What do you buy for a person who loves video games? If you’re not familiar with the popular pastime, it’s tricky to know what to get for someone. Thankfully, there are plenty of options when it comes to the best gaming gifts this Christmas.
From accessories to controllers, new games and even consoles, you have no shortage of options that will delight gamers of all ages. Here are some great gift ideas that cover 2022’s massive year in gaming.
If you need other present ideas, check out our guides for the best tech gifts for kids, and technology gifts for the whole family.
Best gaming gifts
Extra controllers
Perfect for multiplayer sessions, or perhaps their current controller is looking worn out, gifting a new controller speaks directly to a gamer’s love language. You can buy controllers made by third-party manufacturers if you need to keep costs down, but we find that the official controllers are the best quality in terms of comfort and longevity. This being said, the Hori Split Pad Pro for Nintendo Switch is fantastic for making handheld mode more comfortable for people with larger hands.
For a personal touch, Microsoft has the Xbox Design Lab, where you can order a custom-made controller and create something truly unique. The service lets you tweak colour combinations, add grips, and even print a name on the controller. This only applies to official Xbox controllers, which are compatible with Xbox and PC – PlayStation and Nintendo don’t currently offer a similar service.
If a regular controller is all you need, here are some options:
Nintendo Switch
Xbox Series X|S
- Xbox Series X/S Controller (various colours)
- Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 Core
- Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2
PlayStation 5
PlayStation 4
A new video game
If you’re confident that you know what games the person you’re buying for already has, a brand-new game always makes for a fantastic present to open on Christmas day. This year saw plenty of brilliant games across all platforms, some of which were recently recognised at The Game Awards.
Depending on the platform, new games can cost upwards of $100 or cheaper than $50 when on sale. Here are some of our favourites from 2022 worth considering as gifts:
- Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope (Nintendo Switch) – Amazon, Catch
- Stray (PC/PS4/PS5) – Amazon
- Splatoon 3 (Nintendo Switch) – Amazon, Catch
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land (Nintendo Switch) – Amazon, Catch
- Pokemon Legends Arceus (Nintendo Switch) – Amazon, Catch
- God of War Ragnarok (PS4/PS5) – Amazon, Catch
- Elden Ring (PC/PS4/PS5/Xbox) – Amazon
- Horizon Forbidden West (PS4/PS5) – Amazon, Catch
A subscription to a game service
You may have noticed not many Xbox games appeared on the above list. That’s because many of the platform’s best games are included as part of Xbox Game Pass, a subscription service housing a library of over 100 games. At $10.95 per month for either console or PC access, or $15.95 a month for the combined Ultimate tier, it’s great value considering how expensive some new games can be.
Purchasing a subscription is one of the best gaming gifts that keeps on giving because new games get added to the service regularly. It’s a good option if you don’t know what games somebody already has, so they can download the games they want, when they want.
Xbox Game Pass is considered one of the best subscription services due to its strong mix of new and old games. However, Apple Arcade is also a good option for anyone who uses Apple devices, while PlayStation Plus has multiple tiers to consider as well.
HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 wireless headset
People who game on PC are a little trickier to buy gifts for. This is mainly because it’s an almost-entirely digital ecosystem where you can’t buy a game off a shelf in store. Peripherals like headsets are a good option here, as they’ll get plenty of use for both work and play.
One headset you should consider is the wireless version of the Cloud Stinger 2 from HyperX. It connects to a PC via a USB dongle, freeing you up from annoying cables cluttering the desk. Plus, it’s relatively affordable as far as gaming headsets go, with most wireless devices priced at $200 and above. With approximately 20 hours of battery per charge and decent audio quality, it’ll make for a pleasant surprise under the Christmas tree.
You can get the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 wireless headset from Amazon for $154.99.
One of the latest gaming consoles
If you’re buying for someone really special and have a bigger budget, a brand-new machine to play the latest and greatest is one of the best gaming gifts you can get. All three major companies – Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft – have compelling hardware to choose from, each with its own perks and exclusive games.
In recent years, the latest consoles have been difficult to find due to international supply chain issues. Fortunately, this Christmas looks to be more promising: Australian retailers managed to secure a big shipment of PlayStation 5 consoles, meaning you should be able to walk into a store and purchase one. Considering the PS5 launched in November 2020 and we’re finally able to get regular stock, it’s a big deal.
Another thing worth noting is that the digital-only Xbox Series S console is officially discounted to $429 in the lead-up to Christmas. Often referred to as an Xbox Game Pass machine, the Series S doesn’t have a disc drive but is great for playing digital games.
There’s no one console inherently better than the others, despite what some fans might tell you. If you’re looking towards Nintendo, however, consider skipping the Lite version of the Switch – it doesn’t let you dock to a TV, which is half of the Switch’s appeal. Here are the current consoles to look out for:
Nintendo
Xbox
PlayStation
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