A fresh new year is upon us. That means new resolutions, new game deals, and new gifts.
And, seeing as we’re upstanding members of the internet community and just so darn nice, we’ve put together a list of products that should put a smile on the face of any video game enthusiast that you know.
We’ve tried to stay away from your bog standard, run-of-the-mill products and gifts here and recommend some more specialised gifts that have a bit more thought and effort baked into them like a fresh batch of cookies.
Titan Gaming Chair – £300+ – Secret Lab
If you really want to go above and beyond for the Gamer in your life, you’d make their day and then some by splashing out on a visually pleasing and lumbar cushioning gaming chair from L-shaped furniture specialists, Secret Lab.
Having just purchased one myself after spending years contorting my back on a broken wooden chair with a leg ready to buckle, I can confidently say that while pricey, they are worth their weight in leather.
The Titan series is their current line of chairs which all feature a number of customisable options. There are also special editions that are stylised with different eSports teams’ colours and logos, as well as things like Harry Potter, Cyberpunk, Superman, DOTA, Overwatch, and more.
To really go the extra mile for the Gamer in your life, a Secret Lab chair will put you in your friend’s good books for a very long time.
Cable Guy – £20-£30 – Various
Now I’m not one to dabble in a novelty gift, in fact quite the contrary. I steer as clear as possible from the “joke gift” that serves only to clutter the recipient’s dwelling for the next X amount of months before they finally muster the courage to flail it into the trash in a stupor of apathy.
My own feelings aside, I feel like while the Cable Guys could tread the line of this category of gift, they at the very least have some kind of practical function, even if it is a very basic one.
There’s a number of different designs that you can find on a variety of sites, and you’re bound to find one that will please the lucky person on your list.
From Crash Bandicoot to Master Chief, there’s a Guy for everyone.
NES Cartridge Coasters – £5.95 – Gloriously Geeky
A bit more of a novelty gift, but still falling in this “useful” category, these funky, gaming-inspired coasters make a great, smaller gift for the gamer in your life.
Shaped like the ancient relics themselves, these table protectors are adorned with the likes of Nintendo classics like Super Mario Brothers, The Legend of Zelda, Duck Hunt, and Metroid.
They won’t change anyone’s lives by any means, but they’re a nice little present to give. Amazon also has some Game Boy coasters that are equally as awesome (awesome as far as coasters go anyway).
GameChops – Zelda & Chill Remaster LP (Vinyl) – £29.99 – Zavvi
Now this is a much more specific gift as it’s dependent on the recipient’s ability to play vinyl records, but if they do have such a retro machine at hand, this remaster of lo-fi The Legend of Zelda inspired tracks will simultaneously satisfy their gaming and musical thirst.
I mean, there’s nothing to stop you just going to the Gamechops YouTube channel and listening to the same playlist on there, but it’s the thought that counts right?
Featuring a series of well-known songs from a variety of entries in the Zelda franchise like Song of Storms, Dragon Roost Island, and Gerudo Valley, all mixed with the sleepy hip hop beats that lo-fi music is famous for.
Displate Metallic Poster £35-£120 – Displate
I’m a sucker for posters and wall art, and few companies do it better than Displate.
Common places like Amazon have plenty of posters for sale, but Displate takes it to another level. Beyond standard art from video games, Displate features some truly unique artwork from video games, as well as other nerd culture like Star Wars, Anime, Marvel/DC, and D&D to name but a few.
Like Secret Lab, you can choose from a number of different sizes and add on different frames. Displate also features a hanging mechanism that uses magnets, meaning you can swap artwork in and out, and you get minimal to zero damage on your abode’s walls.
Gaming in Concert – £20-£60 – Royal Albert Hall London
A much more personal and involved gift (although if you’re not in the UK, this might not be the most accessible gift), tickets to see Gaming in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London is quite the experience for all manner of gamers, from casual to hardcore.
Taking place on June 2nd 2022, the famous musical venue will play host to iconic video game tunes from series like Super Mario, World of Warcraft, Halo, The Legend of Zelda, and many more.
For any video game music aficionados, this is quite the treat.
Super Mario 3D Fridge Magnets – £14 – Amazon
Having not long moved house, I’ve quickly found that outside of my gaming room, there’s very, very few places where my significant other is happy for me to express my fondness for all creatures 8bit and 4k. One such sanctuary however, is the face of the fridge.
Take to the cold canvas as an artist with these extra special 3D Super Mario magnets that allow you to build a Mario scene using the ? Blocks, Goombas, and the plumber himself.
There’s also some 2D magnet sets, as well as some other designs like Star Wars and Minecraft.
Sakai Jacket – £75 – Insert Coin Clothing
For the Gamer who possesses a stylish flair and a flamboyant streak, there’s a small handful of dedicated stores and websites that are committed to providing video game inspired clothing and apparel, with Insert Coin being one of them.
This sleek and stylish bomber jacket is emblazened with Ghosts of Tsushima imagery, and it blends standout fashion with just the right amount of video game influences to show people you can pick one heck of an outfit but also parry swords with the best of samurai around.
Other good websites to check out for video game clothing are Redbubble, J!NX, Zavvi, and PixelPlug.
