Best gaming gifts for Christmas 2022: Nintendo Switch, Xbox and gaming accessories

 (Unsplash)
(Unsplash)

It’s been another epic year for gaming enthusiasts.

The release of the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 in 2020 came seven years in the making and yet with the on-going stock struggles, some are only just getting their hands on these latest consoles.

Not one to let Sony or Microsoft outshine them, Nintendo announced the launch of its Switch OLED - a successor to the hugely popular Nintendo Switch model - to the delight of gamers everywhere.

When it comes to gifting, our edit below is here to guide you in the right direction with failsafe presents that will enhance their gaming experience and show that you have your finger on the pulse.

You really can’t go wrong with the consoles mentioned above, but if your recipient is already kitted out, there’s plenty of additional accoutrements that will elevate their everyday gaming like headsets as well as accessories to enhance their space.

Happy shopping!

Xbox Series X/ PS5

For gamers everywhere, the silver lining of last year’s lockdown was the long awaited release of the new Xbox and PlayStation consoles, seven years after its predecessors. More time at home meant more time for gaming and yet to this day, stock is incredibly elusive. If you can get your hands on either of these devices, you have a surefire win for the gamer in your life.

PlayStation 5 - £439

Xbox Series X - £449

Buy now £449.00, Currys

Nintendo Switch OLED

Nintendo broke the internet with the release of the Switch device – the OLED. It is the first console to use this enhanced technology that gives a more vivid, richer visual experience. It can display the truest blacks, has the lowest levels of blue light and is more energy efficient. The screen is also bigger – measuring at 7” for more immersive game play. If you can’t get your hands on the sold out model, the Nintendo Switch model is still as covetable as is the newer PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles.

Buy now £309.99, Argos

Meta Quest 2

The demand for virtual reality gaming shows no signs of wavering. The ultra-immersive experience takes the player into the heart of the action and on the forefront of the next generation of technology.

The Meta Quest 2 is one the most sought-after headsets due to the high resolution display, super fast processor and the responsive Oculus Touch controllers. You can pair it with the app - no console or computer needed - so you can get gaming as soon as you put the device on.

Buy now £299.00, John Lewis

Disney Lilo & Stitch Desk Light

This desk lamp will spark joy throughout the darker winter months as a playful take on the SAD variety. While illuminating your home office or game room, it brings the beloved character of Stitch (from the Disney classic Lilo and Stitch) to shed some light on the situation. It is 16cm tall and powered by batteries or USB.

Buy now £25.00, Lost Universe

STEELSERIES Apex Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

PC gamers can kiss boring gaming keyboards behind with this party-ready product. Beyond just playing in virtual worlds, when reality sets in and it’s time for your office job, the keyboard is adaptive to your typing speed in order to give you less typos from accidental touches and is more responsive than ever. You can edit the backlighting if you’re giving a professional feel in Zoom meetings. The durable aircraft-grade aluminium will stand the test of time.

Buy now £169.00, Currys

noblechairs HERO Gaming Chair Darth Vader Edition

While there are many gaming chairs at various price points that we have gone into detail in here, there is one in particular that has caught our attention.

This Star Wars-inspired design will help you channel Darth Vader no matter whether you are diving into LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga or vanquishing your opponents in shooter games. It is a product worthy of the Death Star commander with a cold-foam padding that is both soft yet breathable, boasts improved lumbar support and there’s 4D armrests so you can game with the utmost comfort.

It also works double duty as an ergonomic office chair during the 9-5.

Buy now £424.99, Overclockers

HONOR Magic4 Pro - 256 GB, Black

If you looking for a device that can handle gaming on the move, enter the HONOR Magic4 Pro - one of the brand’s most cutting edge handsets. On top of the triple camera boasting a 50MP wide, 50MP ultra-wide and 64MP pericope telephoto to take crystal clear snaps, it also has super charge technology that juices up in just 30 mins.

Mobile gamers will appreacite the Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip processor and the 1-inch Quad-Curved display. The latter has a smart refresh rate of up to 120Hz and can produce 1.07 billion colours for greater immersion into your streaming or gaming.

Buy now £949.99, Currys

Star Wars Lightsaber Electric Pack of 2 Salt and Pepper Mill Grinder

Incorporate their love of gaming into other spaces in the home - namely the kitchen with these playful salt and pepper grinders. The Star Wars-inspired design may have you thinking these are just a novelty item but they’re practical too with the ability to change up the level of density of your salt and pepper from fine to coarse and get your seasoning at the touch of the button. Requires four AA batteries.

Buy now £38.00, Lost Universe

Xbox GamePass subscription

Give your giftee access to over a hundred games at their fingertips. This GamePass has been likened to Netflix, but for games. Pay a monthly subscription to open up a library of games with no additional costs.

It’s available for Xbox and PC and includes big name titles as well as those set to launch like Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, Age of Empires, and many more.

Buy now £10.99, Xbox

G502 X Wireless Gaming Mouse

The latest addition to the Logitech gaming mouse line-up, the G502 X LIGHTSPEED has the clue in the name. It has been created to have a 68 per cent faster response rate than its predecessor, while remaining wireless, more precise and retaining its charge.

Buy now £129.00, Logitech

Steelseries Arctis 9X

When it comes to headsets, Steelseries offer some of the best in the game. The Arctis 9X is the most premium model at the top of the range. It is sleek and minimal in aesthetic but is packed with features like the comfy and breathable ear cups to offer superior comfort throughout gaming marathons. It’s also wireless with a crystal clear microphone.

For a value-for-money option, the Steelseries Arctis 1 (£49.99) still offers a high-quality headset. It has a similar design to the 9X but includes a cable.

Buy now £179.00, Amazon

Leblon Delienne Mickey Mouse Welcome chrome two-tone figurine

To bring style points to the gaming vicinity, enter French design studio Leblon Delienne and the brand’s take on the world’s most famous mouse. Taking the pop culture icon and giving it an arty twist, the sculpture is cast in chrome with a mirrored finish that is modern and oh-so chic.

Buy now £220.00, Selfridges

NANOLEAF Shapes Sonic Limited Edition Triangle Smart Lights Starter Kit

Get creative with the lighting of any gaming space with NANOLEAF. Taking the form of Sonic, the instantly-recognisable blue hedgehog, it can illuminate with over 16 million customisable colour combinations to set the ambiance and create an immersive exprience as you dive into the virtual world of your favourite game.

Buy now £249.00, Currys

God of War

The God of War game series made its debut in March 2005, and it has never looked back since. This franchise has sold over 51 million copies by November 2020 and is one of the most beloved of all time. God-hunting warrior Kratos returns in this 2018 release that is the first instalment in the Norserealm series. The game is a masterpiece, and with its follow-up God of War: Ragnarok out this November, it should certainly be at the top of everyone’s priority list now.

The solid storyline explores Kratos and his attempts to escape from his past, while still dealing with the consequences of his previous actions in the present. While the combat weapons are straightforward, they take some time to get used to. But apart from that, the game is a complete package for everyone. The beautiful, striking visuals transport you to a mythical world that you’d certainly not want to leave.

A special mention goes out to the voice actors, who manage to nail even the slightest changes in emotions and endear us to all the characters, no matter who they are. All in all, God of War is an epic done well.

(Note: God of War has been released for the PS4, and does not have a remastered graphics version for the PS5. However, it has received a PS5 patch, which improves the frame rate to 60fps (frames per second) with 4k resolution. And extremely worth it, given the gameplay and the cost).

Buy now £19.99, Amazon

Call of Duty: Vanguard

Call of Duty: Vanguard is the next in the first-person shooter franchise where you are thrown into global combat from the perspective of a WW2 soldier. As part of the brand’s integration post launch, this will also give early access to the new Warzone map that comes out later this year.

For PS5 (£64.99)

Buy now £54.99, Argos

KontrolFreek Call of Duty Performance Thumbsticks

In highly competitive games like Call of Duty even the most minute technological advancements can make a world of difference. Enter the Thumbsticks from KontrolFreek that improve accuracy and prevent hand fatigue.

The new launch from the label is inspired by the release of the new Call of Duty: Vanguard featuring the logo that has been laser-etched and a fetching red-on-black colour palette. There are also models inspired by the franchise’s other hugely-popular games and well as a whole host of different colour combinations.

The ergonomic performance gear sit atop the controller sticks, adding 10.2mm in height to improve arc distance and precision as well as reducing the amount of force needed.

Buy now £21.50, Amazon

Panasonic SC-GN01 wearable gaming speaker

Without the need to invest in a costly surround sound system, Panasonic has unveiled a wearable gaming speaker. Its ergonomic design sits on your shoulders to provide a more immerse, realistic experience.

With impressive audio quality, it can replace the discomfort or heat of wearing a headset for a prolonged period of time.

There are four full-range speakers, multiple sound modes based on the game in question and an echo-cancelling microphone for playing with friends. The acoustic field in multiple directions places sound effects like gunfire in the accurate soundscape.

Buy now £155.00, Amazon

Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G

Take gaming on the go without sacrificing on the resolution and optimising the overall experience. Samsung has designed this Galaxy phone specifically for gamers and streamers with 5G speeds, a 120Hz refresh rate, 6.5-inch AMOLED display, and a long-lasting battery life. It comes in four ‘Awesome’ colours; violet, mint, black and white.

Buy now £399.00, Samsung

Numskull Official PS5 Inspired Blue & White Game Storage Tower

These gaming lockers will make attractive additions to any game or play room, housing the likes of controllers, headsets and game cases that would otherwise be lying around. They are available in a range of themes include Harry Potter, Batman, Suicide Squad, Sonic the Hedgehog, Xbox and more with a sleek look.

Buy now £22.99, Amazon

The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 Gaming Monitor

You can’t underestimate the power of the curve when gaming. Getting you into the heart of the action, Samsung’s Odyssey Neo G9 Gaming Monitor has a 1000R curvature and perfect picture quality with a quantum Mini-Led picture. This monitor offers some of the most realistic play you’ve ever experienced.

It’s 49-inch in size with HDR2000 resolution and 240Hz refresh rate, and so sure to capture the heart of the gaming enthusiast in your life.

For a more purse-friendly option, the Samsung Odyssey G5 LC32G55TQWRXXU WQHD Curved Gaming Monitor (£299) will go down a treat.

Buy now £1849.00, Selfridges

Tekscore Goal Football Multi Games

Get your gamer away from screens and bring serious style points to your home games room at the same time with this multi-game table. You can play an epic 21 games with just this one piece; including pool, table football, table tennis, basketball and more - switching up between them with ease.

Buy now £149.00, Liberty Games

LEGO R2D2 Model

Let’s hear it for the hardest-working Droid in the galaxy, shall we? R2D2 has saved the lives of various key characters throughout the Star Wars series, and is always on-hand with a mini buzzsaw when the time calls for it. The perfect combination of adorable, amusing and loyal, this kit is the perfect tribute to the robot-esque hero.

With its rotating head and mini periscope, this R2D2 model clocks in at a hefty 2,314 pieces and is as much a challenge to build as it is a pleasure. The set also includes a Lucasfilm 50th anniversary LEGO brick, making it a truly special gift for any Star Wars fanatic.

Buy now £159.99, Zavvi