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Got a gamer in your life? When it comes to gift-giving, gamers are notoriously difficult to shop for. While outsiders may think “Just buy them video games!”, anybody who has ever had a partner who games knows this is not nearly as easy as it sounds. If you know what your gamer plays, chances are they already own the games they want.
You could always ask them if there’s a new game they’re interested in, but there are also plenty of gift ideas for all kinds of gamers at every price point. Instead of guessing, check out these 21 gift ideas for gamers—grouped by console and player type—before you settle for a boring old gift card.
Gift Ideas for PlayStation and Xbox Gamers
1. Pro Controllers
For gamers Who Like Call of Duty, Fortnite, or Sports Games
Not just any controller; these are premium, first-party controllers designed for highly competitive gamers. Featuring adjustable thumbsticks, weights, and additional back buttons, these controllers are prized by competitive players who need every advantage they can get out of their hardware. While competitive players might enjoy these the most, just about any gamer who has ever had the luxury of “back buttons” will find it very hard to go back to their old setup.
Top Picks: PlayStation 5 Dual Sense Controller | Xbox Series S/X
2. Fight Stick
For gamers who like fighting games
Every fighting game fan will eventually have to make the switch to a fight stick if they want to remain in the competitive scene. These controllers mimic arcade cabinets from the genre’s early days and offer the precision needed to pull off intricate combos. With fighting sticks, two options are almost universally accepted by fighting game enthusiasts.
The first is the Hori Alpha (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X), a solid fight stick that performs well and holds up to wear and tear. It is the standard bearer for the fighting game scene.
The second is the more premium Qanba Q7 Obsidian, a fight stick that offers more robust options for professional gamers. The only downside: while it works with both PlayStation and PC, it is not compatible with Xbox.
Top Picks: Hori Alpha for PlayStation 5 | Hori Alpha for Xbox Series S/X | Qanba Q7 Obsidian for Playstation 5
3. PlayStation Portal (For use on the PlayStation 5 ONLY)
For the everyday console gamer
The innovative PlayStation Portal lets your gamer partner or friend continue their adventures away from the television. This portable device streams gameplay directly from your PlayStation 5, freeing up the TV for anyone else in the house to use. It’s great for gamers who want to catch up on some titles while relaxing in the comfort of bed.
Top Picks: PlayStation Portal for the PlayStation 5
4. 2TB SSD Drive
For the everyday console gamer
Another challenge modern gamers face is the ever-growing need to store all their games on their console. With modern games taking up hundreds of gigabytes of space, gamers are constantly having to delete and reinstall games to keep going. Any gamer is sure to appreciate additional storage space. A 2TB SSD card doubles the storage capacity of the PlayStation 5, freeing your gamer from the heartbreaking decision of having to choose what to uninstall.
Top Picks: PlayStation 5 Compatible SSD | Xbox Series S/X Compatible Storage Expansion Card
5. Charging Stations
For the everyday console gamer
Every gamer knows the pain of controller batteries dying mid-match. Having to track down a USB cable to charge a PlayStation controller or extra batteries for an Xbox controller can be a pain. Well, that pain ends now! With a charging station, you can have a dedicated place to hold controllers when not in use and passively charge them so you’re at full battery for your next extra-long playthrough.
Top Picks: PlayStation 5 | Xbox Series S/X
Gift Ideas For Switch and Switch 2 Gamers
6. Travel Docks
For Adult Switch gamers who spend too much time in hotels
The Nintendo Switch is the perfect console for road trips and vacations, but once you arrive at the hotel, your gamer may want to plug into a TV and enjoy gaming on the big screen. Portable Switch docks are small enough that they won’t eat up much space in a travel bag, but remember you’ll also need an HDMI cable to connect to the TV and a compatible charging cable.
Top Picks: Switch Dock | Switch 2 Dock
7. Switch Pro Controllers
For Switch gamers who play on the TV
Considered the BEST controllers on the market for the Switch, Nintendo’s very own Pro Controllers are the best accessory for any Switch gamer still rocking the Joy-Cons. This full-sized controller gives gamers with larger hands a comfortable place to grasp, and those who have faced horrible cramps with the extra-small Joy-Cons will benefit the most from these excellent controllers.
Top Picks: Nintendo Switch Pro Controller | Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller
8. Console Shells/Grips
For adult Switch gamers on the go
If your gamer takes their Switch everywhere, they’ll love these console shells and grips. These are shells that the Switch slides into, providing more comfortable controls and larger grips. They are perfect for adults with larger hands who find the default Joy-cons a little too small.
Top Picks: Nitro Deck for Switch | Travel Cover for Switch 2
9. Switch Charging Packs
For literally any gamer who owns a Switch
I’ve never made it through a flight on just one charge, especially with the power-hungry device like the Switch 2. And how unreliable are those airplane USB ports for charging? For those times, it’s best to carry a charging pack, and these actually mount directly onto your Switch or Switch 2, without the need for long cables.
Gift Ideas for PC Gamers
10. Streamdeck
While best known as a tool for professional livestreamers, streamdecks have found a home among general gamers and even professionals. These devices give gamers a handy set of fully customizable buttons that can be programmed to do things such as switch apps, change game settings, bring up Discord, and more. An absolute time-saver.
(PC)
11. Portable Second Screen
Many many core PC gamers tend to rock multiple monitors, others prefer the immersion of a single, large display. For those gamers, or those with limited space, a small portable monitor offers a second display that can easily moved and adjusted. This lets gamers control things like music, catch up on Discord, or watch Twitch on a screen much more comfortable than their phone.
(PC)
12. Steam Deck
The ultimate gift for any PC gamer enthusiast, the Steam Deck is a portable PC similar to the Nintendo Switch. It lets PC gamers ditch the heavy rig or laptop and play their games comfortably on the go. The Steam Deck can also act as a full PC, allowing your gamer to plug in a mouse, keyboard, and monitor for a full PC experience.
(PC)
13. Keyboard Brush
No matter how careful you are, those expensive mechanical keyboards collect dust, grime, and debris extremely quickly. While not aesthetically pleasing, gamers are likely more concerned about loose crumbs causing keystrokes to not register. This handy pen-sized brush is perfect for keeping within arm’s reach, letting gamers clean out their keyboard during load screens or between matches.
Top Pick: OXO Grips Electronics Cleaning Brush
14. USB Hub
From headphones to mice and keyboards, accessories, and phone chargers, PC gamers always need more USB ports to plug in all their cool tech. Keep the desk organized and tidy with this handy, mountable USB hub, which also includes SD card readers, a feature extremely handy for moving files to portable gaming devices.
Top Pick: USB Hub for PCs
Gift Ideas for Classic and Retro Gamers
15. Case of BAWLS Energy Drink
For your PC gamer friends
BAWLS was a cultural milestone in the emerging days of online gaming. The centerpiece of every LAN cafe, the caffeinated drink affectionately known as “geek beer” is sure to give your classic gamer warm, fuzzy memories of all-night WoW raids and Counter-Strike clans on TeamSpeak. And if you give one a try yourself, the smooth, mildly sweet taste of guarana has made the drink popular around the world. But it holds a special place in any PC gamer’s heart.
Top Pick: BAWLS Energy Drink
16. Ambernic Gaming Device
For the gamer who is over 30
These small, portable game consoles that imitate well-known hardware of the 90s and 2000s are packed to the brim with classic games. They often come pre-installed with thousands of ROMs from consoles like the SNES, GENESIS, N64, and PLAYSTATION. Your gamer will delight in exploring all the games from yesteryear, all in a convenient, portable, and rechargeable form.
Top Pick: Anbernic RG34XXSP
17. CRT
For retro gamers who still play on their original consoles
A CRT (Cathode Ray Television) is one of those massive, heavy, old televisions that sat in your garage well past the era of flat screens. Despite being old tech, these devices are prized by retrogamers because game consoles at the time were designed with CRTs in mind, ensuring that classic games are played with the image quality and reduced lag input that your gamer remembers.
Top Pick: Check out Ebay for CRTs
18. Microconsoles (NES, GENESIS, C64, SNES)
For the person who grew out of games
Age has a way of taking away all the things we love. For those former gamers who moved on to
“adult stuff,” these microconsoles are a low-cost, fun way to reminisce about times forgotten. Who doesn’t have fond memories playing Super Mario World at their friend’s house? Or for many folks, gaming on the first computer they ever owned: the Commodore 64. These adorable devices house tons of great, classic games in a delightful retro remake of the original hardware, and are as easy as plug-and-play. A great gift for anyone who wants to revisit their childhood
Top Picks: Nintendo SNES | NES Classic | Sega Genesis Mini | COMMODORE64
Gift Ideas for Mobile Gamers
19. Razer Kishi Controller
For enthusiastic gamers
Transform your mobile phone into a true gaming experience with a game controller. Free from the limitations of touchscreens, gamers can play many mobile games with better controls. They can also play traditional console and PC games via streaming apps, all with comfortable native controls. These handy devices can also be used as USB controllers, perfect for PC gamers on the road.
Top Picks: Razer Kisihi Controller for Andrioid & iOS
20. Trigger Attachment
For competitive gamers
Touch screens aren’t ideal for many types of classic, competitive games. While aiming and moving are handled just fine with touch controls, the biggest problem for gamers is having to lift their thumb up to press another button elsewhere on the touchscreen to jump or shoot, leaving them vulnerable to attack. These attachments, which work with any smartphone, give the player dedicated shoulder buttons which can be used for actions. It cannot be overstated how much of a difference this makes if your gamer plays anything from Fortnite to Call of Duty on mobile.
21. Finger Sleeves
For gamers who spend hours on their phone
From Diablo Immortal to Clash of Clans, Call of Duty Mobile, and everything in between, mobile has evolved to be one of the best platforms to play games on. But the physical limitations of the device have their drawbacks, namely the sweat that builds up between your thumb and the hot screen you’re touching. This leads to a sort of “stickiness” where your thumb’s ability to slide across a screen is diminished. It’s uncomfortable for sure, but it also costs performance in games as you’re no longer able to respond as rapidly. For any hardcore gamer on mobile, these simple finger sleeves allow them to game for hours without the sweat.