16 votes

What is the best casual game console?

The back story is that I’m currently deciding whether to get a PS4 or a Nintendo Switch.

But instead of just a “what’s your fave” thread I want to take this opportunity to turn it into a proper discussion which console you think is filling the casual gamer needs better, why and how. Including the games

Now, my personal feeling – and I never owned a game console before myself, but have gamed on the PC before – it seems to me like Nintendo is trying to cater to the casual gamer who wants to wind down and perhaps play some fun games with friends during a party. While Sony and Microsoft seem to me to aim more at gamers who want a more immersive experience and play either alone or if with others in a more competitive/rival way.

15 comments

  1. [3]
    metal
    Link
    Yes, Switch is more casual than any other alternative. I would also argue that Nintendo 3DS or even PSP are more casual since those are very portable and generally don't offer AAA games Why Switch...

    Yes, Switch is more casual than any other alternative. I would also argue that Nintendo 3DS or even PSP are more casual since those are very portable and generally don't offer AAA games

    Why Switch would be the best casual is because of its portability and a great number of ways you play games. Using Joy Cons as motion controllers is a very fun way to play practically any Switch game. Games for switch in general are "fun driven", as I think Nintendo is one of the remaining game devs that actually focus on "fun" in games, instead of monetisation and attention maximisation.

    PS4 and XBOX1 are great for those who are more competitive and tryhard more. I am not saying you can't have fun on those consoles but it is just there are either not that many fun games or the playerbase (if you play online) will call your mom names, which is not fun for some

    I am waiting for the next gen pokemon RPG to get switch. Mainline Pokemon games are the perfect blend of fun and competitive for me

    14 votes
    1. [2]
      hook
      Link Parent
      Sure, but what I like about Switch is that it’s both quite portable and works great on a big screen. I used Nintendo Wii before and the motion control games were great (esp. WarioWare) for...

      I would also argue that Nintendo 3DS or even PSP are more casual since those are very portable and generally don't offer AAA games

      Sure, but what I like about Switch is that it’s both quite portable and works great on a big screen.

      Why Switch would be the best casual is because of its portability and a great number of ways you play games. Using Joy Cons as motion controllers is a very fun way to play practically any Switch game.

      I used Nintendo Wii before and the motion control games were great (esp. WarioWare) for parties.

      Are motion control games on other consoles any good? All I can think of on PS4 and XBox1 are some dance games …

      2 votes
      1. DrTacoMD
        Link Parent
        Motion controls are a vanishing breed on Xbox One and PS4. Microsoft no longer sells Kinect for Xbox One, and has even stopped offering the dongle necessary to connect one to the One S and One X....

        Are motion control games on other consoles any good? All I can think of on PS4 and XBox1 are some dance games …

        Motion controls are a vanishing breed on Xbox One and PS4. Microsoft no longer sells Kinect for Xbox One, and has even stopped offering the dongle necessary to connect one to the One S and One X. PlayStation Move is at least officially supported on PS4, but lackluster sales have translated to an equally lackluster lineup of games (or is it the other way around?).

        Only the Switch ships with two motion controllers in-box, so I'd expect to see Nintendo's console receive the most attention from developers.

        (Disclaimer: I own both a Switch and an Xbox One X, but not a PS4.)

        1 vote
  2. [2]
    aphoenix
    Link
    For me, the only consoles I ever consider are Nintendo consoles. PlayStation and XBox both feel like they try to fill the same niche as a gaming computer, and they do it worse. Nintendo seems to...

    For me, the only consoles I ever consider are Nintendo consoles.

    PlayStation and XBox both feel like they try to fill the same niche as a gaming computer, and they do it worse. Nintendo seems to always be trying something different, and that something is usually a ton of fun. Plus the Nintendo exclusive games always seem more interesting to me than the PS /XB exclusives.

    The switch is a great little console. Just the other day I saw people casually enjoying it on a lunch break at work.

    Edit: that said, PC is currently great for casual gaming as well. There are amazing multiplayer controller games on Steam. I'm working on my game room to (get my wife to agree to) add a projector so we can play Niddhogg on a 2m x 3.5m screen, the way it is meant to be played.

    10 votes
    1. hook
      Link Parent
      That is kind of what I’m trying to get to, yeah. And, you know, gaming during parties that’s part of the party, not breaking it apart. So it’s there as additional optional entertainment for all,...

      The switch is a great little console. Just the other day I saw people casually enjoying it on a lunch break at work.

      That is kind of what I’m trying to get to, yeah. And, you know, gaming during parties that’s part of the party, not breaking it apart. So it’s there as additional optional entertainment for all, instead of for having a pair of people bicker there in the corner and isolate themselves from the rest of the crowd.

      Edit: that said, PC is currently great for casual gaming as well. There are amazing multiplayer controller games on Steam. I'm working on my game room to (get my wife to agree to) add a projector so we can play Niddhogg on a 2m x 3.5m screen, the way it is meant to be played.

      Oh, it was always great for casual gaming! But for the past decade or so, I’m exclusively on laptops, and sharing a Linux laptop for gaming is a bit meh.

      I still think that keyboard + mouse are the way to go for (3^rd^ person) RPGs, FPSes, strategy and adventure games.

      But Niddhogg on the wall sounds great. In our hackerspace we used to play Joust and Dynablast on the wall (and Nintendo Wii, when Trillian brought it with her).

      1 vote
  3. [3]
    DyslexicStoner240
    Link
    I would argue that the portability factor of the Switch makes it a whole lot better for a casual gamer - it introduces a wide array of possibilities on when you can use it meaning you can just pop...

    I would argue that the portability factor of the Switch makes it a whole lot better for a casual gamer - it introduces a wide array of possibilities on when you can use it meaning you can just pop it whenever you feel like having some fun, which is exacty what a casual gamer is looking for.

    With older Nintendo platforms in the past i would have mentioned that games selection might've been an issue, but this time around Nintendo is seemingly being very quick in having devs adapt the hottest trending games in a pretty timely manner, namely in the case of Rocket League or Fortnite for example.

    With that being said i have never used a Switch myself so i can't really tell you how it feels like; what i'd be worried about is the the average playerbase of the various online games (if you are concerned about online at all), but frankly if you're just looking for some fun whenever it's a non-issue.

    In the end for a casual gamer even though i am a PS4 owner myself i could see myself suggesting a Switch instead.

    6 votes
    1. [2]
      hook
      Link Parent
      That is good to hear – not specifically for those two games, but that this has in general improved quite a bit. I also remember that in the past the Wii was thought to be too underpowered to run...

      With older Nintendo platforms in the past i would have mentioned that games selection might've been an issue, but this time around Nintendo is seemingly being very quick in having devs adapt the hottest trending games in a pretty timely manner, namely in the case of Rocket League or Fortnite for example.

      That is good to hear – not specifically for those two games, but that this has in general improved quite a bit.

      I also remember that in the past the Wii was thought to be too underpowered to run some AAA titles, but seeing what eye candy Switch can now bring out – is that still a concern?

      With that being said i have never used a Switch myself so i can't really tell you how it feels like; what i'd be worried about is the the average playerbase of the various online games (if you are concerned about online at all), but frankly if you're just looking for some fun whenever it's a non-issue.

      Personally, I’m not too much into online stuff. And when, then it’s usually games that run great on the PC anyway.

      But that could be a valid concern for some – can someone who has a Nintendo Switch confirm?

      In the end for a casual gamer even though i am a PS4 owner myself i could see myself suggesting a Switch instead.

      Now, that’s a statement!

      1 vote
      1. DyslexicStoner240
        Link Parent
        Again, i don't have it and am basing my answer from what i have read online. I wouldn't dare to call it underpowered, though i don't think that it will last ridiculously long as the older PS3/360...

        is that still a concern?

        Again, i don't have it and am basing my answer from what i have read online. I wouldn't dare to call it underpowered, though i don't think that it will last ridiculously long as the older PS3/360 era platforms did - with that in mind at the present time it definitely holds its own.

        Just want to make clear that by no means do i think that the PS4 is not a good console, i consider myself a happy customer and do not regret my purchase, but from what you've been saying and what i think you're looking for a switch would imho treat you much better.

  4. truck
    Link
    as someone who now owns both i too will chime in and agree the switch feels way more casual it may miss out on a lot of the big titles, but not all, offers some of the best local multiplayer...

    as someone who now owns both i too will chime in and agree the switch feels way more casual

    it may miss out on a lot of the big titles, but not all, offers some of the best local multiplayer available for just chilling with friends, a great selection and support of indie titles that are cheaper than big studio games, a variety of inventive ways to play

    finally nintendo first party games are amazing and can totally suck you in as you play for hour after hour, many of them are also well suited picking it up for 5 mins as dinner cooks and still acomplishing somthing/having a good time, but then its easy to put back down

    also if you ride public transit for commute, or fly a lot, it travels great

    2 votes
  5. merick
    Link
    As a PC gamer, I'd say Nintendo console are the only ones worth buying, but I'm really biased. Other consoles offer the same kinds of games you can find on PC, but at worse quality and smaller...

    As a PC gamer, I'd say Nintendo console are the only ones worth buying, but I'm really biased. Other consoles offer the same kinds of games you can find on PC, but at worse quality and smaller variety. Nintendo does their own thing and their 1st party games are great, so there's a reason to get their consoles.

    Personally, game catalogue isn't enough to make me buy a console and I'm not a fan of the gimmicky stuff Nintendo tries to pull off with their consoles, so I just stick to PC and play the occasional console game on emulators.

    2 votes
  6. IwataFan
    (edited )
    Link
    Hands down, the Nintendo Switch. Short of a mobile phone, it's the only piece of hardware really poised to "meet people where they are at." Its accessibility is its strength.

    Hands down, the Nintendo Switch. Short of a mobile phone, it's the only piece of hardware really poised to "meet people where they are at." Its accessibility is its strength.

    1 vote
  7. [2]
    tesseractcat
    Link
    I would actually recommend the 3DS over the switch right now for casual gaming. It's more portable, has a much larger game library (with DS support and VC), and many of the games are designed for...

    I would actually recommend the 3DS over the switch right now for casual gaming. It's more portable, has a much larger game library (with DS support and VC), and many of the games are designed for more casual gamers. The switch seems to be more of a hybrid casual/regular console, although it has more horsepower, and some games that might make it more attractive. I would probably recommend the switch over the 3DS a few years from now when it has a larger library.

    1 vote
    1. hook
      Link Parent
      This sounds like a valid concern. But can you connect the 3DS to a TV screen? What about the Wii then?

      This sounds like a valid concern. But can you connect the 3DS to a TV screen? What about the Wii then?

  8. hero0fwar
    Link
    I used to say ps4, but after buying a switch I'm never looking back

    I used to say ps4, but after buying a switch I'm never looking back

  9. eka
    Link
    Switch, the portability is game changing for me. The Nintendo exclusives has been great (Zelda, Mario, splatoon), and it has great support from indie devs as well. Playing hollow knight on a...

    Switch, the portability is game changing for me. The Nintendo exclusives has been great (Zelda, Mario, splatoon), and it has great support from indie devs as well. Playing hollow knight on a portable console is awesome. Same with rocket league.