12 Birthday gift ideas for your brother who loves video games

12 Birthday gift ideas for your brother who loves video games

1. A video game with him as the hero Our product

   oin turns your shared memories into a small 2D pixel game with him as the main character, generated from an authorized photo, plus two custom NPCs made from authorized photos with consent. Two letters from you open and close it, a 5-question quiz about the games you have shared rewards flowers for correct answers, and the final level is set in Almaty, Kazakhstan; New York and Tokyo are coming soon. It plays in a browser with no install, is usually emailed within an hour and costs $29.90. See how it works →

2. A game cafe visit

   An afternoon at a board-game cafe, with food and a table booked. Around $20-60.

3. A streaming starter kit

   A webcam and a USB microphone for sharing sessions with friends. Around $60-200.

4. A retro console

   A mini console or handheld such as the Analogue Pocket or an Anbernic, loaded with classics. Around $60-250.

5. A game art print

   A poster of a game you have played together. Around $20-60.

6. A racing-sim session

   A booked hour on a full-motion simulator at an arcade. Around $25-80.

7. An online course

   A year of MasterClass or Skillshare, on a topic of his choice. Around $30-200.

8. A family recipe book

   Collect and print the family recipes, with photos of who made them. Around $25-80.

9. A soft scarf

   A wool or cashmere scarf in a colour from his wardrobe. Around $30-120.

10. A framed photo

    A favourite picture of the two of you, printed large and framed. Around $25-80.

11. A co-op game night

    A snack spread and a two-player game on the sofa. It costs little. It costs little.

12. A box of the year

    A shoebox of tickets, notes and small things collected over the past year. It costs little.

Buying for a gamer

Most keen players already own the big-name releases. Instead of guessing a title, give him the choice with a store card, or give something that improves the setup he already has.

Then add one thing that is only from you.

Buying for your brother

A brother is often hard to buy for because he says he needs nothing. Use what you know: a hobby, a game you played as kids, a team he supports.

A joke gift with a real one underneath works well.

If the birthday is tomorrow

Leaving it late is easy to fix: Course vouchers and a personalized game arrive fast, and an oin game is usually emailed within an hour of payment. Add a cake or a card for the table.

Birthdays have a clock, so order anything that ships at least a week ahead and keep the digital gifts for the day itself. A card with a specific memory beats a long message.