Our pick of the best gifts for gamers for Christmas 2026
Neo Geo AES+ Standard Edition
The original Neo Geo AES brought arcade-quality SNK games home, provided that home belonged to somebody with an alarming disposable income. The AES+ revives that wonderfully extravagant ritual with a full-size console, chunky cartridges, and old-school arcade controls, plus HDMI for modern TVs. It’s a hardware-faithful reworking that preserves the physical experience, and importantly, it accepts original AES cartridges and controllers. This Standard Edition includes one wired arcade stick, an HDMI cable, and a power supply, but no game. It’s gloriously specific, undeniably niche, and far more exciting than another nostalgia box preloaded with hundreds of games nobody actually chose.
Back to Analogue
Alongside HDMI, the original AV output lets purists connect to period-accurate, chunky TVs. Display switches handle language, overclocking, and picture modes, giving collectors more control than the familiar shell might initially suggest.
Stick Around
Original 15-pin AES controllers work with the new console, and its included wired arcade stick plugs into vintage hardware. Preservation neatly runs both ways, with satisfyingly chunky buttons everywhere.
Memory Lane
Add the separately sold memory card, and high scores survive power-downs, preserving hard-won bragging rights. Without it, every leaderboard triumph disappears when the console is switched off for the night.
Asus ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDN
Asus’ unapologetic ultrawide is built to make fast games look indecently fluid. Its 34in, 3440×1440 Tandem RGB QD-OLED panel runs at 360Hz, with a 1800R curve wrapping the action into view. And yes, the right recipient will absolutely care about all those numbers. Oh, and it’s practical, too, with a USB-C that delivers up to 90W to a laptop.
Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI
Big gaming power no longer requires a laptop the size of an aircraft carrier. This sub-19mm(!) machine offers up to Intel’s beefy Core Ultra 9 386H and GeForce RTX 5070 graphics, fronted by a 16in 2K OLED display running at up to 165Hz. Impressive specs, considering it slips easily into a bag without immediately dislocating either one’s shoulder or dignity.
Fatal Fury/Garou Densetsu: The Ultimate History Collector’s Edition
Terry Bogard’s story deserves more than a wiki trawl for diehard Fatal Fury fans. This 468-page hardback charts the series through developer interviews, archive artwork, sprite sheets, and every entry from Fatal Fury: King of Fighters to City of the Wolves. The Collector’s Edition adds art cards, a postcard, and an interactive slipcase that plays sound effects when pressed. Now that, is proper bookshelf showboating.
CRKD Gibson Les Paul Guitar Controller Oxblood Edition
Plastic guitars are back, and subtlety has sensibly stayed backstage. CRKD’s Oxblood Les Paul has mechanical fret buttons, a Hall-effect click strum bar, reactive neck lighting, and a detachable neck for easier transport. The multi-platform edition supports PC, Switch, Android, and PS3, with KeyJam mode extending Fortnite Festival compatibility. Strap, wireless dongle, rechargeable battery, and charging cable are.. included!
Razer Naga V3 Pro
Why ration buttons when your thumb can command an army? Three magnetic side plates offer two, six, or twelve inputs, taking the total to 23 programmable controls for shooters, MOBAs, and MMOs. Razer’s tilting HyperScroll wheel switches between tactile steps and free spinning, while wireless, Bluetooth, and wired connections cover every desk. Charging dock and wireless puck cost extra, mind.
IKEA x Xbox YXSTABY Gaming Laptop Support with Storage
IKEA and Xbox’s nine-piece YXSTABY collection is quite the tongue-twisting colab, and this laptop support with built-in storage is a surprisingly functional bit of kit. The toolbox-like, er, box, can hide controllers, a keyboard, a headset, or a mouse – all protected by a felt insert. An affordable way for tidy tabletop gaming, without turning the lounge into mission control.
JBL Quantum 850
JBL’s premium headset goes chasing enemy footsteps with Hi-Res-certified 50mm carbon drivers, spatial sound with head tracking, and adaptive noise-cancelling. Its low-latency dongle and Bluetooth connection can work simultaneously, keeping game audio and phone calls connected. Better yet, the mic, battery pack, cushions, hammock, earcaps, and USB-C cable are replaceable. More of that please, manufacturers.
Retroid Pocket Duo
Retroid’s clamshell Pocket Duo puts two AMOLED displays in the palm of your hands, built for modern Android games, streamed adventures, and emulated classics. The 5.5in upper screen and 4.5in lower panel both run at 120Hz, while Hall-effect sticks, analogue triggers, and active cooling suit long, comfortable sessions. With 8GB RAM, 128GB storage, and Wi-Fi 6E, it packs serious portable power.
Audio-Technica ATH-M20xSTS StreamSet
Streams sound better when the headset handles both sides of the conversation. Audio-Technica pairs 40mm monitor-style drivers with an AT20 cardioid condenser microphone, mounted on a boom that mutes when flipped upwards. At roughly 230g, with breathable mesh earpads, it should remain comfy during long sessions. The same can’t be said for your squad. Was that the third wipe or fourth?
Target Omni Auto Scoring System
Darts arithmetic has met its match, thanks to four HD cameras that can score throws in under a second. They can do more than that, mind, like catch bounce-outs, and feed the accompanying (and aptly–named) DartCounter app. Magnetic legs comfortably fit around a standard board, and a three-month DartCounter trial is included, with live matches, detailed stats, and more.
Logitech G512 X 75
This compact wired keyboard lets tinkerers mix magnetic and mechanical switches. And if you thought that was too much “keeb” chat, just wait till you hear about its *checks notes* 39 dual-swap sockets that accept TMR analogue switches and standard three or five-pin mechanical options – all with adjustable 0.1–4.0mm actuation, two actions per keypress and – are you still there?
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