13 Gifts for Gamers Under $25 That Feel Thoughtful (Holiday 2026)
These are 13 gifts for gamers that cost about $5 to $25, grouped by type: gift cards, very cheap PC games, desk and controller upgrades, and off-screen games. Prices are ranges as of October 2026 and move around, so check the store page before you buy.
My short answer: if you know the platform, give a gift card; if you do not, a Logitech G240 mouse pad (about $10) or Exploding Kittens (about $20) is hard to get wrong.
The Scroll in Brief
- Everything here lands at about $5 to $25. Gift cards let you set the amount.
- Cheapest wins: Vampire Survivors and Brotato are about $5 each at regular Steam price.
- Best for the person who has everything: a mouse pad, controller add-on or a card game for game night.
- Always check the platform first. A PC game will not help a PlayStation-only player.
- Prices are ranges and change often.
Gift Cards: Let Them Choose
Nintendo eShop Card
You pick the amount; cards start well under $25 · Works on Switch 2 and Switch
Nintendo says eShop cards can still be redeemed on Nintendo Switch 2 as well as the original Switch, using a 16-character prepaid code entered in the eShop. A card is the safest way to give a Nintendo game or add-on when you do not know what they already own.
Best for: Nintendo players who already have a long wish list.
PlayStation Store Gift Card
You pick the amount · PlayStation 4 and PS5 players
Sony says the cards work on digital products only, such as games, add-ons and PlayStation Plus, and come as a printable PDF or an emailed voucher. They cannot buy physical items or PlayStation Gear merchandise, and some store-bought cards need activating at the register.
Best for: Anyone with a PlayStation who buys most of their games digitally.
Steam Digital Gift Card
You pick the amount · PC and Steam Deck players
Steam sends digital gift cards through the recipient’s Steam account to their wallet. That is handy for last-minute gifts and for people who buy cheap indie games all year, since a small balance goes a long way. Check Steam’s page for the amounts offered.
Best for: PC players, and anyone hard to shop for.
Cheap Games That Punch Above Their Price
Each of these has a regular Steam price under $10 as of October 2026, and all have very high user review scores. Sale prices come and go, so I list the regular price. These are PC games, so they suit someone who plays on a computer or a Steam Deck.
Vampire Survivors
Regular price about $5 · Action roguelite · 98% positive on Steam (128,000+ reviews)
A short-session game where your character fires automatically and you steer through swarms. Steam lists local co-op for up to four players, which makes it more than a solo time-killer. It is the cheapest strong pick here.
Best for: Anyone who likes short, snackable runs.
Brotato
Regular price about $5 · Arena shooter roguelite · 96% positive on Steam (32,000+ reviews)
You play a potato with a pile of weapons and pick upgrades between short waves. Think of it as the aim-and-choose cousin of Vampire Survivors. Pair either one with a mouse pad and you have a tidy little gift set.
Best for: Players who want a bit more control over their build.
A Short Hike
Regular price about $8 · Cozy exploration · 99% positive on Steam (12,000+ reviews)
A calm, no-combat game about climbing a mountain. Steam does not state its length, so I will not guess, but the reviews are about as warm as Steam gets. A good gift for someone whose last “gaming” was a stressful one.
Best for: Cozy-game fans and tired brains.
Terraria
Regular price about $10 · Sandbox adventure · 97% positive on Steam (600,000+ reviews)
Digging, building and boss fights, with online co-op listed on Steam. At roughly ten dollars it sits right at the top of this budget, but the review volume shows how many people have stuck with it. Give it to someone who has a friend to play with.
Best for: Friends who want a long-running shared world.
Desk and Controller Upgrades
Logitech G240 Cloth Gaming Mouse Pad
About $10 · Cloth surface, rubber base, black
Logitech lists a performance-tuned cloth surface on a rubber base, and describes the cloth as giving moderate friction for fast mouse movement. It is a simple upgrade for anyone still using a bare desk or a worn-out pad.
Best for: PC gamers with a mouse and a messy desk.
Logitech G440 Hard Gaming Mouse Pad
About $20 · Hard surface
Logitech’s US page lists this hard pad at the top of this guide’s budget. A hard surface is a matter of taste: some players like a firmer glide, others prefer cloth, so if you are unsure, the G240 is the safer pick.
Best for: Players who already know they like a hard pad.
KontrolFreek Thumbsticks
About $15-20 · Swap-on thumbsticks for PlayStation, Xbox and some Nintendo controllers
KontrolFreek’s thumbstick page lists most designs between about $15 and $20. The catalog leans heavily toward PlayStation and Xbox: the site’s own filters show only a handful of Switch Pro designs and one for Switch 2, so Nintendo owners need to check the product page before buying.
Best for: PlayStation and Xbox players who want a different feel from their sticks.
Joy-Con 2 Straps
About $10-15 · Nintendo Switch 2
Deku Deals lists a Nintendo MSRP of $14.99 for the light blue and light red pair, with other retailers occasionally lower. The link goes to a price tracker, not Nintendo’s store. Straps are an easy add-on for someone who just got a Switch 2.
Best for: New Switch 2 owners.
Play Together Off-Screen
Exploding Kittens: Original Edition
About $20 · Card game · 2-5 players · ages 7+ · about 15 minutes
The publisher lists a $19.99 price, ages 7 and up, and a 15-minute play time. It is quick, loud and easy to teach, which makes it a good break from screens for a gamer who also hosts family or friends.
Best for: Gamers who host game nights.
LEGO Pokémon Small Sets
About $15-20 · Ages 6-7+ · stock changes often
LEGO’s Pokémon page lists Jigglypuff Concert at $14.99 and Berry Bash with Bulbasaur and Bidoof and Charmander and Geodude’s Cavern Clash at $19.99 each, with a $5.99 key chain as a cheaper add-on. Check the page for stock and age ratings before you buy.
Best for: Younger Pokémon fans.
At a Glance
| Gift | Type | Price range (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo eShop Card | Gift card | You pick |
| PlayStation Store Gift Card | Gift card | You pick |
| Steam Digital Gift Card | Gift card | You pick |
| Vampire Survivors | PC game | About $5 |
| Brotato | PC game | About $5 |
| A Short Hike | PC game | About $8 |
| Terraria | PC game | About $10 |
| Logitech G240 | Mouse pad | About $10 |
| Logitech G440 | Mouse pad | About $20 |
| KontrolFreek Thumbsticks | Controller add-on | About $15-20 |
| Joy-Con 2 Straps | Switch 2 add-on | About $10-15 |
| Exploding Kittens | Card game | About $20 |
| LEGO Pokémon small sets | Building set | About $15-20 |
Cora’s Top Three
If I had to pick three, I would go with a gift card for the right platform, Vampire Survivors or A Short Hike for a PC player, and the Logitech G240 for anyone with a desk setup. Together they cover almost every gamer for well under $25.
A small tip: put a handwritten note in the card or tie a little label on the mouse pad saying why you picked it. A $10 gift that looks like it took thought lands better than a $25 gift that looks like it did not. I have not tested any of these myself; the notes above come from manufacturer pages, store listings and review scores.
Keep digging: more gift guides from Crafty Cora, including gifts for gamers under $50 and stocking stuffers for gamers.
Cast Your Vote
Tell us if this was useful. Your vote helps us decide what to cover next.
Sources
- Nintendo Support: eShop cards on Switch 2
- PlayStation: gift cards
- Steam: digital gift cards
- Steam: Vampire Survivors
- Steam: Brotato
- Steam: A Short Hike
- Steam: Terraria
- Logitech G: mouse pads
- Logitech G: G240
- Logitech G: G440
- KontrolFreek: thumbsticks
- Deku Deals: Joy-Con 2 Straps
- Exploding Kittens: Original Edition
- LEGO: Pokémon sets
