The best possible gift you can buy for a gamer is more games. The newest video games don’t come cheap and they have the potential to provide hours and hours of entertainment. But what do you get for the gamer in your life who already has all of the games they could ever want? If you’re looking for some great gift ideas for 2025, I’ve got you covered with 10 of the most popular gamer gift options of the year.
1. Nintendo Switch 2
Let’s start with the most obvious gift idea: The Switch 2. Nintendo’s latest console launch was the biggest of all time and continues to sell like hotcakes. Folks who already own a Switch console are upgrading to the latest hardware and some holdouts are relenting to Nintendo’s ecosystem now that it’s finally gotten an upgrade. Admittedly, there aren’t that many exclusive games you can only play on the Switch 2 just yet, but that hasn’t stopped it from being one of the best Nintendo gifts of 2025.
I bought a Switch 2 this year just to play Donkey Kong Bananza and have had no regrets so far. It’s an upgrade from the standard Switch in every sense. If you’re willing to drop $450 on a gift for someone this year, this is absolutely worth considering.
2. The LEGO Game Boy
One of the most popular new LEGO sets of 2025 is actually one of the most affordable ones. The LEGO Game Boy was released back in October and has been selling like crazy ever since. It’s essentially a 1:1 recreation of the iconic handheld and includes a couple of different lenticular screens. This is a set specifically designed for adults to display on their shelf or desk, but it makes for a great gift for anyone with a bit of nostalgia left in their hearts for the original Game Boy. We had the chance to build this set ourselves and loved everything about it. At only $59.99, it’s definitely worth the price. You’ll also find this pick in our top Nintendo gifts list this year.
3. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Mirror Edition
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of those games that seemingly came out of nowhere and took the gaming world by storm. It’s currently nominated for the best game of 2025 by IGN, and for those who have already played it, it’s easy to see why. In our 9 out of 10 review, we said, “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 paints itself into the pantheon of great RPGs with a brilliant combat system and a gripping, harrowing story.”
The base game is sold out on Amazon if you’re looking for an actual physical edition, but the Mirror Edition is still available for both PS5 and Xbox. It includes a steelbook case and collectible cards that are awesome for any RPG fans looking to actually own a copy of this game.
I’d also suggest checking out IGN Store’s officially licensed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 merch for more gift ideas.
4. Phone and Controller Holders
Whether you’re a console or PC gamer, there’s a good chance you’re going to be using a controller. And what do you do with that controller when you’re done playing? There are actually a surprising number of solutions for this, but my overall favorite is to have an actual gaming character hold it for you. I’ve highlighted this Sonic option here, but there are plenty of other versions available. You can even have the Master Chief himself hold onto your controller if you want.
5. Mechanism Gaming Pillow
Our PC gaming editor, Jackie Thomas, had the chance to try out this gaming pillow herself earlier this year and found it to be one of the best tech gifts to buy. Here’s what she had to say about it:
“I’ve reviewed basically every PC gaming handheld that’s come out over the last couple of years, and so when I say I spend a lot of time cuddled up playing games on them, I’m not exaggerating. The one downside to PC handhelds, though, is that they’re quite a bit heavier than something like the Nintendo Switch 2, which I typically address by just stacking up some pillows and propping up the device that way. But the Mechanism Gaming Pillow takes that idea to another level, with a metal arm attached to what’s essentially a bean-bag pillow. It definitely looks silly, but attaching it to a heavy handheld like the Lenovo Legion Go makes it way easier on your wrists, especially for longer gaming sessions. The company also sells attachments for a wide range of different devices, which you can swap out at will – so it’s not just for your handheld.”
6. Xbox Game Pass Gift Cards
Xbox Game Pass is one of the best video game services out there. It was mostly considered one of the best deals in gaming right up until Microsoft decided to jack up the price earlier this year. Thankfully, there’s a fairly easy way to get around that price increase in the meantime: Buying gift cards. Amazon and a few other retailers are still offering three-months of Game Pass Ultimate for the same price as before. Arguably the best gaming gift to give this year to anyone with a Game Pass subscription is more Game Pass. You can stack up to 12 months of gift codes at any given time.
7. Video Game Apparel
As someone who now owns multiple Legend of Zelda shirts, I can honestly say that video game apparel is absolutely a great gift. I wear a lot of different graphic T-shirts out and about, but it’s only the Legend of Zelda one that consistently gets me compliments from random folks. There’s no better way to make connections with fellow fans of a franchise than simply wearing some merch to the grocery store. I’ve featured my overall favorite shirt I own here, which makes for a great Legend of Zelda gift, but there’s apparel for pretty much every major franchise out there too. I’d recommend checking out the IGN Store’s collection of video game apparel for even more options.
8. A New Controller
There are a lot of different controllers out there, but arguably the best overall is the Xbox controller. It’s IGN’s overall top pick for the best controller for PC and obviously one of the best options for the Xbox itself. It’s a really well-designed controller that can easily connect to pretty much any and every device and comes in a wide variety of colors. Even if someone already has a controller, they could always use another one (and maybe in a new color).
Although we’re recommending the Xbox Core Controller here, there’s plenty of other options available for other consoles as well. I’d recommend checking out our favorite PS5 controllers and Nintendo Switch 2 controllers for more options.
9. Meta Quest 3
The Meta Quest 3 is one of the best VR headsets for PC and has been one of the most popular gift items in the last two years. IGN’s Commerce Manager, Eric Song, had the chance to review the device when it first came out, and said:
“The Quest 3 continues Meta’s legacy of offering a cost-effective headset that doesn’t require an expensive gaming PC, but can still benefit from one if you have it. That’s a unique feature that sets it apart from almost every other VR headset out there, other than its own predecessors. The Quest 3 goes even further by offering us a ticket to mixed-reality gaming with a full-color passthrough mode that’s sharp enough to read things in the world around you, the lightest and most precisely tracked controllers available, and more. The sheer amount of upgrades are well worth the $200 generational price increase. For everyone else who is willing to splurge, the Quest 3 sets the new standard for VR and mixed reality gaming.”
10. Roblox Gift Cards
If you’re on the hunt for a gift for the younger generation of gamers, it’s hard to go wrong with Roblox gift cards. Roblox experiences have become some of the most popular games in 2025, and although they are free to play, it never hurts to have a few extra Robux to buy additional in-game items and perks. Hunting for new codes for The Forge or Dress to Impress is a pretty time-consuming affair that can be easily remedied with some gift cards.
Also, right now, if you sign up for a DoorDash membership (DashPass), you can get 10% off Roblox gift cards. DashPass costs just $96 for a whole year, or $9.99/month, with $0 delivery fees, exclusive deals and savings on Lyft rides. The annual plan also gets you HBO Max (Ad version) for free, so something to consider as you’re shopping.
More Gaming Gift Recommendations
If you’re looking to do a bit more research before you buy, I’d recommend checking out IGN’s video game reviews for our top recommendations. We are at the forefront of the gaming industry and have hands-on experience with almost all of the latest releases. You can also check out some of our additional buying guides below for more top picks in 2025:
Best Handheld Gaming PCsBest Gaming HeadsetsBest Nintendo Switch 2 AccessoriesBest Gaming ChairsBest Gaming TVsBest Gaming MonitorsBest Gaming Laptops
