Player Two Co

Gifts for a Gamer Boyfriend He'll Actually Use

Nine safe bets for the gamer in your life — even if you can't tell a headset from a controller. Sorted from a $20 win to a real splurge, with a live price on each.

By Stephen V.Last updated How we pick

Shopping for a gamer boyfriend is only hard because the world of gaming gear looks impenetrable from the outside. It isn’t. A handful of things reliably delight almost any gamer — a good headset, a game he doesn’t own, a spare controller, or store credit to pick his own thing — and we’ve lined them up here so you can grab one with confidence.

The single most useful thing to know is which console or platform he plays on (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch or a PC). If you know that, you can’t really go wrong below. If you don’t, the gift card and the couch co-op game are the safest bets on the list.

How this is funded: Player Two Co earns a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which gift we recommend, and we’ll tell you when we’d skip one. Full disclosure.

The picks at a glance

Ranked for who they suit and how safe a gift they are. Tap a row to jump to the full write-up. We haven’t hands-on-tested these — here’s exactly what we do instead.

#GiftBest forPrice
1
Razer Barracuda X

Razer Barracuda X

A lightweight wireless headset that sits in the sweet spot between budget and premium, and works across almost everything — Switch, PlayStation, PC and phones. A confident mid-range gift.

Best overall
$68.20 · See it on Amazon

$99.9932% off

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
Electronic Arts It Takes Two

Electronic Arts It Takes Two

An award-winning game built entirely for two people to play together, start to finish. It's the perfect gift for a couple — even if one of you barely games — and a genuine joy the whole way through.

Best to play together
$59.99 · See it on Amazon

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7

A premium wireless headset that consistently tops 'best headset' lists. This is the splurge gift for a serious gamer — superb sound, comfy for hours, and no cable to fight.

Best splurge
$169.99 · See it on Amazon

$199.9915% off

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

4
Sony Marvel's Spider-Man 2

Sony Marvel's Spider-Man 2

A blockbuster superhero adventure that's as fun to watch as to play. If your teen or partner loves Marvel or big action games, this is the crowd-pleasing PS5 gift.

Best game
$43.14 · See it on Amazon

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

5
Backbone One Mobile Controller

Backbone One Mobile Controller

Turns a phone into a real handheld console — it clamps around the phone so games (and streamed console games) feel proper. A clever, modern gift for someone who games on their phone.

Best for phone gaming
$109.99 · See it on Amazon

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

6
Xbox Gift Card

Xbox Gift Card

The flexible choice for an Xbox player. It covers games, add-ons and — crucially — Game Pass, the subscription most Xbox owners actually want topped up.

Safest bet
$25.00 · See it on Amazon

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

7
Govee RGB LED Strip Lights

Govee RGB LED Strip Lights

Color-changing lights are the easy way to make any gaming setup feel special, and they're a genuinely fun, affordable gift. Stick them behind a desk or TV and the whole room glows.

Best under $25
$19.99 · See it on Amazon

$24.9920% off

Price as of July 22, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

Every pick, explained

#1Best overall

Razer Barracuda X

A lightweight wireless headset that sits in the sweet spot between budget and premium, and works across almost everything — Switch, PlayStation, PC and phones. A confident mid-range gift.

Great because

  • Wireless and very light
  • Works across Switch, PS5, PC and mobile
  • Doubles as everyday headphones

Keep in mind

  • Not Xbox-compatible in this version
Platform
Any platform
Type
Gear
Works with
PC, PlayStation, Switch & mobile
Good for
Teens & up

Skip it if: Skip if they're primarily an Xbox player.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#2Best to play together

Electronic Arts It Takes Two

An award-winning game built entirely for two people to play together, start to finish. It's the perfect gift for a couple — even if one of you barely games — and a genuine joy the whole way through.

Great because

  • Designed 100% for two-player co-op
  • Won Game of the Year — it's that good
  • Approachable for a non-gaming partner

Keep in mind

  • Needs two people — not a solo game
Platform
PlayStation
Type
Game
Works with
Also on Xbox, PC & Switch (buy for their device)
Good for
Teens & up
Age rating
T (Teen)

Skip it if: Skip if they mainly play alone; this needs a second player.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#3Best splurge

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7

A premium wireless headset that consistently tops 'best headset' lists. This is the splurge gift for a serious gamer — superb sound, comfy for hours, and no cable to fight.

Great because

  • Excellent wireless sound and long battery life
  • Very comfortable for marathon sessions
  • Works across consoles and PC

Keep in mind

  • A real investment — the priciest headset here
Platform
PC
Type
Gear
Works with
PC, PlayStation, Switch & mobile (Xbox variant available)
Good for
Teens & up

Skip it if: Skip if your budget is tighter — the Cloud Stinger 2 covers the basics for far less.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#4Best game

Sony Marvel's Spider-Man 2

A blockbuster superhero adventure that's as fun to watch as to play. If your teen or partner loves Marvel or big action games, this is the crowd-pleasing PS5 gift.

Great because

  • Cinematic, thrilling and easy to get into
  • Swinging through the city never gets old
  • A showcase PS5 title

Keep in mind

  • PS5 only; rated Teen for comic-book action
Platform
PlayStation
Type
Game
Works with
PlayStation 5 only
Good for
Teens & up
Age rating
T (Teen)

Skip it if: Skip for a young child — it's a Teen-rated action game.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#5Best for phone gaming

Backbone One Mobile Controller

Turns a phone into a real handheld console — it clamps around the phone so games (and streamed console games) feel proper. A clever, modern gift for someone who games on their phone.

Great because

  • Makes phone gaming genuinely good
  • Great for game streaming (Game Pass, Remote Play)
  • Comes in Xbox and PlayStation styles

Keep in mind

  • Match the version to their phone (iPhone vs Android, USB-C vs Lightning)
Platform
Mobile
Type
Gear
Works with
iPhone or Android (buy the matching connector)
Good for
Teens & up

Skip it if: Skip if you can't confirm their phone type — the connector has to match.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#6Safest bet

Xbox Gift Card

The flexible choice for an Xbox player. It covers games, add-ons and — crucially — Game Pass, the subscription most Xbox owners actually want topped up.

Great because

  • Works toward games and Game Pass
  • Zero risk of a duplicate
  • Any budget amount

Keep in mind

  • Not a physical thing to unwrap
Platform
Xbox
Type
Gift card
Works with
Any Xbox account
Good for
All ages

Skip it if: Skip if you'd rather give a specific game.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#7Best under $25

Govee RGB LED Strip Lights

Color-changing lights are the easy way to make any gaming setup feel special, and they're a genuinely fun, affordable gift. Stick them behind a desk or TV and the whole room glows.

Great because

  • Instantly upgrades a gaming room
  • App and voice control, millions of colors
  • Cheap crowd-pleaser for any age

Keep in mind

  • Adhesive backing sticks best to clean, smooth surfaces
Platform
Any platform
Type
Accessory
Works with
Any room or setup
Good for
All ages

Skip it if: Skip if their setup is already decked out with lighting.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

How to pick without knowing gaming

If you want a guaranteed hit, buy for how he already plays. Does he talk to friends while playing? A headset is the most-used gift here. Does he play on the couch with you? A two-player game like It Takes Two is a lovely, shared present. Not sure what he owns or already has? A store gift card for his console lets him choose, and you can’t buy a duplicate. Spend to the rung that matches him, not the biggest number.

The only thing to double-check is compatibility: a PlayStation controller won’t work on an Xbox, and some headsets skip certain consoles. We flag that on each pick, so just match it to his system and you’re set.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best gift for a gamer boyfriend who has everything?

Go for consumables and upgrades rather than another gadget: a store gift card for his console, a new game he hasn't played, or an accessory that solves a small annoyance. A premium wireless headset is also a common upgrade even dedicated gamers appreciate.

How much should I spend on a gamer boyfriend?

Anywhere from $20 to $170 buys something genuinely good here. Under $25 gets lights or a small accessory; around $50-70 covers a solid headset or a game; $150+ moves into premium gear. The price doesn't decide how much he'll like it — the fit does.

He plays on PC — what's a good gift?

A headset, a nice gaming mouse, RGB lights for his setup, or a game work well for a PC gamer. If he streams or makes videos, a microphone or a Stream Deck is a standout gift. See our gifts for PC gamers list for more.

Is a gaming headset a safe gift if I don't know brands?

Yes — a headset with a mic is one of the most-used gifts you can give a gamer who plays online. Get a wireless one for flexibility, and just make sure it lists his console as compatible, which we note on each pick.

Sources

  • ESRB — Ratings Guide — The Entertainment Software Rating Board's official age-rating definitions: E (Everyone), E10+ (Everyone 10+), T (Teen), M (Mature 17+) and the content descriptors printed on every game box (accessed July 22, 2026)
  • Amazon — Video Games store — Amazon's video-games storefront, where the games, gift cards and gear on this site are sold and priced (accessed July 22, 2026)

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