Any serious gamer can tell you that being gifted solid gaming gear during the holiday season is one of the best feelings in the world. That being said, it can be very hard to find worthwhile gear for the discerning PC and/or console player.
Lucky for you, we’re here to do the leg work and trudge through all of the nonsense, so you don’t have to. We’ve painstakingly put together this collection of the 20 best gamer gifts available for purchase this holiday season. Whether you’re shopping for a hardcore PC shooter enthusiast, a casual console player, or are even looking to introduce someone to a system their unfamiliar with, you’ll find the perfect gift here.
Game On!: Video Game History
In relative terms, video games don’t have a very long history. But the short span of time in which they have existed has been nothing, if not exciting. Follow the story from inception to today in this informative and entertaining book. This is a must have for serious gamers everywhere.
The Gift of Good Games
No matter what time of year it is, you can pretty much always count on there being a worthwhile game release for just about all available systems. So, if you absolutely can’t find any other worthwhile gifts, you can always buy the gamer in your life something new to play. For instance, Mario Odyssey (for Nintendo Switch) is the first Mario game to come out in a long time and it’s pretty amazing. Similarly, for the Xbox One, there’s the latest Call of Duty entry that takes players back to WWII. And, despite the surrounding controversy, Battlefront 2 on the PS4 is an excellent bet for any Star Wars fans.
COD WWII: $40 Battlefront 2: $55 Mario Odyssey: $60
Logitech G502 Proteus Gaming Mouse
There are a lot of excellent gaming mice out there, but this one is special for one very specific reason: it can be custom-tuned by the user for the ideal performance – both in weight and balance. That means, you can alter it to suit your playing style and continue to hone in on the ideal format as time goes on.
DualShock 4 Wireless PS4 Controller
PS4 controllers come in a number of different colors, but this relatively new camouflage-patterned one has got to be one of our favorites. And while it’s not necessarily exclusive, it’s certainly more unique than most of the other options.
Sega Genesis Flashback Console
While the SNES Classic is all the rage right now, we think that the Genesis still gave the original console a run for its money. And that remains true when it comes with the Flashback today. This retro plug-and-play console comes loaded with a bunch of classic games, including Mortal Kombat, Sonic, Altered Beast, and more.
iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit
While you could certainly take your tech into the shop every time you need a tune-up, there are those of us who like to perform our own maintenance on our gear. Not only does it help us learn a little bit more about our machines, but it helps us know for sure exactly what goes into the fixes. This tool kit is one of the best options to get the job done.
8Bitdo N30 Arcade Stick
Compatible with both the Nintendo Switch and PCs, this wireless controller is the ideal device for those who just need their fix of fighting-stick style gameplay. Pair it with a classic fighting game or a top-down shooter and it’ll make for the ideal arcade gaming experience.
Seagate Backup Plus Portable Hard Drive
Whether you’re storing save files, movies, TV shows, or whatever – data storage space can be hard to come by in regular consoles. Bypass the trying process of freeing up space by mating this external hard drive to your system of choice.
Corsair Void Pro Gaming Headset
If you’re a multiplayer gamer, but you don’t have a decent headset, then you’re missing out on half the fun. Coordinate better with your team or just trash talk some trolls with this wireless headset and get the most out of your gaming experience.
Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam
Thanks to things like Twitch, game streaming has become a fairly mainstream part of gaming as a whole. Whether you or someone you know is looking to get your feet wet, this excellent HD camera is a solid way to start. It even features background-replacement, so you don’t have to worry about your room appearing as a little picture-in-picture box on your screen.
Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2 Gaming Keyboard
When it comes to PC gaming, mechanical keyboards are the way to go. And this backlit one from Razer – with a wristguard and programmable macro keys – is one of the all-time best. Honestly, you could take this one into a competition with no modifications and still easily come out on top – if you’ve got the skills to match.
Colorware Nintendo Switch Joy Cons
Colorware offers up some of the best options for tech customization in the world. And now they’ve turned their attention to the Nintendo Switch. Customize the color of your Switch Joy Cons with the brand and you’ll have a pair of one-of-a-kind controllers that are specific only to you.
Razer Wolverine Ultimate Xbox One Controller
Of course, when Razer – the lauded gaming accessory brand – turned their expertise to the Xbox One, they ended up creating perhaps the best controller ever. In fact, this super responsive device is even up to snuff for competitive play. Not bad, Razer.
Analogue Super Nt Retro Console
Analogue makes some of the best retro gaming consoles of all time. And their take on the classic SNES is certainly no departure. This incredible console can play just about any Super Nintendo cartridge that ever came out and will put it on your TV in HD. It even comes with a wireless 8Bitdo controller matching the style of the console.
PlayStation VR
The premier console-based virtual reality system, it’s become pretty clear that Playstation VR is here to stay. And, with the prices at an all-time low, there’s never been a better time to pick up on this rapidly expanding platform. In fact, there’s a pretty good chance that some of the PS4 games you own are already VR compatible.
Next-Gen Consoles
Whether you’re a die-hard Microsoft, Sony, or Nintendo fan, there’s a whole host of new consoles out there to play on. There’s also never been a better time to take the leap away from the console you’re used to and try out a new one. Because, really, who doesn’t like having multiple gaming options?
Switch: $299 PS4 Pro: $399 Xbox One X: $499
Sound BlasterX Katana Soundbar
Next to display options, getting a gaming-focused soundbar is one of the best ways to increase your gaming immersion – and, therefore, increase the enjoyability of the overall experience. Sound Blaster has been making quality gaming-focused audio gear for literal decades, so you can depend on this custom-lit soundbar to deliver exactly that.
Alienware Aurora Gaming PC
Alienware has been one of the top names in PC gaming for quite some time now. And with products like the Aurora, it’s easy to see why. On top of its excellent performance, this is one of the easiest computers to upgrade, thanks to an impressive and innovative tool-free access system. It’s also optimized for VR gaming.
BenQ HT2150ST Home Theater Projector
With televisions, you’re limited in regards to screen size. With a projector, you can turn any wall into a screen. And, if you’re using this gaming-focused HD projector, you’ll be in for one of the most immersive gaming experiences of all time.
Samsung CHG90 QLED Gaming Monitor
With an absurdly high refresh rate, an immersive curved format, supremely crisp full-color extreme high definition and more, this is one of the best gaming monitors of all time. But it has a price tag to match, so it’s only for the truly dedicated gamers out there.
15 Best Retro Gaming Consoles
Ratro gaming has seen an incredible resurgence of popularity lately. If you know a die-hard gamer, help them get a piece of the action with one of our picks for the best retro gaming consoles.
