The Best Gifts to Give Gamers, According to Gamers

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.”

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 a fan of Paul Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers, this game is about as close as it gets to feeling like you’re part of the team.

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.”

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 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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

The iPad Air’s touch screen is great for play, and your recipient can pair the device with a keyboard whenever they need to get work done. “I have the iPad for when my laptop dies so I can still game and make music,” T-Pain told us.

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.

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.”