Gift finder · 21 ideas · checked September 2026
Gifts for gamers
Gamers are easy to please and easy to misjudge: the person who plays one shooter for ten years, the dad with an hour a week and the teenager with a full setup need three different gifts. Below: ideas ranked for a gamer, then what players and the people buying for them said worked. The Reddit data on this is thinner than on most guides, because few threads ask it directly.
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What gamerss say they actually kept
We read the threads where people asked what to give a gamer (a 15- and 16-year-old, a retro-loving husband, a 35-year-old who hadn't played for years) and what players said about gifts they received. The answers are about knowing which kind of gamer it is.
A card for the store they actually use
In the teen-gamer threads the first answer was a Steam, Epic or console card, and to find out which one he uses. Players also pointed out that a card says «I know you play, you choose». Note that in 2026 threads people reported Steam is not restocking physical cards in shops, so check what is on sale where you live before planning a wrapped card.
Subscription cards for the returning or time-poor player
For a 35-year-old who hadn't gamed for years, repliers suggested a three-month Game Pass or PS Plus card, since it lets them sample many games, and several advised pick-up-and-play titles for a time-poor parent. Replies were blunt that someone who only plays one football or shooter game is better served by a platform voucher than by a recommendation.
Desk gear only when you know the gap
For the PC teen who already had the machine, repliers named a second monitor, a lightweight mouse, a headset holder, a monitor light bar and a decent microphone, and told the buyer to ask first. One reply warned that chairs sold as gaming chairs are overpriced; opinion on chairs was split, so ask. Premium pads got mixed press: a thread about a gifted customised controller drew many replies reporting bumpers or padding wearing out within months to two years.
Retro and nostalgia
For a husband who loved old games, the practical ideas were a cheap retro handheld (two models were named as entry points), a shadowbox with a game cartridge, a magazine from the era of his favourite game, older PC games re-released on Steam, a tiny working arcade cabinet and LEGO from a game he loves. In a thread about a retro controller bought as a Christmas present, several comments said the original feel makes the old games better.
Fandom beyond the console
For daughters who play the Sims or Stardew Valley and watch anime, repliers named an expansion-pack gift card, the Stardew cookbook, plushies from a favourite franchise, a personalised mug and tickets to a local convention. The point several made: showing you noticed the details is worth more than the price.
Joke games and shared time
For a gag or white-elephant gift, players listed cheap joke titles, many of them crude and a dollar or two on sale; one person sent a friend one key a day for ten days. A parent in the 15-year-old thread said they play online with their own kid from different rooms and that it keeps them in the loop. Several repliers advised pairing a gift with an evening of the games they love.
Source: r/GiftIdeas, «Gift ideas for 16 year old boy who is into PC gaming?» (2026), «Recommendations for games to gift a 35yo» and «Retro/gaming husband» (2025); r/gifts, «15yo teen boy, only really interested in basketball and gaming» (2025) and «Old Fart needs help with gaming/anime gift ideas» (2024); r/pcgaming, «Steam will no longer be restocking physical gift cards at retailers» (2026); r/gaming, «What are your favorite gag gift games?» (2025), «Wife surprised me with a customized Elite Series 2 controller» (2024) and «My Xmas gift to myself finally arrived» (2026) — paraphrased. 12–40 comments read per thread; ads and removed replies were ignored. Few threads in 2025–26 asked about gamers directly, so the page is based on about a dozen threads, not hundreds.
How to choose
- Find out which store or console they use before buying a card or a game; asking him (or his friends) was the first piece of advice in the threads.
- Don't buy a game for someone who hasn't asked for one: give a card, or a Game Pass or PS Plus subscription, and let them choose.
- For someone who already has the hardware, ask first; random gear is where money gets wasted.
- A shared evening (a pizza, a co-op game you both play) is a gift too, especially from a parent.
Questions people ask
What do you get a gamer who has everything?
Ask first. For PC players who already have the machine, replies named a second monitor, a lightweight mouse, a monitor light bar and a headset holder; for retro fans, a cheap handheld, a shadowbox with a cartridge or a mini arcade cabinet; for others, a card that lets them pick. Random gear is where money gets wasted.
Is a gift card a good gift for a gamer?
Yes, if it is for the store or console they use: the first advice in the teen threads was to find out whether it is Steam, Epic or a console. Players said a card means you know they play and trust them to pick. In 2026 people reported Steam is no longer restocking physical cards in shops, so check what is sold near you.
Should I buy a game for someone who hasn't played in years?
In the thread about a 35-year-old who had not gamed for years, replies said gift a Game Pass or PS Plus card so they can sample many games, and pick short pick-up-and-play titles for a time-poor parent. A game with no sign of interest is likely to gather dust.
What can I get a teen gamer who wants expensive gear?
Parents suggested a platform card or cash toward the wishlist item, a smaller upgrade like a mouse or a light bar, tickets to a game, or a shared evening. One parent said the teen's request was beyond a holiday budget and advised delayed gratification.
What are good gag or white elephant games?
Players listed cheap joke titles sold for a dollar or two in sales, and one person sent a friend one key a day for ten days. Many of the popular joke games are crude, so check the audience first.
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