5 Best Xbox One Alternative in 2024

The Xbox One is one of our favorite consoles — between the Xbox Live experience and all of the great, mainstream titles available with the system, the Xbox One is a really fun system, especially if you have friends to play with. And, with an Xbox Live subscription, you get exclusive access to Xbox Live deals, which means you spend less on video games. And, an Xbox Live subscription even gives you access to free games that allow you to play them through entirely, or as a try before you buy sort of thing. Still, Microsoft isn’t everyone’s forte, which is understandable. So, if you’re looking for an Xbox One alternative, follow along below. We’ll show you the best currently on the market.

PlayStation 4

First up, we’re looking at Sony’s PlayStation 4 console. There’s a lot of different PlayStation 4’s available, designed to fit a variety of needs. There’s the PlayStation 4 Slim, which is designed to take up little space on your desk. You can also get the PlayStation 4 Pro, which is capable of playing videos games, movies, and TV shows in 4K resolution. It’s a little more expensive, but it gives you an immersive experience. With the PlayStation 4, you’ll be able to play all of your favorite mainstream titles — Battlefield, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, and more. Games play really well on the PlayStation 4, and a subscription to the PlayStation Network will give you exclusive deals to video games and video games that you can even try for free.

The PlayStation 4 is also super affordable. You can get one of the new Slim or Pro editions for between $300 and $400. Or, you can get a standard PlayStation 4 for around $200, sometimes less depending on current store deals.

Buy it now: Amazon

Nintendo Switch

We’re big fans of the Nintendo Switch as an Xbox One alternative as well. The Nintendo Switch is a little different than your typical console, as it works as a dedicated home entertainment system and something that you can take on the go. When you want to sit back and relax, plug the Nintendo Switch into your TV, detach the controllers, and enjoy. When you need to take it on the go, simply pull the HDMI cord out, and you’re mobile! The Nintendo Switch unfortunately doesn’t play a whole lot of mainstream titles — you’re pretty limited to Nintendo and their licensed developers for games.

Even so, you’ll get to play things like the Legend of Zelda, Super Smash Bros., Donkey Kong, and other games.

Buy it now: Amazon

NVIDIA SHIELD

Next up, we’re looking at the NVIDIA Shield console. This portable console can play both Android games and some of your regular PC titles. The NVIDIA Shield will play all of your favorite high-end Android games without a hitch. But, when you want to play a mainstream title, the NVIDIA Shield will allow you to stream PC games over the Internet — this can includes games like Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, Thief, Metal Gear Rising, and more.

Buy it now: Amazon

PS Vita

The PlayStation Vita is a great console for on the go gaming. It’s been out for awhile, but the handheld console is still selling like hot cakes. Not only that, but companies are still putting out games for it. It plays games really well, and it’s a fairly immersive experience with the crisp and clear display. Battery life does last a long time as far as handheld consoles go, and it doesn’t take too long to charge it up. Being out for a few years now, the PS Vita is really affordable.

Buy it now: Amazon

Nintendo 3DS

Last up, we’re taking a look at the Nintendo 3DS. This handheld gaming console was one of Nintendo’s last handheld options, as they started working towards offering more dedicated home entertainment systems, such as the Wii. The Nintendo 3DS is still an excellent device today though, allowing you to play all of your favorite Nintendo titles on the go. The 3DS portion of this console seems like a little bit of a gimmick, but it still plays games really well. Battery life lasts a pretty long time, but when using the 3D portion of the console, it does drain pretty quickly. They’re really affordable now as well at around $150, and companies are still making a lot of great games for them.

Buy it now: Amazon

Verdict

As you can see, there’s a lot of great alternatives to the Xbox One. Whether you want to do some portable gaming on the go, or if you’re looking for a dedicated home entertainment system, there’s something for you on this list.