79 Best Gifts For Gamers (No Matter What They Play!)
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One of our favorite family traditions is sitting around after a meal and playing a game, whether on a board or with a deck of cards. It can quickly become countless hours of family entertainment and create some of the most cherished memories.
Games of all sorts have the unique ability to not just inspire creativity or implement strategy, but they can also foster relationships and bring people together, both young and old. In the world of gaming, no experience is necessary and, in many cases, no rules, either! You can create hours of fun simply by relaxing, unplugging, and letting your imagination run wild with possibilities. Or, if you prefer to play by the rules, you can find hundreds of games that require concentration, teamwork, or intricate details.
If you’re stuck on just which game to get, remember—the best part about any game gift is that it can be tailored to suit anyone’s individual preference, age, or skill level. Whether they enjoy family-friendly board games, immersive video games, or thrilling outdoor activities, there's something out there that everyone will love!
So if you’re in need of a new game for a family game night or are looking for a present for a game-loving friend, these are some of our favorite gift ideas.
Gift Ideas for Game Lovers
card Games
When it comes to gift-giving, card games are a fantastic choice for both casual players and avid enthusiasts. Whether you’re playing a family-friendly game of UNO or a not-so-family-friendly round of Cards Against Humanity, a simple card game can provide hours of entertainment with friends and family, whether at a party or even during a cozy night in. Plus, card games are compact and easily portable, making them the perfect choice to take on vacation or to your next get together. After all, is there anything better than an impromptu game of cards when you need to liven up the party?
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Bad Choices (After Dark Edition)
Dyce Games
Players: 3+
Best For: 15 and up
When you’re wanting some really interesting answers, play Bad Choices! With risqué and revealing question cards in your hand, you must ask one question to the person you think is most likely to say yes. If they do, you can discard. If not, you’re stuck with that card. First one to empty their hand wins!
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These Cards Will Get You Drunk
ASM Holdings LLC
Players: 2-8
Best For: 21+ and up
A easy-to-play, fun adult drinking game, the rules are simple: Do what the cards say. This open-ended game is the perfect party game and the best way to get silly with close friends.
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Throw Throw Burrito
Exploding Kittens
Players: 2-6
Best For: 7 and up
Dodgeball meets card game. This fun game is a kid-friendly option that is an unconventional and unique twist on your standard card game.
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Unstable Unicorns
TeeTurtle
Players: 2-8
Best For: 14 and up
Fun and quirky, Unstable Unicorns is anything but your traditional fantasy creature. Build a stable of unicorns while trying to destroy your partner’s. With endless expansion packs, this strategic game may destroy relationships, but, you know…in a good way.
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New Phone, Who Dis?
What Do You Meme?
Players: As many as you want!
Best For: 17 and up
For fans of Cards Against Humanity, this card game takes text messaging offline as you match up your responses with a text message card that is sure to have the whole family laughing.
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Exploding Kittens
Exploding Kittens LLC
Players: 2-5
Best For: 7 and up
Exactly like it sounds, this is a Russian roulette style game where you lose if you find an exploding kitten. Similar to UNO, this game is easy and fast to learn and has both NSFW and kid-friendly options!
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Zombie Kittens
exploding Kittens LLC
Players: 2-5
Best For: 7 and up
From the makers of Exploding Kittens comes Zombie Kittens, a card game with an undead twist—if you explode, you can still play! Zombie Kittens can be played on its own, or you can combine it with any other Exploding Kittens game (like the one above!) to create a game that can be played with up to 9 players for even more fun.
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Blank Slate
USAOPOLOGY
Players: 3-8
Best For: 8 and up
A fun word game where you write the word that you think best completes the sentence and try to match it with another person, without giving any hints! Fun and easy to learn, this is a party game that is fun for the whole family.
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Cards Against Humanity
Cards Against Humanity
Players: As many as you want!
Best For: 17 and up
A very adult take on the classic Apples To Apples, this is the #1 choice when it comes to raunchy party games. Use a question card to start each round and let your friends respond with the best answer they can—honest, naughty, or downright horrible! You choose the winner. With an almost endless supply of expansion decks, we recommend that you start here first before exploring even dirtier cards.
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Skyjo
Magilano
Players: 2 to 8
Best For: 8 and up
A matching card game filled with rounds of trading and drawing, this is the perfect game to take with you to parties and get togethers when you want a game that’s competitive but still allows you to keep up the good time with friends. With easy-to-learn rules, you’ll find that this is a staple in your party kit.
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Monopoly Deal
Hasbro
Players: 2-5
Best For: 8 and up
Love Monopoly but hate how long it can take? This card game is a fast-moving version of the Monopoly board game that can be played in as little as 15 minutes! For the next family game night, pull this one out!
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Who's Most Likely to?
DSS Games
Players: 4+
Best For: 14 and up
A game of how well do you know your friends, this card game asks the simple question, "Who is Most Likely to...?" as you vote on your friend that you think would be it. Prepare for this to get fun (or wild) quickly!
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What Do You Meme?
What Do You Meme
Players: As many as you want!
Best For: 17 and up
Lovers of Cards Against Humanity rejoice! This funny card game gives the judge the choice to pick the best caption for each meme, creating a hilarious game you will pull out every time you need a laugh.
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We’re Not Really Strangers
We’re Not really Strangers
Players 2-6
Best For: 12 and up
If you want a not-so-ordinary game to play at your next party, We’re Not Really Strangers is a great card deck that uses meaningful prompts to ask unique questions, reflections, and more to really get to know the other people in the room!
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Drawing Without Dignity
Two Point Oh games
Players: As many as you want!
Best For: 17 and up
This game is definitely not for kids! Best described as Cards Against Humanity meets Pictionary, your friends take turns drawing prompts as fast as they can. The result is hilarious and ridiculous fun that will leave you asking…. “What??”
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Do You Really Know Your Family?
ASM Holdings LLC
Players: 3-8
Best For: 8 and up
The perfect pick for a family game night, Do You Really Know Your Family? is a question driven game that uses silly and thoughtful prompts to see how well you really know your friends and family members. Great for any age!
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Werewolf: A Party Game For Devious People
Stellar Factory
Players: Up to 35(!)
Best For: 12 and up
This sneaky roleplaying game is a unique and story-driven way to deceive your friends by playing a variety of characters. Try taking this game camping and play it around the fire!
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Waterproof Playing Cards
Hoyle
Players: Any
Best For: Any age
Who says that you can’t play games by the pool or at the beach? These waterproof cards let you take your favorite card games anywhere so that you can have hours of fun without worrying about ruining your favorite deck.
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UV Black Light Playing Cards
Funwares
Best For: Any age
Want to play in the dark? We have a set of playing cards for any occasion!
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UNO
Mattel Games
Players: 2-10
Best For: 7 and up
Perhaps one of the most classic family card games of all time, this fast-paced game has super simple rules: match colors and numbers to get rid of all of the cards in your hand first. Just watch out for the wild cards!
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Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza
Dolphin Hat Games
Players: 3-8
Best For: Any age
We love any game with ultra-simple rules, but this one takes the cake. Learn it in under 1 minute, this game tests your attention and reflexes. If you love Slapjack, you’ll love this one!
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Conversation Cards For Best Friends
Prompta
Players: 2 (but can be expanded for group settings)
Best For: 18 and up
Think that you know everything about your best friend? This conversation deck is a great option to help you learn more about your closest friend(s) and deepen your bond! This deck includes 400 open-ended question cards and 400 “This or That” prompts to challenge your knowledge. While these cards are written for adults, they can be used with a variety of age ranges.
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Liar Liar
DYce Games
Players: 3+
Best For: 10 and up
A family game that turns up the laughs, this is a fun game that challenges you to find the liar in your group. With easy-to-learn rules, each player tells a truth or a lie based on the card that they draw. Score points when other players identity the truth as a lie!
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Claws Out
Claws Out
Players: 2-8 (Party Pack) or 2-4 (Original)
Best For: 8 and up
This fast-paced game is purr-fect for all ages! The goal is simple: get rid of all of your cards as fast as possible. But it’s not that easy—special cards can change the speed and flow of the game at any time.
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Better Together: Honest Couple Questions Cards
Better Together
Players: 2
Best For: 18 and up
While this might not be a game in the usual sense, this couples-themed card game includes deep, thought-provoking questions to help you develop a more intimate look into your relationship, creating stronger communication and understanding. The perfect gift idea for an upcoming anniversary!
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Dumb Questions To Ask Your Friends
Big Potato
Players: 3-8
Best For: 14 and up
Exactly like it sounds, but you can’t see the question that is asked. Instead, your friends answer the mystery question and you rank five question cards from most likely to least likely to be the card they answered. A must-have party game filled with tons of dumb fun!
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Pick Your Poison: “What Would You Rather…?”
Dyce Games
Players: 3-10
Best For: 10 and up
It might not seem like it from the name, but Pick Your Poison is family-friendly. It’s a game that asks “What would you rather do?” in a variety of situations that players are competing to make into the hardest scenario possible. With 300 possible scenario cards, it will be endlessly hilarious…and poisonous.
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The Inner Circle
Spin Master Games
Players: 3+
Best For: 18 and up
While it can start tame (and family-friendly), this game can also get raunchy quickly! The goal of the game is to find the common ground between two types of people—the winner is chosen by the judge who picks the funniest "answer.” If you want to turn it up a notch, add the 69 adult content cards into the deck for some real spicy answers.
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Mind Reader
Dyce Games
Players: 3+
Best For: 10 and up
Think fortune tellers and tarot cards! With a partner, three questions are read out loud. Without talking, you must match your answer to the answers of your partner. The more questions you match, the more points you score!
Board Games
Playing a board game is one of the most timeless forms of entertainment that transcends generations and is the hallmark of game nights everywhere. Classic games—such as Monopoly and Sorry!—are perfect for family game nights and can be adapted for all ages and skill levels, while more in-depth games, such as Scrabble or Risk, require thoughtful concentration and strategic gameplay. From moving pieces on a game board to rolling dice to planning your next move, board games foster social interactions with everyone, strengthening bonds and creating memorable moments. It’s one of the reasons why we love a pastime that brings people together over a bit of friendly competition!
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Doodle Heist
Doodle Heist
Players: 4+
Best For: 10 and up
Imagine combining the drawing of Pictionary with the guessing of Codenames…that’s Doodle Heist! With a team, set the board and select an artist. Using clues on the board, the team needs to guess what your artist drawing. But be quick—if the other team guesses their artist’s drawing first, they can steal yours, too!
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Bananagrams
Bananagrams
Players: 2-8
Best For: 7 and up
Perfect for anyone 7 years and up, Bananagrams is a fun word game that helps to build thinking ability and vocabulary skills. Collect tiles face-down and create as many words as possible in the form of a crossword. The first player to complete their word grid wins!
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Jumanji Deluxe Board Game
Spin Master Games
Players: 2-4
Best For: 8 and up
An extension of the ultra-popular movie, players must work to reach the center of the jungle by solving riddles and successfully completing challenges, all before they can yell Jumanji!
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Catch the Golden Snitch!
Spin Master Games
Players: 4
Best For: 8 and up
For lovers of Harry Potter, this fast-paced game challenges you to catch the Golden Snitch, all while avoiding Flying Bludgers. This interactive game is a great way to build skills of concentration, problem-solving, and strategy, all without any screen time.
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Who Am I? Guessing Game
Ridley’s
Players: 4
Best For: 8 and up
A great family game for 2-4 players, with more than 120 name cards and letters, this easy-to-understand game makes you guess characters from books or movies, all while wearing silly disguises.
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Continent Race
Byron’s Games
Players: 2+
Best For: 6 and up
A great family game with an educational spin, Continent Race helps to teach children and adults alike flags of the world, as well as learning more about various continents and countries throughout the world!
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The Chameleon
Big Potato
Playeres: 3-8
Best For: 14 and up
Everyone knows the secret word—except one! Spend your rounds trying to figure out who is the unknowing person (or, if it’s you, don’t get caught!).
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Watch Ya Mouth
Watch ya Mouth
Players: 3-10
Best For: 8 and up
For something to spice up your next game night, this hilarious game uses a mouthpiece to stretch your lips into a nearly unrecognizable shape. With your team, your job is to understand just what your teammate is saying—without the use of their mouth. Good luck!
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Bungee Table
Players: 2
Best For: 6 and up
Perfect for kids and adults alike, this wooden board game uses hand-crafted pieces to mimic a tabletop air hockey game. You’ll never want to stop playing.
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Trekking The National Parks
Underdog Games
Players: 2-5
Best For: 10 and up
If you’re looking for a new option for the next family game night that is not only fun, but educational, too, this award-winning game shares stories and trivia about each national park while you strategize the best way to beat your opponents. Even better, a full game can be played in an hour or less.
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Azul
Plan B Games
Players: 2-4
Best For: 8 and up
This tile-placement game uses strategy to create matching rows of tiles to win. Plan each move carefully because if you draw too many tiles, you’ll lose points at the end of the game. It only takes 30 minutes to complete, so play this one on nights when you’re short on time.
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Telestrations
Players: 4-6
Ages: 8 and up
When Telephone meets Pictionary, you get this hilarious drawing game. Each player receives a secret word and, without showing anyone, draws it in their book. The next person must guess the word based on the picture. Pass it again and the next person must draw the word the person before guessed. Once it gets back to the original artist, you’ll see just how good a drawing you made by how close the final answer was to your original word. Caution: If you aren’t an artist, this game can go oh-so-very-wrong (in a hilarious way!).
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Sequence
Jax
Players: 2-12
Best For: 7 and up
Strategy games that you can play individually or as a team? Sign us up! Play cards from your hand to match the board and get 5 in a row to form the Sequence! Get competitive with your opponents by blocking or removing their pieces—the first team to finish their sequences wins!
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Clue Mystery Board Game
Hasbro Games
Players: 2-6
Age: 8 and up
Another classic family game that we couldn’t leave off the list, Clue is the original mystery game. Solve the mystery—find the killer, the murder weapon, and the scene of the crime!
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BrainBolt
Educational Insights
Players: 1-2
Best For: 7 and up
Follow the light pattern and see how long you can keep up without breaking the pattern!
Buildable Games
Whether you’re designing a world from magnetic tiles or you’re planning your next speed racer from blocks, these buildable games are a great way to encourage creativity and problem-solving skills. Children are challenged to create their own structures with critical thinking, and, in the case of younger children, playing with buildable games such as Legos or magnetic tiles, can help develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Don’t be fooled—these aren’t the Legos from your childhood. With so many different designs, shapes, and sets targeted for a growing age range, these are toys that can grow alongside your children.
Legos
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Magnetic Tiles
Much like Legos, magnetic tile sets can be an educational tool for children as they utilize creative thinking and develop fine motor skills. Their shapes, often triangles or squares, have a magnetic edge that allows them to be assembled easily (and without the surprise pain if you step on them in the dark). Due to their larger size and bright colors, magnetic tiles are often a popular choice for smaller children.
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Dinosaur Magnetic Tiles
Coodoo
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Puzzles
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ImPuzzable
Funwares
Puzzle lovers might not love them so much after this! This impossible puzzle uses clear acrylic tiles with false corners and edges to create a maddening puzzle that will challenge even the most skilled puzzler!
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Puzzle Board & Locker
Playvibe
Love puzzles but hate leaving all the pieces lying out on a table? This puzzle board makes it easy to keep pieces organized and secure when you are not working on it. Never fear about pieces going missing or getting destroyed before you’re finished again!
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Zion National Park (1000 Pieces)
Better Me
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Groovy Furry Friendz
Modern Merch
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Classy Cats (500 Pieces)
Better Me
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Wooden Brain Teasers
BSIRI
16 different brain teasers and cube puzzle games to test your problem solving skills!
Outdoor Games
During a backyard party or a beachside hang, outdoor games can provide a refreshing and invigorating way to spend time soaking up some much-needed vitamin D while engaging in fun-filled physical activities. Aside from the obvious advantages of promoting physical fitness and coordination, these games foster social togetherness, teamwork, and healthy competition while also creating opportunities for individuals to bond, forge friendships, and even learn valuable life skills, such as communication and sportsmanship. But perhaps the best part? Outdoor games offer a break from the confines of indoor spaces, screen time, and social media, allowing players to slow down, breathe in fresh air, and reconnect with nature.
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Lawn Darts
Island Genius
Best For: When you want to get outside with your family.
These lawn darts are the perfect way to spend quality time outside, improve your aim, and have fun while doing it. The best part is that the tips glow in the dark, so you can play any time of the day!
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Jumbo Playing Cards
Yuanhe
Best For: Card game lovers
There’s not much more to say than….who doesn’t want to feel as though they took a Drink Me potion from Alice in Wonderland? You can use these jumbo cards whenever you want to play a (very large) game of Hearts or Go Fish.
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Glow In The Dark Soccer Ball
Glow City
Best For: Sports lovers who don’t want to go to bed
Keep the party going all night long with a light up soccer ball. Durable for indoor and outdoor play, it comes with two pre-installed LED lights that last for over 30 hours! Not a soccer fan? GlowCity also makes a wide array of other sports equipment for volleyball enthusiasts, basketball lovers, and football fans.
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Giant Wooden Tower
SWOOC
Best For: Competitive friends who like to make a lot of noise
Jenga, but super size it. Your favorite game now has a massive outdoor version that can be stacked over 4 feet tall for even more fun when you watch it tumble down.
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Spikeball Kit
Spikeball
Best For: The ultra-competitive players who want to be challenged in a tournament
If you haven’t heard of Spikeball, it’s time you did! With a full set that includes everything you need to play at a pro level (this set even includes one registration to the Spikeball Roundnet Association tournament), you’ll soon find yourself addicted to this fast-paced outdoor sport.
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Giant Yard Pong
Jumbo Pong
Best For: When the college nostalgia hits
Can you see a theme in our outdoor games? The infamous college-favorite party game comes alive in a bigger-than-life version that is perfect for the beach or tailgating. Just…maybe don’t fill these cups up with your favorite drink?
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Toss Across
Mattel
Best For: Family party games
You know Tic-Tac-Toe, but what if we add in a bit of hand-eye coordination? This game takes the aim of bag toss (or bags or cornhole, depending on where you live), and adds in the strategy of Xs and Os to create a fun outdoor game for the whole family.
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Giant Wooden Yard Dice
Swooc
Best For: Yahtzee players with a love of the sun
Made from solid pine, this set of giant dice is a quality addition to any game stash. Perfect as a unique host gift, you can play your favorite games or make them up (and the rules!) as you go.
Video Game Consoles
Whether you’re a fan of Mario or you like the fast-paced action of sports games, a new video game console is where you need to start! While we can’t make the decision for you, many of these systems allow you to play with friends both in-person and online, as well as sharing gaming experiences together on cross-platform games. No matter which one you choose, there’s a plethora of games just waiting for you to press Start.
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Nintendo Switch (OLED Model)
Nintendo
Nintendo’s latest foray into the console space, they’ve swapped their standard system for a handheld device that is lightweight, compact, and perfect to play your favorite Mario game, online or off.
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XBox Series X
Microsoft
Who remembers the Red Ring of Death from the old Xbox 360s? This is a highly upgraded gaming experience with lightning-fast load times and ultra-fast game play. For those who want more processing and gaming power, the Xbox Series X has true 4K streaming and 1TB of storage. Plus, you can stack on a Xbox Game Pass membership to download hundreds of your favorite games directly to your console or play with friends online!
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Playstation 5
Sony
Ah, the age old debate: Team Playstation or Team Xbox? For those lovers of rich graphics and adaptive gaming experiences, you’ve likely found yourself eyeing the PS5. Plus, we love the 3D audio and exceptionally fast load times.
Video Games
The best part about giving video games as gifts is that they unlock a gateway into exciting new worlds, adventures, and endless possibilities. No matter which console you play on, or whether it’s a highly anticipated sequel or a nostalgic classic, video games create an opportunity to share experiences as you play with friends, get lost exploring virtual worlds, expand your creativity, and even sharpen motor skills and coordination. They’re not just a gift, but rather hours of entertainment that can create lasting memories!
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Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Nintendo
It’s time to get back into your go-carts! Mario Kart 8 welcomes the return of all of the tracks from the Wii U version with a 4-player multiplayer that allows you to play with your friends together in your living room. Plus, with a new Smart Steering feature, kids, novices, and adults alike can play together—no experience needed.
Available on: Nintendo
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Astro Bot
Sony Interactive Entertainment
A fun galactic adventure, Astro must collect pieces of his smashed spaceship throughout the universe and rescue his crew. It’s a multi-level, platform game with bosses and enenmy robots galore.
Available on: Playstation
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Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Nintendo
In the most in-depth Animal Crossing game yet, you can build your community from scratch, customize your character, and even terraform the land itself. Even better, this newest addition to the Animal Crossing family introduces a new crafting system for hours of stress-reducing fun.
Available on: Nintendo
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Call of Duty: Black OPS 6
Activision
Set in the early ‘90s amid the end of the Cold Water, Black Ops 6 brings back its signature single-player Campaign, and of course, online Multiplayer with 16 new maps.
Bonus: Zombies returns with two brand-new maps to take down hordes of the undead!
Available for: Xbox, Playstation, PC
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Star Wars Outlaws
Ubisoft
Complete high-stakes missions. Live the life of an outlaw. Soar through the galaxy on your ship, Trailblazer. The open world concept is yours to explore with outdoor landscapes endless exploration…all while crafting your reputation throughout the galaxy.
Available on: Playstation, Xbox
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Diablo IV
Blizzard Entertainment
Harkening back to the game feel of Diablo II, Blizzard’s latest installment of Diablo is dark, shadowy, and filled with character building and combat. While this does require internet and a Battle.net account, you can also play locally with your friends as you level characters, collect dungeon spoils, and follow the immersive storyline to the very end.
Bonus: The game is cross-platform so you can join friends on any console or PC!
Available on: Playstation, Xbox, PC
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Madden 25
Electronic Arts
Back with its 25th(!) installment, the classic Madden game features the most realistic graphics yet with enhanced gameplay, including player movements that are about as real as it gets. For sports fans, this is a must-have.
Available on: Playstation, Xbox
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Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
SquARE ENIX
The long-awaited new story in the Final Fantasy VII remake project, this game includes new elements as the party journeys to The Forgotten Capital. This Amazon Exclusive Edition even contains a limited edition Controller Skin featuring Cloud and Sephiroth.
Available on: Playstation
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Sonic X Shadow GEnerations
SEGA
Old meets new in Sonic Generations. In a greatest-hits collection that includes 3D and 2D versions of familiar Sonic games, this campaign requires that Modern Sonic and Classic Sonic team up to defeat Dr. Eggman and the Time Eater!
Available on: Playstation
