Choosing a console when clueless

Cyclamen

Hello. I am looking for some help please.

I am looking for entertainment as disabled and finding myself more and more house/bedbound due to disability/health. I have only very occasionally played computer games so I just don't know where to start as lots of different brands but then lots of editions as well.

I don't want to play anything with realistic fighting, realistic shooting or remotely scary..I am a wuss. So I guess kids games are going to be more my thing.

I like the look of cartoony type games where you run round collecting tokens in different landscapes, cartoony car races, solving puzzles, board games. etc.. It would be great if there was a 2 person option so my husband and I can both play.

Back in 2000 a uni housemate had a playstation and we'd occasionally play worms, risk, and micromachines and I enjoyed those. Another housemate had something for mario carts and banjo kazooie again i enjoyed those.
I've seen xbox's being played but never been that involved as the game choice was pretty gruesome.

I have been looking on ebay and facebook but honestly have no idea what to choose? I don't need any intnet telly add-ons as we have a firestick for those and dvd player.

Can you buy most games for each console? or should i pick the games to choose the console?
Can i play new games on an older console? or older games on a newer console?

Can anyone make a guess of where I should start please ..I've been on google trying to find comparisons but got lost.

Honestly I'd buy board games and craft projects by choice but I'm not doing so well at sitting at a table and moving arms. So this is me trying to find entertainment but also without spending huge amounts until i know if we will enjoy playing computer games.

I know I'm out my depth so any help appreciated please.

Barny1979

Sounds like a Nintendo Wii, cheap and lots of games that you'd like available on ebay or Facebook Marketplace or if you want new a Nintendo Switch.

Cyclamen

Thank you Barny

I thought the wii was all about standing up and playing sports and races or dancing? That is way to physical for me.. does it have normal games too?

I would rather buy a 'new to me' older model than spend money on a new set up as they are very pricey and we are not sure yet if i would manage them or even enjoy them.

I'll do some research.

DCFC79

You can play some old games on newer consoles eg Xbox One will play a huge catalogue of Xbox and Xbox 360 games, cant say about the Playstation though.

The range of Lego games might be suitable.

Barny1979

Cyclamen wrote: »

Thank you Barny

I thought the wii was all about standing up and playing sports and races or dancing? That is way to physical for me.. does it have normal games too?

I would rather buy a 'new to me' older model than spend money on a new set up as they are very pricey and we are not sure yet if i would manage them or even enjoy them.

I'll do some research.

Yeah, the wii controller can be used as normal

Zozo21

Which console do the majority of your friends have? For example, some games cannot synchronise a Xbox with PS3. So you'd only be able to connect with your friends if you have the same type of console as them. Therefore, it might be worth asking what other people have. If your friends and family have one of them, I would go with what they have

p00hsticks

Cyclamen wrote: »

Thank you Barny

I thought the wii was all about standing up and playing sports and races or dancing? That is way to physical for me.. does it have normal games too?

I would rather buy a 'new to me' older model than spend money on a new set up as they are very pricey and we are not sure yet if i would manage them or even enjoy them.

I'll do some research.

Yes there are 'normal' games for the Wii - even many of the sports ones you can actually play sat down and just wave the controller (Wii-mote).

The Nintendo series of consoles (Wii/Wii U/Switch/DS) are definitely the brand that's more geared to your sort of games - mainly non-violent and family friendly.

You can get electronic versions of board games like Monopoly.
For the Wii off the top of my head I'd recommend Mario Cart, Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2, the Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword and Pikmin / Pikimin 2.

The Wii requires you to link it up to a television. The Wii U and Switch give you the option of either playing it on the TV or on a hand-held tablet style console.

Also if you like solving puzzles, you could look into getting a handheld Nintendo DS and some of the series of Professor Layton games

Barny1979

Zozo21 wrote: »

Which console do the majority of your friends have? For example, some games cannot synchronise a Xbox with PS3. So you'd only be able to connect with your friends if you have the same type of console as them.

I'm not aware any can do that can they? As they are on Xbox Live and Playstation Network, so won't speak to each other

Cyclamen

Sadly friends move on when long term chronic illness steps in.. U derstandable as I can't join in. So I don't need to worry about going online to play games... My friends now aren't into games apart from one who plays the very scary horror type or war scenarios... He wasn't sure what to suggest but was going to look after new year.

I will look up the games suggested thank you. I had thought Nintendo was more my style of games as PlayStation and xbox on the selling pages seem to come almost always with the scarier style game.

Thank you all... I am hoping there will be used ones for sale in next couple of weeks as people get new ones for christmas

Damien78

Cyclamen wrote: »

I will look up the games suggested thank you. I had thought Nintendo was more my style of games as PlayStation and xbox on the selling pages seem to come almost always with the scarier style game.
Thank you all... I am hoping there will be used ones for sale in next couple of weeks as people get new ones for christmas

I would vote for Xbox but anyway good luck and Merry Christmas!

custardy

Cyclamen wrote: »

Sadly friends move on when long term chronic illness steps in.. U derstandable as I can't join in. So I don't need to worry about going online to play games... My friends now aren't into games apart from one who plays the very scary horror type or war scenarios... He wasn't sure what to suggest but was going to look after new year.

I will look up the games suggested thank you. I had thought Nintendo was more my style of games as PlayStation and xbox on the selling pages seem to come almost always with the scarier style game.

Thank you all... I am hoping there will be used ones for sale in next couple of weeks as people get new ones for christmas

Nearly all my gaming 'friends' are people I have never met.