Games to Gift
The actual games worth giving — sorted by console and by who you're buying for, including the ones a total non-gamer will love. Every list explains how to gift a game the right way.
An actual game can be the best gift of all — if you pick one they’ll play and can actually run. The trick is matching the game to the person and their console, and knowing that a “great game” for a hardcore player is often the wrong gift for a beginner. These lists do that matching for you.
The two things that matter. First, the console: a game bought for a PlayStation won’t run on a Switch, so check what they own before you buy. Second, the vibe: a calm, cozy game and a fast, competitive one suit completely different people. We call out both on every pick, and we show the official ESRB age rating so you can match it to the recipient — important if you’re buying for a child.
Not sure they even like “gamer” games? Start with our games for non-gamers list — gentle, no-pressure titles that win people over. Buying for a couple? The co-op games for couples list is full of games two people play together, even if one of them barely games.
Worried about the mechanics of gifting a digital game? Don’t be — it’s easier than it sounds, and we walk you through it. See how to gift a Steam game, how to gift a Switch game, or how to gift an Xbox game — Xbox is the one console with a genuine gift button. When in doubt, read gift card vs a game to decide whether a store card is the smarter present. When you truly can’t call it, a store gift card for their console lets them choose — and you can’t buy a duplicate.
Buying for a whole room rather than one person? The party games list covers games four people can play together, and tells you how many controllers each one actually needs — the detail that catches people out on the day. If you’re buying for a child, our age ratings guide explains what the letter on the box means, and the label underneath it that matters even more.
Everything in Games to Gift
Best Nintendo Switch Games to Gift
The most giftable Switch games — crowd-pleasers everyone can play, from party favorites to gentle cozy hits.
Top pick
Nintendo Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
$59.88 · See it on AmazonPrice as of September 8, 2026. #ad How we’re funded
Best Games to Gift a Non-Gamer
Approachable, no-pressure games that turn a non-gamer into a fan — calm, easy to pick up, and impossible to fail.
Top pick
Nintendo Animal Crossing: New Horizons
$51.00 · See it on AmazonPrice as of September 8, 2026. #ad How we’re funded
Best Co-op Games to Gift a Couple
Games two people play together on the couch — perfect for a couple, even if one of them barely games.
Best PS5 Games to Gift
The PlayStation 5 games worth wrapping — from all-ages showstoppers to prestige adventures for adults, with the age rating on every one.
Best Games to Gift a Beginner
Games designed so a first-timer can't get stuck — gentle difficulty, no jargon, and a few with a built-in mode where you simply can't lose.
Best Games to Gift a Casual Gamer
Games for someone who plays half an hour at a time — easy to drop in and out of, with nothing to remember between sessions.
Top pick
ConcernedApe Stardew Valley
$33.99 · See it on AmazonPrice as of September 8, 2026. #ad How we’re funded
Best Nintendo Switch Games for Kids
Parent-approved Switch games sorted by age, every one rated E or E10+, so you can match the game to the child with confidence.
Top pick
Nintendo Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
$59.88 · See it on AmazonPrice as of September 8, 2026. #ad How we’re funded
Best Xbox Games to Gift
The Xbox games worth wrapping — plus the subscription that's often a smarter gift than any single game, and how to tell which Xbox they own.
Top pick
Xbox Game Studios Forza Horizon 6
Best Party Games to Gift
Games for a room full of people, most of whom don't play games — four players on one console, no second controller purchase required in most cases.
Top pick
Nintendo Super Mario Party Jamboree
$52.78 · See it on AmazonPrice as of September 8, 2026. #ad How we’re funded
Best Steam Games to Gift
The PC games worth giving — bought as a code that arrives by email, or sent straight through Steam. Every pick says who it suits and what it needs.
Top pick
Electronic Arts It Takes Two (Steam PC code)
$39.99 · See it on AmazonPrice as of September 8, 2026. #ad How we’re funded
Best Family Video Games to Gift
Games a whole family can play in the same room — parents included, no gaming skill required, and nothing that needs a second console.
Best Cozy Games to Gift
Gentle, unhurried games with nothing to fight and no way to lose — the category that quietly converts more non-gamers than any other.
Top pick
ConcernedApe Stardew Valley
$33.99 · See it on AmazonPrice as of September 8, 2026. #ad How we’re funded
Best Video Games to Gift a Grandparent
Games that work for someone who has never held a controller — simple controls, big clear text, and something a grandchild can join in with.
Top pick
Nintendo Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics
$39.88 · See it on AmazonPrice as of September 8, 2026. #ad How we’re funded
Best Nintendo Switch 2 Games to Gift
The games made for the new console — plus the three things that catch gift buyers out: which games won't run on an older Switch, which boxed games hold no game at all, and when a cheap upgrade pack beats a full-price copy.
Top pick
Nintendo Mario Kart World
$79.99 · See it on AmazonPrice as of September 8, 2026. #ad How we’re funded
