Enlarge /. Our gift guide has dozens of recommendations for good devices and pieces of equipment, including various games and accessories, for Nintendo Switch owners.
If you're shopping for someone who appreciates good tech this holiday season, Ars is here to make the gift giving process less stressful. Orbital headquarters spends much of its time testing all kinds of devices, games, and tech gadgets. Below we've rounded up some of our favorite gift ideas from this year for anyone looking for a last minute gift.
We have dozen of recommendations for price ranges and device types, so we've broken our selections into three categories: gifts ideal for gamers, gifts for the whole home, and productivity-enhancing gifts for people who work from home. With more and more people shopping online this pandemic-ridden year, we can't guarantee you will get everything on time without paying for express shipping, but if you want to give a quality piece of tech to a loved one, the stuff below should delight.
Note: Ars Technica may receive compensation for sales of links in this post through affiliate programs.
advertising
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Enlarge /. Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gives you access to many games for a monthly fee.
Microsoft
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
(Ars Technica may receive compensation for sales of links to this post through affiliate programs.)
Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass isn't the only service that makes a range of games available for a monthly fee. However, no competing subscription has such an extensive catalog. While the idiosyncrasies of the library differ whether you're playing on Xbox, PC, or Android (via cloud streaming), Game Pass offers an excellent mix of blockbusters, hidden gem indies, and high quality games across a variety of genres. Many of the included games were put into service on day one, including all of Microsoft's own recently released games. This has made selling a lot easier than an alternative like Sony's PlayStation Now, which is similar in structure but does not include exclusive first-party and current hits.
Microsoft adds and removes titles every month. Not all games available are home runs. But the pillow of really commendable games – from Halo to Forza, NieR: Automata to Tetris Effect, Celeste to Dead Cells, Spiritfarer to Doom Eternal and so on – is big enough to almost guarantee good value. If nothing else, a gifted subscription will allow a loved one to buy once to play multiple games for free. Just note that there are several subscription options: Game Pass Ultimate is probably your best choice as it includes an Xbox Live Gold subscription for online gaming. However, PC gamers may be better off with a gift card for the cheaper Game Pass for PC.
Paper Mario: The Origami King, Clubhouse Games, Minecraft Dungeons
-
The origami theme adds some physical depth to Paper Mario's beautiful, open spaces.
-
All 51 games in Clubhouse Games are displayed in this clear interface.
-
The "multishot" spell makes any crossbow so much funnier to shoot in Minecraft dungeons.
For Nintendo Switch and PlayStation owners, there is no catch-all service that is as easy to recommend as Game Pass. So instead, we're suggesting some notable games from last year. We're not saying these are the best games of the year – this list is coming, and you probably know that your loved ones' tastes are better than us – but it's the types of experiences that should be massively appealing.
Starting with the move, Paper Mario: The Origami King is a charming and surprisingly fun adventure that should appeal to anyone looking for a family-friendly game. It's not a particularly deep role-playing game, but it does experiment with new game ideas often enough to keep the experience from ever feeling stale.
Clubhouse Games is a digital collection of 51 classic board and card games, from Checkers and Texas Hold & # 39; em to Shogi and Nine Men & # 39; s Morris. It's as simple as it sounds, but it's expertly curated: each game presents a different mood or play style and together it becomes a kind of distillation of the entire game. It's an obvious party game, but given the challenge of the AI, it's also an enriching solo experience.
After all, Minecraft Dungeons is one of the best Diablo clones we've played in a while. It's wonderfully gas free, with a good variety of crazy levels to crawl through, and straightforward but fun combat and loot systems. It's best played with friends in co-op, but either way it's breezy fun that is easy to return to.
Nintendo Switch games
(Ars Technica may receive compensation for sales of links to this post through affiliate programs.)
Ghost of Tsushima, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Final Fantasy VII remake
-
All of these foliage move to the rhythm of the winds in Ghost of Tsushima.
Sucker Punch / YOU
-
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
-
Sometimes it takes a weirdly large sword to make a point in Final Fantasy VII Remake.
Next, let's move on to gift-worthy games for the PS4 and PS5 fans: Ghost of Tsushima is a great first choice here. This 13th century samurai drama combines a sympathetic lead role with a satisfying sword game and an open world that consistently engages with the player and keeps him moving. It's also great, both artistically and technically.
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales is another fairly open-ended game. It's considerably shorter than Tsushima – it takes about 15 hours if you want to do it all – but it never drags on. It's an ideal crowd puller with a graceful combat system and exciting kinetic web swinging. The story is typical of popcorn, but if you're shopping for a Marvel movie fan, it fits right into that shape.
Final Fantasy VII Remake is both a compelling action RPG and a subversive take on the concepts of remakes and fan service. While it is based on the iconic cast and story of the original Final Fantasy VII, the structure and moment-to-moment gameplay of this 35 hour adventure are very distinct. Remake's combat system, which combines real-time action with menu-based commands and pre-combat tactical preparation, is arguably more engaging as a result. It's hokey and deeply melodramatic at times, even for a Final Fantasy game, but Remake ultimately stands out as a bold reinterpretation of a classic JRPG.
PS4 & PS5 games
(Ars Technica may receive compensation for sales of links to this post through affiliate programs.)
Azul
/. Azul even comes with its own, individually printed bag.
If you'd rather buy a game that doesn't require you to stare at a screen, Azul is a great choice. As a former winner of the prestigious Game of the Year award, this is a simple but deeply repeatable tile laying game for 2-4 players. You can read our review for a full overview of the experience. In short, the goal is to collect sets of similar tiles and place them in rows on a personal game board. When a row is filled, one of its tiles moves to a square pattern on the right, generating bonuses based on its placement.
A surprising amount of tactical complexity can come from the sparse set of rules, but Azul never feels overwhelming. Each game usually lasts 20-30 minutes and the whole thing is aesthetically great. There's a little room for "meanness" in the way you can deny other scoring opportunities, but overall, Azul should be a natural addition to many family game nights.
Azul
(Ars Technica may receive compensation for sales of links to this post through affiliate programs.)
ModMic USB
Enlarge /. The ModMic USB is connected to a Sony MDR-1A.
Jeff Dunn
ModMic USB
(Ars Technica may receive compensation for sales of links to this post through affiliate programs.)
There's no shortage of dedicated gaming headsets, but those who already own headphones they like can avoid switching between two different pairs with a ModMic. These are detachable microphones that are connected to existing headphones with a small magnetic adhesive. There are a few types of these, but the ModMic USB is the most common one to buy.
This model is best for a PC because it provides audio over a USB cable that is separate from an existing 3.5mm cable. (While you can always pair the microphone with bluetooth headphones to avoid clutter.) The microphone may come off if you accidentally hit it. However, it is difficult to knock off the magnet completely, and the boom arm is highly flexible. Everything is plug and play and it's easy to remove the microphone as needed.
Above all, the audio quality of the microphone is excellent. In terms of specifications, tones from 50 Hz to 20 Hz can be reproduced using an omnidirectional pattern. The result isn't as detailed as a dedicated desktop mic like the Blue Yeti, but that's the kind of device it competes with as its richness and clarity blow away what you get on most under 200 gaming headsets Find US Dollars. It's good enough for simple recording, let alone the occasional gaming chat.
If you keep sticking an adhesive on your headphones it can upset some. At $ 80, the ModMic USB isn't particularly cheap. If you have an older headset that works with V-Moda's BoomPro microphone, this is a good, less expensive alternative. But for those who have already invested in nice headphones, the ModMic will turn them into an equally nice gaming headset.
Cooler Master MH751
Enlarge /. The Cooler Master MH751.
Jeff Dunn
Cooler Master MH751
(Ars Technica may receive compensation for sales of links to this post through affiliate programs.)
If you'd rather keep things simple and buy a special headset, we like the Cooler Master MH751. As we noted in an earlier guide to the best gaming headsets, it's especially comfortable to wear for hours of sessions, with a balanced sound, a detachable microphone that reproduces voices with relative clarity, and a handsome design that doesn't scream " Look at me "in RGB lights.
The MH751 lacks "virtual surround sound" tricks, but given the frequency with which these effects sound unnatural, it's not a huge loss. (Also, the MH751 will still work with more integrated virtual surround tools like the PS5's "3D Audio" technology.) These are still $ 80 headphones, so their sound quality isn't the best in the world, but for the price they are still good Experience steps and other fine details in place in a game's audio mix.
We recommend wired headsets like the MH751 for gaming as wireless models tend to degrade microphone quality. All large consoles have 3.5mm jacks built into their controllers anyway. However, if wireless is a must, we can vouch for the $ 100 SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless, a convenient, albeit plastic-intensive, option that works on any device via its USB-C dongle. If you're willing to pay more, we also like the $ 150 HyperX Cloud II Wireless, which is comfortable, sounds nice, and has around 30 hours of battery life.
8Bitdo Wireless USB Adapter
Enlarge /. The 8Bitdo Wireless USB Adapter is connected to the USB port of the switch dock.
Jeff Dunn
8Bitdo Wireless USB Adapter
(Ars Technica may receive compensation for sales of links to this post through affiliate programs.)
If you know a Switch owner who also has an Xbox or PlayStation and prefers the controllers of these consoles, you can use the gamepad of your choice across devices with the 8Bitdo Wireless USB Adapter. Setting up the dongle with the switch only takes a few minutes. Once everything is paired, PS5, PS4, or Xbox One pads effectively become variants of Nintendo's Switch Pro controller.
This is kind of a hacky workaround. The Switch's user interface and games are of course still based on Nintendo's own button icons. As a result, it can take a few moments before the right buttons are linked to the right icons on the screen. The adapter does not currently support Xbox Series X | either S gamepads. However, this should change with future firmware updates. Even so, the device reduces input latency to a minimum and is much cheaper for multiplayer sessions than buying a new Switch Pro controller directly. It also works with a wide variety of controllers on the PC.
8Bitdo SN30 Pro +
Enlarge /. 8Bitdos SN30 Pro + controller.
Jeff Dunn
8Bitdo SN30 Pro +
(Ars Technica may receive compensation for sales of links to this post through affiliate programs.)
However, if you'd rather give away a new controller completely, 8Bitdo's SN30 Pro + is one of the best third-party gamepads we've tested for switches, PCs, and mobile devices. It takes the classic "dog bone" design of the old Super Nintendo controller, but adds two joysticks, trigger buttons, and handles. The result feels very comfortable and robust. Every face button and joystick has just the right amount of resistance, the bumpers are quick to push and the triggers have a long travel. The triggers are also analog so you can drag them at different distances on the PC to send different inputs. The D-pad isn't quite as fluid as the latest PlayStation and Xbox controllers, but it's a massive upgrade to the directional buttons on the Joy-Con.
The gamepad can be easily connected to various devices via Bluetooth or the wireless USB adapter mentioned above. There were no latency issues when using a switch, gaming PC, iPad, or Google Pixel 3a. (There is no PlayStation or Xbox support, however.) It runs on a removable battery. The controller's rumble function is not as impressive as the DualSense pad from Sony or the “HD Rumble” effects from Nintendo, but it is still strong. Motion controls are supported and work as expected. There is also a turbo function.
By default, the layout of the face buttons on the SN30 Pro + mimics that of a switch controller. On the PC, the companion software from 8Bitdo offers a variety of customization options: you can reassign each control element despite the instructions of the joysticks, assign macros to certain keys and adjust the sensitivity of the triggers and joysticks. Most people will be perfectly happy with the default settings, but it does mean that you can create a profile that allows the triggers to be pulled faster, for example, so you can aim and shoot faster in a first-person shooter. For a $ 50 controller, that granularity is impressive.
Those who are perfectly happy with their existing controllers don't have to use them up, but it's difficult for anyone in the market to make a professional replacement gamepad better than the SN30 Pro +. And since it still has the SNES-style D-Pad and face buttons, it's a fun option for retro gamers too.
Hori D-Pad Controller (L)
Enlarge /. The Hori D-Pad Controller (L). It has a real D-pad!
Jeff Dunn
Hori D-Pad Controller (L)
(Ars Technica may receive compensation for sales of links to this post through affiliate programs.)
The Nintendo Switch is a wonderful piece of hardware, but its Joy-Con controllers aren't the most convenient things to use for hours. The simply named D-Pad Controller (L) from Hori makes playing the switch in handheld mode a little more pleasant by replacing the stiff, pebble-like buttons on the standard left Joy-Con with a real D-Pad. In games like Tetris 99 or Super Mario Maker 2, which require frequent pressing of the control pad, this can noticeably relieve the thumb. The joystick and shoulder buttons also continue to work as intended.
This controller lacks a built-in rechargeable battery as well as rumble or movement functions. Hence, it is best viewed as an alternative for handheld gaming rather than a full Joy-Con replacement. As a gift for Nintendo fans, it can still make the Switch experience more comfortable.
Obinslab Anne Pro 2
Enlarge /. The Obinslab Anne Pro 2 is a versatile and compact mechanical keyboard.
Jeff Dunn
Obinslab Anne Pro 2
(Ars Technica may receive compensation for sales of links to this post through affiliate programs.)
Keyboard preference is very subjective. However, if you are looking for a good mechanical keyboard that is also well suited for gaming, then you should consider the Obinslab Anne Pro 2. It's a 60 percent keyboard that's only 11.5 inches wide and doesn't have its own number pad, media keys, or arrow keys. The result is that it takes up little space on a desk, which leaves plenty of room for quick mouse movements in a first person shooter.
It's less ideal for strategy games and MOBAs like League of Legends, but the keyboard companion software allows you to reprogram each key to different macros. It is also possible to designate less-used keys to replace arrow keys. In general, the Anne Pro 2's versatility is a strong point: it is available with Cherry MX, Gateron or Kailh switches – the Kailh Box Brown switches on our unit are pretty quiet and have a soft feel that is great for work and gaming suitable – and that also works via Bluetooth or a detachable USB-C cable. Each key is individually backlit and has clean RGB lighting that can also be adjusted in the companion app.
The actual build quality of the Anne Pro 2 is great. There's no way to adjust the angle of the keyboard, but the PBT keycaps feel sharp, the case never bends when you type, and each key is easy to swap out if needed. While Obinslab is not a household name, the Anne Pro 2 has made a name for itself among keyboard enthusiast circles over the past few years, and the company has done a good job over time to add support for the keyboard software. It's not for everyone, but for around $ 100, it's made better than many more expensive gaming keyboards from well-known brands.
Razer Gigantus v2 (XXL)
Enlarge /. Razer's Gigantus v2 with lots of accessories.
Jeff Dunn
Razer Gigantus v2 (XXL)
(Ars Technica may receive compensation for sales of links to this post through affiliate programs.)
For first-person shooters and PC games that require frequent wrist movements, an oversized mouse pad can ensure that a mouse never flies off its intended surface. In addition, the mouse and keyboard remain on the same level.
Razer's Gigantus v2 is a good option here: the flat block cloth feels smooth and rests on a firm, but not stiff, 4mm layer of green, rubberized foam. You still want to clean it from time to time, but by default it resists dust and food crumbs. Even after three months, we didn't have to deal with loose seams. It doesn't immediately show up as a "gaming pad" as the only mark is a minimal Razer logo in the upper right corner. Although the settings can be different, we've found that the actual surface of the Gigantus v2 offers a good balance between speed and control. Various sizes are available, but at $ 30 for a 37.04 × 16.15 × 0.16-inch pad, the Gigantus is good value for a desktop upgrade.
Razer Viper Ultimate
Enlarge /. The Razer Viper Ultimate.
Jeff Dunn
Razer Viper Ultimate
(Ars Technica may receive compensation for sales of links to this post through affiliate programs.)
The Razer Viper Ultimate is the best wireless gaming mouse we've tested. It's extremely responsive to operate and more than precise enough for competitive gaming. His feet slide with minimal friction. Although it's mostly made of plastic, it feels permanently assembled. The slightly humped design is lightweight (74g), completely ambidextrous, and adapts to most hand sizes and grips. The front has some RGB lighting effects, but these are optional and quite restrained so that the mouse doesn't look out of place in an office setting. It has a battery life of around 70 hours, but can also be used with a nice flexible cable that is included. Even after several months of testing, we didn't have any problems with reliability or double-clicking.
Razer's software isn't always the most intuitive – although you don't have to use it often, as you can store custom settings and macros right in the mouse itself – and there's no Bluetooth support in a pinch, but if you are buying one Die-hard PC game should be satisfied with the Viper Ultimate.
SteelSeries Rival 3
Enlarge /. SteelSeries Rival 3.
Jeff Dunn
Even so, the Viper Ultimate is expensive. If you prefer a cheaper wired mouse, buy the SteelSeries Rival 3. It's not as versatile or capable as the Viper Ultimate, its side buttons could be more pronounced (although that's a downside of the Razer mouse, too), and its scroll wheel is a bit flusher against the body of the mouse than we'd like. A lot of plastic is also used.
Regardless, for $ 30, the Rival 3 is great value for money. It's light (77g) and well sized, with a slightly larger hump than the Viper Ultimate, which plays well with claw grips. The main click fields are robust and satisfactory to press, all buttons can be adjusted via software and the sensor still has no major latency problems. In addition, the RGB lighting is surprisingly sharp.
SteelSeries Rival 3
(Ars Technica may receive compensation for sales of links to this post through affiliate programs.)
Sega Genesis Mini
Enlarge /. The Sega Genesis Mini.
Sam Machkovech
Sega Genesis Mini
(Ars Technica may receive compensation for sales of links to this post through affiliate programs.)
If you'd rather give a retro gaming gift, the Sega Genesis Mini is a charming trip back in time. It's a delightfully small replica of the classic Sega console with 42 built-in games. Different people will always prefer to see different games, but in general the library here is well curated, ranging from classics like Sonic the Hedgehog and Gunstar Heroes to overlooked but worthwhile titles like Alisia Dragoon and Dynamite Headdy. The quality of the emulation is consistently great.
We'd prefer the system to come with Sega's six-button controllers, but the two three-button pads included are at least comfortable and come with 72-inch cables. And although we'd like a rewind function a la Nintendo's SNES Classic in retirement, the system's user interface remains largely out of the way.
The recently released TurboGrafx-16 Mini is another retro console we liked, but it was difficult to find in stock. The Genesis Mini is one of the few mini consoles that is still available. However, since it's good too, it's an easy recommendation for old-school Sega fans or game fans who want to enjoy a playable piece of history.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
Enlarge /. The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14.
Jim Salter
If you are looking for a good gaming laptop, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 deserves your attention. Die Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q-GPU in unserer empfohlenen Konfiguration von 1.450 US-Dollar ist nicht der leistungsstärkste mobile Grafikchip, aber stark genug, um die meisten neuen Spiele mit hohen Einstellungen und über 60 Bildern pro Sekunde zu spielen. Dazu gehört ein AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS-Prozessor mit acht Kernen, der in allen Anwendungsfällen enorm leistungsfähig ist, und ein hochwertiges 14-Zoll-1080p-Display mit einer gleichmäßigen Bildwiederholfrequenz von 120 Hz.
Was den ROG Zephyrus G14 besonders empfehlenswert macht, ist, wie er diese Leistung in einem Laptop bietet, der für den täglichen Gebrauch gut funktioniert. Es ist zwar kein Ultrabook, aber mit einer Dicke von 0,7 Zoll und einem Gewicht von 3,5 Pfund ist es tragbarer als die meisten Laptops, die für Spiele entwickelt wurden. Das Design sieht relativ gut aus und die Akkulaufzeit beträgt 9 bis 10 Stunden. Es ist keine Webcam integriert, und die Fans können immer noch laut werden. Wenn Sie jedoch einen Gaming-Laptop suchen, der in und außerhalb von Spielen angenehm zu verwenden ist, ist es schwierig, dies besser zu machen.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
(Ars Technica kann eine Entschädigung für Verkäufe von Links zu diesem Beitrag über Partnerprogramme erhalten.)
