Good stocking stuffers for gamers are small, cheap and actually used: a store credit for the platform they play on, controller extras, a spare charging cable or a tidy-up tool for their setup. These eight picks all sit under $25, come from established brands, and each one is labelled PC, console or both so you can match it to the gamer you are buying for.
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Quick picks
- Safest for any console gamer: a PlayStation Store, Xbox or Nintendo eShop gift card for their platform
- For anyone who plays with a controller: Anker USB-C cable 2-pack
- For a shooter fan on console: KontrolFreek FPS Freek Galaxy thumbsticks
- For the tinkerer: iFixit Minnow precision bit set
Every item here is under $25 at its normal list price; gift cards come in several values, so pick one of the smaller ones. Prices change daily on Amazon, so we don’t quote exact figures.
Gift cards for their platform
Gift cards are the safest stocking stuffer, but only if they match the gamer’s platform and country. Sony’s own support page says a PlayStation code “needs to be for the same region as your account”, and Nintendo says eShop cards are specific to the country they were made for. Buy from the same country the gamer lives in, and check which console they use before you buy.
PlayStation Store gift card
- Works with: Console (PS5 and PS4)
- Who it suits: the PlayStation player who already has every accessory they want.
- Why it makes a good gift: it adds money to their PlayStation account for games, add-ons and subscriptions, and they choose what to spend it on.
- The catch: it only works on an account set to the same region as the card.
- Compatibility: PlayStation accounts only. A digital code arrives by email, so it can go in a stocking as a printed note.
Xbox gift card
- Works with: Both (Xbox consoles and Windows PC)
- Who it suits: the Xbox player, or a PC gamer who buys through the Xbox app on Windows.
- Why it makes a good gift: the balance can be spent on games and subscriptions in the Microsoft Store on Xbox or Windows.
- The catch: like other cards it is tied to a country, so it must match the gamer’s Microsoft account region.
- Compatibility: Microsoft accounts. Check whether they play on Xbox or PC Game Pass before choosing it over a Steam card.
Nintendo eShop gift card
- Works with: Console (Nintendo Switch)
- Who it suits: the Switch player, of any age.
- Why it makes a good gift: it buys games and add-ons in the Nintendo eShop, which suits younger players whose parents prefer a fixed amount over a linked card.
- The catch: Nintendo will not swap a card made for one country for another, so the country printed on the card has to match their account.
- Compatibility: Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Account.
Buying for a PC gamer on Steam? Steam gift cards are sold by Valve rather than on Amazon. You can send a Steam digital gift card straight to a friend’s Steam wallet from your own Steam account. If you are not sure what they would buy with it, our guide to laptops for running Steam games covers the kind of games most Steam players run.
Controller extras
KontrolFreek FPS Freek Galaxy
- Works with: Console (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Switch Pro, depending on the version)
- Who it suits: the shooter fan who wants steadier aim on a controller.
- Why it makes a good gift: a mid-rise thumbstick for movement and a high-rise one for aiming snap onto the controller’s sticks, with a grippy rubber top. KontrolFreek’s Xbox version is officially licensed by Xbox.
- The catch: taller sticks take a few sessions to get used to, and some players simply prefer the stock feel.
- Compatibility: buy the version for their controller: PlayStation, Xbox or Switch Pro. The Switch Pro version comes in one colour only.
Anker USB-C to USB-C cable (2-pack)
- Works with: Both
- Who it suits: anyone whose controller cable is always missing or too short.
- Why it makes a good gift: Anker’s 2-pack of braided nylon, 3.3 ft USB-C cables supports up to 60W charging, enough for controllers, a Switch and most phones.
- The catch: both ends are USB-C, so if they charge from an older PC or console USB-A port, they will need a USB-A to USB-C cable instead.
- Compatibility: any device with a USB-C port, including DualSense and current Xbox controllers.
Desk and care
Logitech G240 cloth gaming mouse pad
- Works with: PC
- Who it suits: the gamer still using a desk or an old office pad for their mouse.
- Why it makes a good gift: Logitech heat-treats the cloth surface for moderate friction and consistent tracking, with a rubber base that stops it sliding. It is one of the cheapest upgrades a mouse can get.
- The catch: it is a standard size, not a full-desk mat. For a larger mat, see our under-$50 list.
- Compatibility: any mouse, wired or wireless.
WHOOSH! Screen Shine Pocket
- Works with: Both
- Who it suits: the gamer with fingerprints all over a handheld, laptop or monitor.
- Why it makes a good gift: the pocket kit is a 3.4 oz screen cleaner that WHOOSH! says is safe for phones, tablets, laptops, TVs and handheld consoles.
- The catch: it is a consumable rather than a gadget, so pair it with something else.
- Compatibility: screens of any kind, including Switch and Steam Deck displays.
iFixit Minnow precision bit set
- Works with: Both
- Who it suits: the gamer who likes to open things up, from controllers to a gaming PC.
- Why it makes a good gift: it packs 16 precision bits, including tri-point, Torx and Torx security types used in small electronics, into a pocket-sized case with a magnetic driver, according to iFixit’s product page.
- The catch: opening a controller or console can void its warranty, so it is best for gamers who already tinker.
- Compatibility: small screws in controllers, laptops, phones and PC parts.
What to check before you buy
- Platform: ask which console or PC store they use. A PlayStation card is useless to an Xbox player.
- Country: gift cards must match the country of their account.
- Connection: check whether their controller charges over USB-C before buying a USB-C cable.
- Age: for younger gamers, a gift card lets parents control the amount and the store’s parental settings still apply.
Gifts to skip
- Off-brand controller grips and cables. They are cheap for a reason and often fit poorly or charge slowly.
- A microSD card without checking. Memory prices have climbed this year, and the right card depends on their handheld, so ask first.
Bigger budget? See our gift ideas for PC gamers under $50 and under $100. Shopping for a whole new laptop or PC? Read our Black Friday gaming laptop and PC deals guide, or see our gift ideas for gaming laptop owners and gaming setup gift ideas for teens. Got a gift card? See our gaming upgrades to buy with a gift card.
Photos: Abhinav Bhardwaj and Hardik Sharma on Unsplash, free to use under the Unsplash License.
