GAMING is one of the most popular hobbies in the world, but if you’re not into it, it can be difficult to figure out what to buy the gamer in your life.
It’s easy to pick up what is directly advertised to you, or what you see in stores, but there are better options available.
If you’re looking for presents for your gaming loved one, but you’re unsure what they’d like, we’ve broken down everything for you.
Here is our ultimate buyer’s guide for gamers for the holiday season.
Don’t buy hideous mugs or other impractical items with gamer logos
Buy console accessories that they will use
We’ve all been to the supermarket and seen PlayStation-themed lava lamps or mugs with controllers for handles.
Many of these are impractical or unwanted, meaning the gamer in your life won’t use them.
Instead, look at which consoles your loved one uses, and try to get them an accessory that will be useful to them.
Always see their PS Portal, Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch lying around? Get them a carry case.
There are plenty of these available in designs that could fit their aesthetics, or with helpful functions like game card slots or holes for charging cables.
If their controllers are always dead, then grab them a charging dock, so they’ll never have to plug them in again.
You might even want to buy them a spare controller, and there are plenty of first-party controllers with different designs.
There are smaller gaming accessories that are often overlooked, like thumbstick caps for better grip.
Etsy is a great resource for things like this, and you can find many accessories like these with designs based on popular games.
Don’t buy Funko Pops
Buy figures or plushies that fit their favourite games
I have no idea why people think that gamers love Funko Pops. In our experience this is rarely the case.
They all look the same, with their cube heads and dead eyes, and the generic design is often a turn-off for most gamers.
If the gamer in your life loves figures, Goodsmile and Play Arts Kai offer high-end figures for a variety of games, so you can tailor them to their tastes.
Also on the high-end are things like the gaming Lego sets, that offer a family activity as well as a nice figure at the end.
For more affordable options Pop-Up Parade and Takara Tomy are good choices, and Mega for cheaper buildable products.
If you want something softer, Nintendo fans are particularly easy to buy for, with dozens of plushies available for franchises like Pokémon, Super Mario, Kirby, Zelda and more.
However, plushies from other popular franchises can be found on sites like Fangamer, while more niche games or artsy figures can be found on Etsy.
Don’t buy neon and slogan signs
Buy artbooks, coffee table books, or more unique T-shirts and prints
When shopping for gaming gifts you’ll undoubtedly find posters and T-shirts with neon signs that say things like “Keep Out I’m Gaming” or something equally embarrassing.
If the person you’re buying for likes game decoration, then consider something a little nicer to look at.
Books are an obvious way to add style, and most games have a companion art book to purchase.
Companies like Read Only Memory and Lost in Cult do beautiful gaming coffee books that are both gorgeous and interesting reads.
For prints, you can’t beat Etsy with its array of fan art, but other companies like iam8bit also do good work.
T-shirts are another way to give gorgeous gaming art, and we recommend the Yetee, Insert Coin, and Black Milk for these.
If you want to read more gaming gift guides, check out our PS5 buyers guide, Xbox Series X|S buyers guide, and our Nintendo Switch buyers guide.
Get the lowdown on more of the latest Nintendo Switch releases from our expert reviewers.
For Xbox Series X and PS5 reviews, check out our full game reviews section.
