What console - 5yo?

[TheDuchessOfBoxford]

Just looking for some advice on which console to get DS. He’s been playing on a second hand wii we were given for the last 6 months but you can no longer get new games so we are considering a new console for his birthday.

The debate around screen time aside (we’ve had this with ourselves) what console is most suitable?

Neither DH or me are into games or consoles so have no clue. Our research has pointed us to either the Nintendo Switch or Wii U. Xbox and PS4 seem more suitable for older kids. DS loves Mario and these games seem to be Nintendo based.

Any advice?

Nintendo at that age as they are many more kid friendly games. Have a look at the Nintendo DS if budget is an issue. They have been out for years so lots of cheap games

We have an Xbox One - didn't buy for the children, we got it to replace the Xbox 360 that we had for years.

DC are 4 and 6, both love it. Only allowed to play on the weekend though.

They play Minecraft and have quite a few Lego games.

It's used for Netflix daily as we don't have our aerial in. So well worth our money.

We got DD7 a switch for her birthday and she loves it. It's handy for if you don't fancy watching it too because they can play it as a handheld

We got DS a switch for his 8th birthday last year and he loves it. He's got Mario kart & 1-2 switch (which he has played with his 5yo cousin, who could manage and enjoyed those games) and Mario Odyssey which he is obsessed with, but might be a wee bit tricky for a 5yo.
The switch has an app that you link to your phone so you can monitor how long they've been playing and set time limits and bedtime alarms.
DS also has Zelda breath of the wild, which I have massively got into!

My just turned 6 year old got a switch for Christmas and he loves it. Highly recommend

The Wii U is a great console but because it didn't sell well it had a relatively short shelf life and is no longer in production. Having said that, if you can find one 2nd hand cheap and in good condition (especially the tablet controller) then you can pick up games pretty cheap from places like CEX. You generally can't go too far wrong with Nintendo first party games either, my DS is 7 now but has been gaming since he was about 3. If yours is into Mario then I can recommend Super Mario 3D World, Mario Kart 8, Yoshi's Woolly World and Splatoon for the Wii U.

The other relatively inexpensive option would be a 3DS or 2DS (despite the different names, they are effectively the same console, the 3DS having a glasses-free 3D screen and the 2DS not). There are multiple versions of the 3DS family of consoles but the most recent are the 'New 3DS', 'New 3DS XL' (bigger screen) and the 'New 2DS'. But they all play the same games (with one or two exceptions which will only run on a New 3DS but unlikely to be games a 5YO would play anyway).

The 3DS has been around for years and is one of the best selling consoles of all time. As such it has a huge catalogue of games and again you can pick many of them up really cheap 2nd hand.

If you can push the budget though, definitely get a Switch. Some of the better Wii U titles are already appearing as ports anyway as well as having some of the highest rated games in history of its own. It will be a console which DS can grow into as well with a good mix of child friendly games and a more grown up roster.

Whilst the Switch is both a handheld and home console, my DS only gets to play with it in home 'docked' mode so he's not ever holding what is effectively a weighty, £280 tablet while he's gaming! (I, on the other hand, find it very convenient to grab it and take on the go).