In today's era of smartphones, tablets, smart-watches, and crazy convertible laptop/tablet hybrids, finding the best pick to get your portable gaming fix can seem a daunting proposition. Myriad options exist to fill various portable gaming niches, but if you're not rolling in cash, chances are you might have a tough decision to make if you're in the market for a single on-the-go gaming machine. In this article, we will try our best to narrow the playing field and make your choice easier by presenting you with the cream of the crop in portable gaming, and by highlighting the strengths, weaknesses, and killer apps of each option.

New Nintendo 3DS XL

Price: $199.99 at GameStop

Niche: The New Nintendo 3DS XL is, without question, a machine built for fans of Nintendo's games. If you're in the market for a relatively inexpensive portable machine that has a strong library and is built for gaming only, and you don't mind shelling out $40 for first-party games, this device is for you.

Strengths: The New 3DS XL's greatest strength is its robust suite of stellar, Nintendo-developed titles. It's also got some nifty glasses-free 3D features that have been greatly improved in this "New" iteration, and it'll play all of your old Nintendo DS games to boot.

Weaknesses: This is a system built with a relatively young target demographic in mind. That's not to say it can't appeal to older gamers, but the device's bulky, plastic-heavy construction makes it look more like a toy than a high-end electronic. It's also got middling battery life (about 3.5-7 hours depending on the type of usage), lackluster power, and, as per Nintendo tradition, a relative absence of third-party support.

Killer Apps: The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Super Mario 3D Land, Fire Emblem: Awakening

PlayStation Vita

Price: $199.99 at GameStop (includes Borderlands 2 as a bonus)

Niche: Those looking for a small, portable, gaming-dedicated device who aren't fans of Nintendo need look no further than the PlayStation Vita. If you own a PlayStation 4, this device features some neat Remote Play connectivity features with that console, which might make it the right pick for you. Sony also offers free Vita games with a PlayStation Plus membership, which makes this system an alluring pick for those already on-board with the company's premium service.

Strengths: The PlayStation Vita is a sleek, beautiful device with an impressive build quality and all the flash of a high-end electronic. It's got dual thumbsticks in an effort to provide the full console feel on the go, and its responsive touch screen makes navigation a breeze.

Weaknesses: The Vita has not lived up to sales expectations, which has led Sony to abandon almost all first-party support for the device. That means that big, triple-A releases have dried up almost completely, leaving the console to survive on the merits of its admittedly strong, still-growing indie library, as well as the occasional J-RPG release. Furthermore, it suffers from the same battery life woes as Nintendo's option.

Killer Apps: Tearaway, LittleBigPlanet PS Vita, Gravity Rush

NVIDIA Shield Tablet

Price: $299.99 at Amazon plus $59.99 for NVIDIA Shield Controller at Amazon

Niche: The NVIDIA Shield Tablet is a fantastic pickup for Android-minded gamers looking for a machine with strong ties to video gaming. Those with gaming PCs that sport NVIDIA graphics cards get the added benefit of being able to use the SHIELD tablet as a streaming device to the television -- meaning you can enjoy the power of your PC from the comfort of your couch.

Strengths: The SHIELD Tablet is surprisingly affordable given its beefy specs, sporting the new Tegra K1 processor and putting out a respectable 1920x1200 resolution. The strong internals should ensure a smooth Android gaming experience, and the few K1-optimized games available on the Google Play Store possess enough graphical prowess to wow even critics of tablet gaming.

Weaknesses: When I say few K1-optimized games, I meant it. Not many developers have invested in K1 technology, meaning a large majority of the games you'll play on your SHIELD Tablet won't take full advantage of the Android device's mighty processing power. 

Killer Apps: Trine 2, The Talos Principle, Rochard

MSI GS70 Stealth Laptop

Price: $1299 at Amazon

Niche: PC gamers looking for a portable laptop option with a sleek form-factor and respectable internals should look no further than the MSI GS70 Stealth. Its appeal lies with those who want a machine built for gaming, but one that's mindful of portability over ultimate power.

Strengths: The GS70 Stealth has a big, beautiful 17.3 inch display, but it trims down the bulk when compared to other gaming laptops, sporting a marvelously thin build. It's also got a solid GeForce GTX 860M GPU, and boasts both solid-state and HDD storage for a stellar mix of speed and space.

Weaknesses: This isn't the most beautiful machine on the market, nor is it the strongest. The sub-$2000 price tag means you'll be turning down the settings considerably should you hope to get passable frame-rates on the latest triple-A releases.

Killer Apps: Sid Meier's Civilization V, Divinity: Original Sin, Guild Wars 2

MSI GT80 Titan SLI Laptop

Price: $3299 at Amazon

Niche: PC Gamers whose wallets know no bounds and whose lust for power outpaces any desire for extreme portability should look no further than the ludicrously powerful GT80 Titan laptop. This beast of a machine is capable of outdoing many home setups, and appeals to an enthusiast gaming crowd.

Strengths: Equipped with a pair of GeForce GTX 980M graphics cards in SLI, the Titan should tear through almost any title that's thrown at it, all on ultra settings and at a silky smooth sixty frames per second. Exceptions do exist, of course, such as the infamously demanding Metro: Last Light, but for all intents and purposes, this is the most powerful gaming laptop on the market.

Weaknesses: The Titan's battery life has been marked as being abysmal, even by the shoddy standards of gaming laptops. That, along with the bulky, heavy nature of the machine (it weighs in at nearly ten pounds) means that the Titan is the least portable of all the devices featured here.

Killer Apps: Elite: Dangerous, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty ~

What machine helps you get your portable gaming fix? Share your thoughts in the comments section. 

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