Secret Santa Gifts for Gamers at Any Budget, From Desk Gear to Dice
The best Secret Santa presents for gamers that are not games: desk and stream gear, fandom cookbooks, tabletop add-ons and pocket card games.
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Short answer: the best Secret Santa presents for gamers are the things around the game, not the game itself. Controller thumb grips, a mouse bungee, a USB microphone, a Minecraft cookbook, a Dungeons and Dragons starter set or a small strategy card game all work without knowing their console, account or library. Buying a specific video game is the riskiest choice on the list.
Gamers are easy to spot and surprisingly hard to buy for. They already own the hardware they care about, they buy digital games on sale, and they have strong opinions on brands. The trick is to pick a lane: their setup, their favorite world, or the tabletop games they play with friends. Each lane below has options from a small budget up.
Clues that tell you what kind of gamer they are
Five minutes of attention narrows the field a lot.
- PC, console or phone. Ask a friend or glance at their desk photo. Gear for a PC gamer is useless to a console player.
- Solo or social. Do they stream, play with friends online, or prefer long single-player stories?
- The universe they love. Mario, Minecraft, Zelda, Pokémon, a fantasy world. Fandom gifts land well.
- Tabletop too? Many video gamers also play board games or Dungeons and Dragons on weekends.
- Their wish. If you draw names in GiftX Secret Santa, the gamer may have added a wish with a link. That is the safest gift of all.
Best Secret Santa presents for the desk, under $25
Small desk gear that makes long sessions nicer.
- Controller thumb grips. Controller thumb grips add height and grip to the sticks. Check whether they play on PlayStation, Xbox or Switch.
- Mouse bungee. Holds a wired mouse cable up and out of the way. PC gamers who know, know.
- Screen cleaner kit. A spray and microfiber cloth like Whoosh screen cleaner for monitors, phones and handhelds.
- Under-desk headphone hook. Clamps or sticks under the desk to keep a headset off the floor. Cheap and always used.
- Controller wall mount. A set of mounts that display controllers on the wall like trophies.
- Switch tester. A small board with different keyboard switches to click. A fidget toy and a shopping tool for keyboard fans.
- Artisan keycap. One handmade keycap, often resin with a tiny scene inside, to replace the Escape key. A small, personal flex.
Stream and voice gear from $25 to $50
For the friend who streams, records clips or lives in voice chat.
- USB microphone. A plug-and-play USB microphone sounds much better than a headset mic. Good entry models fit this range.
- Full HD webcam. A simple webcam for streaming or calls. Laptop cameras rarely cut it.
- Microphone boom arm. Clamps to the desk and holds the mic in place. Pair it with the mic if the budget is generous.
- Cable sleeve kit. Zip sleeves that bundle a messy tangle of desk cables into one neat run.
Gifts from their favorite game worlds
Fandom gifts show you paid attention, and they avoid the "do you already own this game" problem.
- Minecraft cookbook. Minecraft: Gather, Cook, Eat has real recipes based on in-game food. Fun for teens and adults.
- Pokémon trading cards. A Pokémon booster bundle has several packs to open. Opening packs is half the fun.
- Super Mario Monopoly. A themed board game with Mario characters for family game night.
- Zelda art book. An official Legend of Zelda art book with concept art and history. A coffee table piece for long-time fans.
- Minecraft plush. A Creeper or a pig plush for a desk shelf. Kids and adults both claim these.
- Pixel art sticky notes. Notes shaped like hearts, coins or power-ups. Office-safe and nerdy.
Tabletop picks for the dice crowd
Many gamers have a Dungeons and Dragons night or a board game group.
- Dungeons and Dragons starter set. The D&D Starter Set has rules, dice and an adventure. A great way into the hobby for a curious video gamer.
- Miniature painting kit. Paints, brushes and a few figures to paint. A calm hobby that pairs with tabletop games.
- Leather dice bag. A drawstring bag that holds a whole collection of dice. Pick a dragon or rune design.
- Card deck box. A sturdy box for trading card decks. Magic and Pokémon players always need another.
Small strategy card games for any budget
These pocket games travel well and play in under half an hour.
- Coup. A Coup card game is a quick game of bluffing and betrayal for a group.
- The Crew. A cooperative trick-taking game where the team works through missions together.
- Hive Pocket. A two-player strategy game with bug tiles and no board. Fits in a jacket pocket.
- Forbidden Island. A Forbidden Island cooperative game where players race to save treasures from a sinking island. Great intro to modern board games.
Gamer gift budget at a glance
| Budget | Good picks |
|---|---|
| Under $15[1] | Thumb grips, headphone hook, artisan keycap, pixel sticky notes |
| $15 to $25[1] | Screen cleaner, Coup, Forbidden Island, Minecraft cookbook |
| $25 to $50[1] | USB mic, webcam, D&D Starter Set, Zelda art book |
Skip these unless you are sure
- A specific video game. They may own it, hate it or need it on another platform.
- Gaming headsets and mice. Very personal and brand-loyal. A wrong pick is worse than no pick.
- Energy drinks. Not a gift, and not a great habit to encourage.
Use the quiz when you know nothing
Drew the quiet one who only mentioned "gaming" once? Answer five quick questions in the GiftX gift quiz about who it is for, their age, a couple of interests and your budget. GiftX shows gift ideas with prices and store links.
Be specific in the interests: "Minecraft", "PC gaming" or "board games" gives better results than "games".
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Secret Santa presents for gamers?
Pick something around the game rather than a game itself: controller thumb grips, a mouse bungee, a USB microphone, a Minecraft cookbook, Pokémon cards or a D&D Starter Set. These do not depend on which games they already own. If you know their favorite series, a fandom item like an art book or plush shows real thought.
Should I buy a video game for Secret Santa?
Usually no. You would need to know their platform, what they already own and what they like, and many gamers buy digital copies on sale. A gift card is the obvious workaround but feels impersonal. If they put a specific game on their wish list, buy exactly that, on the platform they named.
What do you get a gamer who has everything?
Go to tabletop or fandom. A two-player strategy game like Hive Pocket, a miniature painting kit, an artisan keycap or a cookbook from their favorite game world feels fresh even to someone with a full setup. These sit outside the hardware cycle, so they are unlikely to own them already.
Related picks for other fans
Swapping with steals instead? See White Elephant gifts for gamers. For a different kind of fan, try Secret Santa gifts for book lovers, or read Secret Santa gifts for men. All the rest is in all our gift exchange guides.