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Best gifts for gamers 2025: gadgets, games, and more
Whether on Xbox, PS5, PC or a handheld, we've rounded up the best gifts – including some of our favourite games
Lars is a bloodhound when it comes to sniffing out bargains, including on major sales events such as Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. He is also handy at unravelling tech jargon and anything related to gaming.
What really makes something 'for gamers'? Is it those multi-coloured RGB lights? We don't think so. Ditch the rainbow-soaked stuff and check out our top picks to gift the gamers in your life.
Whether they play multiplayer shooters on Xbox, strategy games on PC, or exclusively cosy life simulators on Switch, there's something for everyone.
We spoke to our experts to get the best gift ideas. Our picks include controllers, art books, gadgets, and, of course, games.
Looking for a gift for a techie? Read up on our picks on the best tech gifts.
Best gifts for gamers under £30
Steam gift card
As a teenager I would always wish for these so I could pick up indie games or put money towards a popular release. Steam has massive winter and summer sales – it's not uncommon to see hundreds of popular games or bundles available for under £10.
We like Two-week refund policy
Watch out for Some popular games sell for £60 or more
Unless you can view their Steam library, it can be hard to see what PC games someone likes. Take out the guesswork and throw some Steam wallet cash their way. With big seasonal sales, it's easy to pick up several games for under £30.
You could also try gifting a Humble Choice subscription for PC, instead. It's similar to an Xbox Game Pass – your recipient will get a rotation of new games each month. The difference is that they get to keep each of the games that come monthly.
Pick up digital vouchers from Steam or a physical £20 card below:
Fortnite V-Bucks cards
My nephew always asks for these – they're an easy gift for gamers who play Fortnite and easy to slip into a birthday card if you want to post it. You can also get ones for Roblox, PlayStation and Xbox
We like Found at supermarkets and more
Watch out for The microtransactions can add up
If you're buying a gift for someone who plays a lot of Fortnite, these can be a great way to get them into the game's current battle pass, or give them a little spending cash to buy stuff in-game.
V-Bucks can be used to buy items like emotes (the dances), character skins, or unlock features in the battle-pass. Prices for a gift card start from £6.49.
You can find V-bucks cards from retailers such as Asda (in-store only), Smyth's Toys, or Xbox.
Looking for a gift for a niece, nephew, or cousin? Read up on our guide on the best gifts for kids.
Game art books
I can attest that some of these are gorgeous. The Xenoblade books in particular are stunning, and anything Square Enix is usually good. This could be a great gift for anyone who is particularly passionate about a specific game franchise.
We like Gorgeous concept art
Watch out for Some can be hard to find
While gameplay is always important, what truly makes a game is its art. There's a lot of work that goes into the initial concept designs, and these books can really show how far along a game has come.
If the gamer in your life has a favourite game or series, gifting them an art book can be a great way for them to appreciate a game in a new light. Just know that some can be a bit tricky to find.
You can find game art books from Amazon or from retailers like Forbidden Planet.
Best gifts for gamers under £50
Samsung 25W wireless battery pack
This power bank is a practical, thoughtful gift for anyone who’s always out and about or glued to their gadgets. It’s lightweight, easy to carry and the wireless charging makes it super convenient. If you’ve got a friend who’s always scrambling for an outlet, they’ll love having this reliable little lifesaver in their pocket.
We like Portable wireless charging
Watch out for Only has USB-C ports
We'll be frank: we think power banks are great gifts for everyone. Gamers are no exception – especially if they game on the go using a Nintendo Switch 2 or Steam Deck.
This power bank is a tidy size (7 x 1.5 x 14.8cm), has a 10,000mAh capacity and supports wireless charging. While it won't fully charge most handheld consoles, it should be enough for them to get some extra playtime in.
There aren't any USB-A ports (the square ones) on this power bank. It comes with a short USB-C to USB-C cable – so while it's not necessary, it could be a nice gesture to include a longer cable.
Read our full verdict in our round-up of the best portable power banks. Compare prices below:
R36S Retro handheld game console
A retro handheld game console makes a great gift – it's got a nostalgic shape, reminding me of the good old days of playing Game Boy in the back of my parent's car, but now elevated with a light-up screen, and a rechargeable battery. The ability to play classic games which are preloaded just adds to that appeal. There's also the ability to download and add your own favourites, so there's plenty to play around with.
We like: Can play thousands of classic games, and you can add your own
Watch out for: May take some troubleshooting to get some games working
While it's not as high-spec as more modern handheld gaming devices, it is a lot more affordable. This small Linux console comes with hundreds of pre-installed games, and has emulators to add games from consoles like the GameBoy, PlayStation 1 or 2, and much more.
There are enough controls and buttons to cover a wide range of consoles, but keep in mind that some button layouts may be different between games.
Compare prices below:
If you want to blow the budget, you can also check out our pages on the great Nintendo Switch bargains, the best PlayStation 5 deals, and find savings on an Xbox to get the best prices on the latest games consoles.
Custom neon sign with their gaming tag
My brother bought these for my sons – they love them and really personalise their rooms.
We like Lots of options
Watch out for Larger sizes cost more money
If you're looking to give your recipient's gaming area a bit more pizzazz, a neon light can add ambience and colour that's more unique from the RGB-drenched stuff we usually see targeted at gamers.
You can pick an icon – such as those from Discord, YouTube, Twitch or Xbox – extra fonts, and, of course, the text you want to put on it. You can also choose between battery or plug-operated. Just keep in mind that some options might cost you more.
Pick up customisable ones from sellers on Esty, or find other models on Amazon.
Custom controller plates
I was once gifted an Xbox Elite Series 2 controller with a 'Great Wave' custom design – I love it and it's my favourite piece of kit that I use all the time.
We like Huge range of colours and designs
Watch out for Some faceplates might be tricky to fit
While you could always gift a new controller, it might be better to personalise an already existing one.
You can gift a wide range of faceplates, skins, or shells to make someone's controller truly their own.
Pick up controller faceplates from Amazon for Xbox or PS5 controllers. Otherwise, design your own controller from Xbox.
Video game OST vinyl
If they love a certain game that has a catchy soundtrack, why not pick up a record of it? Game soundtracks on vinyl has become much more common over the last few years. Some of my favourites include the 'Machinarium', 'Hotline Miami', and 'Silent Hill 2' soundtracks.
We like Great tunes
Watch out for Can be extremely hard to find – or expensive
OST stands for 'original soundtrack', and with the increasing availability of them on vinyl, your recipient can listen to their favourite game without powering up their console.
Just be careful – it's not uncommon for these records to sell out fast, be on backorder, or have their prices balloon on secondhand marketplaces.
You can find video game soundtrack records from shops like Laced Records, Iam8bit, HMV, Rough Trade, or buy specific soundtracks on Discogs.
Just remember, they'll need a turntable too – why not also consider one of our best record players?
Best gifts for gamers under £150
Logitech G502 Hero mouse + G Powerplay 2 charging pad
I use this when I'm playing games on my PC and I love it. I never have to worry about charging my mouse and it fits nicely underneath a mousepad. The mouse itself has handy programable buttons that I use to control music, and I can quickly adjust sensitivity when I need to.
We like Not having to worry about charging
Watch out for Wireless charging means you won't be able to adjust weights in the mouse
A good mouse is essential for PC or laptop gaming. This wireless one from Logitech has programmable buttons, options to fine-tune mouse sensitivity, and comes with little weights to adjust the feel of the mouse.
You can also pair it with a charging pad so they don't ever need to worry about plugging it in. Just know that in order to enable wireless charging, they won't be able to adjust the weights in the mouse.
Pick up the G502 Hero mouse below:
If you want to bundle it with the charging pad, compare prices below:
An Xbox Elite Series 2 or a PS5 Dualsense Edge controller
These are so handy for games, and well worth the money. I love being able to remap the buttons – all I need to do to get perfect dodges in Elden Ring is squeeze my left hand rather than awkwardly moving my thumb around.
We like Customisable button layouts
Watch out for Significantly more expensive than a regular controller
These controllers make a great gift for any gamer – each features programable buttons and layouts that they can set to whichever controls they like. You can also quickly swap out controller profiles for different games.
They're not cheap (the PS5 ones fall into the under £200 category), and you'll need to make sure you get the correct controller. The PlayStation Dualsense edge will work with a PS5, and the Xbox Elite Series 2 will work with Xbox. Luckily, both work on a PC.
Pick up an Xbox Elite Series 2 below:
Or get a PS5 Dualsense Edge:
Keychron K10 wireless mechanical keyboard
If your recipient types or games a lot – this is a great gift to give to upgrade from the plasticky keyboards everyone seems to be typing on. Personally, I like using the 'brown' keyswitches, as they provide a nice tactile feel that aren't too loud to type on.
We like Lots of customisation
Watch out for Make sure you get the UK ISO keyboard layout
This keyboard from Keychron can have its keyswitches swapped out to decrease (or increase) typing noise and clickiness. Gamers can add their own preferred key caps to have it match their setups, use it wirelessly, and it can connect to up to three different devices.
Mechanical keyboards are typically more durable than the stock membrane keyboard that usually come bundled with PCs. They can also choose between a variety of keyswitches, such as 'blue', 'red', or 'brown' to fit the typing feel they like best.
Pick up this keyboard below:
Best gifts for gamers under £200
Samsung Odyssey Gaming Monitor LS25BG400EUXXU
If they're an avid gamer, picking a monitor with a high refresh rate is a must. This is the number of times the image on-screen updates per second, which is crucial for competitive gaming genres where seeing key details quickly gives you an edge. Measured in Hertz (Hz) you'll want to look for monitors with refresh rates of 150Hz or better.
We like High refresh rate of 240Hz
We don't like Large backplate might make accessing ports tricky
This monitor has one of the highest screen refresh rates we've seen. This means playing games on it will make movement appear smoother, which is great for particularly competitive games.
Since its resolution is Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) – most graphics cards should be able to run games at a higher frame rate per second, which is required to properly utilise the monitor's high refresh rate.
Read our Samsung Odyssey LS25BG400EUXXU review, or compare prices below:
Logitech G920 racing wheel
Solidly built and with impressive force feedback, this was the perfect wheel to get me back into sim racing after a decades-long hiatus. It’s not the cheapest gift, but it’s often heavily discounted so keep your eyes peeled for a deal.
We like Can attach directly to desk, or a separate racing rig
Watch out for Stick shifter sold separately
If they're a big fan of racing simulators or racing games, a good driving wheel is a fantastic gift.
This one has force feedback, paddle shifters, and three pedals. It's compatible with PC or Xbox.
Compare prices below:
Ikea JÄRVFJÄLLET office chair
Mainly for PC users, but still applicable for all. Lots of people love having a comfortable chair to help play their games.
We like No safety issues
We don't like Not the easiest to assemble
While it's not necessarily a 'gaming chair', this office chair is one of the most budget-friendly ones we've tested – it makes a great gift for those looking to sit comfortably while they game.
It comes in either black or white, and it's made from mesh so they won't get too warm sitting in it for long periods of time.
Just how comfortable is it though? You'll need to read our review to find out.
Read our Ikea JÄRVFJÄLLET office chair review, or get it from Ikea (£179).
Do they need a desk, too? Read our expert advice on how to buy one in our home office buying guide.
Best gifts for gamers over £200
Steam Deck OLED
This was my birthday gift to myself a few years ago, and I love it. It's great to bring on long train or plane journeys and is very easy to use. There are thousands of games that are optimised to play well on it, and you can utilise most of Steam's massive library. The only thing I'd caution against is that demanding games can quickly chew through the battery, but that's nothing a Best Buy power bank can't solve.
We like The benefits of PC gaming – on the go
Watch out for While cheap for a handheld, it's still expensive
It isn't cheap, but a Steam Deck makes a great gift. It essentially combines console and PC into one portable device similar to a Nintendo Switch – with Steam pre-installed, they can play their libraries on the go and get access to everything Steam has to offer.
Handheld consoles like this are considered 'handheld PCs', and it functions similarly to how a laptop would. They can plug in a mouse, keyboard, hook it up to a monitor using a dock (sold separately), and use SteamOS' desktop features if they prefer. If they're running out of storage, they can relatively easily install both an SSD (solid-state drive) and an SD card.
There are three models currently available: two are Steam's newer OLED versions with an upgraded screen. These also have larger batteries than their predecessors and come with larger SSDs. They start from £479 for a 512GB OLED model.
You can pick up a Steam Deck OLED or LCD direct from Steam – prices start from £349 for the 256GB LCD model.
Looking for a powerbank? Check out our best power banks.
Meta Quest 3 (512GB)
We like Standalone VR headset – no need for a PC or console
Watch out for Knocking into things while in VR
Every December for the past five years, interest has spiked for VR headsets – meaning Santa may have put them into the stockings of many gamers. VR headsets have long been touted as the next big thing in gaming, promising to launch players into new worlds and landscapes.
The Meta Quest 3 is a mixed-reality headset, meaning they'll be able to play games in full virtual reality, or in mixed augmented reality.
It can also connect to a PC should they choose to play VR games through their Steam Library.
Compare prices below:
Looking to step into the metaverse? Here's how to buy the best VR headset.
Best games for gamers
One of the easiest (and, admittedly, best) gifts for gamers is pretty obvious – gift them a game.
If you need some suggestions, we've spoken to the gamers at the Which? offices to get their input on games we've enjoyed.
- A Short Hike: Hike, climb and fly around a tiny open world in this charming indie game. You can pick it up for Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, or on Steam.
- Baldur's Gate 3: A Which?-staff favourite, this D&D game has great quests, fantastic characters, and has even won four BAFTAs. Get it on Xbox, PlayStation, or on Steam.
- Clair Obscure: Expedition 33: This recently released RPG puts a twist on the turn-based formula seen in similar games. You'll traverse the lands of a shattered continent to save the world from 'the Paintress'. It's available on Xbox, PlayStation, or get it on Steam.
- Crusader Kings III: Have they ever wanted to be a king? Now they can in this strategy game that has you leading a royal dynasty across the Middle Ages. Pick it up on Xbox, PlayStation, or from Steam.
- Resident Evil 4 (remake): A remake of the Gamecube classic, this one features new gameplay and great graphics while retaining much of the campiness of the original. Get it on Xbox, PlayStation, or on Steam.
- Stardew Valley: This cosy farming and life simulator has 'taken over the lives' of some of our experts. You'll raise crops and animals, and build friendships with the townsfolk. It's available on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Steam, and you can even play it on some phones.
- Thank Goodness you're here!: This short romp has you helping out the residents of Barnsworth with their odd jobs. It's a truly memorable one, and very British. Get it on PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, or Steam.
- West of Loathing: A 'western slapstick action RPG', this game really puts the emphasis on 'stick'. It's a goofy cowboy game that we had a blast playing. You can get it on Xbox, Nintendo Switch, or on Steam.
Looking for cheap games? We cover popular game deals on our pages for the best PS5 deals, the best Xbox bargains, and the best Nintendo Switch discounts.
Should I buy a console for gamers?
The short answer? It depends.
While it undoubtedly is a fabulous gift, they're not cheap machines – the price of an Xbox rose early 2025, the Switch 2 is hard to find (and expensive), and gaming PCs just seem to keep getting pricier and pricier.
We'd say only do it if your recipient doesn't have the console, or is specifically asking for it.
Looking for more gift ideas? Take a look at our other guides:
- Best gifts for dogs
- Best gifts for men
- Best gifts for gardeners
- Best gifts for kids
- Best gifts for one-year-olds
- Best gifts for two-year-olds
- Best gifts for three-year-olds
- Best gifts for women
- Best gifts for girlfriends
- Best gifts for foodies
- Best tech gifts
- Best gifts for mums
- Best gifts for golfers
- Best gift subscriptions
- Best wedding gift ideas