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The best stocking stuffers for gamers

DeAngelo Epps
Giovanni Colantonio
Tomas Franzese
By , and

As the video game industry is a nonstop, year-round flurry of releases, it can be difficult to decide what to get the gamers in your life. That question becomes even tougher around the holidays when gifts are necessary. That’s why we’ve rounded up some great video game-related items that would make great stocking stuffers this holiday season. Every item on this list is under $70 too, so you won’t have to deal with the exorbitant prices surrounding some gaming hardware like the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Steam Deck. Any gamer in your life should enjoy these seven gaming-themed items.

DualSense Charging Station: $30

Two controllers charge on the DualSense Charging Station.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Have a gamer with a PS5 in your life? They probably have multiple DualSense controllers that don’t have the best battery life. Constantly taking up a USB slot on one’s PS5 with a charging cable is annoying, so any PS5 owners will appreciate a charging station where they can place their controller to ensure they are ready the next time they want to game. Sony’s official charging station is fairly cheap at $30, but there are lots of similar DualSense Charging Stations you can find from third-party companies that will accomplish the same thing for a similar price.

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Xbox, Switch, or PlayStation gift cards: $10 to $70

Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo gift cards
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’re not exactly sure what video game to get the gamer you’re shopping for, you can always go the classic route and just give them money to spend on their console of choice. Xbox, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch each have readily available gift cards and digital codes for purchase, with each starting at $10 and going up to $70, depending on the console. You can easily find the cards at most stores, and the digital codes can be found through a quick Amazon search.

Xbox Live Gold, Switch Online, or PlayStation Plus card: $8 to $60

PlayStation Plus, Xbox Live Gold, and Nintendo Online logos
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch Online, and PlayStation Plus are all subscription services that give special perks to subscribers. Those perks include being able to play games online, having access to special free games, getting special marketplace deals, and more. That’s why a gift card for these services is a great idea for a stocking stuffer. The price will vary based on how long you want to gift the service to them but starts at $8 for one month of Nintendo Online and $10 for one month of PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live Gold. The highest is $20 for a year of Nintendo Online and $60 for a year of Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus. You can find a digital code card easily on Amazon for each of these products.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: $15

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate logo and a collage of featured games
Microsoft

Xbox Game Pass is a subscription service that allows Xbox and PC players to select from a huge variety of games and play them to their heart’s content. The service has been the talk of the gaming world for a long time, and for a good reason. It gives any player instant access to tons of quality games for a monthly fee. Amazon stocks a one-month card for the service for $15 and a three-month card for $38. The service is accessible from Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and even mobile devices and web browsers thanks to Xbox Cloud Gaming technology. For a stocking stuffer, even just one month of Xbox Game Pass is the best bang for your buck on this list.

Nintendo Switch memory card: starts at $15

Four different Nintendo MicroSD card designs
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Nintendo Switch is a great system with an amazing library of games that’s constantly expanding. Unfortunately, the console isn’t optimized to download too many games at once due to its 32 GB memory size. That’s why you may want to look into getting your Switch owner a SanDisk microSD card. These cards increase the console’s memory and allow for increased playability of more games without having to constantly manage memory. They start at $15 for the smallest size at 64GB and rise in price as the size increases. You can find them on Amazon.

An 8BitDo controller: $20 to $50

Mini, modern-styled, and retro-styled 8BitDo controllers
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If what your gamer is looking for is a good all-purpose controller, then check out 8BitDo’s controller line. This controller company has been releasing the gold standard of third-party controllers for all platforms for years now, and are easy to find on Amazon. Their controllers come in all shapes and sizes, from more retro-styled paddles to modern pads, mini controllers, and retro-modern hybrids.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus Nintendo Switch Split Pad Pro: $58

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Has the gamer in your life been enjoying Pokémon Legends: Arceus throughout the year? If so, you’ll want to get them the Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ themed Switch Split Pad Pro by HORI. This themed controller not only looks cool with its inkbrush link drawings and image of Arceus but also provides a nice, sturdier alternative to the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons that will inevitably start to drift. The controller’s unique design makes it more comfortable than a standard Joy-Con too.

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DeAngelo Epps
DeAngelo Epps
Former Digital Trends Contributor
De'Angelo Epps is a gaming writer passionate about the culture, communities, and industry surrounding gaming. His work ranges…
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