Are Portable Games Consoles The Way For You To Go?

Tons of folks are looking for new ways they can enjoy video gaming. From die-hard fans who have been playing since the days of Pong and Atari systems to relative newbies who are dabbling their feet in these waters for the first time, the good news is that you’ve got a lot of options on the table these days. But while having loads of choices is generally a good thing… well, for some people, it’s just plain confusing.

Do you get an older Xbox model or opt for the Series X? Shell out for the latest and greatest PlayStation on the market? Ditch consoles entirely and go for the pure simplicity of gaming on your cell phone, albeit at the cost of not being able to play some of the top games? Or turn your eyes to dedicated portable games consoles?

There’s no one right answer – sadly – to this question, but that’s only because it heavily depends on you and your gaming priorities. Let’s unpick whether portable games consoles can fill the entertainment gap in your life or if you should steer clear!

Advantage 1: Variety

Nobody can say that portable consoles lack variety – especially when you include cell phones in this group. Cell phones will let you play a whole range of different options, including a host of browser games, plus those you can enjoy through dedicated apps.

That means you’ve got almost everything except the really high-end, high-power options ready and waiting for you. Using your phone’s browser, you can jump onto any gaming platform. Take the online casino as an example of this – want to play online video poker at 4 in the morning because you can’t sleep? No problem!

 You just flick your phone on, boot up the browser, log into your favorite casino, and load some online video poker to help yourself drop off again. Low-stress and low-strategy, it’s ideal for dozing to. You don’t have to worry about whether you’re making the right choices, and obviously there’s no “poker face” to worry about, since you’re playing digitally and with no other players. Indeed, with the increased simplicity compared to standard poker, video poker has won a lot of individuals to its side.

Of course, we don’t have to stick with just video poker. You’ve got browser games in abundance. Try Stronghold Kingdoms or Fallen London (great for those who love a solid story), or opt for something like Cookie Clicker if you want something that’s basic and engaging. If you’re playing on a console like the Nintendo Switch, you’ll have all kinds of games, like Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Stardew, and more.

Advantage 2: Flexibility

It sort of goes without saying, but the single biggest plus of portable consoles is their flexibility. You can play them anywhere – that’s the whole point. Some are a little bulkier than others, but whether you’re playing on your phone or on a console, they are designed for easy transport and playing them anywhere! On a plane, at home at your kitchen table, on your work break, wherever and whenever, you’ve got games at your disposal. All you need to do is make sure the system is charged and, if you want to play games online, connected to the internet.

For folks on the go a lot, that flexibility is a major winner. It might mean the difference between actually getting to play your games and ending up with them on a shelf gathering dust – for those who lead very busy lives (and who doesn’t, these days!), portable consoles inject an element of flexibility that makes gaming not only more fun, but sometimes actually possible when traditional consoles simply don’t fit into the daily routine.

Drawback 1: Power Limits

This heading goes both ways – we’re talking about both processing power and literal battery power here.

Let’s start with processing. Portable consoles, no matter how great they have become, still can’t really compete with a dedicated stationery console that has space for bigger and more powerful chips. While there are some amazing games available for consoles like the Switch, they just can’t go up against the behemoths of the gaming world, and if you want to play anything high-end like Red Dead Redemption 2, Subnautica, Final Fantasy XV, or anything similar… you need a proper console or a high-power gaming PC.

Next, the battery life. Again, credit where credit is due. Battery life has massively improved for gadgets of all kinds in recent years; whether you’re playing on a Switch or your phone, you’re benefiting from huge leaps forward… but we’ve still got to confess that limited battery life is the bane of the gamer on the go. Even the best portable consoles run out eventually, and that can leave you without any entertainment – and if you’ve used your phone for gaming, possibly without other essentials. If you’re someone who doesn’t like messing around with chargers, battery packs, and low battery warnings, a portable console might not be ideal for you.