You’ve probably heard this already, but it’s important enough to repeat: You’ll want to start your holiday shopping early this year. Between supply chain issues and shifting holiday shipping deadlines, if you don’t get those hard-to-find gifts early this year, you run the risk of not being able to find the best gifts to give at the prices you want this holiday.
That’s especially true when it comes to the Sony PlayStation 5, one of this year’s hottest gaming systems. Though it was released more than a year ago, the new console remains in incredibly short supply. And the new Nintendo Switch OLED Model sold out almost immediately when it was released back in October.
Walmart restocked the PS5 and the Xbox Series X on Nov. 22, as part of the third drop of their Black Friday “Deals for Days” event and paid Walmart Plus subscribers, were able to get in line starting for a chance to get your hands on these popular gaming consoles but it sold out pretty quickly.
We’ve also found this year’s hottest gaming consoles available on third-party resale site StockX. You’ll pay a premium over the PS5’s $500 suggested retail price to get one, but it’s the most cost effective way we’ve found to guarantee a PS5 console under the Christmas tree this year. Plus, with links to Amazon below, you can also check their PS5 stock with a quick click or tap — you never know when you might get lucky with a random restock.
In addition to this year’s hottest consoles, we’ve found a selection of other great gifts — some on sale now for Cyber Monday! — that any gamer on your list is sure to love, from high-quality gaming headphones to the gear they need to become the next Twitch streaming superstar.
Here are the best gaming-focused holiday gifts they’re sure to love.
Looking for even more gift inspiration? Don’t miss the best gift ideas in our 2021 Holiday Gift Guide. Ensure your gifts arrive on time by reviewing the important shipping deadlines.
Gaming consoles like the Microsoft Xbox Series S All-Digital 512 GB Console are some of the biggest hot ticket items this shopping season. Score one for only $480 at Walmart’s Cyber Monday sale event.
$580$480
The Sony PlayStation 5 retails for $499, but finding it in stores for your favorite gamer at that price is a serious challenge. If you’re determined to pay no more than list price, you’ll want to hit the “check stock now” button below to try your luck in catching a random restock. Or, you can pick up a PS5 from resale site StockX — they’re available to buy today, but you’ll pay a premium.
$500
$746 AND UP
If PC gaming calls for a VR headset in your house, this one from Oculus has ergonomic design and easily translates your movements into VR and quick movements appear in VR with intuitive, realistic precision.
$699$599
These days, anyone can download games directly to their consoles. It’s convenient, but there’s a drawback: PlayStation games tend to be huge, meaning you can only fit a limited number on a single console. This large, 4TB external hard drive solves that problem.
$150$100
The Xbox Series S is currently in limited stock at Amazon. For the best gaming, pair it with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
$369 AND UP
The great thing about the Nintendo Switch is that it’s a console that doubles as a portable system. You can start a round of ‘Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’ on the living room TV, and then finish it on the plane ride to see the family for the holidays. Very cool.
$365 AND UP
If you’re gifting a PS5, you’ll want to add-on a one-year membership to PlayStation Plus: It’ll let them play online with friends and loved ones, while also giving them access to new free games to play every month.
$60
For every gaming monitor, a gamer needs a gaming keyboard. Not only does this PC gaming keyboard have more than 26,000 five-star reviews for quality gaming sessions, it also has RGB lighting and ergonomic design to keep any gaming enthusiast comfortable.
$40$24
You’ll want to pick up a microSDXC memory card for that new Switch to take advantage of all the great indie games available for download on the Nintendo eShop. This Nintendo-branded, 256GB card is large enough to hold tons of games, but not too big that it breaks the bank.
$53$40
Like the PS5, the next-generation Xbox Series X console (with reverse compatibility, a 1TB SSD and 4K resolution) is in seriously short supply. Again, your choices are to try and get lucky with a restock, or to pick up the console at a premium on StockX.
$500
$730 AND UP
If you know someone who is interested in streaming on Twitch, check out the Elgato Game Capture HD60 S+. This unique gift allows them to record gameplay footage from their favorite console on their PC, and stream their gameplay live online with 2160p60 passthrough resolution.
$200$150
If you’re serious about multiplayer gaming, a quality set of headphones is a -have gaming accessory. This highly-reviewed headset from HyperX has great 7.1 surround sound, memory foam ear cushions for a comfortable fit and a detachable mic. Plus, this gift is compatible with all the major gaming systems.
$130$80
Xbox gift cards can be used to buy thousands of games, apps, movies, and TV shows. Even if you don’t own an Xbox console, the credit from Xbox gift cards can be redeemed online in the Microsoft Store to buy games and movies on a Windows PC.
$10 AND UP
Want to make the gift of a Nintendo Switch even more memorable for your younger gamer? Upgrade to a collectible Switch, such as this Animal Crossing: New Horizons Edition, for the same price. Just sure to pick up a copy of their favorite game too while you’re at it — it’s not included!
$345 AND UP
The PlayStation, Xbox and Switch don’t just play video games — all of these consoles can stream shows and movies as well. We recommend a gift card from Amazon to the streaming service Hulu so they can watch their favorite shows without a cable subscription.
$25
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