The best gaming console 2023

It's time to answer the question: what is the best gaming console? That's right - we're not afraid to tackle the most challenging topics at What's The Best. We're going to answer, definitively, the question that haunts schoolyards and workplace cafeterias, divides families and destroys friendships. The question that dominates online discussion and is responsible for causing more than a few tiffs on Twitter.

We kid, of course. The beauty of the video gaming world is that it's come one, come all. The best gaming console is the one that you have and the one that you enjoy the most. Whether you're a lifelong PlayStation fan, recent Xbox convert or dedicated Nintendo follower, good on you. Enjoy it.

But still, it's fun to see how Sony, Xbox and Nintendo measure up from time to time. So, that's what we've done. Below you'll find our rankings of the best gaming consoles in this year, known as 2023. We've considered their specs, accessories, and of course, their game catalogues, both of this year and past years of gaming. We've also stacked up the best online services for game consoles as the world of gaming becomes ever more entwined with the cloud, streaming and digital video games.

The best gaming console at a glance:

• Best Sony gaming console: PlayStation 5 Console - View on Amazon

• Best Microsoft gaming console: Xbox Series X Console - View on Amazon

• Best Nintendo gaming console: Nintendo Switch Console - View on Amazon

So, here it is - our rundown of the very best gaming consoles. Read on to see our thoughts.

PlayStation 5 - First place

Sony is still the top dog as we enter the first years of the new generation…

Games, controller and sound

What is undoubtedly the biggest draw of the PS5 is the next-gen gaming catalogue. The console landed strongly with games like Demon's Souls and Spider-Man: Miles Morales, with more on the way from the likes of God of War: Ragnarök, Gran Turismo 7 and Horizon Forbidden West. The catalogue has also been nicely furnished by third-party developers, with releases such as Yakuza: Like A Dragon, Resident Evil Village and Hitman 3 all sitting very comfortably on Sony's latest platform. Backward compatibility also means that the PS5 can play the bottomless pit that is the PlayStation 4 catalogue.

A second strength of the PS5 is its innovative controller, the DualSense. Its nuanced haptic feedback is a delight that needs experiencing to be understood, and the adaptive triggers work as a surprisingly effective method on immersion. The redesigned ergonomics feel great, and the touchpad is a notable improvement on the DualShock 4. The only downside is that the battery is a tad pants.

When Sony announced the PS5, it made a point of talking about the all-new 3D Audio. This sound engine is a truly remarkable feature that puts the listener at the centre of the action - it's exciting, it's atmospheric. Plus, it doesn't require anything special to access it - you can just plug some headphones or a headset into the 3.5mm port on the DualSense controller, and you're away. Though the Sony Pulse 3D Headset is a pretty affordable gadget, if so, you're so inclined.

Speed

The PS5 carries an eight-core CPU, 16GB DDR6 RAM and a custom NVMe SSD. While there are endless numbers that we could throw out to explain how all this works, what matters most is the effect - the PS5 has a rapid performance. Loading times (from disk or internal storage) are incredibly short - waiting more than 15 seconds for a PS5 game to load is almost unheard of, and even PS4 titles benefit from the decreased loading times (which are often halved from the PS4). Such speed isn't just a treat to boot - it also helps in-game.

Visuals

One of the PS5's most notable specifications is its 10.3 teraflop graphics processing unit. This GPU is capable of pushing out 1080p at 120Hz, and 4K UHD at 60Hz. What this means for players is that the console can produce incredible detail and image smoothness. Both are key to truly experiencing what the new era of console gaming can offer. Just so long as you have a TV or gaming monitor that can handle it.

Anything else?

Sony has also revamped the PlayStation user interface for the PS5. While the PS4 isn't terrible, the one on the PS5 is a marked improvement in design and accessibility. It also interacts well with gaming content, displaying trophies, level progress and challenge cards for a more cohesive gaming environment.

Xbox Series X - Second place

Microsoft is in second once more… but only just.

Games

Side-by-side, the Xbox Series X beats the PS5 in many factors. Sadly, we need to address its weakest flaw first - games. The Xbox Series X doesn't want for video games. It has good third-party support and a staggeringly large back catalogue, including games from the earliest days of the original Xbox through to the Xbox One, not to mention the expansive catalogue on Game Pass (more on this later). However, in terms of exclusive next-gen offerings, we are all still waiting for something to arrive.

Now we've addressed the faults, let's shout about what's great with the Xbox Series X.

Power, speed and Quick Resume

The eight-core CPU carried b the Xbox Series X has roughly twice the power of the last-generation Xbox One X. It also has a zippy 16GB of DDR6 RAM and a 1TB SSD (a chunky SSD upgrade from Seagate is on the market now, too, though it's expensive). All of this adds up to a rapid performance that is, without a doubt, staggering to behold. It'll have you loading up Sea of Thieves in around 20 seconds, while notoriously slow-loaders like Destiny will have their lengthy loading screens cut in half.

This power and speed elevate the player's quality of life experience throughout the use of the console, too, with all functions happening with a welcome nippy-ness. What else helps the entire Series X experience feel more streamlined is Quick Resume. This feature state-saves a game and suspends it in the background while you play another, allowing you to jump back in without missing a beat. In practice, it feels a little like minimising a window on a PC. It seems like a small thing, but for those of us who have more than one game on at a time, it's a godsend.

Anything else?

While Sony went for innovation with the DualSense, Xbox has stuck with iteration. The new controller is, at its core, the same as it was with the Xbox One. It's a good controller, but compared to the all-new shiny newness of the Series X system, it earns little more than an accepting shrug. Upgrading to the Elite controller is preferable, but this does add another £100+ to the overall price.

Nintendo Switch - Wild Card

Nintendo, purveyor of the weird and wonderful, continues to be weird and wonderful.

More ways to play

The Switch is a hybrid console - it can be played on a TV via a console dock, played as a handheld portable console or used as its own small TV in tabletop mode. This flexibility is revolutionary, giving Switch owners the chance to access the power of a home console wherever they may be. There's also no lag when changing from one configuration to another. For example, you can pull the console out of the dock, and it immediately reverts to handheld mode, displaying the game on its 720p touchscreen. The opposite is also true, with a docked Switch displaying on the big screen at 1080p, Full-HD.

This flexibility means that you're not locked into playing in one place. It's ideal for those who share a TV, want to game on the commute or fancy taking their gameplay out into the garden.

Innovation… without any (useless) gimmicks.

Years ago, the Nintendo Wii became a bit of a laughing stock, receiving endless plastic controller add-ons. When the Switch launched in 2017, there was a risk that this would happen again (Labo did nothing to allay our fears). Thankfully, it hasn't happened. All of the innovations found on the Switch - multiple play modes, motion controls, internal gyroscope, touchscreen - are well-executed, well-used and feel a natural fit for the system.

Its form also makes it a very accessible console. While it's a capable machine, it isn't intimidating to video game newcomers, and many of its features are extremely intuitive.

Excellent games

The Nintendo Switch isn't a very powerful console. The touchscreen has a resolution of 720p, the output to TVs maxes out at 1080p/60fps, and the CPU is pretty weak - contemporary smartphones have more power. There are only 4GB of DDR4 RAM. Despite the technical limitations of the Switch, its games are beautiful, artistic and wholly engaging. The Switch is home to some of the finest games available today.

Though originally released on Wii U, the Switch port of The Legend Of Zelda: Breath of the Wild stands as one of the best open-world games of all time and shining stars in the Switch library. Similarly, the Xenoblade Chronicles and Monster Hunter JRPG series are widely recognised for their expectation-defying scope and scale. Nintendo's mascot Mario, too, is still in his prime, with Super Mario Odyssey and Super Mario 3D + Bowser's Fury drawing in vast audiences while refining and innovating with the platforming genre. Animal Crossing: New Horizons was a phenomenal hit with gamers new and established, and the Switch's indie-game-laden eShop is a wonderland of creative and diverse games, from Hades and Spiritfarer, through to Crypt of the Necrodancer and Stardew Valley.

The console is also home to Pokémon, Dragon Quest and Fire Emblem, and a whole host of multiplayer and party games, fitness video games and puzzle titles.

The Runners Up:

The best game console service

Runners up:

Honourable mentions:

PlayStation Now - A service that allows users to download two games a month and stream PlayStation exclusive on PC.

Xbox Live - This gives online access, games discounts and two free games every month. It's okay, but Game Pass Ultimate has replaced it.

FAQs

What about handheld consoles?

Sadly, at least for now, the era of handheld gaming consoles seems to have passed. Nowadays, the closest you have are either the Nintendo Switch as a hybrid or the Steam Deck as a portable gaming machine. This is likely due to the influx of mobile games and apps over the last decade and a bit.

Still, the Nintendo 3DS was still receiving new titles until just a few years ago, so if you can pick one up cheap, you'll have years of titles to catch up with and experience.

Why is the Nintendo Switch less powerful?

The Nintendo Switch is designed to be a hybrid console that can be taken on the go, so its specs are limited by what it can fit into a portable shell. As it was released earlier than the PS5 and Xbox Series X, it's technically a generation behind them in terms of tech. It's also in line with most of Nintendo's track record, as ever since the N64 of the late 90s, its consoles tend to be less powerful compared to notable competitors.

All that said, Nintendo makes up for this by packing its consoles full of exclusive and unique games tailormade with the specs and limitations of its consoles in mind. Aside from multi-platform games, the Switch rarely appears to lag behind in terms of game quality.

William Lobley is a Senior Content Writer and reviewer for WhatsTheBest, specialising in technology and outdoors. He also writes for Empire Online.

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