lead with high-quality, story-driven exclusives. Titles like Spider-Man 2, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Demon’s Souls, and God of War: Ragnarök are only available on PS5.
DualSense controller
The PS5’s DualSense controller offers adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, giving a more immersive feel to gameplay – whether you’re feeling raindrops or the tension of drawing a bowstring. It's one of the best controllers of all the consoles.
The Xbox Series X and Series S are Microsoft’s current-generation consoles, built for speed, power, and flexibility. Whether you go with the high-performance Series X or the more affordable and compact Series S, both systems offer excellent value – especially when paired with Xbox Game Pass. In 2025, both consoles are a great choose if you want variety, performance, and an endless library of games to stick your teeth into.
Here's just some of the reasons the Switch 2 might be for you:
Two options, one ecosystem
The Series X is the most powerful Xbox ever, offering true 4K gaming, fast load times, and up to 120 frames per second (FPS) for buttery-smooth gameplay. The Series S is smaller, digital-only, and less powerful – but still runs all the same games.
Xbox Game Pass
The Xbox Game Pass is a major reason to choose Xbox. It gives you access to a massive and constantly growing library of games, including everything from new releases and big franchises to indie gems.
Cloud Gaming (Xbox Cloud Gaming)
With Xbox Cloud Gaming (included in Game Pass Ultimate), you can stream games directly to your phone, tablet, or even low-spec PCs, no download needed. It’s a great way to keep playing when you’re away from your console.
The Nintendo Switch 2 builds on the success of the original Switch, offering a more powerful and polished hybrid gaming experience than its predecessor. It’s still the only major console that lets you easily switch between playing on your TV and on a handheld, improving on its predecessor with better visuals and new exclusives but with all the same co-op fun you're used to.
Here's just some of the reasons the Switch 2 might be for you:
Performance
The Switch 2 features upgraded hardware compared to the Switch, offering sharper visuals, faster load times, and smoother gameplay. Many games now run closer to 4K when docked and have higher frame rates across the board.
A classic line-up of Nintendo games
Nintendo exclusives are some of the best in gaming. With the Switch 2, you can play updated or new entries in beloved franchises like The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, Metroid, Pokémon, and Animal Crossing. These games are known for creativity, polish, and wide appeal.
Hybrid Design
You can play the Switch 2 docked to your TV at home, or undock it and use it as a handheld console. That gives you the freedom to play how and where you want, whether that be on the go or with your friends on the couch.
The Steam Deck is Valve’s handheld gaming PC, designed to bring your full Steam library – and much more – into a portable form. It’s a powerful device that offers incredible flexibility, letting you play everything from indie favorites to AAA titles wherever you are. For gamers who already use Steam or want an open platform they can customise, the Steam Deck is a smart choice.
Here's just some of the reasons the Switch 2 might be for you:
Access to Full PC Game Library
The Steam Deck runs a custom Linux-based OS with support for the full Steam library. You can also install Windows if you want to access other launchers like Epic Games Store, Xbox Game Pass, or Battle.net.
Customisable Controls and Open Platform
With trackpads, thumbsticks, touchscreen, and programmable buttons, the Steam Deck offers flexible controls for all kinds of games. Since it’s a full PC, you can also mod your games, install apps, or even use it like a regular computer.
Solid Performance for Its Size
While not as powerful as a full gaming desktop, the Steam Deck can handle most modern games at medium settings with good performance, especially on its 800p screen. It’s optimised for gaming efficiency over pure power.
The ASUS ROG Ally is a sleek, high-powered handheld gaming PC that runs full Windows. It’s built for players who want performance, polish, and the ability to play games from any platform – Steam, Xbox, Epic, and more. With a stunning 120Hz display and advanced internals, the ROG Ally stands out as one of the most powerful handhelds on the market.
Here's just some of the reasons the Switch 2 might be for you:
Windows-Based System
Unlike the Steam Deck, the ROG Ally comes with Windows pre-installed, making it easier to access your full PC game library from Steam, Game Pass, Epic, and more – right out of the box. That means you can get playing straight away.
Great Performance and Display Quality
The ROG Ally is equipped with a powerful AMD Ryzen Z1 (or Z1 Extreme) chip and a full HD 120Hz display, offering sily smooth gameplay and great visuals on loads of games. That means you've got all the gear inside you'll need playing new AAA games at high settings.
Lightweight and Sleek Design
The Ally is thinner, lighter, and more modern-looking than many other handheld PCs, making it more comfortable for long gaming sessions. It's also a stunning-looking console and easily-customisable, so you can game in style.
Whether it's stunning graphics, a wide range of exclusive games, portability, or ease of use, each console offers something unique. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X continue to push boundaries with powerful performance and impressive game libraries, while the Nintendo Switch 2 appeals to those who value family-friendly titles and flexible play styles.
Think about your budget, the types of games you enjoy, and whether you prefer solo gaming or playing with friends online. Whichever console you choose, you're sure to have a blast.
Do you need a game console in 2025?
While all of these consoles are great owning a traditional game console isn’t the only way to enjoy video games in 2025. Thanks to cloud gaming, you can now play high-quality games on devices you already own, such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or even a smart TV. All you need is a controller and a fast, reliable internet connection.
Cloud gaming works by streaming the game from powerful servers over the internet, similar to how you stream a movie on Netflix. This means the game doesn’t need to run directly on your device, so even lower-powered devices can handle big, demanding games. Services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and NVIDIA GeForce NOW make it easy to access hundreds of games without downloading anything.
But, and it’s a big but, for cloud gaming to work as it should your internet connection needs to be fast and stable enough to handle it. If not, you’re at risk of experiencing lag, buffering, or screen tearing which can ruin your experience. That’s why having ultrafast broadband (like our gaming broadband!) is extra important when you playing on the cloud.
So no, you don’t need a traditional console to enjoy gaming in 2025, but you do need a solid internet connection. If you're considering going all-in on cloud gaming, make sure the broadband package you’ve got at home is fast enough for it.
Pair your console with our ultrafast broadband
While you’re shopping for consoles, it's a good time to level up your gaming with our ultrafast broadband – built for speed, power, silky smooth gameplay when you’re online. You'll get:
Speeds up to 1Gbps and beyond for instant downloads
Low ping for fast, responsive online gaming
Reliable WiFi across your whole home
Perfect for consoles, PCs, handhelds, and cloud gaming
Whether you’re battling online, downloading updates, or streaming games straight from the cloud, our broadband keeps you in the game with lightning-fast speeds and ultra-low latency. That means no lag. No dropouts. Just smooth, seamless play every time.
Don’t let slow internet hold you back. Game faster, smoother, and smarter with Virgin Media.
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