The holidays can be so expensive. But they don't have to be. You can get the gamer in your life something truly special without breaking the bank. A lot of the time it seems like you can't get something good for anything less than the life of your firstborn child.
Having said that though, you really don't want to look like a cheapskate. 'Tis the season, you gotta put some heart into it! So, here's a guide to quality, gamer-friendly gifts that're $20 and under. Let's get started!
Pokemon Villain Emblem Set
Rating: 5/5 (5 reviews)
Price: $15.99
Buy it on: Amazon
This pin set features the symbols of six generations of Pokemon villain groups. These would make for excellent conversation starters, especially since they aren't particularly flashy. But they'd also be a nice, subtle way to tell someone that they need to make better life choices.
Retro-style Midgar Travel Poster
Rating: 5/5 (2 reviews)
Price: $7.00
Buy it on: Amazon
I'm gonna be honest here--no one should ever want to visit Midgar. There are no plants, there's junk everywhere, you can't see the sky, and the government drops entire sections of the city onto the slums below. But this poster is really cool, and your gamer buddy is sure to have fun pretending that Midgar is a real place. That they can avoid visiting.
Nintendo Selects Ocarina of Time
Rating: 4.5/5 (205 reviews)
Price: $20.00
Buy it on: Amazon
A classic game for just $20! But honestly, the "Nintendo Selects" line has plenty of great games for $20: Winder Waker, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, Donkey Kong Country Returns, Pikmin 3...you could pick any one of them and it's bound to be a hit when it's time to unwrap gifts. After all, what could be more gamer-friendly than an actual game?
D.VA Ballcap
Rating: N/A
Price: $19.99
Buy it on: Storenvy
Overwatch hasn't been out that long, but there's already a surprising amount of merchandise out there, especially for D.VA. There are certainly flashier D.VA-based items out there, but this cap makes a statement while keeping it classy--perfect for the gamer that's a bit of a fashionista.
Rosalina Amiibo
Rating: 4/5 (7 reviews)
Price: $12.96
Buy it on: Amazon
Hey, remember that time you saw the Super Smash Bros. Rosalina Amiibo in person? Of course you don't, it didn't happen. Rosalina's Smash Amiibo is an urban legend--there are pictures, but no one's sure it actually exists. At a reasonable price, at least.
Luckily, this Mario Party: Star Rush-compatible Amiibo is more widely available than the last one, so now you can give the gift of Rosalina this season without paying an astronomical amount of money.
Sea Salt Ice Cream Soap
Rating: 5/5
Price: $5.00
Buy it on: Etsy
Handmade vanilla buttercream-scented soap with a slightly salty finish -- just like the iconic Sea Salt ice cream in Kingdom Hearts. It may not be edible, but the shape alone is sure to recall times spent with friends, gazing at the sunset.
Pokemon Variants Fanzine
Rating: 5/5
Price: $10.00
Buy it on: Etsy
Long before Pokemon Sun and Moon introduced "Alolan forms," artists all across the internet were already coming up with their own Pokemon variants. This fanzine is basically a field notebook full of them. Creatures like "Cactus Bulbasaur" and "Foil Drifloon" are exercises in creativity that are cute, fun, and sure to delight.
Vault-Tec Collectible Bobbleheads
Rating: N/A
Price: $12.99
Buy it on: ThinkGeek
These Fallout bobbleheads are exactly like the stat-boosting ones you can find in the games! They don't actually improve a person's skills, though, so you don't have to worry about whoever you give it to becoming a lock-picking savant. Your secrets are safe for now.
Overwatch Bi-Fold Wallet
Rating: N/A
Price: $12.67
Buy it on: Hot Topic
This wallet is super sleek. When you whip this baby out, people will do a double take--"that ultra-stylish wallet couldn't possibly be from Overwatch, could it???" But it could! And it is. Form and function--the perfect gift.
I Am Kirby T-Shirt
Rating: N/A
Price: $12.67
Buy it on: Hot Topic
Listen. Everyone loves Kirby. Everyone loves Kirby. In light of this fact, the best thing you could possibly do for a gamer this season is get them the Kirby-est shirt you can find. That is to say,this shirt. Get them this shirt.
The Essential Pokemon Book of Joy
Rating: N/A
Price: $14.99
Buy it on: Amazon
As a wise man once said: "My Rattata is in the top percentage of Rattata."
But, joking aside, you can glean a surprising amount of life advice from the characters in the Pokemon franchise. This book compiles some inspiring quotes from the anime in particular and is sure to brighten even the darkest of days.
Ready Player 1 Heat-Change Mug
Rating: N/A
Price: $11.99
Buy it on: ThinkGeek
This mug is clever in a way that dishware has no right to be. Fill it up with coffee to start the "game," and drain it for "Game Over." This would be a great gift for anyone that uses a mug, let alone gamers.
I Am Kirby T-Shirt
Rating: 5/5 (20 Reviews)
Price: $13.75
Buy it on: Amazon
This graphic novel compiles the Mario comic strips that appeared in Nintendo Power magazine in the '90s. It had a shocking sense of drama a killer sense of humor but, up until now, there wasn't really any way to read them legally. But now is your chance to give the '90s nerd in your life something they'll truly appreciate.
Published: Nov 21, 2016 10:34 am