Yes, we’re starting up the console war once more for 2025. Before you roast us in the comments about how we’re absolutely wrong, hear us out first! We’re going to be judging which platform is indeed the best for gaming in 2025 based on a number of factors. We’ll be looking at budget, accessories, titles being released this 2025, and accessibility. With that, let’s look at the contenders.
Gaming PC
The first choice is arguably one of the most popular ones and for good reason. Building and owning a gaming PC is one of every single gamer’s dreams. It’s powerful, can handle multitasking and crank out insane specs when gaming. It supports a ton of peripherals and can play most, if not all, games out on the market. The biggest drawback it truly just the accessibility of getting a PC. I don’t mean just buying one, but also the complexities of knowing the components, price, setup, and maintenance.
Right off the bat, I want to make something abundantly clear. On paper, PC is the premiere choice for gaming. You have access to almost every game and you can customize and optimize every single option. However, the barrier of entry is way too high when it comes to PC.
Unless you’re buying a pre-built one, there’s a lot that goes into getting a PC in the first place. It’s not as accessible price wise to most people and take a lot of commitment to getting one. If we’re going strictly by stats and specs, sure, PC all the way. However, accessibility is a huge factor in this hobby. It’s certainly one of the top choices but it’s not the best simply due to the price and the complexities that come with getting one.
PlayStation 5 (Pro, Slim, Digital)
A solid contender for the top spot this year is the PlayStation 5 and its variants. While the Pro is a little more on the over-priced side, the Slim and digital versions of the PS5 are all great! The PS5 offers a powerful system that, when paired with a really good TV, allows you to play games at stunning resolutions and smooth animations. In fact, the PS5 supports up to 8k output and Ray tracing.
While the PS5 is by no means cheap, it goes all out to give you the most bang for your buck. We place it above PC due to the accessibility and readymade options PS5 provides. Although it’s not as powerful and customizable as a High-end PC, it still outperforms a PC of the same price point. You can always opt for the cheaper, digital only, variant and that’s a genuinely viable option considering the only thing you’re losing is the disc drive.
The main drawbacks of the PS5 are mainly the price (450 USD or 31,000 PHP for the Slim) and the limited storage space. It’s still an expensive option and considering the peripherals needed to play, it’s going to burn a huge hole in your wallet. The storage is another main issue given the fact it caps out at 1TB and that means that players with a lot of games will have a problem installing everything.
Xbox Series X and Series S
The Xbox Series X (and its variant, the series S) is another contender for the top spot for several reasons. For one, its powerful performance delivers top-notch gaming experiences with 4K resolution and up to 120 frames per second. This is all thanks to a custom AMD Zen 2 processor and RDNA 2 GPU.
The console’s backward compatibility allows you to enjoy thousands of older Xbox games with enhanced performance. This is a key selling point to many players who love nostalgia and retro gaming. That also makes it an easy choice for those with extensive game libraries. When it comes to games, the Xbox Game Pass is one main appeal by offering access to a vast library of games for cheap. One personal favorite of mine is the Xbox style controller. Xbox has arguably the best controller feel and layout to me personally and I’m sure a lot of you will agree.
In terms of games, the Xbox is expecting about the same titles as PS5 and PC with the differences mainly being console exclusives. You have games like “GTA 6,” “Elden Ring: Nightreign,” and “Avowed,” to look forward to. This is, however, its biggest drawback. For the price of the console, you’d expect better exclusive titles and actual system-selling games. Everything that makes an Xbox an option are also true to the PS5 and PC. Another con is the sheer bulky design of the console. It is by no means the easiest system to slot in your gaming room or living room.
Handhelds (PC and Gaming Consoles)
Portable gaming platforms have gained a ton of popularity over the years and many gamers genuinely enjoy these consoles. Handheld PCs have become increasingly popular due to their many advantages. One of the key benefits is portability. A lot of gamers love gaming on the go and these devices are compact and lightweight, making them easy to carry for work or leisure.
They also have enhanced performance. Modern models feature powerful processors and ample RAM, allowing them to run demanding triple A titles better than before. I personally find that the touchscreen interface adds a lot to the user-friendliness. An added bonus they have is the ability to connect to an external monitor and peripherals. That means you can essentially transform them into regular PCs, albeit not as powerful.
On the side of handheld consoles, the benefits are straightforward. The top contender from handheld consoles right now are the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. They’re extremely affordable, have a great game library, and are perfect for both home and gaming on the go. They may not be the most powerful systems copared to the other contenders on this list, but they get the job done. If you’re looking for a casual choice that’s not too expensive, then this may be the choice for you.
Even with all the upsides, this platform is not without drawbacks. The cheapest handheld PC that’s capable of Triple A gaming is the Steam deck OLED. It has about the same price as the PS5 and is only slightly better in terms of specs but still falls short when running some games that run fine on the PS5. Other handheld PCs basically cost the same as a budget to mid-range gaming laptop. At that point, you might as well get the gaming laptop! It’s still a good choice if you like portability or don’t have a lot of space but when compared to the other options, handheld PCs sadly don’t overtake some of them.
Our Top Pick
So what is our top pick for gaming in 2025? We simply have to give it to the PlayStation 5! Yes, a gaming PC is by all means the top performing system but that doesn’t make it the best by default. A Gaming PC is powerful and customizable, capable of running nearly all games and multitasking efficiently. However, its accessibility issues, including higher costs and setup complexity, make it less attractive for casual gamers and people looking to get into gaming.
The PlayStation 5 emerges as a strong contender due to its impressive capabilities, offering stunning 8K graphics and ray tracing. While it may be pricey, its ease of use and better performance relative to cost outshine PCs. The only main drawbacks include limited storage and a higher price for the Pro version.
Similarly, the Xbox Series X offers solid gaming performance and backward compatibility but suffers from a lack of compelling exclusive titles. Handhelds have gained popularity but often fall short in performance compared to dedicated consoles.
In conclusion, the PlayStation 5 ist our pick for the best platform for 2025 due to its balance of performance, accessibility, and value for gamers. Its impressive specs and growing library of titles make it an ideal choice for both casual and serious gamers alike. While it may not be as powerful as a PC, it’s enough to get the job done without costing an arm and a leg nor requires a copious amount of research to obtain.
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