The Perfect Gift for the Gamer in Your Life
Buying a gift for someone who loves games is harder than it looks. If they're serious gamers, they probably already own whatever just came out. If they're casual gamers, you might not know what they'd enjoy. And if you're buying for someone who grew up gaming in the 80s, 90s or 2000s, there's a much better option than any modern game: give them their childhood back.
This guide covers the best gaming gifts for every type of person — from the hardcore retro enthusiast to the casual player who just wants something fun to pick up occasionally.
The Best Gift for 80s and 90s Kids: A Retro Console
If you know someone who grew up gaming in the 80s or 90s, a plug-and-play retro console is genuinely one of the best gifts you can give them. Here's why it works so well:
- Instant nostalgia — the moment they see the game library, they'll start remembering. The titles, the characters, the music — it all comes flooding back
- No learning curve — they already know how to play these games. There's no manual to read, no tutorial to sit through
- Shareable experience — most retro consoles include two controllers, making it an experience they can share with a partner, friend or their own kids
- Setup takes 60 seconds — plug into the TV, power on, play. No installation, no downloads, no account creation
The RetrotvPixel™ is the perfect option — up to 60,000 classic games across every major gaming era, preloaded and ready to play on any TV.
Best Gaming Gifts by Budget
Under $15: Accessories and Add-ons
- HDMI cable upgrade — a quality Ultra HD HDMI cable makes a genuine difference to picture quality
- Controller carrying case — perfect for keeping wireless controllers protected
- Retro gaming keychain — a fun, affordable gift for the retro gaming fan who has everything
$15-$30: Game Packs and Bundles
- Classic game packs — curated collections of games from specific eras make great stocking stuffers for retro gamers
- Mystery game boxes — surprise bundles are always exciting to receive, especially when they're filled with classic titles
$30-$50: Accessories and Upgrades
- Extra controllers — going from one controller to two unlocks multiplayer for any retro console
- Gaming headset stand — a stylish RGB headset holder that looks great on any gaming desk
- Console charging station — keep controllers charged and ready with a dual-dock charging station
$100+: The Big Gift
- A complete retro console setup — the gift that keeps giving. A plug-and-play retro console with tens of thousands of preloaded games is the ultimate present for any gamer
Best Gaming Gifts by Recipient
For Dad
If your dad grew up gaming, a retro console is perfect. He'll recognize the games immediately — and he'll appreciate that setup takes seconds rather than hours. Add a second controller so he can play with you or your siblings. The nostalgia factor makes this gift genuinely emotional in a way most presents aren't.
For Mum
Don't assume the gamer in the family is always dad. If mum grew up in the 80s or 90s, she has her own gaming memories. Puzzle games, platformers, adventure games — many of the classics were as popular with female players as male. A retro console might unlock memories she hasn't thought about in decades.
For a Partner
A retro console is one of those rare gifts that becomes a shared experience. Set it up together, rediscover games you both played as kids, argue about which game is better. It's a gift that creates evenings in, not just a thing that sits on a shelf.
For Kids
Modern kids raised on smartphones and tablets are often surprised by how addictive classic games are. The simpler mechanics are actually more immediately accessible — and the challenge level of retro games tends to be higher than modern games designed to avoid frustration. Retro gaming is a brilliant introduction to gaming history.
For the Hardcore Gamer
If they already own every modern console, give them something they don't have — access to gaming history. A retro console with tens of thousands of games covers genres and titles that modern gaming has largely abandoned. Classic JRPGs, 2D platformers, point-and-click adventures — there's always something a hardcore gamer hasn't played.
Gifts That Last
The best gifts aren't the ones that get used once and forgotten. They're the ones that create ongoing experiences — evenings on the sofa, laughing at old games, discovering classics you missed the first time around.
A retro console does exactly that. It's not a one-time experience. It's a library of thousands of games that you can return to over and over. New games get discovered. Old favorites get replayed. Friends come over and ask "what is that?" and suddenly everyone wants a turn.
Shop Gaming Gifts
Browse our full range of gaming gifts — from the RetrotvPixel™ retro console to controllers, accessories and game packs. Everything ships in premium packaging, ready to give.