Whether they’re a serious gamer or someone who loves to play the occasional video game, there are some great gifts you can get for the gamer in your life.
Acer Chromebook 516 GE
As Acer’s first gaming computer, the Acer Chromebook 516 GE is powered by 12th Gen Intel Core processors, supports NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW game streaming service, and comes equipped with an RGB gaming keyboard. Cloud gamers can enjoy immersive visuals with the high-resolution WQXGA (2,560 x 1,600) IPS display and fast 120Hz refresh rate combined with the RGB keyboard with anti-ghosting technology and advanced DTS audio. Gamers have access to the latest full PC and console games such as Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077 on NVIDIA GeForce NOW, and Devil May Cry 5 on Amazon Luna. The Chromebook 516 GE uses 16GB LPDDR4X RAM and up to 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD storage to further boost responsiveness.
The 16-inch narrow-bezel and 16:10 aspect ratio vivid display brings immersive visuals to life, while the 100% sRGB colour gamut support delivers a wide range of accurate and vibrant colours, says Acer. Audibly, DTS audio delivers high-quality, distortion-free sound on the two upward-firing speakers and two downward-firing speakers. Unwanted sound vibrations are also eliminated by the force-canceling woofers that project in opposite directions. There are ports for connecting to larger displays and more, including dual USB Type C, USB Type A, HDMI, and Bluetooth 5.2 enabling wire-free accessory connections. With a nine-hour battery life and full HD flare-reducing webcam with temporal noise reduction technology, cloud gamers will salivate over this computer that comes, for a limited time, with a three-month free trial of NVIDIA GeForce NOW’s highest performance tier, and Amazon Luna so you can try out selected games at no cost. It starts at US$650; no word yet on Canadian pricing.
Acer Predator Triton 300 SE 14 OLED Gaming Laptop
Acer’s Predator line is known for its gaming laptops and the Predator Triton 300 SE 14 OLED is one of the newest models in the line. The portable 14-inch (2,880 x 1,800) OLED screen gaming laptop can handle AAA gaming and video/photo editing while being light and compact enough to take with you. The PT314-52s-95GB model comes equipped with an Intel Core i9-12900H CPU, Nvidia GeForce 3060 GPU, 32GB of RAM and 1TB SSD. It sells stateside for US$1,950.
JBL Quantum 400 Gaming Headset
Gamers who play online with friends, family members, or random folks in a popular game like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, will need a good gaming headset they can rely on for communicating and hearing clearly. The JBL Quantum 400 has a flip-up directional boom mic with auto on/off and mute features, a Game-Chat Balance Dial certified by Discord, and is optimized for PC gaming as well. Using the dashboard in the QuantumENGINE software, they can personalize the sound settings, create separate profiles and RGB effects. It’s a perfect match for gaming $150.
JBL Quantum One Pro Gaming Headset
For higher-level gamers, the JBL Quantum One gaming headset is a step-up. They offer premium features like active noise canceling with a USB dongle and while optimized for PC gaming, can be used with other gaming consoles as well, including PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X S. Equipped with a detachable, directional boom mic, there’s a mute button built right into the ear cup. It has the same game-chat balance dial that is Discord-certified and the same customization through JBL’s QunatumEngine PC software. Enjoy the addition of spatial sound as well for an ultra accurate and immersive sound experience. They can also create cool lighting effects using the built-in RGB effects tuner. $400
Hisense U78H TV
Available in 55-, 65-, and 75-inch, the Hisense U78H television will appeal to not only sports and movie buffs but also gamers. That’s thanks to features like Ultra Motion, and the Game Pro Mode that makes the TV more responsive to commands from the controller, recognizes gaming sequences and automatically optimizes display settings for a premium view. Ultra-high-speed HDMI ports, Auto Low Latency Mode and a 120Hz native refresh rate deliver fluid game play giving gamers instant response times with minimal motion blur and halo effect. The Hisense U78H Series price starts at $1,000.
HP Omen Gaming Laptop
At $1,850, the HP Omen gaming laptop is not a small investment. But for a serious gamer, it’ll be a welcome addition to the set-up. The high-performance is designed with ocean-bound plastics as well as recycled plastic and aluminum. Loaded with Windows 11 Home, AMD Ryzen 7, 16GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD, it has a 16.1-inch FHD and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060. With features like fast charge, the HP wide vision HD camera, and dual channel memory, it’s a gamer’s dream.
Creative Technology Sound Blaster Blaze V2 Gaming Headset
Creative Technology’s Sound Blaster Blaze V2 is a newer version of the Blaze gaming headset. With premium velvet padding on the earcups and headband, the lightweight gaming headset has precision-tuned 40 mm FullSpectrum Neodyminum drivers. Use the Creative app on Windows to access the Sound Blaster Studio Essential suite to enable sound processing technologies like virtualized 7.1 surround sound, acoustic engine, built-in audio presets for various gaming profiles, and more. It comes with a detachable, noise cancelling mic, gold-plated 3.5mm 4-pole combo jack, and copper wire. An inline remote provides instant access to volume adjustment and mic mute. U$35
JBL Quantum Stream USB Mic
The JBL Quantum Stream USB dual-condenser USB microphone ($140) can be used to coordinate with teammates. A reversible stand provides 360° movement, or mount in other ways. It has a pair of 14mm dual-capsule Electret condenser with 24-bit and 96kHz sampling rate. Two selectable voice pickup patterns allow you to focus the microphone’s capture on just the speaker’s voice or capture everyone’s voice in the room if recording a podcast or on a group call. Tap the top button to mute, which will activate an RGB indicator light for ease of use when in the middle of a battle or conference call. Set-up is simple with the universal mounting solution and voice monitoring control. Mount the stand to fit your gaming setup and control your voice volume directly on the microphone.
JBL TWS Wireless Gaming Headset
For gamers who prefer an in-ear, wire-free experience, there’s the JBL Quantum TWS ($230), which provides realistic JBL QuantumSURROUND for a spatial surround sound experience. This is combined with True Adaptive Noise Cancelling and Ambient Aware features to control outside noises and minimize distractions. The included USB-C dongle brings a low latency connection to players on a PC, Mac, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and supported mobile devices. The JBL Quantum TWS also supports two connections at the same time so players can connect to their preferred gaming device via USB-C dongle, plus a Bluetooth connection on a mobile device so they never miss a call. Because it’s lightweight, the JBL Quantum TWS can be worn for long gaming sessions. They are also IPX5 sweat resistant.
Audio-Technica ATH-GL3, ATH-GDL3 Gaming Headsets
The closed-back design of the Audio-Technica ATH-GL3 is designed to provide sound isolation for focusing on the game, while the open-back design of the ATH-GDL3 provides a more immersive listening experience. The large-diameter 45 mm drivers deliver high-resolution audio while the flexible and detachable boom microphone offers highly directional pickup, provides clear in-game voice communication among players. Each left earcup has a built-in volume control dial and a mute switch for convenient control of the microphone. Both headsets are compatible with all of the popular gaming systems, including PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch Lite, as well as laptops, PCs, and other devices with a standard 3.5 mm TRRS headset connector or with a separate mic input and headphone output. Included are two detachable cables: 3.0 m (9.8′) cable with 3.5 mm (1/8″) mic and headphone plugs for computers; 1.2 m (3.9′) cable with a 3.5 mm (1/8″) TRRS plug for PS5, Xbox Series X, and other gaming consoles. The closed-back ATH-GL3 is available for an MSRP of US$99, and the open-back ATH-GDL3 is available for MSRP of US$129.
Razer Kishi V2 Mobile Gaming Controller
Available for both Android and iPhone, the Razer Kishi V2 mobile gaming controller connects to either side of the smartphone to serve as handheld controllers for gaming from PC, Xbox, PlayStation, or other sources. Enjoy the ergonomic design and customizable triggers. Perfect for travel or gaming during road trips, at the hotel, or other downtime, it’s a great accessory that any gamer will love. Grab it for about $130.
ViewSonic Elite XG340C-2K Curved Gaming Monitor
With a sleek, curved design, the ViewSonic XG340X-2K curved gaming monitor features native 3,440 x 1,440 resolution, HDMI 2.1, 180Hz refresh rate, and USB-C. Offering ultra-smooth gameplay and lightning-fast response times, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro technology automatically synchronizes the monitor and GPU output to effortlessly reduce screen tearing and lag. The “Pro” in AMD FreeSync Premium Pro speaks to the HDR experience providing a combination of smooth gaming, low latency, and lifelike colours and contrast. The VESA-certified DisplayHDR400 delivers dynamic contrast and intense image quality. HDMI 2.1 means 4K at max refresh rate on PC and 120Hz gameplay on all modern consoles that support 120Hz output. It’s available for US$800.
Arcade1Up NFL Blitz Legends
For a gamer who also loves football, combine both those passions with the Arcade1Up NFL Blitz Legends retro arcade game. Perfect for the “man cave,” games room, den, or even garage, the arcade machine allows gamers to choose from hundreds of the greatest players in football as their on-screen characters, including Jerry Rice, Dan Marino, Deoin Sanders, and others. It includes everything from Hail Marys to interceptions, tackles, and touchdowns. The machine is US$600.
Arcade1Up PAC-MAN Bandai Namco Entertainment Legacy Edition
For gaming families looking to spark nostalgia and play together and blow off some steam after a long workday by chomping on some ghosts, the classic Pac-Man game can be at your fingertips with this ‘80s nostalgia machine. It includes a dozen games, including the original Pac-Man as well as Pac Land and Pac and Paul. Available for US$449, it’ll be a success at parties, too.
Skullcandy PLYR Multi-Platform Wireless Gaming Headset
Designed specifically for gamers, the Skullcandy PLYR multi-platform wireless gaming headset offers an impressive 24 hours of battery life plus rapid charging. Gamers will enjoy features like enhanced sound perception, the clear voice smart mic, and reliable Bluetooth 5.2 wireless technology. It’s also compatible with a 2.4GHz wireless transmitter, which you can buy separately. It’s a simple solution to keep in touch with friends while battling enemies in a video game that the gamer on your list will love. $160
Xbox Series X S
The hottest gaming consoles will be tough to find this holiday season, so you’ll want to grab one early for your gamer. Upgrade them from the old Xbox One, or even a previous-generation model, to the new Xbox Series X. It allows for both physical games and digital downloads and supports full 4K for a gloriously detailed image, when used with a 4K-capable source and TV, of course. With a massive 1TB SSD, they can store about 16 games. They’ll also enjoy 12 teraflops of graphics processing for the most true-to-life image they can imagine. With other features like advanced 3D spatial sound, USB and HDMI ports, and a super sleek design, you’ll become the favourite parents, aunt, uncle, or friend when investing in one of these. It’s $600 for the Xbox Series X, or you can opt for the step-down, digital-only Xbox Series S that’ll run you about $380.
Nintendo Switch Bundles
Nintendo is offering a variety of special bundles for the holidays. Starting November 20, select retailers and the My Nintendo Store online will offer the Nintendo Switch with neon blue and ney red Joy-Con controllers along with the full game download of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and a three-month subscription to Nintendo Switch online for $400. Several popular games, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and Mario Party Superstars will also be offered at special Black Friday pricing of $55 ea. Great for casual gamers, kids, and those who want a portable system they can play both at home and on the go, the Nintendo Switch remains one of the most popular gaming consoles around.