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Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

The Verge video game gift guide 2019

10 great video game gifts for the people in your life

Photography by Amelia Holowaty Krales

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If you aren’t up on whatever the latest and greatest video games are it can feel tricky to find the right gift for the video game players in your life. And while it is often the thought behind the gift that counts most, it helps to make an informed decision so it doesn’t look like you picked up something at random.

That’s why we got the best minds at The Verge to help put together our list of the top video game gift suggestions. So whether you want to help a family member or friend get into VR gaming with the $399 Oculus Quest or help improve their play in Fortnite on Nintendo Switch with the $25 PDP Faceoff Deluxe+ controller, we’ve got some great gift ideas for you.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

If you’re a glutton for challenging games, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice hangs with the likes of Dark Souls, as it comes from the same developer. Set in feudal Japan, this game puts even more of a focus on reflex-based fights and vertical gameplay. Price: ~$40
Buy on:
Amazon
Walmart


The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

Link’s Awakening on the Switch is a great remake of the Game Boy classic. The new graphics make it seem like you’re playing with tiny toy figurines, and the game’s world, puzzles, and dungeons are just as fun to explore as they were in 1993. Price: ~$59
Buy on:
Amazon
Walmart


Control

This is one part action game, one part otherworldly / paranormal horror game. Jesse finds herself infiltrating the mysterious Federal Bureau of Control’s headquarters, called the Oldest House, in search of her long-lost brother. It is a wild ride that’ll have you searching for every little scrap about the mysteries of the Oldest House and FBC. Price: ~$45
Buy on:
Amazon
Walmart


Nintendo Switch

Nintendo’s portable console has only gotten better in the last year, with great new games like Super Mario Maker 2Fire Emblem: Three Houses, the Link’s Awakening remake, and, of course, Pokémon Sword and Shield. Playable both on the go and a big screen and now featuring even better battery life than the original model, the Switch is still a no-brainer. Price: ~$299
Buy on:
Amazon
Walmart


PDP Faceoff Deluxe+ Switch Controller

PDP’s wired Switch controller plugs into your dock and enables some things that aren’t possible with Nintendo’s own Pro controller. You can plug in headphones for private listening and voice chat in supported games. Price: ~$25
Buy on:
Amazon
Walmart


Super Mario Maker 2

Make the Mario level of your dreams (or nightmares) with Super Mario Maker 2. This sequel to the Wii U original comes with tons of new level-making options, a Super Mario 3D World level theme, a story mode, and competitive online multiplayer. Price: ~$50
Buy on:
Best Buy
Walmart


Judgment

Yagami is a disgraced lawyer-turned-private detective in the fictional Kamurocho district of Tokyo. Aside from handling other small cases for people around town, he gets pulled into a larger case involving warring Yakuza clans, corrupt police and government officials, and corporate espionage, which all ties into the case that caused him to stop being a lawyer. Price: ~$39
Buy on:
Amazon
Best Buy


Sega Genesis Mini

Whether you had a Sega Genesis growing up or not, this mini version of the console is a great idea for any gamer. It is everything you expect from a tiny retro console: it has a great library of 42 games and modern save functionality, with lots of great small details like menu music, moving bits of hardware, and access to games from multiple regions. Pictured with Sega Genesis Mini Tower of Power accessories. Price: ~$78
Buy on:
Amazon
Walmart


Oculus Quest

The Oculus Quest hits a sweet spot of power and convenience for virtual reality headsets, offering room-scale tracking and full-fledged hand controllers in a self-contained, user-friendly package. It’s especially good paired with Beat Saber, a kinetic rhythm game played with virtual lightsabers, which is one of the best experiences VR has to offer. Price: ~$399
Buy on:
Best Buy
Walmart


SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless

Getting your wireless headphones to work with the Nintendo Switch is usually a nightmare, but it’s a problem that SteelSeries’ Arctis 1 Wireless solves. It includes a headset that’s pre-paired with its handy USB-C adapter, which means you’ll be experiencing seamless, lag-free audio in no time. Price: ~$99
Buy on:
Amazon
Best Buy


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