Shopping for a Christmas present this holiday season for someone into gaming might sound like an easy task at first, but one quick Google search reveals the hundreds of thousands of choices, both merch and computer parts, related to video games for someone to buy. Since gaming is a huge hobby with endless niches, buying a single gift (especially on a budget) can become a major chore.
This list provides some options for gifts that are sure to please any gamer, though it is best to have some idea of how equipped someone’s gaming desk is before buying them something for it. A long-time gamer would likely already have their ideal gaming set up, and might appreciate art or a collectible more than another microphone.
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Table of contents
Microphone Boom Arm
For most PC gamers, half the fun of playing comes from chatting with friends during a game on Discord. Some players may just use their headset microphone (don’t worry, there’s an upgrade for that further down the list), but plenty of players use a USB microphone that sits on the desk. This type of microphone is great, but its spot on the desk can take up space and cause audio issues when too close to a clicking mouse or clackety keyboard.
A Microphone boom arm solves all of these issues by allowing the USB microphone to hover in the air at any position the user wants. This is the sort of upgrade many gamers might not think of, but once you have this professional feeling set up, it’s impossible to go back.
Pros
- Can elevate someone’s gaming set up
- Easy to set up
Cons
- Needs to be compatible with specific microphones
- Can be expensive, depending on the brand
Tubbz Rubber Duck
Funko pop vinyls aren’t as popular anymore, and anyone into gaming and pop culture has likely been gifted their fair share of the square headed figures over the last decade. For a comparable gift in both spirit and budget, Tubbz rubber ducks are the solution. These classic rubber duck figures have a huge range of gaming franchises to choose from, like Mortal Kombat, Five Nights at Freddy’s, Tomb Raider, Skyrim, and Mass Effect. This Lara Croft rubber duck in particular, with her classic pixelated face, would be the perfect gift for lovers of retro games.
Pros
- Lower cost
- Visually fun and unique
Cons
- Some gamers may not want any more desk clutter
USB Microphone
A major upgrade for any PC gamer is a better microphone. Headset mics are serviceable, and some higher end ones can have great sound quality, but they’re still generally outpaced by USB microphones. For any gamer that might have a fledgling PC set up, the Blue Yeti USB microphone is a fantastic choice. Whether they want to stream on Twitch or just chat with friends, the Yeti Blue does it all. While there are better USB microphones on the market, few beat the Yeti Blue in terms of affordability and online resources to best calibrate it for whatever the user needs.
Pros
- Simple upgrade for the gaming experience
- Blue Yeti is low cost for the quality
Cons
- Need to know what equipment someone already has (to avoid gifting something redundant)
Desk Mat
Gifting a new desk mat to a gamer is never a bad choice, especially when it has art from their favorite game. Plenty of developers sell desk mats straight from their own websites, and sites like fangamer are a treasure trove for indie game merch, especially Balatro, UNDERTALE, Hollow Knight, and RimWorld.
If any of those options are too specific, getting a retro desk mat like this Pac-Man level or NES controller-inspired mat will make any gamer happy.
Pros
- Simple, low cost gift
Cons
- Can be difficult to find high-quality art, especially from specific games
Cookbook
While not directly related to their gaming experience, a cookbook can be a fun way to incorporate someone’s favorite game into their everyday life. This gift is especially good for gamers who seem to have everything they could need for decor and gaming accessories.
Official cookbooks like “The Official Stardew Valley Cookbook” and “Minecraft: Gather, Cook, Eat!” are great choices for cozy game lovers, while “Fallout: The Vault Dweller’s Official Cookbook” and “The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook” would hit the spot for gamers with a hearty appetite.
Pros
- Low cost, fun gift
- Won’t clutter up a crowded gaming desk
Cons
- Recipes can wildly vary in quality from book to book
Steam Gift Card
Gift cards always feel like a cop out gift, but in the pursuit of making a gamer happy, a Steam gift card might be better than any other gift. Versatile and easy, gamers will be able to choose whichever game strikes their fancy. Unless you’re absolutely sure what game someone might want, giving them the power to choose is the best choice.
Pros
- Allows someone to choose exactly what they want
- Doesn’t expire
Cons
- May seem impersonal
- Less fun than giving a physical gift
Art Prints
Similar to desk mats and cookbooks, art prints inspired by someone’s favorite game are a great way to buy something completely unique and personal. Etsy is a great place to find art, though one should exercise caution to avoid potential low-effort AI prints that have flooded the site in recent months. Trending games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have inspired plenty of amazing artist (this print in particular will strike a cord with fans of the French title) and gaming classics like Five Nights at Freddy’s have dedicated fan bases still creating art (like this stunning lithograph).
If you don’t want to spend too much time on Etsy, Displate is another great source for gaming inspired wall art, like this stained glass Witcher 3 piece.
Pros
- Unique and special decor
- Supports small artists
Cons
- May have to sort through low-effort, AI art to find quality art prints
- Preferences for art can be specific
Published: Dec 10, 2025 01:01 pm