Whether you want to game on the go, play with your friends, or have fun playing single-player games, chances are there is a perfect gaming console for you.
Finding the right one could be difficult, with many titles becoming available on almost every console.
With big players like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo dominating most of the gaming market, finding your ultimate console depends on your gaming style.
If you're looking to get yourself a brand-new console this new year, you've come to the right place - here are the best consoles for you based on what kind of gamer you are.
Gamer Types: Bartle’s Player Types for Gamification
Bartle's Player Types for Gamification aren't exclusive to determining what kind of player you are in video games, but this categorization also helps gamers identify their needs in non-gaming scenarios.
Knowing what type of gamer you are will help you determine what kind of games you love most and how these titles and consoles will cater to your gaming needs.
The Achiever
If you know someone who loves to collect every achievement in every game they play, they're probably an achiever.
Achievers love doing everything possible to earn that elusive Platinum in Cyberpunk 2077.
If you check your game library and notice that you have more 100% completion than you thought, you are undoubtedly an Achiever.
The Explorer
The Explorer does not care about trophies and achievements but would rather wander off and discover something new.
They love gaming easter eggs and lean into the game's lore more often than other gamers. Suppose you prefer to turn off your quest objectives and wander around the Red Dead Redemption 2 map. In that case, you fall into the Explorer category, along with roughly 10% of the gaming population.
The Socializer
Socializers make up a massive 80% of the population and are the most common gamer type. Many players don't realize that they are Socializers, even though they claim they only like single-player games.
However, being a Socializer isn't limited to finding joy in playing with others but also feeling happy when they experience social encounters with NPCs or party members. Socializing and teamwork are the common denominators for players who are Socializers.
The Killer
The Killer is the most competitive group type among the four gamer types. Like Achievers, Killers love achievements too, but in a very contrasting way. While they do love winning, they prefer winning against others.
Achievers go for the achievement, but Killers go the extra mile to best everyone else. They comprise only 1% of the gaming population, which is also similar to many different populations of those with higher matchmaking ranks in competitive esports.
Now that you know what kind of gamer you are based on Bartle's Player Types, you might wonder what kind of console fits best. To answer that question, we'll have to look at what kind of games and features each major console offers.
PlayStation
PlayStation titles are known to have vast open worlds with several charming character casts.
Whether you feel like you want to explore ancient temples in Uncharted or take a nice trip down Midgard in God of War, PlayStation has an excellent list of titles for Explorer gamer types. PlayStation also has a nice trophy system that many Achievers like.
While PlayStation excels at story-telling, it has a few titles that might interest Killer gamer types.
Nintendo Switch
Portable, light, and filled with many games perfect for friends and families alike, the Nintendo Switch is the go-to console of many Socializers.
Fun games such as The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom are perfect for Explorers as well. Nintendo is all about having fun so few Achievers might find satisfaction in many of its amazing IPs.
Killer gamer types prefer fiercer competition and the Nintendo Switch, while fantastic on its own, lacks the hardware to play high-stakes multiplayer games so the console might not be perfect for those who prefer to have action-packed titles.
Xbox
With interesting titles such as Forza Horizon and Halo, Xbox may be the best console for Achievers and Killers.
While the console has had more variety of titles recently, Xbox was originally known for fantastic shooter games that many competitive players love. If you like intense competitive matches using your asymmetric controller, Xbox is the perfect way to go.
Microsoft's console also has a lot to offer for Explorers and Socializers but it lacks some game franchises only available on the other two consoles.
And there you have it, a comprehensive list of what to buy this new year based on what kind of gamer you are. Share with us your favorite titles and consoles as you stay updated with the latest gaming news and headlines this new year. Happy holidays!