Game Consoles Reviewed: Which One Is Actually Worth Buying?

Every current game console now costs more than it did at launch, so the right pick in 2026 comes down to two numbers most reviews skip. Over five years a Nintendo Switch 2 runs about 550 dollars all-in while an Xbox Series X runs about 1,400 dollars, and the single most expensive mistake is buying someone a console from the wrong ecosystem. This guide compares every machine, does the math, and flags the September 1 deadline that decides when to buy.