'Starter' console for 8 year old

[FusionChefGeoff]

I am clueless but don't want to listen to what he thinks he wants as he is also clueless and just parroting things he has heard!! So far, he just plays basic / free games on my iPad.

Don't want to spend a lot of money, very happy with 2nd hand but equally don't want something that's so out of date he can't actually use it.

I'm not a fan of gaming so he won't be allowed much time on it and only a limited amount of games so far mentioned are Minecraft, FIFA and Mario style games.

I'd like the ability to safely join friends' games online.

I'd be happy to plan on an expensive / new release upgrade in the next few years when it's actually important and he will appreciate the difference but I don't think his first ever console needs to be anything special as he will be over the moon with anything at this stage.

His birthday is end of June so what would you suggest please?

Any other tips at this stage??

Seriously OP, find out what his friends have and go from there.

People always push the ruddy switch on here. Its weird! Those things aren't cheap and a console is also a media centre that can do other things than just play games.

@dangerrabbit basically anything that comes from a genre known as ‘anime’. They have these odd cartoony faces you’ll be able to tell just by looking at the box art and they are absolutely horrendously outdated when it comes to proper progressive values that we should be imbuing on to our kids. Anything Mario related is fine though, that should be OK. Obviously avoid any games with guns on them and age ratings but you’ll already know that so it’s fine.

Switches are £300!!!!! Bloody hell. And seemingly no 2nd hand market - is that just due to lockdown??

I reckon we might chicken out a bit here - DH has an ancient Xbox he never plays so we may get that all boxed up, get a few games and then present that as the birthday gift explaining that it's a trial to see how he gets on.

Then when the the newer ones are released around Xmas that might help boost 2nd hand market for switches and that can be Xmas present.

I am so much more knowledgeable now thank you!!

An old Wii might be a good choice, get a complete system for under £40 (or ask around, there's lots in people's cupboards) and the games are peanuts.

In terms of longevity for an 8y old you really should push the boat out for a Nintendo Switch I think. The problem with going for previous generation consoles is that the good new games that he will want at say 10 wont be released for the Wii U or the Wii. You can still but Wii U and Wii games second hand, which would satisfy him for a year or so id say, but as soon as he wants to pay latets games, or whatbhis friends are playing, and is interested in coop play, it will only be available on the switch/ps4 (5 in a year or 2)/xbox etc.

The switch is by far the most versatile in the sense that it is portable so discourages the whole being locked away in the bedroom thing you get with ps4/xbox when theyre older and also has the biggest range of age appropriate games. Even older children with ps4/xbox still.play on it, esp now you can play many games on all 3. I have 4 children and in this house there are 2 ps4s, 2 switches (normal and lite) and 3 ipads. The switch is by far the most universally popular. Older boys from secondary age will still want a ps whatever/xbox I reckon but you have 4 years before you need to worry about that and i think a switch would be perfect for those years, and beyond. By far the most age appropriate.

Another option is roblox etc on ipad if thats more affordable?

A Switch is what you need, it's an amazing console for kids. PS and XBox are for older children IMO.

I think you'll be lucky to see Switches drop at Christmas this year, they are in massive demand due to their popularity and Nintendo are notorious for keeping prices high. There are unfortunately many people happy to pay the prices.

Also, you need to factor in games costing £40-50 new apart from the odd one at £20. Still for games such as Mario Odyssey and Animal Crossing (both played over 100+ hours), it's well worth the price.

If your children have mentioned Minecraft, a lower cost option is to get them set up with the app on a tablet and playing online that way? There will be other games they may want to play online with friends eg Roblox, Fortnite (!) tread carefully as some of them aren't suitable for younger kids and parental controls are essential.

That why I love the Switch so much, it's 'safe'. You pay a high price for console/games but then I know he's only seeing suitable content, no ads in games, play with online friends is robust. I got fed up of my son asking for new tablet games and being constantly bombarded by ads and inappropriate content.

I suggest a Nintendo 2ds right now. They are great value for money. And there are loads of games available. Plus you can buy second hand games cheap as chips on Ebay ect.. now.

I would have said switch otherwise but it is a bit pricey.

I recommend 2ds, with ocarina of time game. Can't go wrong with zelda. And a bit of mario perhaps (mariocart, super mario bros ect)