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The ultimate Nintendo gift.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/em> play on the Switch 2 just yet, but that hasn’t stopped it from being one of the best Nintendo gifts of 2025.<\/p>\nI 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.<\/p>\n
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LEGO Game Boy<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n 46<\/p>\n
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Build a 1:1 scale version of the original Game Boy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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.<\/p>\n
3. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Mirror Edition<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Mirror Edition (PS5, XSX)<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n 13<\/p>\n
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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 took home a bunch of awards at The Game Awards this year. 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.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
I’d also suggest checking out IGN Store’s officially licensed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 merch for more gift ideas.<\/p>\n
4. Phone and Controller Holders<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Super Sonic – Original Mobile Phone & Gaming Controller Holder<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n
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Great for holding controllers or your phone. See more options available at Amazon.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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.<\/p>\n
5. Mechanism Gaming Pillow<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Mechanism Gaming Pillow<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n
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A unique solution for handheld gaming.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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:<\/p>\n
“I\u2019ve reviewed basically every PC gaming handheld that\u2019s 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\u2019m not exaggerating. The one downside to PC handhelds, though, is that they\u2019re 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\u2019s 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 \u2013 so it\u2019s not just<\/em> for your handheld.”<\/p>\n6. Xbox Game Pass Gift Cards<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Xbox Game Pass Ultimate \u2013 3 Month Membership<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n
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Get around the price increases with a gift card.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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.<\/p>\n
7. Video Game Apparel<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Nintendo The Legend Of Zelda Ombre Fade Triforce Logo<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n
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See more size options available.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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.<\/p>\n
8. A New Controller<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Xbox Core Controller<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n 13<\/p>\n
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Enjoy the familiar Xbox layout on an ergonomic controller with remappable buttons, a tactile D-pad, and ample connectivity options.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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).<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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