Find out what they play on before you buy anything. Thumb grips for their controller, a case for their exact Switch model, a store card for the right region or a small figure from the game they've sunk the most hours into all fit a low or mid Secret Santa budget. A mousepad, an RGB light strip or a mug that says GAMER is usually something they already own.
Two things to find out first
The platform. PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, PC or phone decides almost every item below. Your private link shows their wishlist, interests and gift ideas in the budget, but gaming among their interests doesn't tell you which platform. Look for clues: the controller on the shelf behind them on a video call (white with a black center is the standard PS5 DualSense), what they mention on Monday morning, or their Discord profile, which shows the game they're playing if they leave activity status on.
The game they're playing right now. One long-running favorite, like a city builder with 300 hours on it or the football game they buy every autumn, opens up books, merchandise and store credit. Ask a gamer what they're playing at the moment and the answer usually includes the platform.
By platform
PlayStation or Xbox
- Thumb grips, silicone caps that slip over the thumbsticks. They come in packs with different heights and give a worn stick its grip back. They're made for one controller type, so check whether it's a DualSense (PS5) or an Xbox Wireless Controller.
- A controller stand or a wall hook if their controllers end up between the sofa cushions after every session.
- A pre-owned physical game from their wishlist. The Xbox Series S, the all-digital Xbox Series X, the PS5 Digital Edition and the PS5 Pro ship without a disc drive, so check the model before you buy a disc.
Nintendo Switch
- A hard carrying case for their model. A case for the original Switch often fits the OLED model too; the Switch 2 is bigger and needs its own.
- A game card case holding 12 to 24 cartridges, for someone who buys physical games and keeps them loose in a drawer.
- A memory card of the right kind. The original Switch and the OLED take an ordinary microSD card. The Switch 2 only runs games from microSD Express cards, which cost more and often go over the budget.
PC
- A headset hanger that clamps to the edge of the desk, if their headset usually lies next to the keyboard.
- Grip tape or replacement mouse feet (skates), both pre-cut for one specific mouse model. Only buy them if you know the model, from their wishlist or from a look at their desk.
Phone
An Apple or Google Play gift card is the simplest pick, so find out whether they use an iPhone or an Android phone. The same region rule applies as for the console store cards below.
Gifts that aren't gear
- Store credit for PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo or Steam. Buy it for the region of their account: these cards usually only work on accounts from the country or region where they were sold. A colleague who moved from Madrid to Bucharest may still play on a Spanish account. Wrap the physical card, or write a digital code by hand on a note inside the wrapping; sending it by message would give away who drew them. Valve stopped supplying new physical Steam cards to shops in June 2026, so Steam credit now mostly comes as a digital code.
- The art book of the game they play most. Many big games get a hardback “The Art of…” book full of concept art. These often cost more than a mid Secret Santa budget, so check before you settle on one, and look at their shelf on a video call to make sure it isn't already there.
- A book about how games get made. Blood, Sweat, and Pixels by Jason Schreier (2017) follows the making of ten games, from Stardew Valley, made by one person, to big studio releases like Uncharted 4, and suits anyone who reads game news.
- A small official figure or plush of a character from that same game.
Giving an actual game
If a specific game is on their wishlist, buy that one, for their platform. Since July 2026 Steam lets you send a game to an email address without being on their friends list, even through guest checkout without a Steam account. They have to live in the same country as you, and a gift not accepted within 30 days is refunded. You also need an email address for them, which your private link doesn't show, so this suits a colleague whose work address you know. Email gifts can't be scheduled and the email goes out when you pay, so buy it on exchange day, not three weeks ahead. The gift email may also show your Steam name, so check what it displays if you want to stay anonymous.
For consoles, a physical copy wrapped like any other present is the simplest option. Stick to a game named on their wishlist: a disc of something they already own digitally is no use to them.
What they probably have already
- A mousepad. PC players usually chose theirs for size and surface, often a desk-wide mat, so a different one is a sideways swap at best.
- RGB light strips and glowing accessories. Their desk probably already looks the way they want.
- Mugs, T-shirts and socks with gamer slogans. A joke about your group lands better than a joke about gaming in general; see our funny gifts page.
- A budget gaming headset or keyboard. Both are chosen for fit, sound or key feel, and a cheaper one is a downgrade. A keyboard also has to match their layout.
For a colleague who games
When gaming is among a coworker's interests and you don't know the platform, pick something that doesn't depend on it: the Schreier book, or a small figure from a game you've heard them mention at lunch.
If you're organizing, make sure the gamers' wishlists in the Secret Santa generator name their platform and account country. “Switch 2, Spanish account” is enough. More options are on our coworker gifts, low-budget gifts and mid-budget gifts pages.