This screen has excellent colors and contrasts and is hailed as easy to set up. If you want a great monitor that can do everything at 1ms, this is the way to go. Game consoles are almost impossible to find this year, so why not build one yourself? You can do this with a Raspberry Pi, a cheap $45 computer that’s Gaming Rewards about the size of a card game. Hades was released in late 2020, but multiple “Game of the Year” wins prove it’s still worth offering in 2021 and beyond. Dubbing and scoring take players through a story with twists and turns, making it a game in which Wirecutter employees have invested hundreds of hours.
If mom is gaming time and streaming on Twitch, keeping an eye on a Discord, or just needs a quick way to switch between apps or shortcuts, the Elgato Stream Deck is a no-brainer. This desktop controller has 15 programmable LCD buttons and works with software services such as Twitch and YouTube, as well as 4KCU, OBS, and StreamLabs. There’s also a ton of third-party plugin support and it’s available in black or white.
The latest Mario Party title is the perfect game to play with the person you’re giving it to. It brings back several classic maps from the Nintendo 64 era, as well as many new ones. Players will love to compete against each other and play 100 hilarious mini-games as they race to collect the most stars. While they’re pretty detailed and true to the popular Halo franchise, these cheap action figures aren’t meant to be collected and placed in a storefront.
So with a 12-month subscription, you’ll connect them with a year of good times on their console. Buying a 12-month Xbox Live Gold subscription essentially gives friends and family a year of content for their Xbox One. Every month, Xbox Live Gold members get free games, play online titles, chat with friends, and much more. Without Gold, the Xbox One is pretty useless for a dedicated gamer. Modern games have a cinematic sound design, but many people have speakers or headphones that don’t do it justice. When it’s time to upgrade, the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 THX are our favorite computer speakers with a subwoofer.
It also has illumination on the DPI indicator and logo that can be customized to fit everyone’s style. The Backbone is a controller that wraps around an iPhone and turns it into a portable game console as comfortable to play as any PlayStation or Xbox controller. This is a great option for anyone who is still playing games on their phone. It has all the typical buttons you can find on any modern controller, as well as buttons to record gameplay and launch the free Backbone app, which provides a unified way to access all your mobile games.
My friend then created a WhatsApp group with my friends and family and shared the list so they could tell if they were interested in buying me a game for my birthday. Game Pass Ultimate also allows players to stream more than 100 games to their Android phones or tablets, and it includes an EA Play subscription. And if it turns out that the recipient already has a subscription, he can add the free months to his current account. A gaming mouse offers faster response times, ergonomic and customizable buttons, and better accuracy, making it a great gift for anyone who spends a lot of time on a PC.
They offer a great chance to get away from standard Christmas themes, and Hallmark also covers a related sci-fi field with Star Trek and Stranger Things ornaments. The new Pokémon Snap is the perfect gift for Pokémon lovers of all ages. Unlike the turn-based combat of the main series, Snap focuses on taking research photos, learning about these creatures, and appreciating them in their beautiful natural environment. We particularly like the chill, immersive gameplay and the pacifist and ecological message.
And this will be especially useful if they go home after college (they won’t gobble up the TV in the living room) or if they move into a dormitory with a shared lounge. When it comes to devices that are actually gaming accessories, smart bulbs are at the top of the list of great gift ideas for gamers. These phone-controlled lights, often color-changing, allow players to change their surroundings without leaving their comfortable gaming seats.
Streaming gameplay on Twitch isn’t just fun, but some people really make a living from it, and they can also create videos for YouTube. If you know someone who loves Stardew Valley, bring their farm to life with this charming table version. It’s a cooperative experience for one to four players, and the board and many pieces are just as cute as the original. Whether you’re giving someone a new Nintendo Switch for the holidays or want to give them a new game, we recommend Metroid Dread.