Ever felt a situation where you like a game but can't buy that console because you are short on money? No worries, almost all students are in the same boat, keeping a close eye on their budget. But that doesn't mean you cannot enjoy the world of gaming while managing your finances responsibly. There are several best gaming consoles where you can enjoy hours of fun without even selling your textbooks!

Exploding Topics studies revealed that the market size of the gaming industry has reached USD 522.46 billion and is expected to grow to USD 691 billion by 2029. The number of video gamers has reached 3.32 billion all over the world, making it one of the biggest contributors to the entertainment industry. Due to its huge popularity among students, they look for the most budget-friendly gems to buy and play.

In this article, we will dive into the eight best gaming consoles of all time that you can get while staying on a budget in 2025.

What Are The Best Gaming Consoles For College Students? Top 8 Pick for 2025

Gaming helps you relax, bond with friends, and even improve your cognitive abilities, making it more than just a hobby. So, you need to find a gaming console that maintains a balance between price and performance.

Focusing on your academic responsibilities is also important, along with playing games. However, it becomes quite difficult for students to manage their homework while sparing time for relaxing activities. In such situations, they prefer to rely on assignment writing services in the UK that share their burden and enable them to thrive in their educational journey.

In 2025, the following are some best gaming consoles for beginners that are both reasonably priced and provide excellent value.

1. PlayStation 5 Slim – Classic Gaming Experience

It is well known for its extensive game selection of PS5 and PS4, UHD Blu-ray movies, and multimedia features, and due to this, the PlayStation 4 Slim is a trusted option for many students.

The following are the reasons to buy this one of the best gaming consoles for students:

● Large Game Collection: It provides you access to thousands of games, including The Last of Us and Uncharted.

● Multimedia Features: It has the ability to stream movies, music, and other materials because it is a multipurpose entertainment centre.

● Affordable Pricing: It costs about $425 from Walmart and Best Buy and $475 from Amazon, providing you with an excellent value for the features it offers.

2. Xbox Series S – Next-Gen Performance on a Budget

The Xbox Series S, being one of the best gaming consoles ever, provides you with modern video game features at a reasonable price. It is a disc-free gaming platform where you can play many new and old games without using an outside disc.

The following are the reasons to buy this game console:

● Enhanced Performance: It also provides excellent value for the modest RRP and comes with a quiet cooling design. Here, you can also experience faster load times and improved graphics.

● Game Pass Access: Xbox Game Pass subscriptions provide access to a huge collection of titles.

● Compact Design: It can easily fit into college rooms due to its attractive and small size.

3. Nintendo Switch Lite – Portable Gaming Powerhouse

Are you looking for a portable and reasonably priced gaming experience at the same time? Nintendo Switch Lite is a heaven for you! It is best for students’ enjoyment, especially when you are on the road, just because of its lightweight design and large game collection.

The following are the reasons to buy this one of the best gaming consoles for students under 10000 in 2025:

● Reasonably Priced: You can get it at $199 or $200, as it is the least expensive game console on the market.

● Large Game Collection: It gives you access to well-known games such as The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, and Mario Kart.

● Portability: It is simple to take this game console to seminars or on a journey due to its small size.

4. Steam Deck (64GB) – Portable PC Gaming

You can play your favourite PC games anywhere, as this best gaming console can offer you many PC games on a portable device.

The following are the reasons to buy this game console:

● Access to Steam Library: You can play a huge selection of PC games while on your journey through the Steam Library.

● Customisable Controls: It also offers you movable settings to customise your game experience.

● Affordable Entry Point: The 64GB model costs you around $299, which is quite affordable.

5. Meta Quest 2 – Immersive VR Experience

The Meta Quest 2 is a reasonably priced virtual reality-based game that delivers an exciting gaming experience without requiring a PC. But after buying your favourite game, you should not leave your study behind. Instead, you should use smart study hacks to make your tasks shine.

The following are the reasons to buy this best gaming console:

● Standalone VR: The headset itself does all the work; no PC or console is needed.

● Affordable Pricing: It has a fixed price of $199, which is currently the most affordable Virtual reality-based option.

● Educational Applications: It is beneficial for many students as it also offers educational VR experiences, other to gaming experiences.

6. Amazon Fire TV Gaming Bundle – Streaming and Gaming Combo

Among the best gaming consoles, it is the name that offers flexible gaming options for you, as it combines both gaming and streaming.

The following are the reasons to buy this game console:

● Dual Functionality: It has dual functionality that allows you to play games and stream your favourite shows on the same device.

● Affordable Bundle: It is an economical entertainment option with prices ranging from $100 to $150.

● Cloud Gaming Access: It has dual functionality that allows you to play games and stream your favourite shows on the same device.

7. Retroid Pocket 3+ – Retro Gaming Delight

If you love to play historic games, the Retroid Pocket 3+ can provide you with a traditional gaming experience in updated packaging. It is ideal for students who want to play excellent games without paying a higher price.

The following are the reasons to buy one of the best gaming consoles:

● Emulation Capabilities: Emulation features allow you to play games from several platforms, including the SNES and PS1.

● Lightweight Design: As there is no extra burden of this console, you can enjoy your games anywhere you want to play.

● Reasonably Priced: If you want to play vintage video games, you can acquire this for about $150, which is a great offer for students.

8. AYN Odin Base Model – Android Gaming Powerhouse

The AYN Odin Base Model is a portable and the best gaming console with an Android operating system that provides you with a strong performance for both mobile and retro gaming.

The following are the reasons to buy this game console:

● Versatile Gaming: It provides you with an option of versatile games that include streaming games, Android games, and playing classic consoles.

● High-Performance Hardware: It includes a powerful CPU to ensure smooth gameplay.

● Affordable Pricing: You may get this at about $240, and it provides excellent value for the money.

What Is The Number 1 Gaming Console?

According to The New York Times, the number 1 gaming console in the market today is PlayStation 5 Slim due to its smooth gaming, eye-catching graphics, fast loading time, and the best use of Blu-ray drive. If you use its digital edition, you need to pay only $50 and enjoy unlimited games like a pro version.

However, if you want to play discs in it or are looking for disc-based gaming, then it will cost you more whenever you add a disc drive now or later.

Is Gaming Good Or Bad For Students?

Gaming has both good and bad effects for students, as it completely depends on the usage and the time you play. Numerous studies have been conducted on the benefits and drawbacks of gaming to help students understand the meaningful use of these games.

An Institute for Educational Advancements states that on one side, gaming plays an important role in building cognitive and leadership skills, brings creativity to the table, helps them make friends, and improves memory.

However, prolonged gaming sessions negatively impact students as they reduce their academic scores, make them socially isolated, encourage violence, and affect their mental health. So, keeping a balance in gaming is the key to enjoying its benefits and avoiding these disadvantages.

Final Thoughts

We all know that gaming is not just an entertainment for students; it is their way to escape from the daily pressure of study and the stress of exams. That’s why students often look for pocket-friendly options when they need to buy a console. To help you in this regard, here, we have covered the eight best gaming consoles for students that fit your budget and make it easy to buy in 2025.

Also, it becomes difficult to focus on your writing chores while managing your studies, preparing for exams, part-time jobs, and making time for such entertainment. This is where students can hire London-based assignment writing companies, which have expert staff to assist students in completing their homework feasibly and on time. So, whether you take professional assistance to release your burden or play a game to melt away your stress, you will be able to better perform in both academics and life!

Author Bio

Melissa D. Longoria is an assignment writing expert and a passionate gamer who loves to play games in her free time and also serves students with the best strategies. She has more than 4 years of experience in this field, where she provides guidelines to students and helps them write their outstanding projects that can earn good grades.