Player Two Co

The Best Gifts for Gamers Under $25

A small budget is no barrier to a great gaming gift. These are the little things gamers genuinely use — each one under $25, with a live price so there are no surprises.

By Stephen V.Last updated How we pick

You don’t need to spend a lot to give a gamer something they’ll actually use. Under $25 gets you setup lighting, handy accessories that fix small annoyances, a cozy game, or a fun collectible. These are also perfect as an add-on to a bigger gift, or to fill out a stocking.

Prices move around at this end of the range, so every pick shows a live, dated price — if something has crept just over $25 by the time you look, you’ll see it. A couple of items suit specific consoles, which we note.

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
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 overall
$19.99 · See it on Amazon

$24.9920% off

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

2
Electronic Arts Unravel Two

Electronic Arts Unravel Two

A gorgeous, gentle co-op puzzle-platformer about two little yarn characters. Beautiful, calm, and playable solo or with a partner — a lovely, inexpensive surprise.

Best cheap game
$19.89 · See it on Amazon

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

3
Game Traveler Deluxe Switch Travel Case

Game Traveler Deluxe Switch Travel Case

A protective case is the practical, always-useful gift for anyone who takes their Switch out of the house. Officially licensed, holds games too, and cheap enough for a stocking.

Most practical
$14.99 · See it on Amazon

$19.9925% off

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

4
KontrolFreek Performance Thumbsticks

KontrolFreek Performance Thumbsticks

Little grippy caps that snap onto a controller's sticks for better aim — a cheap, cult-favorite add-on that competitive players genuinely love. A perfect small stocking stuffer.

Best for competitive players
$16.99 · See it on Amazon

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

5
PowerA Twin Charging Station (PS5)

PowerA Twin Charging Station (PS5)

A quietly brilliant gift: a stand that charges two PS5 controllers so they're always ready. It solves the one small annoyance every PlayStation household has, and it looks tidy doing it.

Best for PS5 owners
$21.49 · See it on Amazon

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

6
8BitDo Retro Bluetooth Receiver

8BitDo Retro Bluetooth Receiver

A tiny adapter that lets a retro fan use modern wireless controllers on a classic mini console. It's a thoughtful, inexpensive gift that shows you paid attention to what they own.

Best for retro fans
$16.99 · See it on Amazon

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

7
Mattel Minecraft Character Plush

Mattel Minecraft Character Plush

A soft, officially licensed plush of a Minecraft character — the easy win for a young Minecraft fan. Cheap, cuddly, and instantly recognizable to any kid who plays.

Best for a Minecraft kid
$15.64 · See it on Amazon

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

8
Paladone Xbox Controller Light & Clock

Paladone Xbox Controller Light & Clock

A fun, officially licensed desk piece shaped like an Xbox controller that doubles as a night light and alarm clock. Pure gamer-room charm — a safe, cheerful novelty gift.

Best fun extra
$24.99 · See it on Amazon

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

Every pick, explained

#1Best overall

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.

#2Best cheap game

Electronic Arts Unravel Two

A gorgeous, gentle co-op puzzle-platformer about two little yarn characters. Beautiful, calm, and playable solo or with a partner — a lovely, inexpensive surprise.

Great because

  • Beautiful and soothing to play
  • Works solo or two-player
  • One of the best value game gifts here

Keep in mind

  • Short compared to a big adventure game
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Game
Works with
Also on PlayStation, Xbox & PC
Good for
All ages
Age rating
E (Everyone)

Skip it if: Skip if they want a long game to sink dozens of hours into.

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

#3Most practical

Game Traveler Deluxe Switch Travel Case

A protective case is the practical, always-useful gift for anyone who takes their Switch out of the house. Officially licensed, holds games too, and cheap enough for a stocking.

Great because

  • Protects the console and holds game cards
  • Officially licensed
  • Inexpensive and universally useful

Keep in mind

  • Confirm it fits their model (regular, Lite or OLED)
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Accessory
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite & OLED
Good for
All ages

Skip it if: Skip if they never take their Switch anywhere.

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

#4Best for competitive players

KontrolFreek Performance Thumbsticks

Little grippy caps that snap onto a controller's sticks for better aim — a cheap, cult-favorite add-on that competitive players genuinely love. A perfect small stocking stuffer.

Great because

  • Beloved by competitive players
  • Very cheap — ideal stocking stuffer
  • Easy to fit, easy to remove

Keep in mind

  • Only meaningful to players who care about aiming precision
Platform
PlayStation
Type
Accessory
Works with
PS4 / PS5 controllers (Xbox versions sold separately)
Good for
Teens & up

Skip it if: Skip for a casual or non-competitive player.

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

#5Best for PS5 owners

PowerA Twin Charging Station (PS5)

A quietly brilliant gift: a stand that charges two PS5 controllers so they're always ready. It solves the one small annoyance every PlayStation household has, and it looks tidy doing it.

Great because

  • Ends the 'my controller's dead' problem
  • Charges two pads neatly
  • Officially licensed and affordable

Keep in mind

  • Specific to PS5 DualSense controllers
Platform
PlayStation
Type
Accessory
Works with
PlayStation 5 DualSense controllers
Good for
All ages

Skip it if: Skip if they don't own a PS5.

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

#6Best for retro fans

8BitDo Retro Bluetooth Receiver

A tiny adapter that lets a retro fan use modern wireless controllers on a classic mini console. It's a thoughtful, inexpensive gift that shows you paid attention to what they own.

Great because

  • Adds wireless controllers to a retro system
  • Small, clever and cheap
  • A knowing gift for a retro fan

Keep in mind

  • Only useful if they own the specific mini console
Platform
Retro
Type
Accessory
Works with
NES Classic, SNES Classic & similar
Good for
Teens & up

Skip it if: Skip unless you know they have a NES/SNES Classic or similar.

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

#7Best for a Minecraft kid

Mattel Minecraft Character Plush

A soft, officially licensed plush of a Minecraft character — the easy win for a young Minecraft fan. Cheap, cuddly, and instantly recognizable to any kid who plays.

Great because

  • Officially licensed and kid-safe
  • Instantly recognizable to a Minecraft kid
  • Affordable stocking stuffer

Keep in mind

  • Only lands with a child who plays Minecraft
Platform
Any platform
Type
Collectible
Works with
Any Minecraft fan
Good for
Kids 3+

Skip it if: Skip for a teen or adult unless they're a serious superfan.

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

#8Best fun extra

Paladone Xbox Controller Light & Clock

A fun, officially licensed desk piece shaped like an Xbox controller that doubles as a night light and alarm clock. Pure gamer-room charm — a safe, cheerful novelty gift.

Great because

  • Cute, officially licensed gamer decor
  • Practical as a light and clock
  • Inexpensive and hard to dislike

Keep in mind

  • A novelty piece rather than something they'll play with
Platform
Any platform
Type
Collectible
Works with
Any desk or bedroom
Good for
All ages

Skip it if: Skip if they'd rather have something to actually play.

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

How to spend under $25 well

The trick with a small budget is to buy something specific to how they play, so it feels chosen rather than generic. Setup lighting works for almost anyone. A charging stand or a travel case solves a real annoyance for a particular console. A cheap but genuinely good game (like Unravel Two) punches well above its price. And for a kid, a character plush or a fun licensed desk piece is a reliable little win.

Frequently asked questions

What's a good gaming gift for under $20?

RGB setup lights, a controller charging stand, a Switch travel case, controller thumb grips, or a cheaper game like Unravel Two all typically come in under $20 and get real use. Prices vary, so check the live figure on each pick.

Are cheap gaming gifts worth giving?

Absolutely — a $15 accessory that solves a daily annoyance or a $20 game they love beats an expensive gadget they'll never open. The best cheap gifts are specific to how the person actually plays.

What's a good under-$25 gift if I don't know their console?

Setup lighting works with any setup, a character plush suits any fan, and a small-denomination store gift card is always safe. Console-specific items like a charging stand only make sense once you know the system.

Can I combine a few of these into one gift?

Yes — that's a great move. A couple of small items (say, lights plus a fun desk piece, or a game plus a plush) makes a fuller, more thoughtful present while staying inexpensive. It's the same idea as a stocking.

Sources

  • 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)
  • 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)

Keep browsing