While you might think it’s simple to buy a gift for a gamer, you need to know first what console they use as well as what type of games they like. If you don’t know these specific details, do your best to find out, or look for a tech gift that they’ll probably love no matter how and what they play.
Audeze Custom Aydan Maxwell Gaming Headset
The Audeze custom Aydan Edition Maxwell gaming headset is wireless, has been battle tested by Aydan, and is available in a PlayStation version. Who is Aydan? He’s known as one of the “best Call of Duty: Warzone players on the planet,” based on his early experiences with World of Warcraft where he played as “Alliance.” The gold and white colors and halo are inspired by the Aydan’s time playing the Paladin class in World of Warcraft. Serious gamers will appreciate that the headphones feature FILTER lag-free A.I.-powered noise reducing microphone technology, ultra-low-latency wireless connectivity, Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio and LDAC, the latest 90mm planar magnetic drivers for clarity and bass, game-chat mix, advanced gaming presets, and personalized multi-band EQ. It’s comfortable to wear for long gaming sessions thanks to the spring-steel headband and adjustable suspension strap. The reinforced dual chamber earcups provide passive noise isolation.
Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 Gaming Monitor (G95SC)
If they play PC gaming or need a larger monitor to connect a gaming console to, the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 gaming monitor measures 49 inches with a 1800R curvature and offers Dual Quad High Definition (5,120 x 1,440) resolution with a 32:9 ratio. The large and wide screen ratio is equivalent to two QHD screens side by side. The rapid 0.03ms gray-to-gray (GtG) response time and 240Hz refresh rate offer players a competitive edge. The Neo Quantum Processor Pro uses a deep learning algorithm to intelligently analyze images and automatically upscale them to adjust brightness while amplifying contrast. AMD FreeSync Premium Pro further enhances the smooth gameplay experience. With DisplayHDR True Black 400, the monitor delivers sharp details and vivid colours regardless of the game being played. With a slim design housed in a sleek metal frame, the back of the monitor has CoreSync and Core Lighting+ to match the colours on-screen, making content more immersive. Built-in stereo speakers complement on-screen content with crisp sound. Equipped with Samsung Gaming Hub and smart TV apps, they’ll get access to streaming, gaming services, and entertainment all in one place. Watch favourite shows from leading OTT (over-the-top) service providers without a connection to a PC or mobile device. Samsung Gaming Hub also allows for discovering and playing games from partners such as Xbox Game Pass and NVIDIA GeForce Now without downloads or storage space requirements. The Multi View offering allows for game play on up to two screens at once without needing multiple monitors. It has HDMI 2.1 and microHDMI 2.1, Display Port 1.4, and Auto Source Switch+, all from a central USB hub; and comes with a Height Adjustable Stand (HAS) so you can find the perfect gaming or viewing position.
Razer BlackWidow V3 Mechanical Keyboard, Barracuda X Multi-Platform Wireless Headset, and Orochi V2 Mobile Wireless Mouse
Go for the ultimate gaming bundle with the Razer BlackWidow V3 mechanical keyboard, Barracuda X multi-platform wireless headset, and Orochi V2 mobile wireless mouse, all co-branded with Roblox. For those who don’t know, that’s the online gaming platform that many teens and tweens love to play (and create) with. Each product in the collection features Roblox’s iconic logo and comes with an exclusive virtual item that can be redeemed through a code on Roblox. The Razer Orochi V2 ($125) is a compact and lightweight wireless mouse that is ideal for smaller hands (read: kids). With both Razer HyperSpeed Wireless and Bluetooth, gamers can move easily through virtual worlds. The Razer Orochi V2 – Roblox Edition includes a virtual Razer Cyberpack. The Razer BlackWidow V3 keyboard ($250) features durable Green clicky mechanical switches for positive, tactile feedback, enhancing the virtual experience. Outfitted with white UV-coated ABS keycaps and Razer Chroma RGB lighting, you can customize this keyboard to your liking. The Razer BlackWidow V3 – Roblox Edition includes a pair of virtual Razer Cyber Wings.
Finally, the Razer Barracuda X ($180) is a light, comfortable, multi-platform wireless headset compatible with PC, console, and mobile devices. With up to 50 hours of battery life, you can enjoy enhanced audio conversations with friends and immerse yourself in Roblox for lengthy gaming sessions without having to recharge the headset. The Razer Barracuda X – Roblox Edition includes a virtual Razer Cyber Helmet. The entire package will set you back $555 or you can get them started with one item and save the others for future occasions, like birthdays.
Meta Quest 3 Mixed Reality Headset
How can you make the gaming experience more immersive? With VR and other similar experiences, of course. The new Meta Quest 3 mixed reality headset, which starts at $650, enables interesting experiences, like being able to play a virtual piano on your coffee table or open a portal to another dimension in your living room. The high-fidelity, full colour passthrough keeps physical surroundings in sight with 10 times more pixels than with the Meta Quest 2. Double tap the side of the Meta Quest 3 headset to seamlessly transition between a fully immersive experience and a blended environment with virtual elements overlaid on your physical surroundings. Get double the graphic processing power of the Meta Quest 2 with the new Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 platform, developed in collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies. Load times are fast, says Meta, while details are crisp in all types of experiences, from puzzles to space exploration, sports, and more. The 4K+ Infinite Display achieves a nearly 30% leap in resolution compared to Meta Quest 2. It also has a slimmer profile thanks to the next-gen pancake lens optical stack, which gives Quest 3 a 40% slimmer optic profile compared to Quest 2. There are two displays (2,064 × 2,208 resolution) per eye. Quest 3’s redesigned, thinner profile features a more customizable fit and balanced weight distribution than Quest 2. The soft, adjustable straps, meanwhile, make it easy to wear the headset over glasses or to adjust them to fit your hairstyle or even face shape. This headset also supports spatial audio, offering enhanced sound clarity and bass performance plus a 40% louder audio range than Quest 2.
JBL Quantum 910X Wireless Headset for Xbox
If you usually find your gamer loved one tucked in the basement playing Call of Duty with friends, grab them the JBL Quantum 910X wireless headset, which is optimized for use with Xbox gaming consoles. At $400, it features active noise cancelling and up to 37 hours of battery life with the dongle or up to 42 hours via Bluetooth. You can also charge it as you play using the included USB cable. With JBL Dual Source, communicate with two sources at the same time, like chatting with friends while playing the game, or even listening to a music playlist that will get you going for a campaign. Game audio-chat dual allows for balancing the audio levels for the best experience possible, while the flip-up-to-mute boom mic can be used when the chatter and trash talking gets to be too much. Lightweight and durable, this premium leather wrapped headset is designed to be worn for long gaming sessions. The headset is optimized for Xbox, but you can use it with other consoles, too.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
Speaking of Call of Duty, did you know Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III starting shipping in early November? You might not, but it’s guaranteed that a gamer on your list who loves that franchise knows all too well about it. If for whatever reason they haven’t picked it up yet, run (don’t walk) to grab them a copy. The game story picks up right after the events in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II so they can continue playing a seamless game. Along with a full campaign that includes various cinematic experiences, there’s also free-form open combat missions, perfect for connecting with buds online and chatting while taking on rival teams together. The game features modernized maps from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which was released way back in 2009, and 12 new core 6v6 maps. It’s available for Xbox, PlayStation Steam, and Battle.net with various packages and bundles.
Amazon Luna Cloud Gaming Service and Controller
The Amazon Luna cloud gaming service along with the Luna controller offers a new way to game on supported devices like the Fire TV. Prime members, meanwhile, get access to Luna titles every month, included with their membership. Stream console-quality games ranging from casual to retro classics and AAA titles. Prime members get access to a rotating selection of games each month. The Luna Controller ($90) is designed and optimized for cloud gaming, connecting directly to the cloud via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to control your game and minimize gameplay latency. Luna+ is $13 per month and includes a selection of games across every genre and for all ages, including titles like Sonic Mania Plus, Beach Buggy Racing 2: Hot Wheels Edition, Spongebob: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated and Resident Evil 2. The Ubisoft+ plan ($23/mo.) includes access to AAA titles like Assassin’s Creed, Watch Dogs, Tom Clancy, and Far Cry. Then, there’s the Jackbox Games plan for $6.50/mo. that includes games only available on Luna, like Quiplash, Trivia Murder Party, and Drawful. Luna Couch makes it possible to play with others. Enjoy local co-op games together with friends on Luna, like Overcooked!, Pile Up, Death Squared, the Contra Anniversary Collection, and the Jackbox Party Pack. Luna is available on compatible devices including Fire TV, Fire tablets, Windows PCs, Chromebooks, Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Android phones.
JBL Quantum Stream USB Dual-Condenser USB Microphone
If they love to play online with others, 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 condensers 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 to capture your narration if you’re recording audio for your gaming YouTube channel or other social site. Tap the top button to mute, which will activate an RGB indicator light for ease of use when in the middle of a battle. 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.
TFY Car Headrest Mount for Nintendo Switch
Remember back in the day when portable DVD players were all the rage? Families would mount them to the back of their headrests in the car so kids could watch movies during road trips and parents could enjoy at least 80 minutes of silence. Oh, how far we’ve come. Now, parents of gamers let their kids bring along a portable gaming machine like the Nintendo Switch. Instead of playing while the screen is in their lap or handheld, grab this convenient car headrest to mount it in front of them, at eye level, for a more comfortable experience as they hold just the controllers. The headrest fits not only the Nintendo Switch but other tablets as well, so they can use it for watching movies, too. At $22, this useful accessory is super cheap. It’s as much a gift for parents as it is for kids. You’re welcome.
Samsung 4TB SSD 990 Pro Series
If they have tons of game titles that take up tons of room, especially when they need to save all their progress, they’ll need a separate hard drive to store it all. With the Samsung 990 Pro, they’ll never run out of a room. The high-performance PCIe 4.0 SSD is powered by Samsung’s eighth-generation V-NAND V8 technology, offering blazing fast speeds and wonderful power efficiency. It’s optimized for massive data volumes, including high quality games. Their jaws will drop at the sequential read speeds of up to 7.450 MB/s and write speeds of up to 6,900MB/s. The nickel coating on the controller and heat spreader label on the back side ensure that it doesn’t overheat. It’s about US$345, so should run for about $475 in Canada.
Arcade1Up Street Fighter II Deluxe
Gamers come in all types, from console gamers to mobile gamers and PC gamers. But I think every gamer can agree on the fact that arcade machines are so darned cool. For older gamers, they bring back memories of visiting the local arcade with a pocket full of quarters to burn trying to get the high score. For the new generation, it’s so retro chic, and something they learned about from shows like Stranger Things. Street Fighter is a game that never gets old, and this Deluxe edition will keep gamers engaged and on their feet for a change. A throwback to the ‘90s, it’s inspired by the Dynamo HS-5 cabinet shape but inside, it boasts modern technologies. That includes built-in Wi-Fi for multiplayer and leaderboard capabilities. It comes loaded with 10 Capcom games along with dual speakers, a 17-inch BOE monitor, lit marquee, and faux molded coin door: don’t worry, no quarters needed to play!
BioWorld Merch
There’s nothing gamers love more than merch, especially when it’s free! Get them some cool Bioworld merchandise that celebrates their favourite video games, characters, consoles, or simply their love of gaming in general. There’s something for everyone, from the Zelda Tears of the Kingdom pre-curved bill snapback baseball hat to the Minecraft double-sided creeper fleece throw blanket and a set of five Magic the Gathering 2 oz. tall shooter glasses. Pricing varies, and you can easily grab a few items and set up a gaming gift basket, or fill their stocking with tons of cool stuff.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder Video Game
Available exclusively for the Nintendo Switch, the Super Mario Bros. Wonder video game is a new one any kid or avid gaming adult will love. Selling for $80, it’s a classic Mario side-scrolling game that takes place in The Flower Kingdom. Pipes come alive, characters morph into other looks, and there are other Wonder Effects that make the game both fun and unpredictable. Play alone or with friends and family.
HP Victus Gaming Laptop
Surprise them with a gaming laptop like this one, which sells for a cool $1,200. They can use it for everyday work during the day, but come night-time and the weekends, it’s gaming time! Running Windows 11 Home with an Intel Core i5 processor, it’s equipped with 8GB RAM and 512GB storage. The 15.6-inch 1,920 x 1,080 HD display comes with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050 4GB graphics card to provide an immersive gaming experience. Get just under seven hours of battery life per charge, enough for a late-night gaming sesh. Of course, you can tweak the specs as needed, with pricing adjusted in kind.
Razer Hammerhead HyperSpeed Earbuds
Razer has introduced the Razer Hammerhead Hyperspeed, an audio companion for the Meta Quest virtual reality (VR) headset. The earbuds offer studio-grade audio fidelity combined with the virtual experience. This is thanks to Razer’s proprietary HyperSpeed technology and low latency. They can also be used outside of the Meta Quest alongside PCs, consoles, smartphones, and any other Bluetooth-enabled device. Active noise cancellation (ANC) is embedded to help eliminate external noises while Dual Environmental Noise Cancelling (ENC) microphones ensure that you’re heard with clarity, regardless of the environment. The buds boast an up to 30-hour battery life and come with a charging case. They employ an ergonomic in-ear design as well that’s designed for a stable and comfortable fit. MSRP of US$150.