Gaming gift questions, answered

In order of how safe they are: a store gift card for the console they own (so they pick their own game), an actual game they don't already have, a good headset for playing with friends, a spare or upgraded controller, or a small accessory that fixes an annoyance. When in doubt, a gift card for the right platform genuinely can't be wrong.

Yes — that's exactly who this site is for. You only need to know one or two things: roughly who the person is (a kid, a partner, a dad) and, ideally, what console they play on. From there, every one of our lists is sorted so you can pick a can't-go-wrong gift without understanding a single spec.

Look at the controller or ask a sneaky question. An Xbox controller says Xbox on it; a PlayStation controller (the DualSense) is white with a light bar; a Nintendo Switch is a handheld tablet with detachable controllers on the sides; PC gamers play at a computer with a keyboard and mouse. It matters because games and most accessories are console-specific.

A store gift card for their console — Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, or Xbox — is the ultimate safe bet, because they choose and you can't buy a duplicate. After that, an accessory like a headset or a spare controller is almost always welcome.

For a gamer, a store gift card is genuinely thoughtful, not lazy — it's the difference between them getting a game they'll actually play versus a duplicate or a title they don't want. If you want something to physically unwrap too, pair the card with a small accessory or a snack. We break down the trade-off in our gift card vs a game guide.

You can give a great gift at any budget. Under $25 gets you lights, a game, a case, or small accessories; under $50 covers most games and a solid headset or mouse; $100 and up moves into premium headsets, nicer controllers and splurge pieces. We have a shortlist for each budget.

There's no direct 'gift this game' button on the PlayStation Store. The way to gift PlayStation content digitally is a PlayStation Store gift card, which they redeem toward any game they want. For a PS5 with a disc drive, a physical disc is also a great option.

The recipient has to be on your Steam friends list first. Then you add the game to your cart, choose 'This is a gift', pick your friend, add a message, and pay. They get an email and a Steam notification to accept it. Full steps are in our how to gift a Steam game guide.

Three easy ways: buy the physical cartridge, buy a download code, or give a Nintendo eShop gift card that they redeem in the eShop (Enter Code, 16 characters) and spend on whatever they like. Note eShop cards are region-locked to the account's country. See our how to gift Switch games guide.

Check the ESRB rating on the box or listing — we show it on every game. E means Everyone, E10+ means Everyone 10 and up, T means Teen (13+), and M means Mature (17+). Match the rating to the child's age and you're safe.

For that age, family-friendly Switch games (Mario Kart, a Mario platformer, Pokémon), a Roblox or Nintendo gift card, or fun accessories and collectibles are all reliable. Stick to games rated E or E10+. Our gaming gifts for kids list is organized to help you match the gift to the child.

Go for consumables and upgrades rather than another big gadget: a store gift card, a fresh game they haven't played, an accessory that solves a small annoyance (like a controller charging stand), or a fun collectible from a game they love. The trick is picking something they'd never buy for themselves.

No, and we say so plainly. We don't run a test lab. Instead we read the manuals and official game details, show the real age rating, check what actual owners report, and attach a live, dated price. It's more checkable than a testing claim you can't verify — the full process is on our how we pick page.

They're pulled from a live daily check and shown with the date they were verified. Prices change constantly on the retailer's side, so always confirm the current price on the retailer's page before buying. If we can't verify a price, we show 'Check price' instead of a number.

For anyone who plays online with friends, a headset with a mic is one of the most-used gifts you can give. Get a budget wired one for a casual player, or a wireless one for a serious gamer. Just make sure it works with their console — we note compatibility on each pick.

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