We Spoke to Self-Proclaimed Nerds to Find Out the Year's Best Geeky Gifts
Yes, personalized presents for gamers do exist.
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Geeks are perhaps the most discerning (read: charmingly difficult) of all the gift recipients on your holiday shopping list. They know what they like and they like it in the fiercest of ways. They're the board-game loyalists who pre-order that limited-edition release months before it's available. They're the video-game enthusiasts who will lovingly shame you about your out-of-date gaming console. They're the die-hard Star Wars fans who will judge you if you refer to "The Child" as Baby Yoda. You get the picture. They're particular about their passions, and those passions are varied. We all have these people in our lives, and getting them the surface fandom gifts (hello, Minecraft socks and Star Trek posters) are just not an option. So save yourself embarrassment and show them you care by getting them one of these best gifts for geeks (most of which were selected by self-proclaimed nerds). And if you find yourself on Christmas Eve frantically searching for Game of Thrones bobbleheads (don't do it!), at least consider opting for one of these universally-appealing last-minute gifts that anyone will undoubtedly love.
Let them serve their ethyl alcohol in what they love most in life: beakers and flasks. This set comes with two of each, but remind your science lover that these are strictly for mixing drinks.
If you're not a person who's ever played Dungeons & Dragons, you might not understand why this makes a great gift. For starters, it randomizes the dice when you roll and keeps them contained (thereby preserving the sanctity of the board). Think of it as your beloved D&Ders fave new accessory.
This hotly-anticipated strategy board game has three big things going for it: It's based on Frank Herbert's 1965 cult-classic, genre-defining novel of the same name. It's been out-of-production for 40 years and was just re-released. And everyone's favorite man-boy-angel Timothee Chalamet is starring in the upcoming feature film.
Just pick your size, color, and what name you want displayed, and this Etsy seller will create one of their best-selling pieces for your favorite gamer.
The blistering pace at which your friend reads this reality-bending thriller will astound you. Time really is a flat circle ... or something like that.
Superheroes? Check. Star Wars? Check. Get one for them and one for yourself? Check and check!
Like all good things — sugar cereals, amusement parks, fidget spinners — this DIY droid says it's for kids, but as Obi-Wan once said to a young Skywalker, "The truth is what you make of it..."
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With a more tactile feel and various sound levels, this simple but sturdy keyboard will delight gamers and coders alike.
If you don't know the term "output peripherals" but your gamer giftee does, this is the precision audio headset of their dreams.
A smaller, less-expensive-but-just-as-awesome offshoot of the wildly popular Nintendo Switch, the Lite console boasts a more efficient battery, making for even wackier hijinks to ensue on the rainbow road.
Lori (she/her) is the fomer style director for Good Housekeeping, where she wrote and edited content across the fashion, lifestyle, gift and home categories from 2014 to 2022.
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