Gaming is an incredibly popular hobby for people of all ages and backgrounds, and odds are that every friend group has at least one of them. Video games are even more than a hobby for many players. YouTube personalities and Twitch streamers have been making money from gaming-related YouTube channels or streaming high-level gameplay for years. The eSports scene is also exploding in popularity with new pro players rising up every competitive season.
If you’re looking for gifts for a friend during the holidays, for their birthday, or just to show you care, you’d think that knowing one of their favorite activities would make things simple. The truth, though, is that there are so many games, gaming accessories, and other related products out there that it can be hard to know what they actually need. Here are some ideas for choosing the right gifts for all your gamer friends.
It’s hard to go wrong with a new game.
Even gamers who are seriously into one particular game, such as those who train for online tournaments, need to take a break to play something else once in a while. Maybe you have a friend who’s seriously into multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs), like League of Legends, and you think a different game would be a good change of pace for them. Why not gift them something they don’t have yet that has some similarities to games they love? In this example, Overwatch could be a great choice.
What is Overwatch? It’s a team-based hero shooter game made by Blizzard that has some of the team coordination of a MOBA mixed with first-person shooter gameplay. It’s incredibly popular with casual players and pros alike, and you’ll frequently see Overwatch League teams compete in eSports. Unlike a traditional FPS death match, Overwatch relies on team objectives for its gameplay. These objectives might involve holding strategic control points or escorting a payload to its destination.
The roster is broken up into three basic classes. You have your main tank characters like Winston, Zarya, and Reinhardt who protect the rest of the team and the objectives. Their ultimate abilities often have areas of effect that are meant to keep the enemy team away from the objective. You then have your damage per second (DPS) characters like Tracer and Reaper, whose main role is to damage players. These characters are great for taking out enemy tanks or picking off support units. Finally, you have support characters like Ana, Zenyatta, and Lucio who focus on healing team members or otherwise buffing them. The simple-to-learn but hard-to-master style of Overwatch is likely to draw in anyone who hasn’t played it yet.
Give the gift of comfort.
Gaming sessions frequently get intense, especially during competitive matches, and your gamer friend may be spending long stretches of time sitting in one place. The worst thing they could do is sit in a subpar chair that doesn’t provide the needed support, but this is exactly what many gamers do. Look into some of the best gaming chairs to see if you can find the right product at the right price for your friend.
You don’t need to spend the big bucks on a chair with built-in speakers or massagers, unless you want to. You’ll want to look for something with good spine and lumbar support, as well as adjustable arm rests. A seat with high degrees of reclining options is also a good idea for those extra long sessions when sitting up just isn’t comfortable anymore. Also, make sure the chair will support your friend’s body type. While some gamers find “racer” style chairs comfortable, they are quite thin and may not be the best option for friends with larger frames. Check the description of the chair for the height and weight ranges supported.
