Cyber Monday games console deals: The best Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Wii U offers
There are bags of Cyber Monday console bargains to be had, but whether you're shopping for yourself or a loved one, it can be difficult to decide whether to go for a PlayStation 4, Xbox One, or a Nintendo Switch.
Luckily, we've rounded up all of the best discounts and deals - which we'll be constantly updating - to make your decision easier.
Editor's picks
PS4 Slim 500GB & FIFA 18, Gran Turismo Sport and Knowledge is Power - £199, Very, buy now
PS4 Slim 500GB with FIFA 18, Gran Turismo Sport and Knowledge is Power - (save up to £190) £199, Very, buy now
PS4 Pro 1TB with Dual Shock 4 controller & FIFA 18 - £299.95 (save £50), John Lewis, buy now
PlayStation 4 S4 Pro with GT Sport and Call of Duty: WWII - £299.99 (save up to £160), Very, buy now
FIFA 18 (PS4) - now £36, Amazon, buy now
Nintendo Switch - £279, Amazon, buy now or £279.99, Game, buy now
Nintendo Switch with Super Mario Odyssey - £309, Amazon, buy now
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Nintendo Switch) - £41.99 Amazon, buy now
Read More: The Best Cyber Monday deals
The Independent's technology editor Andrew Griffin, and avid gamer, has weighed in to explain the major differences, and help you choose the most suitable console for you.
Nintendo Switch v The Rest
To get this out the way: the Switch is an entirely different proposition, but one that’s not worth ruling out. The games are incredible, the console is packed with fun, and Nintendo have pulled out a stroke of genius all around. It has its downsides – the graphics and performance are nowhere near as futuristic and powerful as the other bigger consoles – but that’s what you get for it all fitting in a box you can throw in your bag and play on the move. Ultimately, you’re probably not deciding between a Switch and other consoles; but if you’re deciding whether to buy a Switch, then you should.
Instead, this guide is about whether you should buy an Xbox or a PlayStation, and which of those you should buy. Here’s everything you should think about.
Console Exclusives
First, have a look at the various console exclusives that each platform has. If you want to play any of the Halo games, for instance, you’re going to want to get an Xbox; if you’re really into Final Fantasy, then you’ll need a PlayStation. But remember that almost every big game comes out for both consoles, so unless there’s something you’re especially keen on then that might not necessarily sway your decision.
Special Features
Second, think about exclusive features and products. The PlayStation for instance has virtual reality features, and good ones; the Xbox hasn’t got round to that yet. On the other hand, the Xbox allows you to play games on the PC, too, and the Kinect is still clinging on. But ultimately this comes down to VR – if you’re interested in getting your hands on a headset as soon as possible, the PlayStation wins out.
What Are You Used To?
Third, have a think about the different controllers, and what you’re used to. This, in my opinion, is the big thing that’s underappreciated about the differences between the Xbox and the PlayStation – which is strange when you consider that it’s the thing that’s most obviously different, about something that sits in your hands the entire time you’re playing. The Xbox controller is bigger, tougher and more comfortable; the PlayStation one is smaller and some people find it to be a little more agile. This ultimately comes down to what you’re used to, so if you’ve played one console through all previous generations then it might be worth sticking with what you know.
Branding And Design
And last of all comes the wooliest of all considerations – but the one that will probably make a difference. Think about the branding, design and look of the consoles, both hardware and software. From the outside, the PlayStation is a little less sleek, all tumbling lines and curves; the Xbox is significantly more square and a little more contemporary. Once you boot it up, the PlayStation is more of a swirl of colour and beeps; the Xbox is a little more practical and down-to-earth.
Best Console Bundle Deals
PS4 Slim 500GB & FIFA 18, Gran Turismo Sport and Knowledge is Power - £199, Very, buy now
PS4 Slim 500GB & FIFA 18 - £199, Currys, buy now
PS4 Slim 500GB & Call of Duty WWII, Fallout 4, Gran Turismo Sport and Knowledge is Power - £200, Very, buy now
PS4 Pro 1TB with FIFA 18 - £299.95 (save £50), John Lewis, buy now
Xbox One 1TB with Assassin's Creed Origins - £229.99, Argos, buy now
Xbox One S 500GB with Wireless Controller and Forza Horizon and Hot Wheels - £169.95, John Lewis, buy now
Xbox One S 1TB Console with Gears of War 4 and Dead Rising 4 - £339.90, Zavvi, buy now
Nintendo Switch with Super Mario Odyssey - £329.99, Nintendo, buy now
PS4 Pro with GT Sport and Call of Duty: WWII - £299.99 (save up to £160), Very buy now
PS4 Slim
Slimmer, lighter and less expensive than the PS4 Pro, the PS4 Slim is the most popular iteration of the family of consoles and is available with either 500GB or 1TB storage and with four colour choices; jet black, glacier white, gold and silver.
Console deals
£199 Very - PS4 Slim 500GB & FIFA 18, Gran Turismo Sport and Knowledge is Power - buy now
£199 Currys - PS4 Slim 500GB & FIFA 18 - buy now
£200 Currys - PS4 Slim 500GB & Call of Duty WWII, Fallout 4, Gran Turismo Sport and Knowledge is Power - buy now
£199 Game - PS4 Slim 500GB & FIFA 18 - buy now
£229.95 John Lewis - PS4 Slim 500GB with 2 Dualshock 4 controllers & FIFA 18 - buy now
£199.99 Argos - PS4 Slim 500GB Star Wars Battlefront 2 - buy now
PS4 Pro
The latest console from Sony, the PS4 Pro is the most powerful console on the market right now and can output both 4k and HDR Video thanks to its upgraded GPU. Critics describe its improvement on the PlayStation 3 as significant, particularly highlighting the amount of high-speed memory and the impressive graphic technology.
While it doesn’t feature a 4K Blu-ray drive, much to the disappointment of loyal fans, its 1TB hard drive more than makes up for it. The PS4 Pro also supports Remote Play, Share Play and streaming at up to 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second – that’s seriously fast.
Console deals
£299.95 (save £50) John Lewis - PS4 Pro 1TB with Dual Shock 4 controller & FIFA 18, buy now
£299 (save £107.97) Currys - PS4 Pro 1TB with Fallout 4, Gran Turismo Sport and Call of Duty WWII, buy now
£299.99 (save up to £160), Very - PS4 Pro 1TB White Console with Call of Duty WWII and Gran Turismo, buy now
£299, Amazon - PS4 Pro 1TB with FIFA Ultimate Team Icons and Rare Player Pack, buy now
Game deals
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy - £14, Tesco
Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy - £24.99, Game
FIFA 18 - £36, Amazon
Project Cars 2 - £44.99, Argos
Star Wars Battlefront II: The Last Jedi Heroes - £49.99, Smyths Toys
Accessory deals
Games Tower and Charging Station - £21.99, Argos
PlayStation Camera - £39.60, Amazon
PlayStation Platinum Wireless Headset - £123.72, Game
Move Controller - £68.99, John Lewis
Playstation VR - £339.99 now £249.99, Smyths Toys
Xbox One S
You’ll have to wait a few more months for the launch of the upcoming Xbox One X, but the Xbox One S is a great alternative for now. Smaller and lighter than the Xbox One – 40 per cent smaller, in fact, it has an impressive 2TB of storage, and the power unit is built-in.
There are more than 100 console-exclusive games to choose from, including some of the biggest games of the year. Critics also praised its ease of use and aesthetically pleasing design. That being said, while the Xbox One S does support 4K resolution, including Blu-ray movies and streaming, it is currently limited to video playback only.
Console deals
£170 (save £169.99) Currys - Xbox One S with Doom, Forza and Fallout 4
£169.99 (various options) Smyths
£170 Tesco - Xbox One S 500GB with Forza Horizon and Hot Wheels
£224.45 John Lewis - Xbox One S 500GB with Forza Horizon and Hot Wheels
£199.99 Amazon - Xbox One S 500GB
Game deals
Agents of Mayhem £16, Tesco
Forza Horizon 3 £41.99, Argos
Injustice 2 £29.50, Amazon
Halo Wars 2: Complete Edition £47.25 Microsoft
Call of Duty: WWII, £47.99, Smyths Toys
Accessory deals
Twin Docking Station £14.99, Argos
Xbox Wireless Controller £43.85, Amazon
Vertical Stand £14.99, Xbox
Turtle Beach Ear Force Headset £29.99, Game
Chatpad, £24.99, Smyths Toys
Nintendo Switch
A handheld/console hybrid, Nintendo’s latest offering can be connected to your TV to play on the big screen, or you can also take it with you on the go as a high-powered handheld.
Codenamed NX, the Switch became the fastest-selling home console in the company's history, tied to the critically acclaimed Legend of Zelda: Breath of Wind, which has sold more than 4 million copies.
As the newest launch, its game lineup is still growing – but it’s also the only console where you can play the latest Mario titles.
Console deals
£269 Amazon
£269.99 Tesco
£279.99 Currys
£279.99 Toysrus
£279.99 Smyths Toys
£279.99 Very
£324.95 Game
Game deals
Sonic Mania £15.99, Nintendo
Ultra Street Fighter II £34.99, Argos
Super Mario Odyssey £42, Tesco
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe £41.99, Amazon
Accessory deals
Joy-Con Wheel Pair, £14.99, Argos
Accessory Set Splatoon 2 Edition, £18, John Lewis
Carry Case & LCD Screen Protector £16.99, Tesco
Everyday Messenger Bag £24.99, Smyths Toys
Wired Controller Plus – Zelda: Breath of the Wild, £29.99, Game
Wii U
A console that redefines the dynamic of playing games alone or with your friends or family, Nintendo’s first ever fully high-definition console provides visuals that are a substantial leap from the Wii. The Wii U can be played directly on the GamePad, independently or connected to the television.
Basically, that means you can game while someone else is watching TV, and you can play Mario in HD for the first time.
It’s also backward compatible with all Wii software and accessories, including Wii remotes, Nunchuks and Balance Board.
Console deals
£249.99 Argos
£326.09 Tesco
£109.99 Game
Game deals
Nintendo Selects New Super Mario £19.99, Nintendo
Minecraft, £20.99, Smyths Toys
Resident Evil Revelations £10.99, Argos
Just Dance 2017 £33.99, Smyths Toys
Accessory deals
Nunchuck Controller £14.99, Argos
Microphone £9.94, Amazon
Controller Classic, £29.94, Game
Storage Case £7.05, Amazon
