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    28 Little Gifts To Give Your Friend Who Loves Video Games

    Game on, Santa.

    Hey! While we’re doing our best to make sure the products we feature will arrive in time for Christmas, shipping times are tricky and can vary depending on where you live, which product you purchase, and more. Shop early and be sure to double check the retailers’ websites for shipping information to ensure that your gift will arrive in time for the 25th!

    1. A carrying case, because if you're already gifting a Switch and games to your partner, you might as well make sure it's protected.

    a model holding the case in red and white
    a reviewer's switch inside a purple carrying case

    My husband has this exact case (and is very picky) so I promise you it's a good one.

    Promising review: "Great to carry around your Switch without fear of damage. I have a USB-C cable, Samsung power adapter, HDMI cable (6ft), Joycon wrist straps, and the FastSnail HDMI Type C Hub Adapter so I can play on the big screen. I think I can fit one more pair of Joycons (and straps) so I can get four-player Mario Kart. With all that stuff in this case, there is little to no pressure on the Switch. But you can't just throw it all in, you need to purposefully place the items to make sure there is no pressure on the screen or joysticks." —DanA

    Shipping info: Available on Amazon Prime with two-day shipping, non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).

    Get it from Amazon for $22.91 (available in nine colors).

    2. A large nonslip gaming mouse pad with 15 lighting modes built-in to add some pizzazz to any gamer's setup — it's sure to become the light of their life (hehe).

    a black mouse pad mat with led lighting around the edges
    Amazon

    Promising review: "The comments didn’t lie. This thing is amazing — it’s almost too good to be this price! Seriously don’t hesitate to buy it… my gaming station looks even better now!" —naomie

    Shipping info: Available on Amazon Prime with two-day shipping, non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).

    Get it from Amazon for $16.99.

    3. Stardew Valley, for anyone who has found themselves fantasizing about moving to an isolated farm and living off the land (ahem, me).

    a screenshot of stardew valley
    Steam

    The game begins with you inheriting your grandfather's old farm plot in Stardew Valley (cuuuute!). You're armed with a set of hand-me-down tools and a few coins to try and restore the town to greatness! It's an open-ended country-life role playing game you'll surely get a kick out of.

    Promising review: "This game right here is a good way to spend time in those days with nothing to do, you can spend hours, maybe days in this game and always have something to do." —Tio Futtcool

    Shipping info: Digital copy can be gifted virtually to a friend on Steam immediately.

    Get it from Steam for $14.99.

    4. A 320-page encyclopedia about The Legend of Zelda any fan of the game would easily pay all their rupees to get their hands on.

    a dark blue coffee table book about the zelda video game series
    a page from inside the legend of zelda encyclopedia
    Amazon

    Promising review: "I recently decided to play all of the Zelda games ever made, and I've become a real fan of the series. I purchased this "Zelda Encyclopedia" as a collector's item, but I was really surprised at how good of a read it is. It has comparisons of maps across the game's timelines, charts depicting how characters are related, rundowns of each game in sequences and sections, comparison of the temples and towns, overworld maps of each game, character art, and even a page on how the green rupee has looked in each game. It's all very well done and a pleasure to read as a book or to look up things in as a refresher. The only flaw I found in the book is that it is very large. It is so tall that it doesn't fit in my bookshelf with my other hardcover guides and art books. That size does make the pages with charts and maps easier to read though, so it is an understandable tradeoff. 5/5 stars" —Zero Ehxe

    Shipping info: Available on Amazon Prime with two-day shipping, non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).

    Get it from Amazon for $25.83.

    5. An affordable gaming mouse that'll give your buddy such an advantage on their opponents they'll be shouting, "TAKE THAT, SUCKAAAS" in their sleep.

    a black gaming mouse
    Amazon

    Every true gamer needs a fancy mouse! This one has five programmable buttons, mechanical switches, and rubber side grips they'll absolutely appreciate as it'll give them more controlled scrolling. It's a great starter mouse and one that definitely fits in most holiday shopper's budgets.

    Promising review: "Works exceptionally well. I use it as an everyday mouse for my desktop computer and as a gaming mouse. It’s comfortable to hold and clicks well." —DJ

    Shipping info: Available on Amazon Prime with two-day shipping, non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).

    Available from Amazon for $18.40+ (available in black or white).

    6. Pokémon Scarlet or Violet, the latest installments of the classic game, where they'll be able to battle, train, and catch Pokémon while embarking on a new and exciting adventure!

    three starter Pokémon
    Amazon

    This exciting new game comes out on November 18th — just in time for the holidays!

    Shipping info: Digital copy can be scheduled for an email delivery. The physical copy is available on Amazon Prime with two-day shipping, non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).

    Get them from Amazon: Pokémon Violet or Pokémon Scarlet for $59.88 each (available as a physical or digital copy).

    7. A deck of Fallout playing cards to keep them company while they attempt to survive in the aftermath of a virtual nuclear war ... or, like, when they decide to take a break from staring at their screens.

    a spread of fallout themed playing cards
    Amazon

    Promising review: "They’re playing cards...they shuffle so well! Not sure what kind of review to write for playing cards. My husband loves fallout and really liked these. The print on the cards is good." —M. Tarin

    Shipping info: Available on Amazon Prime with two-day shipping, non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).

    Get it from Amazon for $15.99.

    8. A 1,000-piece video game-themed puzzle to give your significant other a good reason to step away from the video games and bond with you.

    a puzzle featuring old school video games and video game consoles
    Amazon

    Promising review: "Great puzzle of retro games and consoles. Each piece is unique and fit together snuggly. Image is high quality (text and small details are easy to see/read). Finally, it was fun! Glued and mounted." —AJ Koch

    Shipping info: Available on Amazon Prime with two-day shipping, non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).

    Get it from Amazon for $19.95.

    9. A set of 100 Super Mario–themed stickers that'll leave your recipient's heart racing as if they just came in first on Rainbow Road.

    a pile of super mario nintendo stickers
    a reviewer's water bottle with mario-themed stickers on it

    A handful of these stickers would be PERFECT as stocking stuffers! What are you waiting for? Order a bunch of these surprise stickers and hand 'em out to all of your gaming pals.

    Promising review: "These stickers are really cool! You get a ton and only maybe five of them had duplicates! There are stickers in there that I've never seen anywhere else! Love them!" —StacieL

    Shipping info: Available on Amazon Prime with two-day shipping, non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).

    Get it from Amazon for $7.99.

    10. Metal coasters inspired by the classic buttons on PlayStation controllers, a must-have for anyone who is constantly sipping on their go-to beverage while gaming 'til their heart's content.

    Promising review: "Got these about two weeks ago and they get the job done. Sweet addition to my desk, I always get compliments on them. Good quality and easy to clean. Think I'll order some as stocking stuffers for my Sony-loving friends and family!" —Brittany D.

    Shipping info: Available on Amazon Prime with two-day shipping, non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).

    Get a set of four from Amazon for $11.90.

    11. A delicate Triforce ring, so you can say, "It's dangerous to go alone! Take this!" when you gift it to your Zelda-obsessed friend.

    a silver and a gold triforce ring on a finger
    BlankByBlank / Etsy

    The Legend of Zelda is such a beautiful game — as is this ring! It's essential for the person who wants to subtly show off their love for Link and his quest on a daily basis. BlankByBlank is a small business based in London that sells premium gaming-inspired jewelry.

    Promising review: "Everything about this ring is perfect! The size, the color, and it’s soo shiny! I wear it every day and can’t help but smile every time I look at it." —Chae

    Shipping info: Orders typically ship in 7–10 business days.

    Get it from BlankByBlank on Etsy for $30.26+ (available in sizes 5–8 and in gold or steel).

    12. A Nintendo-themed Monopoly board game, so their "game night" can include the whole family for once.

    mario party themed monopoly
    a reviewer playing mario themed monopoly

    Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Bowser and the rest of the gang are all here in this exciting Nintendo version of the classic Monopoly board game.

    Promising review: "The game has well-known characters form the Mario and Donkey Kong series, each of them with their unique skills. During the game, the players can buy and sell properties, but also use their skills to make their rivals drop coins on the board that they can later pick up. On top of it, every time a player passes Go, there is a 'boss fight' with special bonuses. After the eight and last boss fight, the game ends and the player with the most points wins, so the game does not last forever. All in all, the feeling in this game feels a lot like Mario Kart, with a mixture of skill and luck. My six year old had no problem to learn the rules, and my wife, who normally does not like board games, found it fun enough to play it with us again." —Ryott

    Shipping info: Available on Amazon Prime with two-day shipping, non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).

    Get it from Amazon for $21.29.

    13. A Logitech Blue Yeti microphone that'll provide crystal clear audio for the gamer in your life who moonlights as a YouTuber, streaming their gameplay for all to see. Who knows — maybe this'll be their ticket to Internet fame!

    a pink microphone on top of a stack of books
    Heather Braga / BuzzFeed

    I have this Yeti USB microphone and it is AWESOME. I love that it comes in an array of fun colors (mine is pink, hehe) so it'll coordinate nicely with anyone's desk/gaming setup. The quality is unbelievable — I feel like I'm doing voice over work when I use it for Zoom calls. I can absolutely see this being a great gift for any gamer in your life, especially for one who chats with their friends while playing.

    Promising review: "Posting this review on behalf of my son. 😆 He bought this to use for gaming. He is extremely pleased with it. The sound quality is great and all of his friends have commented on how much better they can hear him. His videos on YouTube sound much better also." —Mk

    Shipping info: Available on Amazon Prime with two-day shipping, non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).

    Get it from Amazon for $89.99 (available in seven colors).

    14. A copy of Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, a fantastic gift that'll impress your pal who loves reading almost as much as they love video games.

    a copy of ready player one
    Amazon

    I was introduced to this book in college and let me tell you, it was worth the read. It combines sci-fi with classic '80s video games, making it the perfect book for any video game fan. 

    Promising review: "My dad out of all people suggested this book. He is awesome. I am a '80s and '90s child, grew up on Atari, Nintendo, Sega, PC, and currently PlayStation. I immediately connected with this book and upon reading chapter after chapter gathered that the author is a video game/PC enthusiast. His lingo and style are unique yet he can tell a story to your average dad such as mine who has little or no experience dabbling with gaming." —Jeremy P

    Shipping info: Available on Amazon Prime with two-day shipping, non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).

    Get the book from Amazon for $11.

    15. A scratch-off poster featuring 100 video games that should be on any gamer's bucket list — this will also give them an ambitious (and fun!) goal to conquer in the new year.

    a poster with 100 video games to scratch off
    Amazon

    Filled with classic games like Sonic the Hedgehog and Spyro the Dragon as well as newer games like Minecraft and Assassins Creed, this poster is diverse enough to please gamers of all ages. It will definitely present them with a challenge to play 'em all.

    Promising review: "I got this for my husband and he loved it! He had a blast looking through to see what video games were on the sheet." —Erica Robyn

    Shipping info: Available on Amazon Prime with two-day shipping, non-Prime shipping options will still arrive by Christmas (see Amazon's full shipping information here).

    Get it from Amazon for $24.88.

    16. A Banjo-Kazooie slipmat for their record player that'll add an extra element of classic-gaming fun to their home decor.

    a banjo kazooie slip mat on a record player
    Fangamer

    Promising review: "If you're a fan of the game, and your turntable needs a slipmat cover, this is for you! I'm not sure if it matters, but I did think it was a little thin, compared to the slipmat I had previously. But the artwork is fantastic, you could probably have it framed or display it as an art piece if you wanted." —Lance

    Shipping info: Orders typically ship in 1–3 business days.

    Get it from Fangamer for $14.