Last-Minute Christmas Gifts for the Gamer in Your Life
With Christmas right around the corner, it’s time for the procrastinators of the world to snap into action and assemble a cohesive gift-giving strategy. For those looking to shop for the gamers in their life, I’m here to help.
Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller
Price: $89
Let’s take a leap of faith and assume your prospective giftee already has a Nintendo Switch 2, in which case you can consider getting them the Nintendo-branded Pro Controller. Yes, existing Switch owners can use the Pro Controller from the original Switch with the new hardware, but it’s not the same. The Switch 2 Pro Controller feels even sturdier and more responsive than its predecessor, making it worth the price to upgrade.
Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack
Price: $49 for 12 months
A must-have for any new Switch 2 owner, as you’ll need it for online play and access to the NES, SNES, and Game Boy virtual console. The Expansion Pack takes it a step further, adding N64, GameCube, and Game Boy Advance support. Perhaps more crucially, you’ll also get the Switch 2 upgrades for both Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild for free, giving you access to the best version of arguably the Switch’s top two titles.
Daydayup Switch 2 Carrying Case
Price: $34
One of the great perks of the Switch 2 is its portability, and when you’re sinking around $500 into a system, you want to be sure it’s protected on the go. That’s where the Daydayup carrying case comes into play. It has a hard shell on the outside, and the soft mesh interior covers the screen. There’s plenty of room for the battery, extra games, and more. Plus, at under $40, it’s a good value for those on a budget.
ROG Xbox Ally X
Price: $999
Has the special someone on your Christmas list been extra nice this year? Then maybe it’s time to treat them to the ROG Xbox Ally X. Although it’s marketed as an Xbox, it’s more of a gaming PC with Xbox capabilities, meaning Steam and Epic Games libraries are accessible as well. It’s powerful and looks great, albeit at a premium cost.
Xbox Design Lab Custom Controller
Price: Varies by series/design
If your gamer wants to stand out from the crowd, may I suggest a trip to the Xbox Design Lab, where you can build a custom controller. It’s too late to get one under the tree this year, but you can either create one on their behalf or let them make it themselves on your dime. You can customize just about everything, and it works for both the standard and Elite versions of the Xbox controller.
PlayStation Portal
Price: $199 (currently on sale for $179)
Although it may look similar to the Xbox Ally X and Switch 2, the PlayStation Portal is not a comparable device. There’s no standalone functionality. Instead, the Portal allows you to connect to your existing PS5 via WiFi, and then stream to the handheld. It’s great if you want to game when someone else is watching TV, or for some gaming before bed.
PlayStation DualSense Edge Wireless Controller
Price: $199
If gaming is more than a hobby for the person on your list, the PlayStation DualSense Edge Wireless Controller should elicit all kinds of appreciation when it’s unwrapped. You can swap out the stick caps, adjust the sensitivity of triggers, add programmable back buttons, and more. I received one last year, and it’s excellent.
PlayStation 5 Console Covers
Price: $54–$59
If you’re looking to give your gamer’s existing PlayStation 5 a little extra personality, consider investing in an official Sony PS5 console cover. There are several color options for both the standard and slim versions. Plus, if you want to kick it up a notch, you can always nab a DualSense controller of the same color. May I suggest Starlight Blue?
My Arcade Atari Gamestation Go
Price: $179
For the retro gamer in your life, the recently released Atari Gamestation Go comes loaded with more than 200 titles, spanning multiple Atari generations along with some arcade games, including PAC-MAN, Asteroids, Tempest, and Centipede. It’s pure nostalgia fuel, even though Pitfall is sadly not included.
Gaming Headset
Price: Varies
Unless they have a top-tier audio setup (and no roommates or children), headphones are a great addition to any gamer’s toolkit. For those looking to stretch their gifting dollar, the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 offers good audio quality and the comfort to stay wearable over long sessions while checking in at $40. If you’d prefer to flex a bit, you can’t go wrong with the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2, which will set you back around $200. I’ve used a number of peripherals from SteelSeries over the years, and the quality is consistently good.
LEGO Game Sets
Price: Varies
The impetus for this selection was the Game Boy set, but if that doesn’t float your boat, there are tons of options from Mario, Fortnite, Minecraft, Animal Crossing, and more. With a wide range of sets—and, by extension, a wide range of price points—there are plenty of options here for anyone who likes LEGO sets, which, quite frankly, should be everyone.