Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers
If you’re not a gamer yourself, it can feel next to impossible to know what to buy for the gamer in your life. To help you find a winning gift — whether they have a huge following on Twitch or just play for themselves — we talked to over a dozen podcasters, gamers, games journalists, professional D&D players, analysts, and streamers about the consoles, games, collectibles, and accessories they’re wishing for this year. (We also combed through our archives to find products gamer celebrities such as Mick Jenkins, Amelia Meath, and T-Pain can’t live without.)
We’ve arranged these gifts by category, so it’s easy to shop for everyone from the sibling who just wants a new console to the budding Twitch streamer plotting to fill their room with LED-light strips. And if you’re shopping for the non-gamers on your list, we’ve got plenty of guides for them as well.
Have a more specific gifting question? Try our new gift search tool here!
This role-playing game came recommended by nearly every gamer I spoke with. “Baldur’s Gate has reorganized my personal life,” says Heather Anne Cambell, co-host of the podcast Get Played. Her co-host Matt Apodaca agrees, saying it and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom were both instant classics this year. BG3 is also Twitch streamer shroud’s game of the year. “With all the choices that game gives, anyone who plays the game can play it exactly how they want to. You’re able to really build your own experience,” he says.
If knowing all about our solar system isn’t enough for them, Bethesda’s latest role-playing game features over 1,700 planets. Andrew Webster, an entertainment editor at the Verge, called it “a stellar sci-fi refresh of the Bethesda RPG-formula.”
This is a fun management simulator that’ll scratch their adventurous itch. Polygon guides producer Jeffrey Parkin calls it “a teetering pile of mechanics and minigames that never gets around to collapsing because the balancing act is just too much fun.” Get Played co-host Nick Wiger calls this game an unexpected treat from developer MINTROCKET, “filled with charm and humor, and roguelite replayability as endless as the ocean.”
When your giftee is bored of exploring Hyrule in this Switch-exclusive game, they can construct a steampunklike mech. “The brilliance of Tears of the Kingdom lies in how well it imparts the fantasy of player freedom,” says Polygon senior reviews editor Mike Mahardy.
Your recipient can play as characters like Blade, Ghost Rider, or Captain America in this tactical role playing game. Polygon contributor Charlie Theel calls it “something completely distinct and entirely exceptional.”
Twitch streamer Cupahnoodle, who mostly plays horror games when streaming, says this indie horror game was among her favorites to play this year. “It kind of has the vibe of Sesame Street,” she says, “but not so Bert and Ernie.”
The latest installment in Marvel’s Spider-Man game franchise “plays like a dream, with smart additions to combat that enhance the power fantasy of being Spider-Man,” according to Polygon contributor Grayson Morley.
If they’re always crafting new playlists, or just love a good murder mystery, Cupahnoodle recommends getting them this game. “You’re a DJ, and in the midst of being a DJ there’s a killer on the loose and you have to figure out who it is,” she says.
Even if they don’t have a favorite ’80s slasher, Cupahnoodle says this hide-and-seek-like game, where one person tries to eliminate a team before they complete a task, is casual enough to bring in gamers who can’t commit to long stories and rigorous leveling systems.
When he’s not streaming, shroud says he likes to play this tabletop game that lets you paint mech figurines. “It’s a hobby that I have always wanted to get into since I was a kid, and since starting it as an adult, it has lived up to expectations,” he says, adding that he enjoys playing the game with friends and his girlfriend.
For the giftee who likes their games with a competitive edge, Cupahnoodle recommends this year’s Mortal Kombat 1. “You get a chance to play with everyone,” she says, “it’s a really fun time.” While the standard version will do the trick, the premium edition comes with a few DLCS perks that would otherwise cost them more money if they wanted extra characters to choose from.
While Cupahnoodle mostly streams horror games, this is one of her go-to games in her downtime. “You can literally take it everywhere and there’s always something to do,” she says. “You’re never bored.”
Photo: Retailer
If they’re looking for a collaborative way to game screen-free, get them a classic of the genre. Ally Beardsley, a cast member of the D&D web series Dimension 20, says, “It’s very nice to play D&D and not have your phone or any electronics, and the PHB is amazing for that.”
Although this futuristic role-playing game came out in 2020, Apodaca says, “Cyberpunk 2077 had a huge resurgence with its 2.0 patch and the release of the DLC expansion Phantom Liberty.” In his review of the update, Polygon curation editor Toussaint Egan called the update “the perfect incentive to start a new game.”
“If you’re more into brainpower than twitch reflexes, try a late 2022 point-and-click puzzler that got two substantial DLC updates in 2023,” Wiger says, adding that the game allows you to “solve lateral thinking puzzles from moments frozen in time, with a sneakily engrossing (and grotesque) narrative throughline.”
This webcam has intelligent auto-focus and exposure adjustment, so they don’t have to worry about fiddling with things mid-game. I’ve been using mine for video meetings for the past year, and its compact design doesn’t look too clunky atop a monitor.
This is the monitor Cupahnoodle uses when she’s streaming, but its large, high-resolution display is crisp and vibrant enough for fun solo play as well.
Joanna Nelius, a laptop reviewer at The Verge and a lifelong gamer, says this keyboard is a “mechanical keyboard done right.” It has low-profile switches and a translucent back side that gives it a nice ’90s aesthetic.
I’ve been using this palm rest, which goes right beneath my keyboard, for extra wrist relief. It makes typing for long sessions far less strenuous, and it’s just as great for extended online matches or all-nighters in their favorite game.
The wired connection will ensure their mouse doesn’t die in the middle of a match. Kyle F, a tech TikToker and gamer, says its lightness makes it easier to play with, too.
This cable-management accessory will ensure that their mouse cable doesn’t hamper their game play. “If you stick the bungee at the back of your desk,” says Kyle F., “it holds the cable up in the air, basically floating, causing no drag against the mouse.”
Nelius says this Joy-Con upgrade can make a Nintendo Switch seem more like a Steam Deck. It feels like Nintendo’s own Pro controller with the added benefit of being able to act as a stand-alone controller, just as with Joy-Cons.
Unlike a Switch or Steam Deck, an iPhone or Android phone paired with a mobile controller is light enough to toss in even a small fanny pack. Do note that Backbone offers models with either a Lightning or USB-C connector if they have an Android phone or iPhone 15, so be sure you know which phone they have before placing your order.
This gaming clip allows the devoted Xbox player to use their favorite controller when they’re playing a mobile game. “PowerA’s gaming clip makes it easy to connect your phone to an Xbox wireless controller you might already have,” says Polygon commerce editor Cameron Faulkner.
“Once I started streaming, it became very apparent very quickly that I needed a bunch of buttons,” T-Pain told us. He likes the Elgato Stream Deck XL, which he uses to stream on Twitch and to control lighting and music cues on his podcast.
The Switch still makes for a great gift, and the Switch Lite is a good option for anyone who wants to play on the go (unlike the OLED and standard versions, it can be used only in handheld mode). Emily Heller, Vulture’s recommendations editor, says it’s great for casual gamers and commuters, too.
If they’re still playing on a PS4, they will definitely appreciate the upgrade. Cupahnoodle notes that this is the only console option for anyone looking to play games like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 or either installment in the Last of Us series, all of which are exclusive to PS5.
This beautifully designed device plays games from the original Game Boy up to the Advance and also works as a synthesizer and sequencer. Strategist editor Winnie Yang loves how it looks as an object as well as how it allows her to do some nostalgic gaming but “with a really, really nice high-resolution display.” Apodaca recommends the Pocket too. “ It’s extremely portable, no Wi-Fi required, and a perfect device for those looking for some handheld nostalgia,” he says.
Your recipient can install all their favorite Game Boy games on the Miyoo, which is small enough to keep in a carry-on. Mick Jenkins is a fan.
This headset is a step up for anyone whose speakers just aren’t cutting it any more. “It’s cool because it works for Switch, PS4, PC, and Android phones, so it’s super-versatile,” Heller says.
This headset pairs stylish aesthetics with impressive sound; it even has on-device audio adjustment. “It’s an amazing gaming headset that is amazingly comfortable, that has stunning immersive sound at a fantastic price,” says Kahlief Adams, host of the gaming podcast Spawn on Me.
“Living in an apartment complex with a work-from-home partner, my PlayStation 5 PULSE 3D Wireless Headset is invaluable for quiet gaming sessions,” Wiger says.
This lava-lamp-like Bluetooth speaker will look great in the background when they’re streaming or when they’re not. It’s my favorite speaker for after-work jam sessions in my living room.
With this deck, they won’t need their phone to play games when they’re away from home. I like to switch to a deck of cards when playing my favorite phone-based card game starts racking up my screen time.
Photo: Soft Skull
This book brings the suspense and dread of Severance to the life of a VR game developer. I finished it in about two days (a record for me in a year of infrequent reading).
This tracker will inspire them to keep those metrics up by gamifying their workouts. Strategist contributor Stacey Dee Woods says “it provides accurate, valuable information and is easy and fun to use.”
Don’t let Candy Crush be the thing that kills their battery. I carry this one with me when I travel and use my iPhone as my mobile gaming device.
Here’s a digital pet their landlord can’t complain about. Strategist staff writer Rachael Griffiths says Tamagotchis make a delightful, unexpected present for friends who grew up in the ’90s or aughts.
“Subscriptions are the new gift cards,” says Kyle Wandel, manager of business intelligence at the Consumer Technology Association. This subscription will give them access to NES and SNES classics, plus let them play Fortnite online with their friends.
Cupahnoodle says Microsoft’s monthly subscription is great for gamers who don’t want to spend $60 on every new game that comes out, since most popular titles are available through the service as long as they’re subscribed.
Although this card can be used for anything Apple-related, if they like gaming on their iPhone, an Apple Arcade subscription will give them a ton of premium games to play. Apodaca recommends the action-focused roguelike Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate. “It’s basically a TMNT Hades clone and it rips,” he says.
“People are sleeping on PSVR 2,” Campbell says. “I’m not a driving-game enthusiast, but the experience of Gran Turismo on PSVR is mind-blowing.”
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