Top 20 Gifts For Gamers That They Will Actually Like

Many people have been picking up the Switch in recent years with approximately 68 million units sold worldwide. And what better way to impress a Switch owner than with EvoRetro’s Starter Kit Accessories pack? The pack comes complete with a carrying case, charging cables, headphones, a stylus pen, joycon grips, tempered glass protector, cleaning cloth, and numerous game card holders, among other things. It’s a perfect gift for those who prove a little careless or messy with their expensive belongings, and it will only run you $30.

Mini consoles have become a fad in recent years, and in 2019, Sega released their anticipated Sega Genesis Mini. Obviously based on their iconic console from the late ‘80s and ‘90s, the Mini comes equipped with 42 Genesis games, including “Altered Beast,” “Earthworm Jim,” “Sonic the Hedgehog,” and “Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition.” These games are still fun today, and they make for wonderful nostalgic items for ‘90s kids everywhere. The Mini is a bestseller on Amazon, where it runs a decent $50. Fuel your friend’s nostalgia or introduce your children to a piece of gaming history. Either way, the Sega Genesis Mini is a surefire hit.

If you want to go even more retro, may we suggest the My Arcade Retro Machine? This is a tiny arcade cabinet, coming in at just under six inches in height. It operates on batteries and contains a 2.5 inch color screen. It also comes equipped with 200 preloaded arcade-style games. These aren’t well known games like “Pac-Man” or “Super Mario Bros,” but they do contain similar gameplay. The machine also has functioning joysticks and buttons to simulate the old school feeling of a real arcade machine. It’s perfect for breaks at the office, and it gives you something to do other than scrolling through your phone during your free time. The My Arcade Retro will run buyers $30.

If you want something a little more authentic and “name brand,” then the Arcade 1UP cabinets are your thing. Warning - they are quite expensive, so maybe tag team this gift with a couple of friends. These are legit five feet tall arcade cabinets, complete with a 17-inch LCD display, a light up marquee and original artwork, and wi-fi enabled games that allow you to play online. These cabinets come in the form of numerous games, including “NBA Jam,” “Space Invaders,” and the original “Pac-Man.” The prices vary depending on the cabinet, but most are valued somewhere in the $400 to $600 range.

When all else fails, you can never go wrong with video game decor. Some can be practical, like the “Minecraft” storage cube that will run you $35. Others can be a bit more decorative. The good thing about decor is that you can go as cheap, or as expensive, as you want. Some things, like lamps and posters, can be found for quite cheap. Others, like decorative statues, can run you a bit more money. Another good thing about decor is that you can get creative and personal. We’re not saying a “Minecraft” storage unit is for everyone, but if your friend was looking for storage units and they’re a fan of “Minecraft”... There are a ton of options out there, so get looking!

2020 saw the release of some good games, including Vicarious Visions’ “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2.” The game is a remaster of the first two iconic games in the series, complete with modernized handling controls from the source code and redone art assets in 4K. The great thing about this title is that it works for both old and new game players. People nostalgic for the glory days of “Tony Hawk” would be happy to receive this brilliant remaster, and gamers who haven’t played the games will be interested in seeing what all the fuss is about. The game single handedly saved the “Tony Hawk” franchise, and it can be found for a bargain $39.99.

Which gamer would not enjoy a good gaming headset? Much like decor, headsets drastically range in price, so you can choose to go as cheap or as expensive as you want. Good gaming headsets with excellent user reviews can be found for as low as $25, including the Mpow Air SE and RUNMUS - the latter being Amazon’s #1 bestseller in PS4 headsets. Of course, you can also get expensive with it, like the $90 Razer Kraken with THX 7.1 surround. Or if you want to get real crazy with it, the $250 Audio-Technica ATH-G1WL. No matter what you go with, you can’t lose with this gift.

If the recipient is a serious gamer, then they will more than welcome an additional hard drive. Game files are getting larger and larger, and PCs can only hold so much data. In come the external hard drives to save the day. The Samsung SSD 860 EVO is a fantastic pick, and they come in a wide variety of sizes. There’s a 250 GB version for $50, 500 GB versions for $53, 1 TB versions for $120, and even 4 TB versions for $500! These hard drives are more than capable of storing and rendering 4K video, so they’re perfect for the modern gaming and movie-watching landscape.

Another remaster, “Super Mario 3D All-Stars” makes the perfect gift for those with a Switch. Commemorating the 35th anniversary of the “Mario” series, this collection comes equipped with high def ports of three classic titles - “Super Mario 64,” “Super Mario Sunshine,” and “Super Mario Galaxy.” The games received praise for their technical improvements, and all three remain just as much fun as they were in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. It’s also important to pick up the collection now, as it will only be available until March 31, 2021. It’s a win win for gift receivers. They get to enjoy the games, and should they decide later, they can sell it for insane profit when the eBay price inevitably inflates!

Rather than buying the console itself, think about buying an extra controller for the one they already own. Believe us, they’ll thank you for it. Controllers are certainly not cheap: they cost just about as much as a brand new game, usually around $60. That being said, gamers are more likely to buy themselves a brand new game than a new controller, so you’d be doing them a big favor. Many gamers keep with the original controller until it dies or is misplaced, and many refuse to buy extras, meaning local multiplayer is out of the question, and with so many officially licensed “pro” and “elite” controllers on the market, the upgrade is sure to make a difference.

You combine LEGO with “Overwatch” and you’re going to be the hit of Christmas 2020. LEGO has partnered with “Overwatch” and Blizzard to create LEGO versions of the characters, items, and places found throughout the game. These collections include the cheaper Tracer & Widowmaker, Hanzo & Genji, and Omnic Bastion, all of which will cost around $30. There’s also the more complex 730 piece Watchpoint: Gibraltar set, which will run you $95. No matter which one you get, it’s sure to be a hit. There’s simply no going wrong with either LEGO or “Overwatch.”

Most major video games have an accompanying art book. These are often published to show off the art design of the game, including concept art, character sketches, preliminary drawings, and environmental art design - all typically accompanied by notes from the developers. “The Art of Super Mario Odyssey” can be picked up for $18 on Amazon. The “Bloodborne Official Artworks,” a particularly gorgeous book, can be found for around $60. If “Zelda” is more their thing, you can snag “The Legend of Zelda: Art & Artifacts” for a decent $30. It’s a perfect companion for their favorite video games - especially if they have an interest in art and game design.

These keyboards are certainly not cheap, so the person you ask may laugh at the idea, but just tell them that it’s a really, really good keyboard, and that’ll hopefully change their mind. With a price tag of around $135, it really is a beast of a keyboard, complete with multicolor backlighting, complete customization, and anti-ghosting. This one is for serious PC gamers, but if you have the money and the right recipient, you will undoubtedly make their day.

Fresh off the product line, the Oculus Quest 2 was shipped on October 13, making it one of the hot commodities of the 2020 Christmas season. Like its predecessor, this is a virtual reality headset that is completely capable of running on its own without an existing console or PC. That said, it is compatible with Oculus Rift titles by connecting the headset to a gaming PC via a separately sold Link Cable. The only problem is that a Facebook account is required for connection, so make sure the recipient has one! The Quest 2 runs on the pricier side at $399, but it’s a good price for such an advanced piece of hardware.

If you want to play video games at the highest visual quality possible, then you need a good graphics card. That’s where the GeoForce RTX 3080 comes in. As The Verge cleverly put it, this card provides “4K gaming for less than $1K.” The RTX 3080 is a great piece of tech, allowing for relatively cheap 4K and blistering fast gameplay. These cards start at $700, with the most expensive clocking in at $850. Hey, no one said gaming is a cheap hobby. But if you want to thrill the most dedicated gamer in your life, then one of these babies is certainly the way to go.

As you all know, both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X were released in November. So what better way to christen a new console with brand new, next gen games? There are some exciting launch titles to look for, including “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla,” the “Demon’s Souls” remake, “Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War,” “Watch Dogs: Legion,” and “Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales.” The bad news is that many next gen titles will cost $70 - a $10 increase from the current list price of $59.99. The good news is that not all games will cost that much. “Assassin’s Creed” is offering a free digital upgrade with the purchase of a PS4 copy, and “Miles Morales” will only cost $50.

Sometimes the greatest gifts are the simplest ones, and what could be simpler than a gift card? Some people hate the idea of giving gift cards as presents, but the recipients never seem to complain. It really is a win-win scenario: you get to choose how much to spend pretty much down to the cent, and the recipient gets to spend it on whatever they want. You don’t have to worry about giving them a bad game, or even a good game that simply doesn’t interest them. Just buy a gift card and give ‘er. It’s easy peasy, and it makes for the perfect gift.

While they’re not quite the hottest consoles on the market right now due to their successors, you really can’t go wrong with an Xbox One X or PS4 Pro thanks to their large library of games. In case you’re unaware, these bad boys serve as upgrades to their respective predecessors, offering more power, space, visual detail, and better performance. Sure, they’re not on the same level as PS5 or Xbox Series X, but both Sony and Microsoft have pledged to support them for many years to come, so we won’t be seeing the last of them any time soon.

Despite being out for more than three years the Nintendo Switch is hotter than ever. Along with it’s smaller younger counterpart the Switch Lite, the Nintendo Switch is an absolute must own for anyone who’s serious about gaming, mainly due to the fact that it’s got an excellent library of Nintendo games to play. With some of the greatest video games of all time, such as “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” and “Super Mario Odyssey” the Nintendo Switch has shown absolutely no signs of slowing down. It’s also a lot cheaper than it’s next generation counterparts at $300, so there’s something to consider!

Next gen games are nice and all. But let’s be real - the console is even better! November saw the release of the Xbox Series X and PS5, and every console player will be itching to get their hands on one or the other. The only thing is that consoles are very expensive. So that’s where you, and maybe your friends, come in! Unlike the past, both base consoles will cost $500 at launch. The price differences are found in the digital versions. A digital PS5 will run you $400, whereas an Xbox Series S (the less powerful digital version) will only cost $300. It’ll be interesting to see which console comes out on top, and it all starts here. The 2020 Christmas season.