Next up we have Microsoft’s follow up to their Xbox 360: Xbox One (XBONE). Originally released in November of 2013, this console had an infamously rocky start….how’s it holding up today, and more importantly: are we bringing it home to the kids?

Price:  Microsoft took a big hit from critics when the XBONE launched at $499.99 and came bundled with Kinect: a motion control device most gamers could have done without. Smartly removing Kinect from current packaging has helped Microsoft price competitively. an Xbox One can be found on shelves today at between $249.99 and $349.99 depending on memory storage, and what games may or may not be included.

Security: The XBONE is often marketed as a home entertainment device because of it’s many capabilities. Aside from a gaming console, it can act as your cable box, and music player. As they say, with great power comes great responsibility…and lucky for us, the Xbox has a robust set of parental controls (and trust me, you’re gonna need it.) From restricting games and content per account , to even creating exceptions (maybe that teen rated game isn’t that violent.) Although admittedly tricky to navigate at first, you’ll find  a great level of parental customization goodness once the ball is rolling.

Protip: Expect parental control tutorials from Dadsagamer in the near future!

Games: And then there’s the games. As briefly mentioned in my PS4 console-tation, the Xbox One is very much developed with a western audience in mind. What this means is lot’s of guns, explosions, tuff brodudes taking out bad guys etc. etc. Don’t get me wrong…in my opinion there isn’t anything quite wrong with these kinds of games after a certain age, but if you’ve got a 9 year old clamoring to get an XBONE, you might be hard pressed to find  solid age appropriate titles. With that said, here are My picks:

Rated E for everyone:

Forza Horizon 3

 Beautiful graphics, fast cars, and good fun. Just about the only XBONE exclusive game I can fully recommend in this catagory, however.

Rated T for Teen 

Halo 5 

You are master chief; a hard as nails, gun toting butt kicking machine, and humanity’s last hope against an alien threat. Not the best entry in the series, but it still delivers.

Rated M for Mature 

Gears of War 4

You are J.D Fenix; a hard as nails, gun toting butt kicking machine, and humanity’s last hope against an alien threat. Not the best entry in the series, but it still delivers.

Final Thoughts:

When it all comes down to it, games are what make a console great. Xbox One has a handful of solid third party games like Overwatch and Rocket League, the problem is those games (as well as superior exclusives) are also available on PlayStation 4. If I’m being totally honest this one is at the bottom of my list from both a parental, and gaming perspective.