3 of the best portable game consoles you can buy now – 69News WFMZ-TV
New footage and several new video games were shown at the annual D23 Expo. Rick Damigella reports.
There’s been a welcome revival of portable game systems lately. Even though phones and tablets do a fine job of playing great portable games, dedicated devices can provide unique features, exclusive games or extra power to do things yo…….
New footage and several new video games were shown at the annual D23 Expo. Rick Damigella reports.
There’s been a welcome revival of portable game systems lately. Even though phones and tablets do a fine job of playing great portable games, dedicated devices can provide unique features, exclusive games or extra power to do things your phone can’t.
The Nintendo Switch has been the best and most affordable portable game system for years and continues to be CNET’s top pick. But new handheld consoles from Valve and Analogue are bridging the gap between PC gaming and retro game cartridges, respectively.
Here’s a look at three of CNET’s 2022 picks for handheld gaming consoles.
Best handheld console
Nintendo Switch, starting at $200
Nintendo Switch Lite
The Nintendo Switch is 5 years old now, but Nintendo has indicated that no true successor is coming right now. A Pro model has been rumored for a while, but in the meantime the existing Switch remains extremely capable, full of great games and pretty affordable considering its handheld/TV-connected dual function.
But which one to choose? The $350 OLED-screened Switch is our recommended pick. The more vivid and larger display looks fantastic, its rear kickstand works better for tabletop gaming, and both of these upgrades are worth the extra $50 above the original Switch (or the V2 version) price.
At $300, the original Switch works similarly and is also still fine.
The smaller, handheld-only Switch Lite is a great value pick at $200 for anyone who just wants a basic portable game system, but it lacks any ability to connect to a TV, and its controllers don’t detach.
Best newcomer
Valve Steam Deck, starting at $400
Valve’s Steam Deck. (Dan Ackerman/CNET/TNS)
Valve’s big and powerful Steam Deck is a marvel: It can play a wide variety of PC games surprisingly well and is the dream portable for any hardcore Steam fan or anyone who has a big library of PC games. The Steam Deck can get expensive for the larger storage tiers, but for what it’s capable of, it’s not a bad deal. Wait times on preorders are still pushed out by some months, but more people seem to be getting theirs. The ability to play PC games or stream cloud-based games, and to connect to a monitor, keyboard or other accessories, puts the Steam Deck in a class of its own.
Best for old games
Analogue Pocket, $220
The Analogue Pocket. (Scott Stein/CNET/TNS)
The Analogue Pocket looks like a totally remade Game Boy, and it is, in a sense. Analogue’s gorgeous handheld can play original Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance cartridges perfectly and can even play Sega Game Gear games using an adapter (Atari Lynx, Neo Geo Pocket and Turbografx-16 adapters are coming soon). It has a high-res color screen and USB-C charging, and there’s a separately sold dock for TV play. But the Pocket doesn’t play emulations or ROMs, and there’s no game store for buying games. It’s strictly a system to enjoy real physical cartridges in amazing quality, although there’s a growing library of Pocket-compatible software that can be sideloaded to a MicroSD.
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Summer Games Fest 2022: The biggest games announced and our top picks
Street Fighter 6
Updated
Sep 20, 2022
The classic arcade fighting game returns.
Resident Evil 4
Updated
Sep 20, 2022
Remakes are the rage, and the Resident Evil series is working its way through their catalog. They’ve finally reached one of their most popular and top-rated games. Will it do justice to the original?
Planet of Lana
Updated
Sep 20, 2022
You and your pet are on a mission to save your sister, who is abducted by an invading robot army. Elements of puzzler and stealth mixed with beautiful design make for an intriguing game.
Overwatch 2
Updated
Sep 20, 2022
This anticipated sequel arrives this October as a free to play game. Grab your friends, form a team and join the battle.
Last of Us Part 1
Updated
Sep 20, 2022
A remake of the first Last of Us game, with significantly improved graphics. You know, in case you haven’t already played the PlayStation 3 or PS4 version.
Goat Simulator 3
Updated
Sep 20, 2022
You are a goat. You can do very goat and non-goat things. Seriously, if it is like the first game, it won’t be baaaad.
The Callisto Protoco
Updated
Sep 20, 2022
If you are a space horror game fan, this Summer Games Fest was for you. Multiple titles dedicated to the genre were announced, headlined by The Callisto Protocol.
Ereban: Shadow Legacy
Updated
Sep 20, 2022
A stealth game where players transcend a dystopian world to learn about their past and change the future.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Updated
Sep 20, 2022
A remake of the 2009 game by the same name. The trailer contains new gameplay footage.
Pentiment
Updated
Sep 20, 2022
A unique 2-D narrative role-playing game set in 16th century Bavaria. A unique visual style makes this game even more intriguing.
Cult of the Lambs
Updated
Sep 20, 2022
Did you play Animal Crossing and think “this is great, but it would be more fun if I could truly be evil?” Then Cult of the Lambs is for you. Build and gain followers to become the top cult.
Stormgate
Updated
Sep 20, 2022
From a studio composed of former Blizzard employees, a game that looks like Diablo and plays like StarCraft is not a surprise.
Our top 10 most anticipated games:
Updated
Sep 20, 2022
10. Time Flies
Updated
Sep 20, 2022
You are a fly, with a very short lifespan. What will you do with it?
9. Cocoon
Updated
Sep 20, 2022
From the gameplay designer of Limbo and Inside, Cocoon calls itself a world-leaping puzzle game. Explore worlds within worlds to solve a cosmic mystery.
8. Final Fantasy XVI
Updated
Sep 20, 2022
Get to know more story details about Final Fantasy XV, which is coming next summer.
The popular Japanese role-playing game returns with a new adventure, and this time, you can become a kaiju. Summon away!
7. Quiet Farm
Updated
Sep 20, 2022
You are a cow, trying to save your farm from an alien invasion. Maybe along the way, you will discover something about yourself. Or maybe you will just smash things.
6. Starfield
Updated
Sep 20, 2022
Bethesda’s long-awaited space game got an extended trailer, showing gameplay, character creation, base building, ship building.and space combat.
5. Stray
Updated
Sep 20, 2022
You are a cat, exploring a futuristic cyberpunk city. Can you find your way home?
4. System Shock
Updated
Sep 20, 2022
In this remake of the 1994 classic game, you’re a hacker trying to survive a rogue AI on a space station. Can you find a way to take it down?
3. A Plague Tale: Requiem
Updated
Sep 20, 2022
Aw rats. Like, hundreds of them. A Plague Tale: Requiem looks amazing, and drops later this year.
2. Gotham Knights
Updated
Sep 20, 2022
With the Suicide Squad game getting pushed to next year, Gotham Knights takes center stage. How fans will react to a Batman game that doesn’t have Batman is yet to be determined.
1. Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
Updated
Sep 20, 2022
A Souls game meets the original God of War. The gods of old face their toughest challenge, you. Use a combination of gunpowder and magic to retake the mortal world.
What games are you most excited for? Post yours in the comments, or hit me up on Twitter at @The_Dean.
