Does your teen or tween have an interest in gaming? Gaming, both in the form of video games and physical, tabletop games has been massively popular in recent years, leading parents to be on the prowl for good gifts for their young gamers this holiday season. Below, you’ll find our recommendations for gifts good for a child who loves games in any form.
Video Games
Available on PlayStation 5
The breakout 3D-platforming hit of the year, where the titular bot travels across the galaxy to save his friends and explore the history of PlayStation’s gaming legends. Recommended for ages 10+.
Hades
Available on PC / Nintendo Switch / Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One / PlayStation 5 / PlayStation 4
Players will take on the role of Zagreus, prince of the underworld, as he seeks to escape the depths of Hades, and his father of the same name. Discover new weapons, grow stronger and battle your way through randomized dungeons as you befriend the Greek pantheon to develop unique styles of fighting every attempted escape. Recommended for ages 13+.
Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Available on Nintendo Switch
An adventure game in which Princess Zelda takes center stage, using a magic rod to create “echoes” of creatures and objects to assist her in her quest to save Hyrule! This game has an emphasis on exploration and creative problem solving that encourages out-of-the-box thinking. Recommended for ages 10+.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Available on PC / Nintendo Switch / Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One / PlayStation 5 / PlayStation 4
Explore the time-cursed citadel of Mount Qaf in this action-adventure platformer, where you’ll discover new abilities to warp time and space to get closer to the citadel’s heart, and its secrets. Players will be tasked with exploring every inch of the citadel and figuring out how to use their powers in various ways to best enemies and puzzles alike. Recommended for ages 13+.
Sonic X Shadow: Generations
Available on PC / Nintendo Switch / Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One / PlayStation 5 / PlayStation 4
A remaster of the 2011 hit momentum platformer Sonic Generations, upgraded with a second campaign starring Shadow the Hedgehog. If your child has enjoyed the Sonic the Hedgehog movies or just loves going fast, this will appeal to them. Recommended for ages 10+.
Board Games and Tabletop Role-playing Games
Animon Story
A role-playing game about a group of kids and their companion monsters coming together to explore a strange world filled with fascinating creatures, go on adventures and maybe even save the world. This game draws its inspirations from Digimon, Pokémon and other classic monster battler stories. Recommended for ages 10+.
Codenames
Two teams face off. Each has a spymaster, and at least one agent, all looking at a grid of words. The spymasters know what words their team wants to collect – and which they should avoid – but must communicate that with just a one-word clue and a number of words that clue relates to. Can you get into the head of your teammates? Can your creative connections lead you to the win? Find out in this team deduction game for ages 10+.
Kids on Bikes
A roleplaying game about a group of ordinary people in a small town facing off against paranormal danger, along with the help of their superpowered friend, who every player shares control of. Inspired by tales like E.T. and Stranger Things, this game is perfect for a night of spooky excitement. Recommended for ages 13+.
Mausritter Boxed Set
Experience sword and whiskers roleplaying in this adventure role-playing game (RPG) about small mice warriors in a world much larger than they are. This box set comes with the core rules, some tools for the person running the game, a starter adventure, a collection of dry-erase inventory cards and more. Recommended for ages 13+.
Skull
A bluffing game where you’re pushed to bet how many tiles you can reveal without flipping over a skull. Push your opponents to reckless bets or make them fold with sheer confidence. The rules are simple and the rounds are fast, making for a game you can enjoy as a family, but also one that’s great for your child to play with their friends. Recommended for ages 10+.
Wingspan
A competitive game of bird enthusiasts building the best habitats they can to attract the best birds they can to their respective wildlife preserves. Build your strategy and make use of the actions each bird grants you. A more complex game than the others on this list, but one made by a local designer that has more play aids available than most board games ever will. Recommended for ages 13+.
Video Game Subscriptions
Each major console has a unique subscription service that allows the holder to access a vast library of games. Similar to Netflix and other media streaming services, this does not grant ownership over copies of these games, but instead the ability to download and play them while this subscription is active. This allows for experimentation and access to a wide variety of titles your child might not have otherwise been able to explore. Be aware that titles cycle on and off, and there is no guarantee a given title will be available, but in our experience, there are always a few titles that will catch any gamer’s attention.
Microsoft’s GamePass has options for those who want to play on XBox or on a PC. Widely considered to be the most expansive gaming subscription, it offers big titles and indie gems alike. Both options can be bundled together if you have versatile gamers in your family.
PlayStation Plus, for the PlayStation consoles, is Sony’s subscription service that allows you to play online, but its higher tiers, Extra and Premium, offer a broad library of games to access and enjoy. Extra grants access to the “Game Catalog,” a broad selection of PS4 and PS5 games. The Premium tier adds on access to the “Classics Catalog,” a collection of games from the PS1, PS2 and PS3.
If your child is interested in classic games and has a Nintendo Switch, the Nintendo Switch Online service is perfect for them. In addition to granting the ability for online play, it grants access to a collection of games from Nintendo’s oldest consoles – the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and the Game Boy. The Expansion Pass version of the service expands the selection to include some of Nintendo’s later systems, including the Nintendo 64 and the Game Boy Advance. It’s a smaller library, and one focused on older games, but contains many iconic, genre-defining titles that are beloved to this day.
Liam McCrickard holds a B.A. in creative and professional writing from Goucher College. He currently serves as assistant editor at Washington Parent. He also works as a freelance designer, writer and editor of tabletop role-playing games.
