Best Console Bundles for Families: Top UK Picks and Buying Advice

Choosing the right gaming hardware for the living room can feel like a minefield. The absolute top pick when looking for the best console bundles for families in the UK today is the Nintendo Switch OLED paired with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It delivers instant two-player racing straight out of the box, unmatched handheld portability for long car journeys, and an extensive catalogue of colourful, age-appropriate titles that younger children and grandparents alike can pick up in seconds.

For households with older children, teenagers, or parents who fancy an evening gaming session of their own, the Xbox Series S Starter Bundle (featuring three months of Game Pass Ultimate) represents the strongest pure-value alternative. It provides immediate access to hundreds of varied games across sports, platformers, and adventure titles without having to buy individual discs. Below, we break down how to choose the right system, what essential extras to look for, and how to manage the upfront cost sensibly.

Choosing the best console bundles for families

When shopping for a family setup, a bundle offers far better value than buying a bare console. Publishers package hardware with hit games, bonus accessories, or digital subscriptions at a lower combined price. Here are the standout family-friendly packages currently leading the UK market:

• Nintendo Switch (Standard or OLED) + Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: The undisputed champion of family gaming. The detachable Joy-Con controllers mean two people can play multiplayer immediately without buying a second pad. Switch games are renowned for safe, couch-co-op multiplayer, featuring iconic series like Super Mario, Animal Crossing, Kirby, and Pokemon.
• Xbox Series S Starter Pack: The compact, all-digital Series S is whisper-quiet and fits neatly under any television. Most official family bundles include three months of Xbox Game Pass, unlocking co-op hits such as Minecraft, Party Animals, Forza Horizon 5, and Overcooked! All You Can Eat. It is the most economical gateway into current-generation gaming.
• PlayStation 5 Slim + Astro Bot: Sony's PS5 Slim is a graphical powerhouse. Bundles featuring the acclaimed platformer Astro Bot or Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart give families a cheerful, inventive adventure that showcases the immersive DualSense controller, while also letting parents enjoy blockbuster story titles later in the evening.

What to look for before buying a family bundle

Not every retail package delivers the same convenience once opened on a Saturday morning. To ensure you get genuine value from the best console bundles for families, keep these essential factors in mind:

• Controller count: Most consoles include just one controller in the standard retail box (with the Nintendo Switch being the notable exception, thanks to split Joy-Cons). If you have two or more children, look for retail bundles that explicitly bundle a second official controller to stop arguments before they start.
• Digital storage vs disc drives: All-digital consoles like the Xbox Series S or PS5 Digital Edition require you to download every game. If your broadband has a low monthly download cap, or if you prefer picking up pre-owned games cheaply on the high street, opting for a disc-drive bundle (like the standard PS5 or Xbox Series X) is often more economical over three or four years.
• Robust parental controls: Every major platform now offers free companion mobile apps (iOS and Android). You can set daily screentime limits, restrict game age ratings, disable web browsing, and prevent unexpected debit card charges with a few taps on your smartphone.

Managing the cost of family entertainment

Modern gaming hardware represents a significant household investment, especially when kitting out multiple children with extra controllers, online memberships, and holiday releases. A complete setup can easily approach £300 to £500.

Rather than draining your emergency rainy-day fund or relying on high-interest credit cards that add hefty finance charges over time, look for responsible payment alternatives. Spreading the total price across structured, predictable instalments keeps your family finances balanced while letting everyone enjoy the newest gaming technology right away.

Frequently asked questions

Do family console bundles include a second controller?

Most PlayStation 5 and Xbox bundles only supply a single wireless controller in the standard box. Unless the packaging explicitly states 'Twin Controller Bundle' or 'Extra Controller Included', you will need to buy an additional pad for local multiplayer. The Nintendo Switch is the primary exception, as its two Joy-Con controllers can be detached and shared between two players for games like Mario Kart.

How do parental controls work on modern consoles?

Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft all provide dedicated parental control apps that pair directly to the console. Parents can set PIN codes, designate individual child accounts based on age, schedule automatic shut-off times for bedtimes, and restrict multiplayer chat or online purchases entirely.

Can I spread the cost of a console bundle with no credit check?

Yes. With flexible shopping alternatives like a monthly payment plan through our partner shop, eligible UK shoppers can secure up to £1,200 in store credit with no credit checks required, paying off their family console bundle in affordable instalments at 0% APR.

Shop with our partner shop today and spread the cost of your family console bundle across manageable instalments at 0% APR with a monthly payment plan.

Shop with our partner shop and spread the cost at 0% APR, subject to eligibility.

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• See gaming on monthly payments at our partner shop