A family game console can be one of the easiest ways to pull off a fun family game night. Kids already love video games, with 85% of teens saying they play them, so a console meets your family where it already wants to be.

But picking the right one takes more than buying the newest console on the shelf. The best one for your family depends on how easily everyone starts playing, how many can join at once, and the budget for controllers and games. The library also needs games for every age in your house, so your younger kids can play alongside your teens.

This guide walks through the top family game consoles, who each one fits, and what to check before you buy. By the end, you'll know exactly which console matches how you want your family to spend time together.

Key takeaways

• The best family game console matches your kids' ages, the number of players you’ll have, and what types of games you prefer.
• Most consoles ship with one controller and games built for only one to two players, so check how many people can actually play together before you buy.
• Watch the real cost. Games, extra controllers, and monthly memberships can add up to more than the console itself.
• Board.fun is the best family game console for face-to-face fun, with seven games included, room for up to six players, and no subscription to play.

Best family game consoles: Quick overview

Best family game consoles

To build this list, we looked at the top family game consoles available today. Then we checked how quickly everyone can start playing, what each system really costs once you purchase games and accessories, and whether the games suit every age at the table.

1. Board: Best for families who want all ages playing together at the same table

Board.fun is the first face-to-face game console designed to bring everyone together. A six-year-old, a teenager, and a grandparent can all stay in the same game—no one falls behind, no one sits out. Everyone gathers around the same 24-inch screen, faces each other, and watches the same view.

The console swaps controllers for real, physical pieces. Lay it flat, drop a piece on the screen, and Board picks up exactly what it is, where it sits, and how it moves. Seven games and every piece set come included, with no subscription required.

The library spans arcade, strategy, action, and party play, with most games built for ages six and up. Groups of all sizes can jump in at once, making it easy to fill a table for a full-on game night.

Additional games are sold individually—no subscription, no bundles. New titles and free expansions land throughout 2026, and a 30-day return window lets families try the console at home before deciding.

Recommended games:

• Chop Chop: A co-op cooking game where players take orders, prep ingredients, and race the clock on a shared screen.
• Board Arcade: A collection of five reimagined arcade classics with team play built in.
• Spycraft: A globe-trotting mystery where players use spy tools to crack codes and unravel an international case.

Cost:

• Console: $399 (includes seven games and their piece sets)
• Additional games: $34.95 each, with their own piece sets
• Extra controllers: None required
• Subscription: None

Learn more about Board.fun

2. PlayStation 5 Slim: Best for families with teens who like the biggest single-player titles

The PlayStation 5 Slim is a home console that plugs into your TV and comes with one controller. One person plays at a time unless you buy extra controllers.

Most of its popular games, like Spider-Man and God of War, are built for a single player, so one person plays while others watch. Some titles support two players on a split screen, and a few support up to four with extra controllers, mostly in racing and sports games. Online play with friends requires a PlayStation Plus membership, which costs extra each month.

The games tend to aim at older kids, teens, and adults, with many rated for ages 13 and up. Everyone plays in front of the same TV, turning it into the focal point of family game night.

Recommended games:

• Astro's Playroom: A platformer included free with the console — suitable for most ages
• Gran Turismo 7: A racing game that supports split-screen for two players
• EA Sports FC: A soccer game that allows several players to compete in the same match

Cost:

• Console: $599.99 (Digital Edition) or $649.99 (Disc Edition)
• Games: $60 to $70 each, sold separately
• Extra controllers: About $75 each
• Online play: PlayStation Plus membership required, starting at $10.99/mo

3. Xbox Series X: Best for action and sports games

The Xbox Series X is a home console that sits by your TV, ships with one controller, and runs games on a big screen while extra players watch or wait for a turn.

Its library leans toward action games, shooters, racing, and sports, and many of those titles carry ratings for older kids, teens, and adults. Most titles limit local play to two players, but racing, sports, and building games like Minecraft can support up to four with extra controllers. Online play with friends requires a paid membership.

You can also add a Game Pass membership to download from a rotating library instead of buying each game on its own. Adding players in the room means buying extra controllers, and like most new systems, the console needs account setup and updates before the first game runs.

Recommended games:

• Minecraft: A building game that several players can join in the same world
• Forza Horizon: A racing game that supports split-screen for two players
• It Takes Two: A game built for two players that requires teamwork to finish

Cost:

• Console: $599.99 (Digital Edition) or $649.99 (Disc Edition)
• Games: $60 to $70 each, sold separately
• Extra controllers: About $65 each
• Game Pass membership and online play: Starts at $9.99/mo

4. Nintendo Switch 2: Best for families who love Nintendo characters like Mario and Zelda

The Nintendo Switch 2 is a console that works two ways. You can dock it to play on the TV, or pick it up and play on its own built-in screen. It comes with two controllers, called Joy-Cons, that slide off the sides, so two people can play together right out of the box without buying anything extra.

Popular games center on Nintendo's own characters and series, likeMario, Zelda, and Pokémon, and most of them carry ratings suitable for younger kids and up. Many titles let two or more people play in the same game, whether racing, sports, or party games where everyone joins a round.

On the handheld screen, only one or two can really see at once, so larger groups gather around the TV instead.

Recommended games:

• Mario Kart World: A racing game where up to four players can race on a split screen
• Super Mario Party: A collection of mini-games for up to four players competing on the same screen.
• Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: A fighting game starring Nintendo characters, with up to eight players on the same screen.

Cost:

• Console: $449.99 on its own, or $499.99 in a bundle with one game
• Games: $70 to $80 each, sold separately
• Extra Joy-Con controllers: About $90 a pair
• Online features: Nintendo membership required for some titles

5. Steam Deck OLED: Best for families who want to share computer games on the go

TheSteam Deck OLED is a handheld gaming device, closer to a portable computer than a traditional console. You hold it in your hands like a large phone, with the controls built into both sides of the screen. One person plays at a time, so a family would pass it around rather than play together.

It runs games from Steam, a large online store of computer games, which gives it a wide range of titles across every type, from simple puzzles to detailed adventures. Most of those games suit teens and adults, and some take a bit of know-how to set up and adjust.

You can connect it to a TV with extra accessories, but on its own it stays a single-player, in-your-hands device. It comes ready to play out of the box, with no second controller to add, because the controls stay attached to the unit.

Recommended games:

• Civilization: A turn-based strategy series where players take turns building empires on the same device
• Cuphead: A challenging action game that supports two players with a connected controller
• Lego games: A series of family-friendly adventures, played solo or with a second controller

Cost:

• Console: $789 for the 512GB model or $949 for the 1TB model
• Games: Bought separately through Steam, from a few dollars to $70
• TV dock: Around $30 for third-party options, up to $80 for Valve's official
• Extra controllers for group play: Around $65 to $75 each
• Online features: No subscription required to play games you own

What to look for when choosing a family game console

The right family game console truly comes down to who’s in your family. Things like how old your kids are, how many people want to play at once, and how much you plan to spend after the console itself determines everything. Before you buy, weigh the following:

• Game library: Look at how many of the games suit the people in your house, not just how many games exist. Check whether a console leans toward solo adventures or games several people can play together, since that decides whether game night includes everyone or just one player at a time. Make a short list of games you'd actually want, then confirm they work for the number of players you have.
• Ease of setup and play: Think about how long it takes to get from opening the box to playing a game. Some consoles need accounts, downloads, and updates first, which can eat up an evening before anyone starts. Consider who picks up the controls easily too, since a young child or a grandparent gives up fast when a game takes too long to learn.
• Replayability without subscription lock-in: Add up what you pay after the console. Some systems charge a monthly membership to play online or to keep a library of games, and those fees continue for as long as you own it. Verify whether the games come included or cost extra, and whether you keep them for good or lose access when a subscription ends, so a console that looks affordable doesn't turn into a long-term, monthly expense.
• Age-appropriate games: Check the age ratings on the games, not just the console. A system aimed at teens often fills its library with games too difficult or too mature for a six-year-old, which leaves the youngest players watching instead of joining. Look for a console with games that fit every age at your table, so nobody sits out.

Find the family game console that brings everyone together

The right family game console isn't the most powerful or the newest one. It's the one that gets your whole family in the same room, having fun together instead of drifting off to separate screens. Weigh how many can play, what it really costs, and whether the games fit every age, and you'll land on a console built for time together, not time apart.

Board.fun was built around a simple idea: pulling the family toward each other. Everyone sits around the same table, holds a physical piece in their hands, and plays the same game at the same time.

That's why Board.fun fits where most consoles fall short on family game night. Setup takes minutes, not an evening. Nobody waits their turn alone or sits on the sidelines. Everything you need to start playing comes in the box, so the first game night happens the day Board arrives.

Start game night with Board.