We can’t forget the gamers in our life, but what if you want to get them away from their desks? This year, we’re focusing on gamers on the go with a few ideas.
There’s nothing like having some time to play games, and that’s typically where a big gaming PC or a TV-based console comes in. But in this day and age, who has time, or even a dedicated spot of their own?
That’s why for this gaming gift guide, we’re instead focusing on portability. Namely, the ability to game from anywhere.
Whether you’re buying for someone travelling to work or on their way to places, if you want to give that person the gift of entertainment, there’s bound to be a gadget they can get stuck into designed to make their life a little easier overall.
Backbone One
Price: $189
Everyone has a phone, and that means everyone potentially has a portable gaming system, thanks in part to the sheer amount of games you can find.
But just because you can find a bunch of games doesn’t mean you’ll have the right controls, which is where the Backbone One cases come in.
What are basically Xbox and PlayStation controllers for your phone that plug in using USB-C or Lightning (if you need to convert an old iPhone), and provide a more tactile and responsive approach to mobile entertainment. They work for Android and iPhone alike, and are fairly compact and friendly.
Bitmo Lab Game Baby
Price: $40 USD
On the other side of the mobile game equation is something specifically made for iPhones, with a retro-focused Game Boy-inspired case for Apple’s phone.
At this point in the year, it might be difficult trying to get one of Bitmo’s Game Baby cases in before December 25, but the option is there if you can find one, turning a phone case into something a little more functional, and granting game play with ease.
Nintendo Switch 2
Price: $699
Easily the hottest game console right now, the Switch 2 upgrades Nintendo’s combination portable and at-home entertainment system to let you keep doing both, encasing removable controllers around a screen that can be used without the screen when plugged into a TV.
In short, the Switch 2 is a portable console made to be used both out and about, and also at home, and comes with the ability to share games, too.
Valve Steam Deck OLED
Price: from $899
Easily one of our favourite gaming PCs, the Steam Deck OLED is basically a compact computer you can take with you that plays a big assortment of the titles available on Steam.
Most PC gamers own a bunch of those titles, too. Given how many sales Steam has, they probably have a bunch they’re not playing and are looking for every opportunity to do so.
The Steam Deck OLED makes it possible to take many of those with you in a portable gaming PC. It won’t play everything, but it will play a lot, and could just be the excuse needed to have a bit of fun.
Alternatively, if you want to save a few bucks and don’t want a lovely OLED screen, consider the slightly less expensive $649 Steam Deck LCD, which is much the same, but with a less impressive LCD screen and a slightly smaller battery.
ROG Xbox Ally X
Price: $1599
If you need a little more power than what the Steam Deck OLED can provide, you may want to consider the Asus Xbox combo effort, the ROG Xbox Ally X.
A portable gaming PC modelled on the Xbox controllers, this one includes seriously hefty hardware, using a newer AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip, 1TB of storage, and a staggering 24GB RAM around a 7 inch Full HD screen.
It’s basically a gaming laptop in a compact space, handy if that’s what it’ll take to get your gamer to go.
Meta Quest 3S
Price: from $499
Need a little more oomph and potentially something different for the gamer in your life? Consider something focused on virtual reality.
The idea of virtual reality hasn’t quite taken off in games yet, and even in a portable sense, it’s still quite early. But Meta’s Quest 3S is giving the category a solid thwack, even if it’s one you won’t feel digitally.
The headset lasts for a little over two hours of playback, and provides a way to blend the digital world with the real one, using special controllers to let you experience a virtual world.
It’s definitely a different portable gaming experience, even if it’s one that will get you all the attention if used in public.
