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Platform Guide

The Best Gaming Platforms for Australian Beginners

We've assessed every major platform against a single question: which is best for someone who has never gamed before? The answer depends on your lifestyle, budget, and the kinds of experiences you're after.

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How We Assess Platforms for Beginners

Not every platform review is written with newcomers in mind. Most assume you already know the difference between a GPU and a CPU, or that you understand what “60fps” means. We don't make those assumptions here.

Our assessments focus on four criteria that actually matter to first-time gamers:

  • Ease of getting started: How quickly can you go from unboxing (or downloading) to playing?
  • Cost of entry: What is the realistic minimum investment before you can enjoy a good game?
  • Beginner catalogue depth: How many genuinely appropriate titles exist for new players?
  • Safety and control tools: How easy is it to manage spending limits, content filters, and privacy settings?

Editorial Note

All platforms on this page are presented as editorial examples only. We do not receive commissions, affiliate fees, or incentives from any platform manufacturer. This is independent informational guidance.

Various gaming devices displayed together including a phone, laptop, and controller

6

Platforms reviewed in depth

$0

Minimum cost to start on mobile or browser

AU

All ratings & prices are Australia-specific

In-Depth Platform Reviews

Platform-by-Platform Breakdown

Each review below covers setup, catalogue, cost, and beginner suitability. We've ordered them from the most accessible to the most dedicated gaming environments.

Person using a smartphone to play a casual game
Most Accessible • Zero Cost to Start

Mobile Gaming (iOS & Android)

The smartphone you already own is a capable gaming device. Both the Apple App Store and Google Play offer tens of thousands of free games, with genres spanning puzzles, strategy, adventure, and simulation. Touch controls feel natural for casual play, and portrait mode on a phone suits short daily sessions.

The main challenge is quality filtering: not every free game is worth your time. We recommend looking for titles with high user ratings, clear age classifications from the Australian Classification Board, and no aggressive in-app purchase screens.

$0 to start
No new hardware
Parental controls built-in
Play anywhere
PC gaming setup with monitor, keyboard and mouse on a desk
Best Free Library • Widest Genre Range

PC Gaming (Windows & Mac)

If you own any computer made in the last five years, you can access a staggering catalogue of beginner-friendly games at no cost. Steam (the world's largest PC game store) has a dedicated free-to-play section, as does Epic Games Store, which gives away free titles regularly.

PC gaming does require a small learning curve around account creation, driver updates, and library management – but these are one-time hurdles, and there are excellent free guides to walk you through each step.

Find Your First PC Game
Nintendo Switch console in handheld mode
Family Friendly • Handheld & TV Modes

Nintendo Switch

Nintendo's hybrid console has earned a reputation as the most welcoming gaming platform for newcomers of all ages. Its catalogue is dominated by colourful, low-pressure titles designed with accessibility front-of-mind. The console itself snaps into a dock for TV play or detaches as a handheld.

The upfront hardware cost is the main barrier, but once you're in, a Nintendo Switch Online subscription adds a curated library of classic titles at an affordable monthly rate.

PlayStation console and DualSense controller
Story-Rich Experiences • Strong Accessibility Features

PlayStation (PS4 & PS5)

PlayStation consoles are home to some of the most celebrated narrative-driven titles in gaming. For beginners who prefer a guided experience – where the game tells a compelling story and leads you gently through its mechanics – PlayStation first-party titles represent an outstanding starting point.

The PlayStation 5's DualSense controller features haptic feedback that makes the physical experience of gaming more immersive without adding complexity. PS4 hardware has also become very affordable at this point in its lifecycle.

Xbox Series controller resting beside a console
Best Subscription Value • PC + Console Ecosystem

Xbox & Game Pass

Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass is arguably the best value proposition in gaming right now, particularly for beginners who aren't sure what genres they enjoy. For a monthly subscription fee, you gain access to hundreds of titles including major releases on day one.

Game Pass also works on PC, meaning you can start exploring the catalogue on your existing computer before committing to a hardware purchase. This makes it uniquely beginner-friendly from a financial risk perspective.

At a Glance

Quick Comparison for Beginners

The table below summarises the most important criteria for someone new to gaming. All scores are editorial assessments based on beginner-specific criteria only.

Mobile

iOS & Android

Cost to Start$0
Setup EffortMinimal
Beginner TitlesThousands
Parental ControlsExcellent
PortabilityFull
Top Pick: Zero Budget

PC

Windows & Mac

Cost to Start$0 (existing PC)
Setup EffortModerate
Beginner TitlesEnormous
Parental ControlsGood
PortabilityLimited
Top Pick: Existing Hardware

Nintendo Switch

Dedicated Console

Cost to Start~$450 AUD
Setup EffortVery Easy
Beginner TitlesExcellent
Parental ControlsExcellent
PortabilityFull
Top Pick: Families & All Ages
Full Device & Hardware Comparison
Platform FAQs

Common Platform Questions

  • Absolutely. Many players start on mobile or PC and later add a console once they know what they enjoy. Game libraries are generally tied to your account, not your hardware, so purchases on PC carry over across devices within the same ecosystem.

  • Many games offer offline modes and can be downloaded for play without an active connection. Single-player games in particular are often fully playable offline once downloaded. Online multiplayer titles, naturally, require a connection during play.

  • For beginners, an older console generation can be outstanding value. PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch Lite are all still widely supported, have deep back-catalogues of beginner-friendly games, and can be found second-hand at very reasonable prices in Australia.

Next: Find Your First Game