16 Great Christmas Gifts for Gamers | games

gPurchasing an AMRS kit can be difficult. Most will get their new games digitally from the Steam, Xbox, Nintendo, or PlayStation online stores, so you can’t just grab the latest version of Call of Duty and be done with it. Fortunately, there are plenty of useful accessories and fun lifestyle gifts to seek out, and gamers tend to have plenty of other interests that intersect with gaming in different ways.

So, if you have a gamer in your life, whether young or old, here are some ideas chosen by The Guardian’s gaming writers. Naturally, we start with LEGO…

Adults

Lego Boy game

_{£54.99 at Lego
£44.99 at Amazon}

A nearly 1:1 scale replica of the original Game Boy game, complete with buildable vehicles to place in the back and a stand to display them on. A retro gamer’s dream.

Deluxe video game books

_{£32 at Tune & Fairweather}

Video game books for adults are a booming market with companies like Tune & Fairweather and Lost in Cult producing fantastic, high-quality books, including in-depth studies of titles like Elden Ring (pictured) and Outer Wilds, as well as historical guides to classic consoles. If you know their favorite game, there’s probably a plush book about it.

Arzopa Z1FC portable gaming monitor

_{£89.99 at Amazon}

This lightweight 16.1-inch monitor is the perfect companion to portable gaming devices like Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck, providing a bigger screen experience wherever you are. The picture is clear and colorful and the 144Hz refresh rate means it can keep up with fast-paced games.

Enter coin clothing

_{£84.99 in insert currency}

For 15 years, Insert Coin has been designing high-quality apparel based on new and old games. The latest arrivals include a super cool puffer jacket from Resident Evil 4 (pictured), jackets from Persona 5 and beanies from Cyberpunk 2077.

Vinyl Music Albums (£35+)

_{£36 on Laced Records}

For everyone who loves video games and Vinyl There is a growing group of labels offering high-quality, beautifully packaged soundtrack albums. Laced Records has Doom, Zelda and Hellblade recordings, but also check out Data Discs, IAm8Bit and Black Screen for a full range of new and old game sounds.

Anime Blu-ray special editions

_{£29.99 at HMV}

Anime has always greatly influenced video game designers, so the gamer in your life may appreciate the inspiration behind titles like Metal Gear Solid and Silent Hill. There are beautiful new Blu-ray releases of the great anime films Perfect Blue and Ghost in the Shell (pictured), both available from HMV, Amazon and others, or try Akira, Mobile Suit Gundam or Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Board games video games

_{£86.99 at Zatu Games
£79.99 at Amazon}

Take your player offline for a few hours with a board game based on a video game. Slay the Spire is a cool, easy-to-learn collectible card strategy game, or for fans of the old style, Quoridor’s very stylish Pac Man-themed version.

He cooks And Baker’s art print

_{$135 at Cook & Baker}

Working with both artists and video game developers, Cook and Becker sell extremely high-quality prints inspired by a wide range of games from Astro Bot to World of Warcraft. The Ghost of Yotei concept art (pictured) is particularly beautiful.

Children and adolescents

Energy A Control

_{£19.99 at Carry’s
£19.99 at Amazon}

It’s always helpful to have a spare controller ready to go when a friend comes over to play, and PowerA has solid platforms for Xbox, Switch, and PC that do the job just fine. The Advantage controllers for Switch 2 (pictured) are especially nice.

Omy video game poster poster

_{11.83 euros in Ume
£22.31 at Amazon}

We love this stylish sticker that comes with dozens of colorful stickers, each with a specific place to find it in the photo. Inspired by classic arcade games and kawaii Design, it would look great on any young gamer’s bedroom wall. Available from Omy and various stockists in the UK.

Super Micro game

_{£19.95 in games pack
£19.99 at Argos}

A retro experience you can take anywhere, the Super Micro Collection is a collection of mini portable devices, small enough to fit on a keychain. Choose from Asteroids, Centipede or Burger Time (each of which comes with two bonus games) or opt for the legendary Space Invaders.

Dungeons & Dragons: Borderlands Heroes Starter Set

_{£45 at Hobbycraft
£42.99 at Amazon}

The perfect way to get started in D&D, this new standalone set comes with essential guides for the dungeon master and players plus dice, character sheets, pre-written quests, and more.

Minecraft chess set

_{£56.99 at Robert Dias
£61.99 at Amazon}

Convince your favorite player to put down their controller and play chess instead with this Minecraft-themed board. Villagers encounter creepers on a pristine grass-colored surface, but unfortunately, you can’t build a giant fortified castle or plant TNT everywhere.

Raspberry Pi 400 PC Kit

_{£76.80 at The Pi Hut
£97.91 at Amazon}

For anyone looking to get into programming, or just playing with computers, the Raspberry Pi 400 is a mini computer built into a keyboard. The Raspberry Pi OS provides everything you need including a mouse, cables, Wi-Fi support, and a beginner’s guide. There’s also a 40-pin GPIO connector so you can connect it to other electronics projects, and a more powerful Raspberry Pi 500 version is available for £96.

Turtle Beach Atlas 200 headphones

_{£49.99 at Argos
£49.99 at Amazon}

Every gamer needs a headset they can rely on, and you don’t have to spend a fortune. The new Turtle Beach Atlas 200 for consoles and PC is a lightweight, comfortable option with clear, immersive sound. Otherwise, we like the Razer Barracuda X (£70), which is one of the best wireless headphones under £100.

The legend of zelda bokoblin light chest

_{£16.99 at HMV
£11.29 at Amazon}

Zelda fans will be familiar with the Bokoblin Chests scattered around the world of Hyrule that offer valuable loot to adventurers. This officially licensed version features rather creepy glowing eyes, and when you open them, you’re treated to the classic Bokoblin tune.