14 Gifts for Gamers Under $50 for Every Platform (Holiday 2026)
These are 14 gifts for gamers that cost about $15 to $50, grouped by type: controllers and Switch 2 gear, headsets, a mouse pad, games, books and game-night picks. Price ranges are as of October 2026 and change, so check the store page before you buy.
My short answer: for a Nintendo player, the Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip or a Turtle Beach Switch 2 headset; for a PC player, a large mouse pad or Balatro; for a collector, one of the two Dark Horse books.
The Scroll in Brief
- Everything here costs about $15 to $50. Some of it is much cheaper on sale.
- Switch 2 owners: the Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip and the Turtle Beach Airlite Fit are the cleanest fits.
- PC and PlayStation players: HyperX Cloud Stinger 3 and the Logitech G640 mouse pad.
- Books and card games work for any platform.
- Always match the gift to the platform. Prices change often.
Controllers and Switch 2 Gear
8BitDo Ultimate 2C Bluetooth Controller
About $25-30 · Bluetooth controller · Switch and Switch 2 version
8BitDo’s own shop lists the Bluetooth version as a Switch controller at $29.99, and a retailer page says it works with Switch 2 on firmware 20.1.1 or later. 8BitDo’s separate Ultimate 2C wireless page leads with Windows and Android, so buy the Bluetooth listing that names Switch. Stock on 8BitDo’s shop was unclear when I checked, so confirm availability.
Best for: A second controller for a PC or handheld player.
8BitDo Micro
About $15-25 (often discounted; check stock) · Pocket gamepad · 72 x 40.7 x 14.1 mm, 24.8 g
8BitDo lists support for Switch (system version 3.0.0 or later) and Switch 2 (20.1.1 or later), plus Android 9 and up. On iOS, macOS and Windows it works only in keyboard mode. It is a novelty-sized controller, so think travel, not a main controller for big hands.
Best for: Travelers, retro fans and anyone who likes tiny gadgets.
Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip
About $40 · Nintendo Switch 2
Deku Deals lists a Nintendo MSRP of $39.99 and similar prices across major US retailers. It is a charging grip for the Switch 2’s Joy-Con 2 controllers (the link goes to a price tracker, not Nintendo’s store).
Best for: Switch 2 owners who play in handheld or couch mode a lot.
Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV Upgrade Pack
About $20 · Upgrade pack · only for people who already own the Switch version
Deku Deals lists the upgrade pack at $19.99, and the full Switch 2 Edition bundle at about $79. Only buy the pack if you know they own the original game, since it is an upgrade, not a standalone copy. Confirm details on Nintendo’s listing first.
Best for: Families who already play Mario Party together.
Headsets for Quiet and Late-Night Play
Turtle Beach Airlite Fit Wired for Nintendo Switch 2
About $25-35 (check current price) · Wired 3.5 mm headset · Switch 2 and earlier Switch systems
Nintendo Life reported a launch price of $27.99 and listed 40 mm speakers, jersey knit cushions and a flip-up noise-canceling mic. Turtle Beach also lists a Switch 2 version in its headset range. I could not load a current US store page for it, so treat the range as a launch-price estimate and check the price before you buy. Wired means no battery to charge, which is a gift in itself.
Best for: Nintendo players who want a simple, cheap headset.
HyperX Cloud Stinger 3 Wired
About $40-50 · Wired USB-C headset · 0.6 lb
HyperX lists $39.99 for black and $49.99 for white, with a USB-C cable and a 3.5 mm extension cable included. Compatibility on its page is PC, PS5, Switch (dock mode only), Mac and mobile; Switch 2 is not mentioned there, so I would give this to a PC or PS5 player.
Best for: PC and PlayStation players who want a light headset.
Desk Upgrades
Logitech G640 Large Cloth Gaming Mouse Pad
About $30 · Large cloth pad
Logitech’s US page lists it at $29.99. Large pads leave room for sweeping mouse movements and a keyboard rest. If you want something smaller and cheaper, the G240 is about $10 on the same page.
Best for: PC gamers who have outgrown a basic pad.
Games to Give
Balatro
Regular price about $15 · Poker-inspired deckbuilder · 98% positive on Steam (104,000+ reviews)
Steam lists it at $14.99 with an Overwhelmingly Positive rating, and tags it Casual, Indie and Strategy. It is an easy gift for someone who likes card games or “one more run” games. Check the age rating for younger players, since it is built around poker hands.
Best for: Puzzle and card-game fans on PC.
Minecraft
About $25-30 · Rated E10+ by the ESRB · Switch 2, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox
Deku Deals lists a $29.99 MSRP and US prices between about $25 and $30. The ESRB rates it E10+ for fantasy violence, and flags users interacting and in-game purchases. The link goes to the ESRB rating.
Best for: Anyone aged 10 and up who likes building, or a family game.
Books for the Shelf
Super Mario Encyclopedia: The Official Guide to the First 30 Years
About $45-50 · Hardcover · 256 pages · Dark Horse
Barnes & Noble lists it as in stock at $45.99, down from $49.99. It is the sort of book people leaf through for years. It covers the first 30 years of the series, so it will not include the newest games.
Best for: Mario fans who love trivia.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Creating a Champion
About $45-50 · Hardcover · 424 pages · Dark Horse
Barnes & Noble lists it in stock at $45.99, down from $49.99. It is a big art-and-lore book for one Zelda game, so it fits fans of that game more than casual players.
Best for: Zelda fans who like art books.
Games for Game Night
Exploding Kittens: Original Edition
About $20 · Card game · 2-5 players · ages 7+
The publisher lists $19.99, ages 7 and up and about 15 minutes of play. It is the budget end of this guide and a good add-on to a bigger gift.
Best for: Families and mixed-age groups.
LEGO Pokémon SMART Play Sets
About $30-35 · Ages 7-8+ · stock changes often
LEGO’s Pokémon page lists Trainer’s Buggy Adventure with Squirtle at $29.99 and Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly Battle at $34.99. Check the page for stock and the set’s age rating before you buy.
Best for: Pokémon fans who like to build.
At a Glance
| Gift | Type | Price range (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 8BitDo Ultimate 2C | Controller | About $25-30 |
| 8BitDo Micro | Pocket controller | About $15-25 |
| Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip | Switch 2 accessory | About $40 |
| Mario Party Jamboree upgrade pack | Switch 2 upgrade | About $20 |
| Turtle Beach Airlite Fit (Switch 2) | Headset | About $25-35 (check price) |
| HyperX Cloud Stinger 3 | Headset (PC/PS5) | About $40-50 |
| Logitech G640 | Mouse pad | About $30 |
| Balatro | PC game | About $15 |
| Minecraft | Multi-platform game | About $25-30 |
| Super Mario Encyclopedia | Book | About $45-50 |
| Zelda: Creating a Champion | Book | About $45-50 |
| Exploding Kittens | Card game | About $20 |
| LEGO Pokémon SMART Play | Building set | About $30-35 |
Cora’s Top Three
My top three: the Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip for a Switch 2 player, the Turtle Beach Airlite Fit for a quiet-play headset, and one of the Dark Horse books for the person who already owns the console and the games. A book is a gift that never needs a firmware update.
If you are not sure what they own, pick a book or a card game. They work with any console. I have not tested any of these myself; every note above comes from manufacturer pages, store listings or press coverage.
Keep digging: more gift guides from Crafty Cora, including gifts for gamers under $25 and gifts for the Switch 2 owner who has everything.
Cast Your Vote
Tell us if this was useful. Your vote helps us decide what to cover next.
Sources
- 8BitDo Shop: Ultimate 2C Bluetooth
- 8BitDo: Micro
- Deku Deals: Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip
- Deku Deals: Mario Party Jamboree Switch 2 listing
- Nintendo Life: Turtle Beach Airlite Fit for Switch 2
- Turtle Beach
- HyperX: Cloud Stinger 3 Wired
- Logitech G: mouse pads
- Steam: Balatro
- ESRB: Minecraft
- Deku Deals: Minecraft
- Barnes & Noble: Super Mario Encyclopedia
- Barnes & Noble: Creating a Champion
- Exploding Kittens: Original Edition
- LEGO: Pokémon sets
