Gaming Gifts Galore!

A starting guide for the gamers in your life this holiday season.

With the holidays fast approaching, it can be difficult to decide on the perfect present for your loved ones. When it comes to gaming, the options can feel overwhelming or confusing, especially if you are not a gamer yourself. There's also the fact that gaming can be quite expensive, and most people can't afford to buy someone else a brand-new console. However, there are plenty of other avenues to take when buying gifts for the gamer in your life.

Idea #1 - Games

These were some of the most popular titles this year.

Obviously, games themselves sound like an easy choice, but can feel quite complicated. The most important aspect to consider when buying a game for someone is what platforms they have available-PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, PC, or a combination. That way you don't end up getting the person something that they are unable to use. Try and probe the individual for particular games that they might enjoy. Most gamers love talking about games, especially ones that they're excited for. Some of the popular releases this year include The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Super Mario Wonder, Starfield, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and Spider-Man 2.

Idea #2 - Gift Cards or Subscriptions

A subscription service is a great way for gamers to expand their libraries.

If buying someone a particular title makes you nervous, you can't go wrong with gift cards. All three of the major video game companies have digital storefronts and PC gamers commonly use Steam. Once you know what platforms they use, you can pass along the gift cards with peace of mind. Alternatively, you could also purchase them a membership to a gaming subscription such as PlayStation Plus, Xbox Game Pass, or Nintendo Switch Online.

Idea #3 - Memorabilia

I picked up this poster at a convention earlier this year, along with a couple of others. Poster and design from Pixel Empire.

Video game memorabilia can cover a wide range of gifts. Posters and vinyl figurines are great decoration pieces for someone's gaming setup. Pixel Empire makes great gaming posters in a variety of different designs. There's also the option of video game clothing. While some T-shirts and jackets have characters plastered on them, others might have a more subdued logo. Both PlayStation and Xbox have apparel websites, and there's also Insert Coin. There's also the option of video game soundtracks either on vinyl or digitally. While these might seem like simple suggestions, some smaller items are a great way for gamers to show their love for a franchise without feeling overbearing.

Idea #4 - Controllers

I designed this as a gift for my dad with colors from his favorite sports team. Go Buckeyes!

Any gamer will tell you that you can never have too many controllers. They come in a variety of colors and designs. In particular, Xbox has the Design Lab where you can customize the color scheme of a standard Xbox controller. If official controllers are out of your budget, websites such as PowerA or 8BitDo offer great third-party alternatives that are slightly cheaper.

Idea #5 - Storage

This external hard drive holds 2 TB of data. That's a lot of games!

A common issue that most gamers run into is running out of storage space on their console. Over the past ten years, video game file sizes have become bigger and more expansive, which means that internal storage can fill up quickly. Xbox and PlayStation each have internal storage expansions that can be purchased, although it's fair to say that those are not cheap. External hard drives are also a viable option and can be purchased at a much lower cost. The Nintendo Switch uses micro-SD cards as an option for storage expansion. It may not seem like the most exciting gift but trust me when I tell you that every gamer will be relieved to know that they no longer have to delete games to make room for new ones.

Although this list is not extensive, hopefully these ideas will give you a starting point if you're struggling to pick out the perfect gift. In my personal experience, I always get excited when anyone gets me something remotely related to gaming. Even if it's not a specific game or item, it shows me that they know my hobby is important to me. But even more important is time spent with family and friends this holiday season. No matter how you celebrate, I wish you and yours Happy Holidays!