- 2 days ago
Gamers are notoriously not easy to shop for, but Phil's here to help! Tom's Guide has pulled together the best gifts for gamers at every price point and play style… with plenty of love for franchises like Mario, Zelda, Pokémon and more. Whether the gamer on your list loves Nintendo, Xbox, Playstation, PC or retro gaming, we've got the perfect gift ideas for you!
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00:00Gamers are notoriously not easy to shop for but today I'm making it simple. I've pulled together
00:05the best gifts for gamers at every price point and play style with plenty of love for franchises
00:11like Mario, Zelda, Pokemon and more. I had a blast putting this list together and everything
00:17is linked below if you see something you're ready to add to your cart. I want to start with Lego.
00:23So many gamers are also Lego fans and not only has Lego really stepped up its franchise partnerships
00:29but it recently partnered with Nintendo on the launch of a true-to-scale Lego Game Boy. For $60
00:34this is the perfect gift for any gaming or Lego fan and looks great as a display piece. It's got
00:41421 pieces and comes with two display cartridges from Super Mario Land and The Legend of Zelda
00:48Link's Awakening. And if the Game Boy isn't your thing, Lego's got so many options for gamers these
00:53days from Mario Kart, Sonic, Zelda and super fun Minecraft builds that totally nail the pixel look.
01:00I love all of these and I don't think anyone, gamer or not, has ever been disappointed by getting Lego
01:06as a gift. Nintendo dropped the Switch 2 back in June but hopefully you don't drop yours. Your gamer
01:13probably already has the latest console but maybe you can up their accessory collection with this
01:18Belkin Switch 2 charging case. It's $70, can hold up to 12 game cartridges but the best part is the
01:2510,000 milliamp battery that's included which helps give your Switch 2 some extra charge. With how much
01:31I play mine, I've definitely needed it. Side note, how clever is this? There's a hidden AirTag compartment
01:37right over here. The Nintendo Switch 2 is breaking records. It's the fastest selling console ever so
01:45yeah, this one's going to be everywhere this holiday season. It starts at $449 or $499 with a game bundle.
01:52What I love is how it builds on the OG Switch. Same vibe, just better in every way. Bigger screen,
01:594K win docked and it plays both new and old games with upgraded graphics. Handheld or on the couch,
02:07it's an easy win. If your gamer doesn't already have it, I can virtually guarantee they want it.
02:12Looking for the perfect gift for a mobile gamer? You know, the person who's always playing games on
02:19their phone? Well, the Backbone Pro Controller is it. For $170, it snaps onto your phone and instantly
02:26becomes a mini console. It even works over Bluetooth so they can play on other devices too. If you want
02:32to give a mobile gaming setup that actually feels like a real console, this one's a no-brainer.
02:43Now I have what's one of my favorite gaming products overall to have launched all year. This
02:48will seriously impress any gamer. The Xbox ROG Ally X, a total showstopper. This handheld does cost a grand,
02:57but it's a full Windows gaming PC in a portable form factor. That means you can play your entire
03:03library from Steam, Epic Games, and Xbox Game Pass Anywhere. Plus, games look absolutely incredible
03:10on its buttery smooth 120Hz screen. It's truly the ultimate gift for PC gamers. This is what you get
03:17if you want to impress.
03:19This stocking stuffer runs on nostalgia and a hot cup of coffee? For just $15, the Game Boy heat
03:27changing coffee mug delivers a massive blast from the 90s. The real magic happens when you pour in a
03:33hot beverage. Watch the screen change up with a classic game scene. It's a guaranteed smile and an
03:38awesome, affordable surprise for any retro gamer or your favorite co-worker. Hopefully, I am someone's
03:45favorite co-worker because I love this thing. If you're looking for a gift for a PlayStation 5 owner,
03:51this is a can't miss gift. Retailing for just $30, the official DualSense charging station keeps their
03:58setup looking clean and feeling convenient by charging two controllers at once. I've had this
04:03charging station since 2020 when the PS5 came out, and it's been really great. Really easy to use,
04:08and it looks so clean next to your PS5. I myself have been given this as a gift multiple times,
04:14so if you're watching, please don't get me another.
04:19Does the gamer on your list have a messy desk? I know I do. Then the EXG Pro Cable Guy might be
04:25their perfect companion. For $30, EXG Pro sells these figures from a huge range of franchises
04:31that also double as a holder for your controller or smartphone. It's a great way to keep gear
04:36organized and charged while also showing off a cool collectible of their favorite character.
04:41This is perfect for the gamer who loves collectibles. We've got Sonic and Grogu from Star Wars,
04:47but there are so many more franchises to choose from, these are perfect for anyone who wants to
04:51add some personality to their desk. Every Switch 2 owner is going to need a second controller,
04:59or a third, maybe a fourth. There's a lot of third-party options out there, but I would steer you
05:05towards Power A. With prices starting as low as $40 for the wired and $70 for the wireless,
05:10these controllers are much more affordable than the official options. Plus, they come in some
05:15awesome designs, like Legend of Zelda or Mario. This is a brilliant gift for families, kids,
05:21or anyone who needs a second reliable controller without breaking the bank.
05:25This might be my favorite controller ever, the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller. Coming in at $90,
05:33it offers an unmatched Switch gaming experience with incredible ergonomics. The build quality is top
05:39tier, the controls are precise, and it's simply the best way to play Nintendo's biggest games. This
05:45even has Bluetooth support to connect it to an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or other devices. And guys,
05:52I am telling you, the battery life on this is actually witchcraft. I cannot recommend it enough.
05:58And hey, if the person you're buying this for already has one, I promise no one will be mad about
06:03getting another for their collection. If someone's hogging the TV, the PlayStation Portal is here to
06:10save your gaming session. At $200, this streaming device lets you play PS5 games over Wi-Fi on a gorgeous
06:178-inch screen. It even has all the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers of a DualSense controller,
06:23so you don't compromise on the experience. It's the perfect gift for any PS5 owner who doesn't
06:29already have one, whether they're sharing a busy household or just want to game a little bit before
06:34bed. I even used this in Italy when I was on vacation and it connected back home no problem.
06:39Now, we can't do a gift guide for gamers without throwing a little VR in the mix.
06:48If you want to give the gift of virtual reality without the huge price tag, the MetaQuest 3S is
06:53the best entry point. At $300, this headset offers a high-quality VR experience with no PC or console
07:02required. It's completely wireless, giving you total freedom to move and grant access to the massive
07:08library of Quest games, fitness apps and experiences. It's perfect for the VR curious family or gamer
07:15ready to take their first and most likely not last step into a larger virtual world.
07:23Trust me, every PlayStation gamer on your list would love a new controller and you have some great
07:28options. The standard DualSense wireless controller starting at $75 is a must-own with its revolutionary
07:34haptic feedback and adaptive triggers and it comes in a huge variety of cool colors. But for the
07:41competitive player, you can upgrade to the DualSense Edge for $200. It offers unparalleled customization
07:48with swappable stick modules, back paddles and adjustable triggers for a true professional edge.
07:56I love my DualSense Edge and I find the back paddles to be really useful in games like Rainbow Six Siege and
08:01Battlefield 6. You can't go wrong with a new Xbox controller, the gold standard for gaming on console,
08:09PC and cloud. The classic Xbox wireless controller starts around $65 and it's available in countless
08:16colors and designs, but I especially recommend these limited edition cipher colors. For the hardcore
08:21Xbox gamer, the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller is the ultimate upgrade for about $150. It's packed with pro
08:29features like adjustable tension thumbsticks, hair trigger locks and customizable paddles, but you
08:34basically have two great options at two different price points. This one is pretty cool and a personal
08:44favorite of mine, the art of the box. For around $45, this is a beautiful hardcover coffee table book
08:51that showcases the iconic history of video game box art. It's packed with high quality images and background
08:57stories that will be a nostalgia trip for any long time gamer. It's a thoughtful gift for the collector,
09:03art lover or any gamer who appreciates the history of the medium. Would you guys want to see a video
09:09dedicated to these kinds of collectible books? There are so many more on my wishlist, so please
09:14give me an excuse to get them. I love my PlayStation 5 and there's nothing more satisfying than putting
09:25on some awesome plates to match my awesome controllers. For $60, you can swipe out the standard white plates
09:33for a bold new look in seconds. Really, it's pretty easy to do. They come in vibrant colors like chroma
09:39indigo and chroma teal and can really make the console stand out in any gaming setup. You can
09:44even get matching colors with your DualSense controllers. This is a great gift for any PS5 owner
09:51looking to make their console stand out. There's a little thing called Pokemon. Maybe you've heard of
10:00it? When in doubt, you can never go wrong with a Pokemon plush and these are designed to sit right on
10:05your wrist or on your shoulder, just like Ash and Pikachu from the TV series. These plushes are
10:11always super soft and well-made and with several Pokemon available, you can become the Pokemon
10:16trainer you always dreamed of. And there's honestly so many different types of plushes through the
10:22Pokemon Center. If one of these shoulder ones doesn't do it for you, I promise you can find
10:26something good for the Pokemon fan in your life. And hey, if you don't have any Pokemon fans in your life,
10:31you got one right here. This is the newest gaming headset from SteelSeries, the Arctis Nova 7 Gen2.
10:42Retailing at $200 and coming in black, white, and magenta, this headset offers over 50 hours of battery
10:51life, high quality sound, and the ability to use wireless, Bluetooth, or even USB-C wired for gaming,
10:58listening to music on your phone, and much more. The cherry on top is that you can add custom sound
11:04profiles directly from your phone to the headset depending on the game you're playing. It's also
11:10dangerously comfortable, so if the person you're buying this for ends up gaming all night, don't say
11:15I didn't warn you. You might have caught them all, but can you guess them all? Featuring the 151
11:24original Pokemon, Ultra Pro's Pokemon Trainer Guessing Game supports two to four players as players try to
11:29be the very best like no one ever was, and the first to guess the Pokemon with as few clues as possible.
11:36At only $35, this is a fun game for any Pokemon fan, especially for parents who want to get their
11:42kids started on Pokemon at a young age. If you didn't get the chance to read the instructions,
11:47no worries. You can teach me, or I can teach you. Alright, that was a bad joke.
11:54The Legend of Zelda is one of the most popular gaming series of all time,
11:58and this encyclopedia covers the decades of incredible games. I love this little attention
12:04to detail where the book looks just like the classic gold NES cartridge from the original game.
12:10From learning about the various creatures and characters to Link's arsenal and the various art
12:14styles of the game, this $90 encyclopedia is a must for any Zelda fan. And if they don't like it,
12:21I know someone here named Phil who will gladly take it off their hands.
12:29For the gamer who misses the old days, this is the Atari GameStation Go. Featuring a nostalgic design
12:36and over 200 games built in, this $180 gaming handheld is perfect for the Atari lover in your life.
12:43It also features Wi-Fi for easy updates, four to five hours of battery, and the ability to connect
12:49to a display with HDMI output. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting to get to.
12:58And that's a wrap on our gift guide for gamers. I hope this video makes shopping for the gamer or
13:02gamers in your life a little easier. Again, everything I mentioned is linked in the description,
13:07so you can check it all out. I'd love to know what you end up picking up, or if you have any other
13:12recommendations, share them in the chat. Be sure to hit that like button and subscribe to the channel.
13:18My name is Phil Rodriguez, this is Tom's Guide, and I'll see you in the next video.
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