We Tested The Console Humiliating The PS5 — And It Costs $370 Less

Let's be honest. The gaming industry has gotten out of hand. A PS5 costs $500. A single game costs $70. Add a yearly PlayStation Plus subscription and you're looking at over $650 just to get started — before you've played a single match.

We were skeptical when we first heard about the PlayZone. Another cheap knockoff? We've seen plenty of those. But the numbers being thrown around — thousands of classics, modern games, one device, $130 — were too good to ignore. So we ordered one, tested it for two weeks, and here's our honest verdict.

What Exactly Is The PlayZone?

The PlayZone is an all-in-one retro gaming console that combines literally thousands of games from every major platform you grew up with. We're talking NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4, PS5, Nintendo 64, GameCube, Game Boy, Xbox, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, Arcade classics — all loaded and ready to play. No cartridges. No downloads. No monthly fees.

But here's what surprised us: it doesn't stop at retro. The PlayZone also runs modern titles, which means your kids get the games they want and you get the ones you grew up with. One device. One purchase. Done.

The PlayZone plugged directly into a TV via HDMI — all platforms, one device.

The Real Cost of Gaming in 2026

Before we tell you if PlayZone is worth it, let's do the math that the gaming industry doesn't want you to see:

The savings aren't just real — they're staggering. Families across the US are realizing they've been paying premium prices for fragmented experiences when one device can give them everything.

★★★★★

"When it arrived I was surprised by how compact it is — it fits in your hand but packs more games than any console I've ever owned. The build quality is solid, setup took literally 2 minutes. No fuss, no subscriptions, no nonsense. This little device is the real deal."

— Ted F.

★★★★★

"This device is incredible — it runs Spider-Man perfectly, with smooth gameplay and amazing graphics. It feels just like playing on a real PS5. Plus, it includes tons of other games and both PlayStation and Nintendo-style controllers. Totally my best purchase this year!"

— Josh G.

★★★★★

"The game library is insane — I'm talking hundreds of PS5 titles right there on the screen. Assassin's Creed, God of War, Spider-Man, Astro Bot... games I would've paid $70 each for, all included. I couldn't believe what I was looking at when I first turned it on."

— Jeremy F.

★★★★★

"I grew up with the PS1, then the PS2, then the PS3... I never thought I'd have all of them in one single device. The PlayZone has every PlayStation generation loaded and ready to go. It's like a time machine for gamers — I went from Crash Bandicoot to God of War in seconds. Unbelievable."

— Eddie H.

Our Verdict After 2 Weeks

We played everything. Retro titles from the 80s and 90s that hit different on a big screen. Modern games that kept our kids glued for hours. The setup took less than 5 minutes — HDMI into the TV, controller paired, and you're in.

Is it exactly the same as a $500 PS5? No. But here's the thing — for most families, it's actually better. You get more games, more variety, more nostalgia, and zero ongoing costs. The PS5 gives you one ecosystem. PlayZone gives you all of them.

The bottom line: if you're even thinking about buying a PS5 or Xbox this year, test the PlayZone first. At $130, the risk is minimal. The upside — keeping $370+ in your pocket while getting more games — is enormous.