Holiday Gift Guide | Best Gifts For Nintendo Fans

Everybody loves Nintendo!

Morgan Shaver

Published: Dec 1, 2020 08:45 pm

The holidays are fast approaching, and if you’ve been struggling to find the perfect gift(s) you may find yourself searching up ideas online. If your gift recipient is a big Nintendo fan, there are a number of fun options to choose from at a variety of different price points.

Holiday Gift Guide | Best Gifts For Nintendo Fans

Nintendo Switch or Switch Lite

If your gift recipient doesn’t have a Nintendo Switch yet, we have no doubt they’ll be overjoyed to unwrap one for the holidays. You can get a Switch Lite for $199.99 with the Switch Lite being slightly smaller and unable to dock to the TV like its larger counterpart.

It’s great for gamers on-the-go and it makes a great starter Switch for younger gamers. Meanwhile, the standard Nintendo Switch with gray or red/blue Joy-Cons for $299.99, or you can seek out a special edition Nintendo Switch like the one for Animal Crossing: New Horizons (also $299.99).

The Animal Crossing: New Horizons edition Nintendo Switch is a hot item to gift for the holidays with its adorable mint and light blue Joy-Cons and cream-colored Switch dock featuring an image of the Nook family. Given its popularity, you may have a difficult time finding one at its $299.99 price point.

Additionally, a copy of Animal Crossing: New Horizons isn’t included with the Switch, so you’ll have to purchase that separately for $59.99. You can get a physical copy at a number of retailers like GameStop and Best Buy, or you can purchase the game directly from the Nintendo eShop.

That brings us to our next suggestion…

Nintendo eShop Gift Card

We realize that getting a gift card for the holidays isn’t always the most exciting thing. However, if you’re giving a larger gift like a Nintendo Switch or Switch Lite, pairing it with an eShop gift card can help make things easier if you’re unsure what games your gift recipient wants.

Most of the new, popular games are priced at $59.99 on the eShop, though there are often digital sales that bring these prices down. Additionally, there are some heartwarming indie games on the eShop that are cheaper than the aforementioned $59.99 price point but equally as fun.

For example, Stardew Valley at $14.99, Roki for $19.99, Hades for $19.99, Cuphead for $19.99 ($14.99 on sale right now), Hollow Knight for $15, and more. Nintendo eShop gift cards are available at $5, $10, $20, $35, $45, $50, $70, and $99 at retailers like Best Buy.

If you want to make sure your gift recipient is able to get a $59.99 game, the $70 option is best as that’ll also cover the extra few bucks in tax. We also recommend grabbing the $99 gift card as your gift recipient will be able to get a $59.99 game along with an indie game like Hades or Stardew Valley.

Paladone Super Mario Brothers Question Block Lamp

If you love Nintendo and Super Mario Bros. you may be interested in this rad lamp from Paladone. It’s currently $28.76 on sale right now on Amazon, and it has some favorable reviews at an average of 4.6 out of 5.0.

Size wise, the dimensions are listed at 16cm (W) x 16cm (L) x 18.5cm (H) and it takes three AA batteries which aren’t included, so make sure you have some AA batteries on hand if you’re buying this light.

Note that it can also be powered by a micro USB cable which IS included with the lamp.

The lamp functions exactly as you’d want a Mario lamp to function where you can press down on it to turn it on, and hit it to make those iconic Super Mario Bros. sounds. When you’re done, you can press down on it again to turn it off. It’s wickedly fun and convenient.

To add to it, Paladone also has a Super Mario Bros. Toad Mushroom Light Up Figure Night Light for $14.99 on Amazon. It may be smaller than the Question Block Lamp, but it’s equally as adorable.

Club Mocchi Mocchi Nintendo Animal Crossing Tom Nook 6 Inch Mega Plush Stuffed Toy

If your gift recipient has put several hundred hours into Animal Crossing: New Horizons this year, they may appreciate a gift like the Club Mocchi Mocchi plush stuffed toy.

Club Mocchi Mocchi has a number of adorable options available including Tom Nook, Isabelle, Leaf, and Apple, with both 6 inch and 15 inch sizes available. It depends on how big you want your stuffed Tom Nook plush to be.

The 6 inch option for Tom Nook is priced at $14.38 on Amazon right now, while the 15 inch option is $29.99. All of the plush toys pair nicely with one another, so you can always purchase them as a set.

For example, getting the Tom Nook and Isabelle plush toys to display next to one another.

Adding to this, Club Mocchi Mocchi has a few other Nintendo plush options. Below, we’ve listed a few of our favorites!

8Bitdo Sn30 Pro+ Bluetooth Gamepad (G Classic Edition) – Nintendo Switch

A custom controller can be an excellent item to pair with a Nintendo Switch, and there are a number of interesting options available including the 8Bitdo. Our site’s EIC owns the 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro+ (G Classic Edition) and highly recommends it for a number of reasons.

The build quality is excellent, it feels comfortable to hold in your hands, and it has a nice nostalgia factor to it with its throwback design.

You can purchase the 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro+ Bluetooth Gamepad (G Classic Edition) for $49.99 which isn’t a bad price for a bluetooth controller, especially when comparing it to the price of the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller which sells for $59.99.

Not sold on the 8Bitdo but like the idea of purchasing a controller as a gift? There are other options available on the market that are worth taking a closer look at. Below, we’ve listed a few of our favorite Nintendo controllers based on design, build quality, or both!

Controllers for Nintendo Switch

Deekec Zelda Ocarina 12 Hole Alto C with Song Book

If your gift recipient is a Legend of Zelda fan and has an interest in music, or simply wants to own an accessory that’s a bit more functional than a plush or collectible figure, it may be worthwhile to look into purchasing an ocarina.

On Amazon, one popular option is the Deekec 12 Hole Alto C which is affordable at $24.99 and comes with a cute little song book. Of course, musicians will note that many of these Legend of Zelda ocarinas are novelty items as opposed to functional musical instruments.

Or, your gift recipient may not want an Alto C ocarina. Maybe they want a Tenor in D? You can find better quality ocarinas from ocarina makers like Songbird Ocarina and STL Ocarina, both of which have sections specifically for Legend of Zelda fans.

Ocarinas from these ocarina makers may be a touch more expensive than ones sold on Amazon, although some of them are sold at equivalent prices. We recommend shopping around to find the right ocarina for your needs.

Ultimately, it depends on whether you want to learn the ocarina as an instrument, or if you want a collectible Legend of Zelda item that’s primarily used for cosplay and display purposes.

Nintendo Christmas Tree Ornaments

A Christmas tree ornament isn’t exactly the sort of gift you’d wrap and gift to someone on Christmas day, but it can be a nice early gift to give someone as they begin decorating their tree. Sort of like a pre-Christmas present of sorts.

Or if you’re like us and are bad at waiting until Christmas to give people gifts because you’re so excited to see their reaction, an ornament is the perfect “I can’t wait for Christmas, look at what I got you!” sort of gift.

You can find a number of Nintendo-related Christmas tree ornaments at retailers like GameStop, and you can also find some adorable handmade ones on sites like Etsy. It all depends on what you think your gift recipient would like.

Below, we’ve listed some of our favorite Nintendo ornaments that we think make wonderful pre-Christmas gifts!

Welcome Doormat or Decorative Rug

If you want people to know you’re a Nintendo fan before they step into your home, why not decorate with a doormat based around a classic Nintendo series like Super Mario?

Going a step further, why not roll out a Nintendo-related rug to give one of the rooms in your home a little extra flair?

Both of these options are a little odd, but they make for unique gifts and are things you’ll likely already know whether the person you’re buying for has or not. After all, it’s hard to miss seeing a Nintendo doormat or rug when going over to someone’s home.

On Amazon, there’s a really cute Legend of Zelda Hylian Shield doormat for $38.62 that may make for a winning gift.

Looking for a few other options before you make a purchasing decision? Below, we’ve listed some of our favorite Nintendo-related welcome doormats and rugs to help give your gift recipient’s home some cool gamer flair.

Nintendo Style Face Masks

Photo Credit: Etsy Store ClassicTiara

Ah, 2020. It’s been a rough, bumpy ride hasn’t it? Even though it seems like things will begin to improve in 2021 (hopefully), we feel like the mask trend isn’t one that’ll go away anytime soon.

In countries like Japan and South Korea, it’s commonplace to wear a mask when you’re sick to help prevent getting others sick, COVID or no COVID.

With the rest of the world getting on board with this idea in the wake of COVID-19, having a nice supply of masks on hand can be extra convenient.

For example, when you’re washing your masks you’ll have extras on hand, or you can put extra masks in your car in the event you forget the one you were planning to bring with you to the grocery store.

Even though it feels like getting face masks for Christmas is equivalent with getting a pair of socks (“Oh wow, a mask and some socks, thanks…”), they can make nice stocking stuffers and again, they’re useful.

Below, we’ve listed some adorable Nintendo-related face masks that are both stylish and functional.

Collectible Nintendo-Related Hardcover Books

If you want a gift with some weight to it, one that’s collectible, fun to look at, and cool to display on a bookshelf, look no further than a Nintendo-related hardcover book. There are book options for a variety of Nintendo properties and subjects from The Legend of Zelda to Kirby and beyond.

Adding to this, if you’re buying gifts based on a theme like an all-Animal Crossing gift set or all-Kirby gift set, adding a book to it can help round everything out and add some variety to the plushes, games, clothing, and other miscellaneous items.

Below, we’ve listed some of our favorite Nintendo-related hardcover books that make for awesome holiday gifts!

Collectible Nintendo Figures and Amiibo

Ah yes, a list like this wouldn’t be complete without a nod to the collectible figures and amiibo you can purchase for Nintendo properties. No matter what your favorites are, there’s a little something for everybody in the collectible figure market.

If you’re unsure where to begin when it comes to gifting a collectible figure, or you’re shopping under a strict budget and don’t want to go past a certain price point, we’ve got you covered.

Below, we’ve listed some of the coolest collectibles and amiibo figures that Nintendo fans are sure to love.

Misc Nintendo Gift Item Ideas

Last, but certainly not least, we thought we’d bring up a few other gift ideas that don’t fit in with the categories above. A few of these are oddball items, while others are standard gifts like mugs or shirts.

If you’ve run out of gift ideas for that special gift recipient, this category is for you.

We hope you find something in the list below that you haven’t seen or heard before, and that you think makes a great gift for the person you’re trying to bring joy to this holiday season!

Related: Nintendo Switch Holiday 2020 Gift Guide

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