Every family has at least one nostalgia-filled retro gamer. You know, that person who still swears the SNES controller is perfection or insists that nothing beats the original Pokémon intro. And honestly? They might not be wrong. There’s something timeless about jumping back into the games we grew up with, which makes retro-themed gifts some of the best surprises you can give during the holidays.
Whether you’re the type of person who has to hunt down classic cartridges from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, or you just want to do something small for someone special in your life, there are plenty of gift options to make that retro gamer in your life happy. From fantastic books to novelty gifts, these are the best gifts in 2025 for your nostalgia-filled friend.
Best Retro Gaming Gifts For 2025
Press Reset by Jason Schrier
One of the best books on games and the people that make them, Press Reset comes from veteran journalist Jason Schreier. Rather than tell you more, let’s let Schreier explain it himself.
“The business of videogames is both a prestige industry and an opaque one. Based on dozens of first-hand interviews that cover the development of landmark games—Bioshock Infinite, Epic Mickey, Dead Space, and more—on to the shocking closures of the studios that made them, Press Reset tells the stories of how real people are affected by game studio shutdowns, and how they recover, move on, or escape the industry entirely.”
Original Xbox: The Console and the Games by Jonathan Clarke and Clarke
If you are a long-time Xbox fan, the upcoming book Original Xbox: The Console brings you a visual history of all of the games released on the original Xbox.
The book comes from the team at Xbox Era and features 360 full color pages and over 790 games. “From Fable to MechAssault, Halo: Combat Evolved to the very first Forza Motorsport, this book is a celebration of the console that started it all.”
The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1988-1998 by Brett Weiss
The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1988-1998 is the follow-up to the best-selling The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1977-1987.
The book features 100 games with two-to-three full pages of the game’s history, production info, details, developer quotes and more.
A Handheld History by Lost in Cult
The last book on this list, A Handheld History takes a look “into decades of gaming memories and reconnect you to that long car journey full of discarded AA batteries before speeding ahead to the contemporary days of blockbusters in your backpack.”
Mario Heat Changing Mug
For your coffee or tea aficionados, this mug is as straight forward as it gets. When it’s cold, it shows and overworld Mario level. Pour a hot drink in it, it goes dark with extra details.
Gameboy Lego Set
There are a lot of gaming-themed LEGO sets, but one of the favorites is the Gameboy set. Featuring 421 pieces, this set includes a Gameboy display, two game cartridges that can go into a Gam Pak slot, and even options for a Nintendo Start Screen or game screen placeholders.
Nintendo NES Coasters
Want to show off your fandom without leaving a ring on your table, these NES coasters look like the cartridges from eight classic games: Metroid, Duck Hunt, Donkey Kong, Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario Bros. 3, The Legend of Zelda, and Excitebike.
Super Mario Coin Block Pillow Plush
There are plenty of plush pillows available, but the Mario coin block pillow is one that just wants you to let out some frustration. Get this pillow and just give it a few punches, but it’s unlikely you’ll get any coins out of it. You can try, though.
Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Subscription (12 months)
A modern-day console gift for a retro gamer? That’s right. With a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion subscription players get access to not only NES, SNES, and Game Boy classic games, but also Sega Genesis, N64, and GameCube games.
If the backlog wasn’t full enough, adding these games that are full of nostalgia for the gamer in your life is one heck of a gift.
8Bitdo Bluetooth Retro Receiver for PS1, PS2, and Windows
If you want to play your old PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2 with a modern controller, then 8Bitdo has you covered. The 8Bitdo Bluetooth Retro Receiver allows you to use your Xbox, PS4, PS5, Wii U Pro and Switch Pro controllers wirelessly with your older systems. Imagine just sitting on your couch that’s more than 10 feet from your TV?
The Oregon Trail Card Game
If you want to get away from the screen but still relive your gaming youth, The Oregon Trail Card Game will give you dysentery wherever you go. The game supports 2-6 players and even features 8-bit style art.
Atari 2600+ PAC-MAN Edition Console
Sticking with the classics, if you grew up playing the Atari 2600 or just want to see what all the fuss is about, then the Atari 2600+ might just be the next best thing to the original classic console. The Atari 2600+ includes a wireless joystick and is compatible with both 2600 and 7800 games. The system also comes with Pac-Man 7800 and Pac-Man 2600 and has HDMI output for modern TVs.
Are there any retro or nostalgia gamer gifts that you have your eye on for the 2025 holiday shopping season? Leave your thoughts down in the comments and join us over at the official Insider Gaming Discord server.
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Mike has been covering the gaming industry since 2012, and has reported on some of the largest events in the industry while also working as an investigative reporter. Outside of…
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