Last-minute gift ideas for the gamer in your life
When you can't find the new hotness, there are still plenty of options.
Can you believe this is the second-to-last issue of Don’t Eat the Meeples in 2023? Neither can I, really. It’s been quite a year. We’ll talk even more about that in a week, but this has been easily the most immediately life-altering year I’ve had thus far. Going from not having a child to having a child and moving 12 hours away to a new state — they’re huge things, you see.
While I usually take my time in this newsletter to recommend games and (hopefully) talk thoughtfully about the hobby, I’m turning my focus slightly away this time. Buying gifts for avid gamers can sometimes be difficult. “What if they own this one?” you ask yourself. They might. They might even have it sitting in an online shopping cart right now.
Of course, you could also turn to my 2023 gift guide. Maybe it has something that’ll inspire you for a gift in the new year. Maybe it doesn’t. I don’t know.
Game-night snacks
As somebody who’s both hosted and attended plenty of game nights over the years, I can say without any hesitation that snacks are essential to the proper functioning of the event. Not just any snacks will do: Doritos? Those dust-covered delicious morsels are straight out, sadly. Cheetos, doubly. so. Pizza? Excellent as a pre-game meal, supposing everyone washes their hands, but greasy food just isn’t the right call for a multi-hour game session. Potato chips? You just read my bit about pizza. I love pizza. This is not about how good the food is. This is about those fingers.
Good options could include:
Candy — especially hard candy.
Craft chocolate, if you’re playing in a location that’s climate controlled. Chocolate candy will melt all over the place. Nice chocolate — some of my favorite makers include Solstice, Manoa and Marou — will not present that problem, in part because you typically eat a small amount of chocolate at any given time.
Interesting sodas, of which there are so, so many. I’m drinking a Ramuné right now.
Beef jerky (or, really, any of the dried meats.)
Crackers and cheese — or just make a little charcuterie board kit. Just make sure you provide a little fork so folks aren’t getting salami all over your copy of Nokosu Dice.
You get the idea. There are a lot of options out there for you to consider for the gamer in your life. They’ll appreciate the thoughtfulness, and you’ll appreciate having some nice snacks next time you game with them.
A deck of cards and a book about traditional card games
Why get the gamer in your life one game when you could get them hundreds in one box? The story writes itself, really. I love card games, and I know personally there’s a wealth of interesting traditional card games that I’ve only brushed upon. I’ve played Pinochle, Hearts and Spades, but games like Whist, French Whist, and even German Whist are yet beyond my grasp. There are plenty of great books about the subject, and I’m sure you can find one somewhere. (Personally, I like Hoyle’s Encyclopedia of Card Games.)
A “gift certificate” for either game-playing or babysitting
Gift giving isn’t just about having the financial wherewithal to purchase something, as we are so often reminded. If you’re in such a position — or if you aren’t, really — consider helping make a game night happen for somebody who might not have the time or the group. The thought and consideration will go a long way.
A subscription to a great magazine
I’ve been reading the games magazine Senet since its very first issue. It’s a thoughtful magazine about board games (its tag line is “Board games are beautiful”) with great criticism, interviews, and art. If you’re looking for a gift for the gamer who has obsessively collected games (not naming any names here, but, uh, yeah — that’s me), a subscription to Senet will be just the thing. Just think of it as what you get a gamer instead of Reader’s Digest.
A game you can find at a big box retailer
Alright, so you know what games your gift-giving target has, and you would really like to get the game, huh? There are, indeed, a few worthy options.
Wavelength is one of my favorite party games. It made a recent newsletter from me — Five party games your family will love. It should be pretty well available at Target, as it was available at my small sampling of national stores.
Codenames is a now-classic word-connection party game, and a sampling of Walmart locations has it on-hand.
Horizons of Spirit Island is a slightly simpler take on a truly great cooperative game, Spirit Island. I’ve not played it myself (Horizons, that is), but reviews are very positive, and given I’ve played plenty of Spirit Island, I feel pretty confident recommending it.
There you go. Three games you can buy. Of course, you can also go for my Gift Guide, if you’ve got a game store nearby with a good selection. If you’re there, ask somebody working — or somebody who looks like they’re big into games — what game you should consider. It could prove fruitful.
A game you only play once
For some, it can be a daunting thing to buy a game you intentionally only play once: Think Exit: The Game or Unlock. Escape room-style games are great fun to play once, but twice? Even if you could, is the magic the same? Maybe after a year it’s feasible, but even then, I’m sure I’d personally remember some puzzles.
I’m a big fan of the Exit series, nearly every one of which has been an incredible experience from start to finish. They’re packed with thought-provoking puzzles, and with some truly surprising solutions, they’re sure to delight. This might be the year to give somebody a game they’re just not that interested in buying themselves.
Something that’s not a game
I love games. This much is clear by now, I suspect. But just because I love games doesn’t mean that I need more of them (heaven knows I don’t actually need more games.) This season, maybe it’s time to introduce your friend, coworker or family member to something you’re passionate about. Whether it’s folding origami or some interesting papercraft, reading the latest hit fantasy novel, or watching the local soccer team play, the odds are good that they’ll respect your passion for your hobbies.
It’s not just about broadening their horizons — it’s also about engaging in something together, even if that thing isn’t playing a game. (But you know — other hobbies are great inspiration for designing games. Hmm. Maybe I’m on to something here.)
Thank you, as always, for joining me here at Don’t Eat the Meeples. I hope whatever your celebrations, they’re exactly what you need. Maybe that’s full of games. Maybe that’s not. Whatever the case, I hope you get the rest and relaxation you deserve. I’m excited to spend Christmas with family, personally. Maybe we’ll get some trick-taking games in.
Next week: 2023 in review. See you there!