The best gifts for gamers in 2024

If you’re buying a gift for someone who primarily plays games on their phone, consider treating them to the best mobile gamepad on the market. At $100, the Backbone One is pricey, but it easily surpasses competitors like the Razer Kishi in build quality. It also comes with a surprisingly robust companion app that makes capturing screenshots and clips a breeze. Each new Backbone One controller also comes with complimentary access to services like Xbox Game Pass, giving owners a few different ways to add to their game library. — Igor Bonifacic, Senior Reporter

Read more: The best mobile game controllers

We’re huge fans of the Playdate here at Engadget, and I think it should be easy to see why. After two years, this cute little handheld has one of the most unique and charming game libraries out there. But you don’t even have to buy your loved one any games to go with it. The Playdate comes with 24 free games, and some of them count among the best the system has to offer. If your friend or family member is the sort of gamer who has it all, the Playdate could be just the right gift for them. — I.B.

Read more: The best gaming handhelds

If you’re buying a gift for someone who already owns a Switch, there’s a good chance they’ll appreciate more storage for their handheld. A previous version of this guide recommended Switch-specific microSD cards from SanDisk, but the company’s reputation for reliability and customer service isn’t what it used to be, and the reality is that any UHS-1 compatible microSD card that offers transfer speeds of at least 60 MB/s will do. For those set on going with a well-known brand name, Samsung’s Evo Select series meets all of Nintendo’s compatibility requirements and they’re affordable too, with the 512GB model frequently priced at less than $40. — I.B.

Read more: The best microSD cards

With the popularity of multiplayer games, you may want to consider gifting your friend or family member a gaming headset, especially if you share the same household. For an affordable option that features a clean sound signature that’s tuned for first-person shooters, it’s hard to go wrong with the Drop and Epos PC38X.

Epos may not be a household name, but most people have definitely heard of Sennheiser. The former came out of the latter, and that should tell you what to expect from the PC38X. It’s a headset that has more in common with classic headphones like the HD600 than its gaming peers. An open-back design helps the PC38X produce an immersive sound stage that can give users an edge in games like Valorant and Call of Duty: Warzone. The built-in microphone is one of the best ones you’ll find on a gaming headset at this price. It’s a wired headset too, meaning there’s no need to worry about battery life and compatibility. Notably, Drop frequently sells the PC38X below its usual $180 price. — I.B.

After more than two decades of iteration, it’s hard to find a fault with Microsoft’s Xbox controllers. The latest Series X/S version refines a design that was already excellent with the Xbox One, but it lacks customization. That’s something Microsoft’s Elite Wireless controller corrects. The Series 2 model comes with six different thumbsticks, four separate paddles and a set of two d-pads. With all those components included, even the most discerning players should be able to tune the controller to their liking.

In fact, the Xbox Elite Controller has been so popular for Microsoft, that Sony came out with its own customizable gamepad, the DualSense Edge, earlier this year. If your friend or loved one primarily plays games on a PlayStation 5, the Edge would make for a great gift, just as long as they’re not a stickler for battery life. — I.B.

If you’re feeling particularly generous this holiday season, I guarantee buying them a Steam Deck OLED will have them thinking of you for years to come. With its HDR-capable OLED display and improved battery life, Valve’s handheld is the best way to play one’s Steam library on the go.

Since buying one for myself, the Steam Deck OLED has become my preferred way of playing indies and older games. Yeah, it’s big, but the Steam Deck OLED has so much going for it. So much so I wouldn’t consider the ROG Ally X or any Windows-based handheld over it; Valve’s software support is simply unmatched. And don’t worry about buying a device that’s a year old now. Valve has said it won’t refresh the current model until there’s a generational leap in handheld processing power. — I.B.

Read more: The best gaming handhelds

When your JoyCons aren’t cutting it, but you still want to play your Switch on the go, get CRKD’s Nitro Deck. With beefed up ergonomics, more substantial trigger keys, and a relocated USB charging port that makes more sense, this is how you should play your Switch.

There’s also a more substantial kickstand than the Switch’s built-in option and customizable rear button paddles that you can program to make games like Fortnite and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom easier to handle. You’ll also be banishing JoyCon drift, as the Nitro Deck’s sticks use Hall Effect sensors meaning there’s next-to-no physical wear, no matter how many hours you sink into Balatro or Hades. It also helps that it comes in a delightful bright purple colorway reminiscent of the Gamecube. — M.S.

Even if your friend or loved one is an avid gamer, I’m going to go ahead and say there’s a good chance they haven’t played Tunic (available on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch). I can’t think of a game that has stayed with me the way it has over the last few years. I could go on about Tunic’s art direction, music and gameplay, but what makes it so special is the way it makes you feel when you figure out its most devious puzzles. I’m being purposefully vague because saying too much would rob Tunic of its magic. When you give the game to your friend or loved one, make sure you tell them to try to solve it on their own. They’ll thank you later. — I.B.

Read more: The best PS5 games