The best gifts for gamers

The best gifts for gamers
(Image credit: Sony / Microsoft)

So you're looking for the best gifts for gamers? No matter the time of year or occasion, we've got plenty for you to browse through today for the gamer in your life.

Top gaming gifts to consider don't just include games. You have a huge choice in the world of headsets, controllers, hard drives, SSDs, chargers, and merchandise. If you were thinking of going really big and gifting one of the new consoles, we have to warn you, they're generally incredibly hard to find right now. Be sure to check out our guides for the latest information on the latest PS5 restock updates and Xbox Series X restock updates. Even the older Nintendo Switch bundles are hard to find right now.

If you are buying a game for someone, it's best to check which games console they use (or are they a PC gamer?) so you get the right one for it. Don't forget to double-check with their family members too to avoid doubling up. Keep your receipt and the seal intact on the plastic wrapping though and you shouldn't have any problems returning the item for an exchange at most stores though (excluding digital keys for games/subscriptions). 

If you're not sure about games, or perhaps you want something a bit cheaper then merch is a good way to go with gamers spoiled for choice with clothing, mugs, toys, and more to choose from.

Hardware accessories like an extra controller (maybe a third-party one with some unique features), or perhaps a headset, are great picks to enhance the playing experience. If someone you know has picked up one of the brand-new consoles, you should hop on over to our dedicated best PS5 headsets and best Xbox Series X headset guide. Or if you really want to blow their socks off, we've done extensive research on our guide to the best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X - these are fantastic picks for any console and of course watching TV generally too so it's a great idea for the whole home to enjoy.

The best gifts for gamers

Gifts with instant digital delivery

12-month PS Plus subscription (US)

Buy from: Amazon | CDKeys | Walmart | Best Buy

12-month PS Plus subscription (US)
This allows PS4/PS5 gamers to play games online and membership also includes a range of free games each month (plus 20 on PS5 straight away). Better yet, even if the recipient already has a subscription, they can simply stack this one on top to extend their membership. Most stores are simply selling a digital code for this rather than a physical product so jot it down or print it off and pop it in a card if you like.
Buy from:
Amazon | CDKeys | Walmart | Best Buy


PSN Credit for PS4/PS5
CDKeys.comAmazon is the best place to buy

PSN Credit for PS4/PS5
Store credit for PSN (PlayStation Network) is a great gift idea as there's a huge choice of games available on Sony's official digital marketplace. In the UK, the best place to buy is from CDKeys.com as you get instant delivery of a code and many top-up codes are actually discounted. These work on both PS4 and PS5, despite some of the images being a bit dated and only mentioning older consoles. In the US, Amazon is the best place to buy, although there are no discounts. You will get instant delivery though.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
A fantastic gift for any Xbox gamer, especially as you can extend currents subs with it, so no worries if they already have one. This double deal grants you access to Xbox Live Gold (to play games online) and the incredible Game Pass service which is essentially Netflix for games. You'll receive a digital code rather than a physical card as is standard with this store.

3 months: Amazon | Walmart | CDkeys | Best Buy
12 months:
(EU only) £99.99 at CDKeys

Disney Plus gift card (1 year)
but these can only be redeemed by new subscribers, so make sure they're not already signed up

Disney Plus gift card (1 year)
With so much to watch now on Disney Plus, it's always a great time to gift someone a whole year of the service, but these can only be redeemed by new subscribers, so make sure they're not already signed up. It's packed with Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and more. These annual subscriptions are priced at $79.99/£79.90.

Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime
You can now gift someone an Amazon Prime membership with three-month ($39) or 12-month ($119) options available. Prime members get super fast delivery, Prime Video for streaming movies and TV shows and there's even a gaming element where they get a bunch of free games and digital DLC too. If they already have Prime, Amazon will let them exchange it for an Amazon gift card of equal value. The service will not auto-renew by the way, so you're not on the hook for this beyond what you pay for. Gifting Prime is not an option in the UK.

Roblox Gift card for Robux from $10 from AmazonAlso available in the UK at Amazon

Roblox Gift card for Robux from $10 from Amazon
Roblox has become one of the biggest games around, especially with the younger crowd on Xbox and mobile platforms. These gift cards start at $10/£10 and provide in-game items to use and this is the smarter choice over attaching credit card details to an account to avoid nightmare scenario accidental overspends. Also available in the UK at Amazon.

Gaming gifts - under $50 / £50

The Last of Us Part II (PS4/PS5)
Buy from: Amazon | Walmart | Best Buy

The Last of Us Part II (PS4/PS5)
That's the lowest ever price for Naughty Dog's latest masterpiece. Mature audiences only though on this one folks, it gets a bit grim. The game recently received a free PS5 update, so this version will run even smoother on Sony's new console with a mode targetting 60 frames per second.
Buy from:
Amazon | Walmart | Best Buy

Assassin's Creed ValhallaBuy from: Amazon | Walmart | Best Buy

Assassin's Creed Valhalla
This Viking adventure title set largely in the UK has been a huge smash hit and if you buy the PS4 version, it will run on PS5 and likewise, the Xbox One copy will update itself to look its best on the Series X (so don't buy the more expensive boxed versions for the new consoles as you can get that version anyways by buying the last-gen one). Now that it's been out a bit longer, you can get one of the best Assassin's Creed games yet for a rather stunning half price at some stores.
Buy from: Amazon | Walmart | Best Buy

Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 admittedly had a rough start on PS4 and Xbox One, but it is being patched and fixes are improving what has been a very buggy experience. The free next-gen upgrade will be coming later this year.
Buy from: Amazon | Walmart | Best Buy

Nintendo Game and WatchBuy from: Amazon | Walmart | Best Buy

Nintendo Game and Watch
This retro mini console is a fantastic buy for the older gamer and comes with Super Mario Bros pre-installed along with a Lost Levels pack that any long-standing fan will relish. there's a new Zelda version out now too, but it's sold out everywhere at this time.
Buy from: Amazon | Walmart | Best Buy

Lego Super Mario playsetsBuy from:Amazon |WalmartBest Buy

Lego Super Mario playsets
It'll come as no surprise but the new Lego Super Mario playsets have been a big hit this year. There are already loads of expansion packs to go with the playsets too and some have been discounted. Given how pricey Lego can be, we'll take what we can get!
Buy from: Amazon | Walmart | Best Buy

Nintendo Switch memory cardsA great gift idea for any Nintendo Switch ownerBuy from: Amazon | Walmart | Best Buy

Nintendo Switch memory cards
A great gift idea for any Nintendo Switch owner. The Switch only has a miserly 32GB of storage so we'd advise getting a memory card to increase storage as soon as possible. Switch games aren't as GB-hungry as other consoles anything 128GB or bigger would be a great start.
Buy from: Amazon | Walmart | Best Buy

Christmas sweater for gamers at Amazon / Amazon UK

Christmas sweater for gamers at Amazon / Amazon UK
The wave of Christmas sweaters/jumpers can't be stopped and gamers don't have to feel left out either as there are loads of them out there with Amazon seemingly stocking the most, including this Crash Bandicoot one.

Star Wars T-Shirts at Amazon US / Amazon UK

Star Wars T-Shirts at Amazon US / Amazon UK
You really are spoiled for choice for Star Wars T-Shirts and they range from super loud, to discrete and with plenty rocking that word faded look too. Expect to find plenty from the original movies, the prequels, the modern era and of course, The Mandalorian.

The Game Console: A Photographic History from Atari to XboxBuy from: Amazon

The Game Console: A Photographic History from Atari to Xbox
For those looking for a documentation of our favorite gaming machines, then this is the tome for you. It'll make the perfect book for those who love all things retro and current and also be a great reference book.
Buy from: Amazon

Blood, Sweat, and Pixels

Blood, Sweat, and Pixels
Jason Schreier is a well-known games journalist and reporter who has been busting open the industry with wide-ranging and revealing reports. This book from him takes a similar approach and opens the door on the development trials and tribulations of some famous and excellent games.

Fallout: The Vault Dweller's Official Cookbook
Buy from: Amazon

Fallout: The Vault Dweller's Official Cookbook
No, don't worry there aren't real radroaches you'll have to farm for these - instead, it's just a real fun cookbook 'based on the irradiated delicacies of the world of Fallout'. The brand new Vault Dweller's Official Cookbook Gift Set is also available.
Buy from: Amazon

The Witcher book seriesThe Witcher Season 2Buy from: Amazon

The Witcher book series
A big hit with gamers, and now even more so with the hit Netflix show. There are lots of books to get stuck into and the comparison chart below lists them in order, starting with The Last Wish, along with the cheapest prices. Check out our guide on The Witcher Season 2 for the latest details on the show by the way.
Buy from: Amazon

Gaming mugs at Amazon US / Amazon UK

Gaming mugs at Amazon US / Amazon UK
You'll find hundreds of different mugs to choose from at Amazon related to gaming, comics, movies, and the like. The links above will give you a head start on some gaming ones though. Chances are you'll be able to find mugs on most games, movies and so on if you know they have a favorite.

Gaming gifts - up to $100 / £100

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DualSense PS5 controller
The PS5 comes with one in the box already, but some players will want a spare one too. This could be for local offline multiplayer titles or just to make sure they always have one fully charged and ready to go. These are available in white, black, and 'cosmic' red.

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Xbox Series X controller
The new Xbox Series X controllers are available in different colors too. The blue one is slightly more expensive than the others for some reason, which is a bit annoying as that's the one we want. These controllers run on batteries though so there's no need to buy an extra one just to have one charged at all times.

Nintendo Switch Pro controller
Buy from: Amazon | Walmart | Best Buy

Nintendo Switch Pro controller
When you buy a Nintendo Switch, you only get a pair of the small Joy-Con controllers, but if you want a traditional controller experience for those longer-play games, then you need something like this. It rarely gets a price cut and is fairly expensive, but having tested a bunch of cheaper third-party options, this official option is worth the cost to be honest. Check out my full Nintendo Switch Pro Controller review for more info.
Buy from: Amazon | Walmart | Best Buy

Razer Kishi from $79.99 at AmazonAlso available in the UK from £79.99 at Amazon.

Razer Kishi from $79.99 at Amazon
This is one of the best mobile controllers you can get for gaming on the go (check out our Razer Kishi review). We especially like using it to stream Xbox Game Pass title via Xcloud. You can choose Android or Apple versions and there's also a specific Xbox-branded variant if you like everything to feel a bit more in tune with that ecosystem, although you're free to use the Andoird one instead for the same games. Also available in the UK from £79.99 at Amazon.

Evercade handheld retro console from $79 / £59 (in the UK)

Evercade handheld retro console from $79 / £59 (in the UK)
A fantastic gift for the older gamer in your life or someone you want to introduce to retro classics. The Evercade handheld runs games from physical cartridges and there are loads of extra ones you can pick up featuring collections of titles from gaming's early years, especially the 8 and 16-bit eras. Check out the link to see the range of bundles and individual carts. We also have a full Evercade review and we rated it one of the best retro game consoles in our guide too.

Ring Fit Adventure
Buy from: Amazon

Ring Fit Adventure
With more and more people choosing to work out at home, Ring Fit Adventure for the Nintendo Switch has spent large parts of the year completely sold out, so grab it while you can. If you know someone keen to work out more, but not too keen on heading to a gym, this is ideal if they have a Switch.
Buy from: Amazon

Orzly Nintendo Switch Accessories bundleBuy from: Amazon

Orzly Nintendo Switch Accessories bundle
This is a fantastic gift idea to go with a new Nintendo Switch as it's packed with controller cases, steering wheel grips, cart cases, carry cases, screen protectors, a charging station, headphones, and more. To be clear you don't get any actual controllers - just covers for them.
Buy from: Amazon

Covert Dock for Nintendo Switch
Buy from: Amazon

Covert Dock for Nintendo Switch
This neat device will save you the hassle of moving the official Switch dock into different rooms to play the console on other TVs. Simply plug the discrete piece of kit into the mains power, plug an HDMI into it and you're all set.
Buy from: Amazon

More gifts for gamers

Nintendo Switch Lite
Buy from: Amazon | Best Buy

Nintendo Switch Lite
The handheld-only Nintendo Switch Lite has been in high demand all year but is generally still available whereas the regular Switch has basically sold out at most stores.
Buy from: Amazon | Best Buy

Razer Wolverine Ultimate
Buy from: Amazon

Razer Wolverine Ultimate
This is one of the finest Xbox controllers ever made and is great for both the Xbox One and Series X. The premium price is due to the extensive customization options on offer with swappable analogs and d-pads, six extra mappable buttons, super responsive buttons, and incredible grip. It's been my go-to controller for the last few years.
Buy from: Amazon

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Xbox Series X expansion card
This official 1TB Series X expansion card from Seagate is the only way to upgrade the SSD storage capacity on the Series X. Unlike using regular external storage devices (like the ones below), this card runs at the same super-high speeds as the internal SSD of the console, so you'll get all the same next-gen benefits. It'll be handy further down the line if you're buying for someone that buys lots of new games on a regular basis and is likely to run out of storage capacity soonish. It's seriously expensive though and we'd be tempted to opt for something else given it's far from essential so soon after launch.

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Portable hard drives
Below you'll find some comparison charts for some of our favorite portable hard drives. These are especially handy to expand the storage options on Xbox and PlayStation consoles, including the new generation ones which only come with a small starting amount. They're best for running PS4/Xbox One games on the backward-compatible PS5/Series X.

Secretlab Omega Cyberpunk 2077

Secretlab Omega Cyberpunk 2077
Our favorite gaming chair looks better than ever with this special edition Cyberpunk 2077 design, featuring all the same comfort and customizability as before. You can save a nice chunk of change by buying directly from Secretlab.

Secretlab Titan Cyberpunk 2077

Secretlab Titan Cyberpunk 2077
The Titan is the Omega's big sibling, featuring a flatter seat which gives your tush a little more room (and is ideal for sitting cross-legged). The manufacturer's discount from Secretlab will keep your bank account sitting pretty.

Sony WH-1000XM4 headphonesBuy from: Amazon | Best Buy | Walmart

Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones
While not a gaming headset, if the gamer in your life is a big music fan and/or spends a lot of time working at a desk then these class-leading noise-canceling headphones are bound to go down well.
Buy from: Amazon | Best Buy | Walmart

Here are a few other guides you might find useful today: best gaming headset, best Nintendo Switch accessories, and best PS5 games.

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