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The Wishlist: 15 Best Gifts for the Gamer

Where were you two autumns ago when the PlayStation 5 finally hit the market? What about the XBOX Series X? Odds are you found yourself in a similar spot to all the other gamers out there, whether avid or amateur, who were doing everything in their power to get their hands on one of these coveted consoles. But seeing as a couple of years have passed since their respective releases, it’s safe to say they’ve entered the current-gen phase, proving that while neither option is as futuristic as they were upon release, they are still the hottest options the space has to offer. Of course, this notion applies to anything new, which is why we’ve narrowed down this holiday season’s best gifts for your favorite gamer.

Photo: Microsoft

XBOX Game pass

Deciding between an XBOX Series X and PlayStation 5 may be easy for some, but the former’s Game Pass insists avid players may not need either. Gift the ability of instantaneous gaming anywhere at any time with this subscription service.

the gift of games

2022 has seen some highly anticipated games get delayed another year, but it still granted players a variety of great options, including this pictured trio fit for each major console.

SUPER MARIO ENCYCLOPEDIA

Aside from the new Zelda game, 250 pages’ worth of Super Mario lore is all Nintendo fanatics could truly ask for, and this limited edition encyclopedia has all the vital info about everyone’s favorite plumber.

Photo: SEGA

SEGA GENESIS MINI 2

How could SEGA make its original Genesis Mini even better, you ask? By adding over 15 beloved games and making it operate faster than ever, that’s how.

Photo: Nintendo

GAME BOY COLOR

Get your old Pokémon cartridges out because we have the perfect gift for ’90s-era gamers. Nintendo’s game-changing Game Boy Color was a turning point for handheld gaming, and now the Amazon Renewed store refurbishes models back to excellent condition.

Photo: WD_Black

wd_bLACK 5TB EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE

The newest releases are only great if you have space to play them, and this top-selling hard drive from WD_BLACK is packed with a whooping 5TB of storage to hold up to 125 games.

Photo: Sony

DUALSENSE ULTRA

Sony’s first-ever high-performance controller hit the scene earlier this year to the delight of former Mad Catz owners. The fully-customizable gadget is fitted with an extra pair of triggers and changeable buttons for the ultimate competitive player.

Photo: LEGO

LEGO ATARI 2600

Revel in technological nostalgia thanks to LEGO’s all-inclusive take on the iconic Atari 2600. Comprised of over 2,500 bricks, the toymaker’s new build features several authentic homages that retro gamers are sure to appreciate.

Photo: SteelSeries

STEELSERIES APEX PRO KEYBOARD

This programmable keyboard from SteelSeries has all the click-clack, lag-free functionality PC players look for in a gaming keyboard, not to mention the quintessential RGB light array.

Photo: Bose

BOSE QUIETCOMFORT 35 SERIES GAMING HEADSET

Help the gamer in your life dial into the party with the best-in-class noise-canceling gaming headset from Bose, equipped with a noise-rejecting mic to ensure it won’t pick up any unwanted background noise mid-battle royale.

Photo: Nintendo

NINTENDO SWITCH OLED

With its enhanced graphics and relatively larger screen, there’s no debating whether the extra $50 for Nintendo’s premium Switch model is worth spending. Moreover, the only debate lies between this and our next pick.

Photo: Sony

SONY PLAYSTATION 5

It was only a matter of time until this elusive machine showed up. The Unreal Engine-powered PS5 speaks for itself, the only question is if you’ll be able to pick one up.

Photo: Herman Miller

herman miller vantum gaming chair

Home design icon Herman Miller is no stranger to accessorizing gamers’ personal spaces, and its newly-released Vantum chair is the perfect addition to any avid PC player’s desk. It provides a forward-leaning posture for optimized comfort and in-game immersion.

Photo: Razer

RAZER BLADE 14 laptop

This VR-ready piece of equipment is the perfect upgrade for the average streamer’s laptop, offering premium graphics, rapid-fire performance, and, of course, RGB lighting from top to bottom.

Photo: Samsung

SAMSUNG 55″ ODYSSEY ARK 4K MONITOR

Samsung set an industry standard with its mesmerizing, 55″ curved monitor earlier this year boasting a gorgeous million-to-one contrast ratio that paves the way for unrivaled colors and depth. If you’re willing to spend top dollar, don’t second guess this.