Every year, about this time, I have friends that come out of the woodwork asking for advice on what gift to get the gamer in their life. Some already have a list they’ve been given, while others are frantically begging for ideas. From basic kit, to $2000 monitors to gift ideas for the gamer who has it all, our holiday gift buying guide has you covered. To ensure you are getting a quality gift, we did our best to stick to items reviewed by our team this year, but we have relied on older reviews as well as outside reviews for picks to fill in gaps in our coverage. I’ve also added a few items on my wishlist this year, and you can always check out our 2022 holiday buying guides for even more picks.
4K Monitors
Nvidia’s DLSS and AMD’s FSR upscaling are opening the door to 4K gaming on more than just the best of the best graphics cards. Pair that with 4K monitor prices coming down to a price that many gamers are willing to pay, and there’s a good chance a new monitor is on someone’s Christmas list.
Samsung 4K Monitors - If you’re looking for the best of the best in 4K, and price isn’t a limiting factor, then Samsung has several great choices. If you have the space, the 55” Odyssey ARK Gen2 is a no-brainer at $1999.99 (33% off) at Amazon. If 55 inches is too big for your desk (or wall), the 43” Odyssey Neo G7 has a 144Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and HDR600 for a much more reasonable $599.99. And if image quality is more important than size, the 32” Odyssey Neo G7 has a 165Hz curved QLED screen with HDR2000 for $899.99.
Dell 32” S3221QS (Amazon $359.99) - 4K is wasted on smaller screen sizes; you won’t really see the benefits of the extra pixels on a 24” screen. 32” is a great starting point where the pixel count starts to matter, making the Dell S3221QS a good starting point. However, given its price, you will have to sacrifice some of the performance of the more expensive monitors. In this case, you are hit with a 60Hz refresh rate and 4ms response times. That’s not great if your gamer is big into shooters and competitive gaming, but RPGers, city builders, and other relaxed gaming will look just fine.
MSI 27” MD271UL (Amazon $249.99) - If you absolutely need a small 4K monitor and can’t afford all the bells and whistles, then the MSI MD271 may be the perfect fit. Its 27” screen will fit on almost any desk, but the price leaves you with a 60Hz refresh rate and 4ms response time. You gotta cut somewhere to get to this price, but at least you’ll get to say you play in 4K.
Ultrawide Monitors
Samsung Ultrawides - Just like 4K monitors, the ultrawide market is dominated by Samsung. You can do away with the hassle of setting up two monitors with the 57” Odyssey Neo G95NC, which is 7680 by 2160 pixels, the same screen space as two 27” 4K monitors. It is a pricey beast, though, coming in at $1999.99 on Amazon. You can step down a notch in both size and cost with the 49” Neo G95NA for $1299.99 and still get the screen space of two 27” 1440p monitors. Or, once again, go with picture quality over size and nab the 34” Odyssey G85SB QD-OLED monitor with a 175Hz refresh rate, Tru Black HDR400, and .03ms GtG response time for $899.99.
Monoprice 49” Dark Matter Curved DQHD Monitor - the Dark Matter by Monoprice proves a 5120x1440 monitor doesn't have to break the bank. The 120Hz refresh rate and 4ms response time may not be on par with Samsung's offerings, but the lowered specs help bring this super ultrawide in at a more affordable $664.99. There’s also a 32” UWQHD (21:9) option available for $499.99.
AOC CU34G3X 34” 3440x1440 Monitor (Amazon $369.99) - For just $350, the CU34G3X has a 144Hz refresh rate, a 1ms response time, and AMD FreeSync Premium compatibility, making it a great option for the gamer who has to balance a budget with features.
Monitor Alternatives
We don’t always think about it, but a full-sized monitor isn’t always a good fit. Fortunately, whether you’re looking for something ultra-large or extra-small, today’s tech has you covered.
UPspec Gaming xScreen (Amazon $249.99) - Take advantage of the portability of the Xbox Series S by adding a portable 11.6” screen to your bag. With HDMI ports built-in, you don’t have to worry about any additional cables beyond the Xbox’s power supply.
Viture XR Glasses (Amazon $395.10) - The Virtue XR Glasses are stylish shades with tiny projectors built into the frame. Donning a pair is the same as plopping a 120” screen right in front of you. The 1080p 60Hz screen can be used with any USB-C device, including Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and Apple and Android smartphones, and an optional dock allows you to connect to any device with an HDMI port.
RayNeo Air 2 (Amazon $379) - The RayNeo Air 2 are one of the more affordable ways to get into the wearable display ecosystem and are a better fit if you have vision issues. Rayneo has had a $30 instant coupon on these that makes them even more affordable while delivering a similar experience that’s quite impressive in its own right.
Optoma Projectors - A projector can provide an alternative to a big-screen TV, making it the perfect portable companion for your Xbox Series X or PS5. The Optoma UHD35x has up to 4K resolution capable of a 240Hz refresh rate, 3600-lumen brightness, and 1mil:1 contrast ratio, making it the ultimate big-screen option for gaming. At $1049.00, it isn’t cheap, so the $499.00 Optoma HD146X may be a more reasonable offer that comes with a 1080p resolution, 3600-lumen brightness, and 120Hz refresh rate.
CPUs
Not every CPU in this guide is the newest and greatest offering from Intel and AMD. But you get a few CPUs from each camp that will offer great gaming at a good price.
AMD Ryzen 7 7800 X3D (Amazon $350.00)- It really is hard to recommend an Intel CPU when the 7800X3D is such a gaming beast. There is no need to worry about P-core and E-core counts; the 7800X3D’s 8-cores and 16-threads will give the best gaming performance you can find at a very reasonable price.
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D (Amazon $322.71) - If you want a blazing-fast CPU without updating the rest of your current Ryzen hardware, then the 5600X3D is a perfect choice. Still running on the older AM4 platform, you can slap the 5600X3D into your current motherboard and RAM to save some cash for other purchases.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X (Amazon $156.00) - You might want to consider a beefier CPU if your gamer does some video editing or other productivity work, but the 5600X is still one of the best values for pure gaming rigs. And it’s an even better deal than it originally looks since it comes bundled with AMD’s Wraith Stealth cooler.
Intel Core i9-13900K (Amazon $543.99) - Instead of grabbing the latest i9-14900K, save a few bucks and pick up the i9-13900K for similar performance. The 13900K packs in the same 8 P and 16 E cores as the 14900K and only runs 200MHz slower, so you’re still getting nearly the best gaming and productivity performance that Intel offers while saving $30.
Intel Core i5-12600KF (Amazon $154.99) - If you are looking at just gaming on a PC, the Core i5-1200KF is a great low-budget Intel CPU. The lack of integrated graphics won’t matter since you’ll be pairing this beauty with a discreet graphics card, and its 10 cores (6P+4E) use less power than the i9 options while still providing enough juice to play all of today’s modern games at a fraction of the cost.
CPU Coolers
Cougar Forza 135 CPU Air Cooler (Amazon $89.99) - If you prefer the look of an air-cooled CPU to an AIO or custom loop, then the dual-stack Forza 135 is an excellent choice. Not only does it hold its own against similar air-cooling and water-cooling options, Cougar has put together an attractive brushed aluminum design that will work with any Intel or AMD CPU right out of the box.
Corsair H150i Elite LCD XT AIO CPU Cooler (Amazon $234.99) - Water cooling is just as much about aesthetics as it is practical use, and the H150i Elite XT shows just how far you can go to dress up an AIO cooler. Unwilling to stop at three 120mm RGB fans, the H150i Eilte LCD XT comes with a 2.1” LCD screen on top of the CPU block, with a Corsair Command CORE RGB hub to control it all. The Elite LCD XT also comes in two other sizes, the 240mm H100i and 420mm H170i.
Lian-Li Galahad II 240mm AIO RGB CPU Cooler (Amazon $107.97) - I have a secret for you. Unless your gamer is overclocking their CPU to unbelievable levels, a 240mm cooler will probably be just fine. The fans will have to run a little faster than those on a 360mm radiator, but that’s a small inconvenience to get the price down to around $100.
GPUs
I truly cringe when someone asks me my opinion about what graphics card they should buy. As a techie, I am always looking at the best of the best, But I know that most gamers (myself included) can casually drop $2000 on an RTX 4090. The first thing I always ask is, what is wrong with your current graphics card? After a few more questions, that conversation ends in two ways: first, there’s nothing wrong, and they just think they need something new, or second, their whole system is out of date, and they need to overhaul their whole rig.
If you have someone hellbent on upgrading their GPU this Christmas, then I reluctantly offer up the following choices. The picks below will give you what I consider the minimum standard of PC gaming at a specific resolution - 60 frames per second at high settings. You could choose a cheaper option if you are willing to reduce some graphics settings, or you could pay more for a better card and get much higher frame rates. I leave those tough choices up to you.
1080p Gaming - The honest truth about 1080p gaming is that just about any card released in the last few years can handle 60fps. You could probably get away with an Nvidia 10-series or GTX 1660 or an AMD RX5500 for many games, but we want bullet-proof 60fps in any game. Something like the PowerColor Fighter AMD RX6600 for $199.99 on Amazon or the Acer Predator BiFrost Intel Arc A750 for $194.99 on Amazon will do the trick, while the closest-priced Nvidia offering would be the RTX 3050, but it’ll struggle to hit 60fps consistently.
1440p Gaming - While the 1080p cards above can give you good 1440p gaming in specific games, you’ll want to look at better cards for newer, often less-optimized games. For Nvidia, although an RTX 3060 or 4060 can get you into 1440p for most games, we’re going to suggest something like the Gigabyte Eagle RTX 4060Ti for $399 at Amazon. Intels driver updates have finally made the Arc A770 a viable option, and the $269.99 price of the Acer Predator A770 makes it an attractive offering. And if you prefer AMD, you could go with an older RX6700XT ($309.99 on Amazon) or grab the newer XFX Speedster RX7700XT for $439.99 on Amazon.
4K Gaming - Nvidia 4090, ‘nuff said. It really is that easy if you have a couple thousand to blow. Most of us don’t, though, so we will look at some other choices, none of which are cheap. An Nvidia RTX 4080 or AMD RX7900XTX are great options, but they are still very expensive, with the Zotac RTX 4080 Trinity ($1169.99) and XTX Speedster MERC310 RX 7900XTX ($971.66) being the cheapest options on Amazon. That’s what it’s going to take to get consistent 60fps in the most recent titles, though.
I can’t just leave you hanging above the $1000 mark, though, so I’ve got a few options that will still give you good 4K frame rates in most of the games out there. In the $650-$700 price range, you could hunt down an older RTX 3080 or grab an AMD RX 7800XT for around $600 if you don’t care about ray tracing. Finally, check out the $550-$600 range for the Nvidia RTX 4070 and AMD RX 6800XT to get the job done, just be ready to turn on DLSS or FSR to keep things above 60fps.
Pre-built And Portable PCs
Not everyone wants to do the research or put in the time to build their own PC, so a Pre-built PC may be on their Christmas list instead. And with portable gaming becoming so big, now might be the time to grab something that will (almost) fit in their pocket.
MSI Aegis R Gaming Desktop PC (Amazon $949.00) - Hunting for a sub-$1000 PC on Amazon is a minefield full of bad decisions. Older parts hidden by partial descriptions and RGB lighting can bring the price of a PC down to console levels, but you’re sure to have buyer's remorse when all is said and done. That doesn’t mean you can’t find a decent sub-$1000 system, and the Aegis R is proof of that. At its core is a 12th gen Intel i5-12400F processor and an Nvidia RTX4060, a decent pairing capable of strong 1080p performance that can even push to 1440p with a few graphics settings scaled back.
Origin Pre-built PC - The review build we checked out was a 4K gaming beast that blew our minds, but Origin has a wide range of quality prebuilts that can be customized to suit your personal needs. Ready-to-ship offerings start as low as $2156 for the Neuron 4000D RTS, which includes an RTX 4070Ti and Intel Core i7-13700K. From there, the sky is the limit, with multiple ready-to-ship options and a customization menu that includes everything and the kitchen sink - well, everything and custom water cooling, at least.
Valve Steam Deck ($399 - $649) - Whether you are going with the original Steam Deck or one of the newer OLED versions, Valve’s portable provides great PC gaming on the go. The 256GB ($399) and 512GB ($449) LCD versions are still capable systems, but the new OLED versions (512GB $549, 1TB $649), offer a better OLED screen, higher refresh rates, and longer battery life.
ASUS ROG Ally (Z1 $599, Z1 Extreme $699) - Unlike the Steam Deck, the ROG Ally is a native Windows 11 rig, making it the simpler choice for someone wanting that operating system. This means you can play any Windows game, have easy access to your Xbox Game Pass for PC, and even access your Steam Library without the need to dual-boot into a second operating system. The Ally comes in two variants, the Z1 ($599) and Z1 Extreme ($699), with the Z1 Extreme boasting a faster CPU.
Ayaneo Air 1S - For something that’s just as powerful but more pocketable and with an OLED screen for better visuals, we recommend the Ayaneo Air 1S. It has an almost identical processor to the ROG Ally but comes in a much thinner and lighter form factor. For its size, you would expect it to be power or thermally limited, but no: this is a full-fledged Windows handheld that will impress you with its performance.
Keyboards
Click, click, click. Keyboards are all the same, right? Not at all! We love keyboards here at MMORPG, and I could give you a mile-long list with everything we’ve reviewed this year. Instead, I’ll just give you some of our favorite picks.
Drop CSTM80 Tenkeyless Keyboard (Drop $149) - Style meets performance in the CSTM80. With a swappable top cover (Drop already has multiple colorways available), the CSTM80 can be customized to match any decor. And the customization isn’t just skin deep. The CSTM80 comes with a curated set of plates, foam, and switches to give a great starting point, but DIYers can customize the innards of the CSTM80 to their heart's content.
ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 Keyboard (Amazon $144.99)- We deal with a lot of keyboards here at MMORPG, mass-produced and DIY alike, so when our hardware editor gave the ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 a 10 out of 10 rating, you know you are getting something special. Excellent quality, fantastic switches, and an incredible battery life are just a few of the reasons why our reviewer claimed the Scope II is, “one of the absolute best gaming keyboards available.” And that was when the board cost $35 more than it does today!
Corsair K70 MAX Keyboard (Amazon $199.99) - Corsair’s K70 line of keyboards has been around for a long time, but the K70 MAX takes the series to the next level with its magnetic-mechanical switches. The switches allow you to customize the actuation point on each key, something you can’t do with regular mechanical switches. Add to that a polling rate of 8000Hz, NKRO rollover with 100% anti-ghosting, a dedicated volume roller, and Corsair’s iCUE software and you have one of the best mass-produced boards on the market.
Mice
SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless MMO Mouse (Amazon $109.99) - It has been almost two years since I purchased the Aerox 9, and it’s my favorite MMO mouse of all time (our reviewer liked it too). It looks cool, feels good, packs in 12 thumb and 18 total buttons, and is still lightweight enough to serve as a daily driver.
Glorious Model O 2 Pro (Glorious $99.99) - Strip away the RGB and replace the gimicky honeycomb shell (your words, not mine) of the original Glorious Model O and what do you have? A minimalist-looking mouse that is anything but minimal. The Model O 2 Pro has an ambidextrous full-shell design that still comes in at a mere 57g. Underneath, you get optical switches rated for 100M clicks, a .2ms response time, and a BAMF 2.0 26K optical sensor with 650 IPS.
Chairs And Desks
For us at MMORPG, 2023 was the year that ergonomics took precedence over the “gaming” aesthetics, and our backs love us for it.
Herman Miller x Logitech G Embody Gaming Chair (Herman Miller $1845) - Suitable for the game room or the office, the Herman Miller x Logitech G Embody provides exceptional comfort and support, while maintaining the build quality Herman Miller chairs are known for. It’s a premium upgrade to all of those racing chairs that look cool but don’t quite hold up over the long haul. And when you’re going to be sitting in a chair for hours, support and quality are all you should be worrying about.
SIHOO Doro-C300 Ergonomic Chair (Amazon $359.99) - It’s no Herman Miller, but the Doro-C300 is still an ergonomic joy that your butt and back will love. The mesh fabric provides plenty of support without the sweatiness of a leather seat. Furthermore, the backrest, lumbar support, headrest, and arms can all be adjusted to fit your body, allowing you to sit for hours without any aches or pains.
Flexspot Odin Standing Desk (Flexispot $899.99) - The Flexispot Odin swaps out the standard 2-leg design of most height-adjustable desks for 4 legs. This gives a sturdier base with less wobble. Capable of holding up to 440 lbs, the Odin is as strong as the gods and is perfect for all of your expensive tech. The four motors allow you to smoothly adjust from sitting to standing height and back again at the press of a button. And just in case $900 is outside of your budget, we have reviewed and enjoyed multiple Flexispot desks throughout the years, and can safely say that you’ll be satisfied with everything from the $139 E2 to the $209.99 E5 to the $599.99 E7 Plus.
Audio, Streaming, And Editing
Razer Nommo V2 Pro Speakers (Amazon $449.99)- If your gamer is tired of throwing a pair of headphones on to game, then maybe they could use a set of desktop speakers. The Razer Nommo V2 provides excellent audio through the two 3.2” desktop speakers and a wireless down-firing subwoofer, and THX Spatial software takes them to the next level.
Drop + Sennheiser HD58X Jubilee Headphones (Drop $139) - I’ve had the HD58X in previous guides, and they are back again this holiday season. The HD58X Jubilee just does it all well at an affordable price; while the bass is nothing to write home about, the mids and highs are fantastic, giving you great sound whether you are playing games, watching a movie, or just listening to music.
Sennheiser Profile USB Microphone (Amazon $99.00) - When your gamer/streamer is ready to swap out the mediocre microphone attached to their gaming headset for a decent condenser microphone, there is a veritable sea of sub-$99 mics to choose from. Sennheiser’s Profile USB mic offers sturdy construction, easy setup, and excellent sound, putting it at the top of the pack. There’s even an optional Streaming Set that includes a boom arm, 3m cable, and mic pouch.
TourBox Elite Editing Controller (Amazon $308) - Take photo and video editing to the next level with the TourBox Elite Editing Controller. With 14 programmable buttons and dials, with presets for the most popular software, the TourBox Elite eliminates the arduous task of memorizing multiple menus and commands, and the adjustable haptic feedback and scroll speeds provide a level of accuracy you just can’t get with a keyboard.
AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 Capture Card (Amazon $299.99) - If your budding streamer/YouTuber is looking for a capture card, then the AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 is a great choice to grab video from a PC or console. The Ultra 2.1 is capable of capturing full 4K60 video with a true 4K144 passthrough. It also supports a variable refresh rate to reduce screen tear.
RODECaster Duo (Amazon $499) - The RODECaster Duo is a dream device for streamers and content creators. It’s an audio interface, a mixer, an recorder, and an FX panel all in one. This version is the smaller, two-input version of the RODECaster Pro II, but it’s only scaled back inputs — everything else, including enough power to drive an SM7B! If your loved one is a content creator, this is the audio device that does it all.
As an alternative, the Roland Bridgecast offers a lot of performance for much less money ($299.99). It doesn’t offer quite as many hardware features but makes up for them with software that adds a sound pad and even more capabilities. It’s fundamentals are there, however, with full mixing capabilities, compatibility with Xbox and PS5, and the ability to drive most microphones from its built-in XLR port.
Family Time
Makeblock STEM Building Kits - This was a unique discovery for us this year. While not related to gaming, Makeblock makes some of the best robotics kits we’ve discovered. If you’re looking for a way to connect with the gamer in your life outside of gaming, Makeblock has a kit that’s sure to pique their interested and allow you to spend quality time together creating and coding for your own robots!
We were able to test two kits: the Codey Rocky ($89.99) and the mBot Ultimate 10-in-1 Robot Building Kit for Students ($354.99). Even though they’re targeted at different ages, our Editor, Chris, sat down with his son and had a great time building these kits. They’re approachable yet deep enough to offer hours of building and programming fun. Next-level LEGOs for the aspiring robotic engineer.
While the Ultimate kit is clearly labeled as designed for ages 14+, with parental help, Chris’s nine-year old son was able to enjoy it fully. The Codey Rocky, on the other hand, is designed for younger kids but offers cute, virtual-pet/robot helper fun to all ages with its emotive expressions and sound effects.
These kits are the perfect way to pull your loved one away from their PC or game console and stimulate their mind and problem solving skills. They also make for the perfect introduction to coding in an accessible and fun format!
Killer Chargers
UGreen Nexode 300W Desktop Charger (Amazon $269.99) - This one really surprised us, and it’s the perfect gift for the gamer in your life whose desktop is filled with gadgets. This charger has four USB Type-C ports and a single USB Type-A and is able to output up to 300 watts at any given time. Its top USB port is able to charge at up to 140 watts, so you can fast-charge your laptop, phones, handheld gaming PC, and more all at one time. It’s expensive but is an easy way to instantly improve your loved one’s daily quality of life.
ACEFAST 65W Crystal PD Charger (Amazon $39.99) - Not ready to spend that much money on a charger? We’ve got you covered. This 65 watt charger from Acefast is enough to kick your charging into high gear while also have a unique, translucent appearance that’s unlike anything else we’ve seen. This chargers work great for smartphones as well as the Nintendo Switch and some Windows handhelds.
Gifts For The Gamer Who Has Everything
If your gamer already has a top-end desktop PC or console, a giant monitor, and all of the peripherals they could ever use, what’s left to buy? Well, maybe it’s time to accessorize their gaming space or try out a new hobby like 3D printing. We’ve even hunted down a few unique tech-related gifts they probably don’t even know exist.
Govee TV Backlight T2 (Amazon $109.99) - Extend the picture on your TV into the entire room with the Govee TV Backlight T2. Utilizing a dual camera for improved accuracy and 60 LEDs/m, the T2 gives unprecedented color matching that can be controlled through your smartphone, Alexa, or Google Home.
Nanoleaf Shapes Triangles And Hexagons - Add some pizazz to your gaming battle station (or any room) with Nanoleaf’s Shapes lighting. Available in triangles and hexagons, these RGB light panels can be used to make geometric designs across your walls and ceiling for an amazing light show that can even be synced up to your PC.
Carved Phone Cases - Carved has combined my fascination with watching epoxy woodworking on YouTube and the need to protect my smartphone with their one-of-a-kind handmade phone cases. Each epoxy pour creates a unique design that makes every case a special work of art. Cases are available for most iPhones and Samsung Galaxy devices. And if a case isn’t enough, Carved also makes wireless chargers, minimalist wallets, pocket knives, and bracelets.
Anycubic Kobra 2 3D Printer (Anycubic $209) - The Kobra 2 3D printer is perfect for anyone wanting to get started with 3D Printing. A partially pre-assembled unit and easy-to-follow instruction booklet will have you up and running in no time. The Kobra 2 can print up to 9.8 x 8.7 x 8.7-inch designs using PLA/ABS/TPU materials. For the more adventurous beginner (or veteran), the Kobra Max has a larger 17.7 x 15.7 x 15.7-inch printing space.
Ruko F11 GIM2 Long-Range Drone (Amazon $459.99) - If you have messed around with a cheap drone, you probably grew tired of its limited capabilities rather quickly. But if it’s time to get serious, the Ruko F11 GIM2 will make for a great beginner drone. With safety features like automatic takeoff and landing modes, a built-in GPS tracker, and auto-return mode, the F11 takes some of the fear out of flying.
That’s all for us this year! Share your own recommendations in the comments below!
