Shop Up! upNup’s Holiday Gift Guide
Holidays gift guided are a dime a dozen, but they’re almost always a sponsored ad at the top of your google search that is some cookie-cutter bull**** with sponsored links that make money off of the readers time. We here at the upNup are happy to tell you that absolutely nobody is paying us for this work we’re doing. All you are getting here is a sincere list of gift guidance because we all know you’re a last minute shopper, too.
Budget Gifts Under $20
One of the hardest things about holiday shopping is finding the money to pay for gifts. Whether you’re going to be selling plasma or playing cards, these gifts won’t break the bank but may still bring joy to the gamer in your life.
A Better Place to Put Your Headphones
One of the best things you can do to extend the life of something like headphones is to treat them well and consistently. This desk hanger does a great job of giving you a safe and permanent place to keep your headphones at your desk. The cup holder or controller holder is truly just a bonus in this specific version, but using this will not only keep your desk clear, but can help extend the life of your headphones.
Zhouzh Up Your Desk with A Cute Mat
The desk pad linked above is just one I arbitrarily chose, there are some that are cheaper and some that are more high-end, but no matter what, this is a solid gift for anyone who is a PC gamer. I will be absolutely honest and tell you that I thought it was so stupid to have one of these for so long. It just never made sense to me. Then one day, after playing some paper Magic with some friends through discord (NERD ALERT!), I didn’t put my play mat away. I put my mouse and keyboard on it and I, honestly, haven’t put it away since. It truly surprised me how much more comfortable it made the gaming experience. If the gamer in your life is anything like me, they’ll never buy this themselves but will be happy you got it for them.
Upgrade Their Mouse Game With a Wrist Wrest
Similar to the desk pad, pretty much any version of this you can find is great. I would have quite a bit of discomfort when I would play for more than an hour. Outside of the increase to overall comfort, it also increased mobility. An additional benefit is that it’s nice to fidget with when I am not actively using it, but obviously is not the sole purpose.
Either of Jason Schreier’s Books
Jason Schreier is a phenomenal author who writes about the gaming industry, and specifically the aspects of it that have been historically hidden from the public. I was introduced to the author on a few podcasts that I listened to and I immediately sought out Blood, Sweat, and Pixels. Both of his books are incredibly affordable and would be a great gift for any young adult and above gamer in your life.
Gift Ideas Around $100
If you’re looking for gifts for someone in your life you care about and are willing to splurge a little bit, you’ve got a ton of options for gifts the receiver will absolutely appreciate. Some of these suggestions are more vague idea suggestions and not quite a specific item.
A Wireless Controller
Really, any wireless controller will work, but I suggest the PlayStation 5 out of absolute ego. It’s my favorite controller period. It’s so comfortable, the weight is perfect, and I prefer side-by-side thumbsticks over staggered thumbsticks. I also purchased DSX from the steam store so I can get the incredible haptic feedback working for my PC Games as well. I also think it is the easiest controller to connect back and forth between my PlayStation, my iPad, and my PC. It’s a bit pricy as far as controllers go, but I have certainly gotten my money out of them.
A Big ‘Ole Bluetooth Speaker
Regular Price: $109.99
Price at Publishing: $99.99 (and a $25 coupon on Amazon)
Anker is my go-to electronics brand for everything. This speaker makes me wish my SoundCore Flare that I have had for 5+ was no longer working. But, unfortunately for me (and them I guess) they make a great product. Waterproof, and with an insane battery life, this is a must-have for anyone with any kind of social life. And if, like me, you have no social life this speaker is still a must-have.
Build Your Own Handheld Console
If you’ve got a kid in your life who is smarter than me, and let’s be honest, you definitely do, than this gift could be amazing for them. The console comes with detailed instructions on hos to build the device. It comes with 4 classic games pre-installed to show the youth what gaming was like *shakes cane* back in the day! Once they get the hang of things, they will then have to ability to program games themselves (as long as they have access to a computer). So not only is this a fun gift, but it’s educational, too, and can be a great way to introduce the child in your life to coding!
For Gaming on the Go
The Backbone is an accessory for your phone that allows you to step up your gaming. With games like Warzone, PUBG, and Fortnite on your phone, you absolutely need some sort of controller to connect to your device. While a wireless controller is an option, the Backbone’s appeal is that it is fully handheld: you don’t need a kickstand, a mount, or like some books or something to lean your phone on. And Backbone is powered by your device, so there is no need or worry about how charged the controller is before hopping into a match.
No Muss, No Fuss USB Mic
As someone who has spent way too much time, effort, and money on an audio set up, I can say that this mic is incredible for someone new to the mic market. Rode has, for quite some time, been my go to for audio recording and the NT-USB Mini is as easy as a microphone gets. Plug and Play out of the box, this thing requires no driver installation and no amplification: just plug it in and it works. The audio quality is shockingly high for such a low-stress device AND it even works on tablets! So whether you’re gifting to the next big Twitch streamer or someone who is looking to improve their Zoom calls, the Rode NT-USB Mini is the mic to get.
Gift Ideas for Mister Money Bags Over Here
Well, well, well, “Richie Rich”, you’ve got some money to throw at a gift. You must really care about the person you’re buying for OR you’re trying to make up for something. Either way, these gifts will help give some guidance on where to go right.
For the PC Gamer That Pretends They’re Going to Game on the Go
Imagine if a Nintendo Switch had strong graphic capabilities, allowed you to access your Steam Library, and weighed a tiring amount more. That’s the Steamdeck. It’s capabilities are truly impressive and if I had the budget I would absolutely have one myself. If you have the income, and someone who almost (if not completely) exclusively plays on PC, this is one of the best gifts you could possibly get them.
This Sceptre monitor has a beautiful QHD and HDR 400 Display and comes with AMD Freesync, which ensures that the beautiful images stay as smooth as can be. If you exclusively or competitively play shooters, this monitor may have a slight drawback with a refresh rate of 120hz, which is still better than a typical monitor. Honorable mention for a well priced monitor with a wildly high refresh rate is the Philips Momentum.
Game Themed Shadowbox Art
Artovision showed up as a targeted ad for me a few weeks ago and the artwork really is impressive. They have pretty extensive options from both retro games and modern indies and so many of them are so cool. Honestly, they have other incredible options outside of gaming, too!
All-In-One Capture Card
If you’re buying for a streamer in your life, the Rode StreamerX is a great gift option to upgrade their setup. As stated previously, I am a huge Rode fanboy; I use a Rode mic and the Rodecaster Pro in my home studio. This incredible device has a built in amplifier for an XLR microphone, a ¼ and 3.5mm headphone jacks, and an integrated wireless receiver for the Rode wireless mics, and 4k60 pass thru. It also has 4 programmable midi buttons with the ability to cycle through various programming right on the device for all of your soundrops.
Okay… Do I Finally Admit This is Just My Wishlist?
I have never wanted an abomination more in my life. And I also know that I could absolutely get the same experience out of PS Remote Play and connecting a controller or using the previously mentioned Backbone. That being said, that has not stopped me from wanting this. It has no internal storage, so you have to be connected to a strong and stable WiFi connection in order to use it. Literally, I just want this so I can play playstation while my wife and I also watch Vanderpump Rules. Maybe you’re in the same situation.
