Many people are looking to buy a game console that the whole family can enjoy. The question “which console is more kid friendly” is often asked by parents that want to keep their kids entertained as well as themselves. In this article, we will look at which of these popular gaming consoles is the most suitable for children.
It is important to define what we mean by children here. Both of these game consoles are suitable for children from 6 years of age and upwards. If you have younger children than this then there are other alternatives available.
One of the most important aspects of assessing if the Xbox One or PS4 is more kid friendly is the number of child friendly games that are available for each console. The truth is that both of these consoles have a wide range of kid friendly games so whichever one you chose you should be fine.
So is Xbox One or PS4 More Kid Friendly?
If it comes down to the availability of games for you then the PS4 offers a lot more choice. We consider the interface more child friendly too.
If you are working to a budget then the Xbox One is cheaper and is still a great option.
We look into each console in more depth below.
Is the Xbox One Kid Friendly?
The Xbox One is an extremely popular gaming console and does a good job when it comes to providing entertainment for the whole family. The Xbox One S is now a lot slimmer than previous versions and it has even more power. You really do get a very high specification gaming console at a very reasonable price. The S model is compatible with Xbox Kinect and can be great fun for kids.
Xbox Games
The Xbox One can be used by younger kids to play very popular games such as Roblox and Minecraft. There are hundreds of great games for kids on the Xbox One and it is also suitable for people that require advanced gaming features. This is something that older kids will appreciate, so if you have teenagers or those around eleven or twelve years old then it is a very good choice.
The other great thing about the Xbox One is that it is backward compatible with all other Xbox One games that you may already own.
Add in extra fun and entertainment with motion gaming using Kinect.
Xbox Kinect
Kinect uses a natural interface and responds to commands through the spoken word or through gestures. Kinect is able to sense motion and replaces the game controller allowing more interactive playing of games. Although Microsoft has ceased further development with Kinect you can still use it with the Xbox One to provide a whole new level of fun for children.
Latest Model – Xbox One X
Although the Xbox One is a powerful gaming console it is not the most powerful on offer. However, the latest version of Microsoft’s Xbox One is the Xbox One X. It has HDR (high dynamic range), 4K video streaming and 4K Blu-ray. If you have a 4K TV then you will really appreciate the 4K resolution feature. It is, without a doubt, one of the most sophisticated consoles for the money.
If your kids are demanding more power then you need to consider the Xbox One X. This is more expensive of course and you would need to take a good look at this to see if the additional expense was justified. This is a great option for teenagers too, we recommended it in out list of gadgets for teenage boys.
Is the Sony PS4 Kid Friendly?
The PS4 is a great gaming console for kids and there are a huge amount of games available for all ages. I would consider the user interface a bit more kid friendly than the Xbox One. For owner reviews and specifications on the PS4 Slim, check it out on Amazon.
PS4 Games
There are over 200 developers working on game content for the PlayStation VR and there are quite a few games already available for children. Games such as “Moss” and “Rick and Morty” are popular choices.
There is a very large selection of child friendly games available for the PS4. As with the Xbox One you can get your kids the Minecraft game which will keep them amused for hours. For older kids, there are the extremely popular FIFA games and if you want to challenge your children’s game playing ability then get them the extremely popular kids games such as Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy.
Virtual Reality
The PS4 can be a very good option for kids. You can still interface with PlayStation VR and there is a very large number of games available as well as internet and media integration. Virtual Reality (VR) has made a real comeback over the last few years and the technology continues to develop.
When PlayStation VR is used, gamers can use conventional controllers to play the game. The images are output to the VR headset as well as the TV screen. The headset produces images in 1080p HD and it also provides 3D audio. Sony state that their VR is for ages 12+.
Latest Model – PS4 Pro
The Sony PlayStation 4 Pro is the most powerful gaming console on the market. It is difficult to fault it in terms of specifications but it is a more expensive game console. If you go for the PS4 Pro then you will be able to use PlayStation VR. This is a virtual reality add-on that can be a really great experience for children as well as adults.
The PS4 Pro is really best for older kids that demand a lot more advanced gaming features. When you invest in the PS4 Pro you will get cutting-edge technology that will pass the test of time for a number of years to come.
The PS4 Pro also has 4K capabilities which you can only benefit from if you have a 4K TV. If you do not care about 4K resolution and do not want to spend the extra money, then the standard PS4 is less expensive but it isn’t as powerful.
Console Buying Tips:
- Appropriate Games
What kind of games do your kids like? Both consoles above offer heaps of games. Consider what kind of games are available for each one. For example, the game Forza (car racing) is only available on Xbox. We mentioned a few of the most popular kids games above for each system. - Social Gaming
Many of the popular games can be played online. Your kids might want to play games with their friends online. As we mentioned above, not all games are available on both gaming systems. It might pay to check with your kids what consoles their friends use so they can play online together. - Set-up Costs
The cost of your gaming system will depend on what set-up features you want. Adding VR to your console with add to the price. Extra controllers, faceplates, limited edition and collectors games can all add an extra cost to your set-up. Have an idea in mind of what you want to spend. You can always add extra features later when your and your family have used the console for a while.
Conclusion
Either console will provide a number of year’s worth of entertainment for your children, younger and older.
It may actually come down to the amount of money that you are prepared to spend and whether or not you have children’s games that your kids like playing that are compatible with a previous generation of one of the game consoles.
Both of them offer games for children over 6 years old and both consoles have pretty high specifications. The Kinect option is a good add-on for the Xbox One (although development has ceased) and for virtual reality, the PS4 is the way to go.
