Shop for consoles

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 436 reviews

The Bottom Line: The most affordable of the current game systems, the Nintendo GameCube offers great graphics and good performance but few extras. Read review

Specs: Nintendo GameCube - Game console, Nintendo GAMECUBE disc, IBM PowerPC "Gekko" 485 MHz, 24 KB 1T-SRAM - Integrated, Black, 32-bit color

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.4 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: The latest PS3 slims down to its smallest size ever while retaining everything we like -- and a few things we don't -- about the PlayStation 3 gaming console. Read review

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 52 reviews

The Bottom Line: While it may not be a must-have upgrade for existing PSP owners, a host of subtle improvements make the latest Sony PSP (aka the PSP 2000) an even better deal for anyone looking for a solid portable gaming and multimedia device. Read review

Specs: Sony PSP Slim & Lite - Handheld game console, UMD (Universal Media Disc), Flash memory card, 333 MHz, 64 MB - Integrated, Piano black

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 7 reviews

The Bottom Line: With a smaller design, more energy-efficient operation, lower price tag, and built-in Blu-ray and multimedia capabilities, the PS3 Slim delivers a compelling package for an affordable price. Read review

Specs: Sony PlayStation 3 Move Bundle - Game console, Blu-ray, IBM Cell Broadband Engine, 256 MB XDRAM - Integrated, Charcoal black, 1920 x 1080

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.8 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 4 reviews

The Bottom Line: At the end of the day, the DSi XL is exactly the same as the DSi, so unless you're desperate for more touch-screen real estate, or your vision is impaired, we can't recommend a purchase over the original DSi. Read review

Specs: Nintendo DSi XL - Handheld game console, Cartridge, Flash memory card, Bronze

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 2 reviews

The Bottom Line: With a smaller design, more energy-efficient operation, lower price tag, and built-in Blu-ray and multimedia capabilities, the PS3 Slim delivers a compelling package for an affordable price. Read review

Specs: Sony PlayStation 3 Slim - Game console, Blu-ray, IBM Cell Broadband Engine, 256 MB XDRAM - Integrated, Charcoal black, 1920 x 1080

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 1 review

Specs: Microsoft Xbox 360 250 GB S Console - Game console, DVD, Glossy black, 1920 x 1080

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.6 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 12 reviews

The Bottom Line: A handful of notable upgrades from the entry-level model, the 80GB PS3 is superb Blu-ray player and high-definition game console. Read review

Specs: Sony PlayStation 3 - Game console, Flash memory card, Blu-ray, Cell Broadband Engine, 256 MB - Integrated, Black, 1920 x 1080

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: With a smaller design, more energy-efficient operation, lower price tag, and built-in Blu-ray and multimedia capabilities, the PS3 Slim delivers a compelling package for an affordable price. Read review

Specs: Sony PlayStation 3 - Game console, Blu-ray, IBM Cell Broadband Engine, 256 MB XDRAM - Integrated, Charcoal black, 1920 x 1080

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 1 review

Specs: Microsoft Xbox 360 Modern Warfare 2 Limited Edition - Game console, DVD, IBM PowerPC 3 cores 3.2 GHz, 512 MB ( 512 MB ) GDDR3 SDRAM - Integrated, Black, 1920 x 1080

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: For families and lovers of casual games, the still-affordable Wii represents the best console bundle value of the holiday season in terms of dollars spent; however, the Wii's getting long in the tooth, and other game consoles offer more entertainment options and functionality for their higher price tags. Read review

Specs: Nintendo Wii Sports Resort Pak - Game console, Nintendo Wii disc, Nintendo GAMECUBE disc, Flash memory card, IBM PowerPC, Black

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 22 reviews

Specs: Microsoft Xbox 360 Arcade - Game console, DVD, IBM PowerPC 3 cores 3.2 GHz, 512 MB ( 512 MB ) GDDR3 SDRAM - Integrated, 1920 x 1080

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 9 reviews

The Bottom Line: As a $99 content-streaming set-top box, OnLive's MicroConsole offers an intriguing low-cost alternative to traditional living-room game consoles--if you have enough bandwidth. Read review

Specs: - Game console

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 1 review

Specs: Microsoft Xbox 360 Limited Edition Halo: Reach Bundle - Game console, DVD, Glossy black, 1920 x 1080

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.5 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 124 reviews

The Bottom Line: Nintendo's latest Game Boy has an interesting design but doesn't offer anything you can't find in the company's other portables. Read review

Specs: Nintendo Game Boy Micro - Handheld game console, Cartridge, Sharp ARM7TDMI, 16.8 MHz, WRAM, 256 KB, Silver

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: For families and lovers of casual games, the even more affordable Wii still represents the best console bundle value in terms of dollars spent, but it's also the system that's first on deck to be outdated. With the announcement of the Wii U, the Wii is a declining console. Still, its sizable and often unique back library of games is still worth playing. Read review

Specs: Nintendo Wii - Game console, Flash memory card, Nintendo Wii disc, Nintendo GAMECUBE disc, IBM PowerPC, Black

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 4 reviews

The Bottom Line: While it may not be a must-have upgrade for existing PSP owners, a host of subtle improvements make the latest Sony PSP (aka the PSP 2000) an even better deal for anyone looking for a solid portable gaming and multimedia device. Read review

Specs: Sony PSP Star Wars Limited Edition Bundle - Handheld game console, UMD (Universal Media Disc), Flash memory card, 333 MHz, 64 MB - Integrated, Ceramic white

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: Microsoft Xbox 360 - Game console, DVD

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 6 reviews

The Bottom Line: Now that it has a brighter screen, Nintendo's Game Boy Advance SP is the budget champ for portable gaming. Read review

Specs: Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP - Handheld game console, Cartridge, Sharp ARM7TDMI, 256 KB WRAM - Integrated

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.7 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 11 reviews

The Bottom Line: The PSP Go is a sleek and sexy redesign, but its high price tag and some frustrating caveats mean it's not a must-have upgrade for existing PSP owners--at least for now. Read review

Specs: Sony PSP Go - Handheld game console, Flash memory card, 333 MHz, 64 MB - Integrated, Pearl white

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.0 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 16 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Atari Flashback 2 delivers a genuine Atari 2600 retro gaming experience at an unbeatable price. Read review

Specs: Atari Flashback 2 - Plug and play TV game, Black

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 22 reviews

The Bottom Line: The original GBA will still appeal to gamers on a budget, but its lack of illumination is a big drawback. Read review

Specs: Nintendo Game Boy Advance - Handheld game console, Cartridge, Sharp ARM7TDMI, 256 KB WRAM - Integrated, Indigo

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 18 reviews

The Bottom Line: While it may not be a must-have upgrade for existing PSP owners, a host of subtle improvements make the latest Sony PSP (aka the PSP 2000) an even better deal for anyone looking for a solid portable gaming and multimedia device. Read review

Specs: Sony PSP Daxter Limited Edition Bundle - Handheld game console, UMD (Universal Media Disc), Flash memory card, 333 MHz, 64 MB - Integrated, Ice silver

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: Microsoft Xbox 360 - Game console, DVD, 1920 x 1080

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.5 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 7 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Nintendo 3DS successfully offers a glasses-free 3D experience that needs to be seen to be believed. A weaker-than-usual launch lineup and some previously inactivated online features dampened its launch, but a recent price drop and a promising holiday lineup shine a light at the end of tunnel. Read review

Specs: Nintendo 3DS XL - Handheld game console, Cartridge, Flash memory card, Blue