Gifts for gamers

Check the platform before anything else

Most gaming gifts work with one system only. Mario Kart World runs only on Switch 2. The Satisfye grip and the Orzly case fit Switch 2 only. The Hyperkin guitar is for the Wii. The ModRetro M64 needs original N64 cartridges, and the Chromatic needs Game Boy cartridges. Buy the wrong one and it goes straight back.

If you do not know their setup, ask someone in the house or look at what is plugged into the TV. If you still are not sure, pick an accessory that works across platforms, like the KontrolFreek thumb grips, the iFixit Moray kit or a card game.

Age matters as much as platform. A younger kid gets the most from Super Mario Party Jamboree, UNO Super Mario or the Orzly case for carrying a Switch 2 around. A teen is the right person for the Satisfye grip, the Crusher Evo headphones or the Keychron keyboard. An adult who grew up with a Nintendo 64 or a Game Boy and still has the cartridges in a box is the person the ModRetro consoles are built for. A gamer who likes to fix their own gear will put the iFixit kit to use on a drifting controller.

Games, gear and things around the game

Buying a specific video game is risky because they may already own it. Mario Kart World and Super Mario Party Jamboree are safer than most, because both are multiplayer games a whole family plays together on one console. Still, ask. Both are digital, so check the region of their Nintendo account.

Gear is the safer route. A gamer on voice chat all evening will notice the Elgato Wave:3 MK.2 more than any game. A streamer will use the Stream Deck daily once it is set up. The Keychron K2 HE suits a PC player still on a basic keyboard.

Desk and storage gifts work for any player. The Luckies headphone stand, the Numskull Minecraft locker and the Orzly case tidy up the mess that gaming makes. These suit kids and teens well, and parents tend to like them too.

Tabletop and party gamers

Not every gamer plays on a screen. A D&D player always has room for another dice set, and the Gatekeeper Icebrand set is a cheap, easy pick. For a group that likes puzzles, the Taskmaster escape room game gives one long evening, and the Crystal Maze LIVE gives a day out in London.

Card games are the best bridge between gamers and everyone else. Sushi Go Party works for up to eight. Set rewards quick eyes over experience, so kids can beat adults. Monopoly Deal and UNO Super Mario fit in a stocking. Exploding Kittens takes minutes to learn and plays in about 15 minutes.

Budgets and timing

Under $25, the KontrolFreek grips, dice, Monopoly Deal, UNO Super Mario, the Orzly case and the iFixit kit are all sensible. From $25 to $75 you get new Switch 2 games, the Satisfye grip and most party games. Above $100 sit the Stream Deck, Wave:3 microphone, Keychron keyboard, Crusher Evo, the ModRetro consoles and the Kanto speakers.

Online play on Switch needs a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership. If you buy Mario Kart World for someone who wants to race friends online, check they have it or add it.

For a last-minute gift, the Apple gift card arrives by email, and digital Nintendo games can be bought from the Nintendo shop. Physical items from small UK and Australian shops can take longer around the holidays, so order those by early December.

One more tip: wrap the accessory with something to use it on. Dice go well with a note offering to join their next session. The Satisfye grip pairs with a new Switch 2 game. The Stream Deck is more fun with an hour of help setting it up.

Questions people ask

What do you get a gamer who has everything?

Skip games they might own and look at gear or experiences. A better microphone like the Elgato Wave:3 MK.2, a Stream Deck, or desk speakers improve every session. For retro fans, the ModRetro M64 plays their old N64 cartridges on a modern TV. For puzzle lovers near London, the Crystal Maze LIVE is a day out instead of another thing.

Is Mario Kart World a good gift?

Yes, for a household with a Nintendo Switch 2. It supports four-player split-screen on one console, so the whole family can play. It does not run on the original Switch, and online races need a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership. Check which console they own before you buy.

What is a good gaming gift under $20?

KontrolFreek thumb grips for console controllers, the iFixit Moray driver kit for fixing controllers, a Gatekeeper dice set for D&D players, the Orzly Switch 2 case, or a card game like Exploding Kittens, Monopoly Deal or UNO Super Mario. All of these work as stocking stuffers or Secret Santa gifts.

Should I buy a digital game or a gift card?

A digital game is a better gift when you know the console and know they do not own it. A gift card is safer when you do not. The Apple gift card suits someone who games on iPhone or iPad. For console players, a store credit for their platform lets them choose.