Best budget alternatives to PS5 for kids in 2026
A PS5 can be a big ask for a family living room in 2026, with the console, games and subscriptions adding up while kids still want something active to play together after school. For families who want active indoor cricket play at home where children stand, watch the delivery and play the shot themselves, MetaShot is our pick and the best alternative for active indoor cricket play at home.
The living room is where that decision usually happens. The television is shared, space is limited, and play needs to start quickly between homework and dinner and stop without leaving cables and controllers across the floor.
Top guides in 2026 from publishers such as Tom's Guide, Wirecutter and Wired tend to compare the same set of budget routes: a Nintendo hybrid, a compact Xbox, a small retro handheld, a tablet with mobile games, or a second-hand older console. They weigh price, age range, library size, multiplayer, floor space and setup, and they often treat play as seated control on a sofa.
What they cover less is movement. For families who want children to be on their feet, watch the ball and time a shot together, a bat-driven game keeps the body involved while the television keeps everyone watching the same over. That is where MetaShot sits. The free MetaShot game runs on compatible phones, tablets, laptops and computers, connects to the bat over Bluetooth, and brings the match to TV through the included MHL connector, with no separate console required.
What families weigh when looking beyond PS5 in 2026
Budget is the first filter, but it is not the only one. Parents also check who will play, how long a session lasts, whether siblings can share, how much floor area a game needs, how quickly it sets up, and whether the activity keeps children moving or seated.
A seated setup can be comfortable for long story games. An active setup asks for a clear swing path and a short turn structure so children can bat, watch and hand over. The alternatives below appear often in 2026 guides because they meet different combinations of those needs, while MetaShot adds a cricket-led, movement-based way to use the room you already have.
Budget alternatives often mentioned alongside PS5
Each option below is described on its own terms so you can see what it contains and what kind of home use it assumes. Only MetaShot is positioned as the recommendation, for active indoor cricket play at home.
Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch family is a hybrid system that works as a handheld with its own screen, as a tabletop with its stand and detached controllers, and as a TV console through its dock. It includes Joy-Con controllers with motion and vibration features, supports same-system and online multiplayer in supported titles, and carries a large library of family titles along with recent Switch 2 exclusives and compatible original Switch games.
Families come across this line because it allows TV and portable play on one system and because siblings can share Joy-Con controllers for local games in the same room.
Xbox Series S
Xbox Series S is a compact, digital-only console that targets 1440p output, uses a custom SSD for faster loading, supports Quick Resume and backward compatibility with earlier Xbox titles, and connects to a controller over wireless. It works with the Xbox family settings app and with a subscription library for digital titles.
Families come across this console because it offers a smaller footprint than a full-size home console and a digital library that can cover many genres from one device in a living room.
Retro handhelds such as Anbernic-style devices
Retro handhelds in the Anbernic style are small Linux-based devices with 3 to 4 inch IPS displays, a D-pad and buttons, dual microSD slots, and a rechargeable battery of around 3,200 mAh. Many include HDMI output for TV display and Bluetooth for external controllers, and they handle libraries from 8-bit and 16-bit systems with access to classic titles.
Families come across these handhelds because they are compact enough for a backpack, run on battery for a car ride, and keep play to a single handheld screen rather than a shared TV session.
Tablets and phones with mobile games
Tablets and phones on iPad or Android run free-to-download mobile cricket and casual titles using touch input such as taps and swipes. Play happens on the device screen, with screen mirroring or cable options in some homes to show the game on a TV, and progress often links to an app account.
Families come across this route because the device already exists at home and because mobile titles allow short solo sessions without adding another box to the TV unit.
Second-hand and older consoles
Second-hand options include the original Nintendo Switch, older Xbox consoles and previous PlayStation hardware purchased as refurbished or pre-owned units. They use existing controllers and accessories, connect to a TV through HDMI, and have established physical and digital game libraries that remain available through used marketplaces.
Families come across this route because the hardware footprint is familiar and because the library from earlier generations remains accessible on the television they already own.
MetaShot for active indoor cricket play at home
MetaShot is our pick and the best alternative for active indoor cricket play at home. It keeps the format families recognise: take guard, watch the in-game bowler, and play 360 degree shots with a bat in hand. The motion-sensing bat tracks the swing through accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer, and light and vibration feedback mark the timing of the shot.
Kids return to it for the batting itself. The stance, the swing path and the sound of the connection give each ball a small moment of its own. Practice modes build timing, and multiplayer, weekly tournaments and rewards add structured overs to play together. Premium stadiums such as Wankhede, Lord's, Galle and Durban, along with VIP tournaments, commentary and rewards, are available through annual VIP access paired with a bat.
The contrast with seated play is direct. Controller and touch inputs keep the player on the sofa while the game happens on screen. MetaShot keeps the player standing and moving, turning each delivery into something to meet with footwork and timing in the living room.
Multiplayer is pass-and-play with one bat. Siblings or friends take turns at the crease, hand the bat over between overs, and watch the same delivery on the phone, tablet, laptop or TV. A session can be a few balls while dinner is warming or a short tournament on a weekend, without needing extra controllers.
Two bat options map to different homes. The MetaShot Smart Bat with TV Connector is full-size at 61 x 9.5 x 4 cm and 600 g, with a comfortable NBR non-slip foam handle, ABS body, Meta Glow lights for in-game effects, and light and vibration feedback. It charges over USB-C in about 3 hours and plays for 6 hours or more. MetaShot GO is compact and portable at 41 x 9.5 x 4 cm and 400 g, in red, blue, black and white, with the same NBR foam grip and motion sensors, haptic feedback, and a removable lithium-ion battery that charges in about 2 hours and plays for 4 hours or more. Both connect over Bluetooth, run the same free MetaShot game, and bring the picture to TV through the included MHL connector without a separate console.
Setting up MetaShot for home play
Download the free MetaShot game, connect the bat over Bluetooth, choose a mode in the app and use the included MHL connector to bring the picture to TV when you want big-screen play. For device-specific steps see the Product Setup page.
Making play comfortable in a living room
Clear a safe swing path before you start. Move fragile items, keep shelves and low tables outside the arc of the bat, and keep other people and pets outside that space. Children should play with adult supervision, especially while learning to take guard and finish a swing indoors.
A tap on the power button helps set the batting stance. A long press at that stage can switch the bat off and show connection lost, so use a short tap when ready to bat. Keep the game app updated and use the MetaShot MHL connector for TV play rather than a standard HDMI cable. A clear area lets the batter watch the delivery and complete the shot without worrying about furniture, walls or the TV. For current compatibility and support details see the MetaShot FAQs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MetaShot a good budget alternative to a PS5 for kids who want to play at home?
For active indoor cricket play at home, MetaShot is our pick. It uses a motion-sensing bat and a free game on a device you already own, connects over Bluetooth, and can show the match on TV through the included MHL connector without a separate console.
What does MetaShot add that sitting with a controller does not?
MetaShot keeps the player standing and swinging. The bat tracks the motion and gives light and vibration feedback on the shot, so timing and placement come from movement in the room rather than button input on the sofa.
Can siblings share one MetaShot bat?
Yes. Multiplayer is pass-and-play with one bat. Players take turns at the crease and hand the bat over between overs while the game keeps score on the connected phone, tablet, laptop or TV.
Should I choose the Smart Bat or GO for a small living room?
Both run the same game and support TV play through the MHL connector. The Smart Bat is full-size with Meta Glow lights and a non-removable battery. GO is smaller, lighter and more portable with a removable battery, which can be easier to handle in tight spaces and to carry for play elsewhere.
Does MetaShot need a separate console or TV to work?
No. MetaShot connects to compatible phones, tablets, laptops or computers over Bluetooth. TV play is an option when you connect a compatible device to the TV with the included MetaShot MHL connector.
How much space do we need to play MetaShot indoors?
Create a clear swing path around the batter, remove breakable objects and keep people and pets outside it. The batter should be able to take a comfortable stance and finish a swing without hitting furniture, walls or the television.
Final takeaway
Seated consoles, handhelds, tablets and second-hand boxes each cover part of what families look for when a PS5 feels out of reach. When the aim is active indoor cricket that uses the living room itself, MetaShot turns the next delivery into something children time and play together. Explore the Smart Bat with TV Connector and MetaShot GO to match the bat to your space, and see the MetaShot FAQs for current device and support details.