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It’s a truth universally acknowledged that every dad has a thing. There are golf dads and History Channel dads, dads who love crafting and dads who love their lawns. Figuring out your dad’s thing makes gifting a little easier, but he’s probably tired of getting the same University of Ohio tie or Star Wars mug year after year.
This Father’s Day (which falls on Sunday, June 16, by the way), we’ve rounded up a few unique options for all of the geeky dads out there. The dads who let you watch all of the Lord of the Rings movies when your mom was out of town and never let you win at Mario Kart. These gifts are still classics, but maybe a little less played out than just another Funko Pop.
For the ’80s dad
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Stranger Things Polaroid Camera
- $158
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Stranger Things is a nostalgia trip for a lot of dads who were teen nerds in the ’80s. And a Polaroid Camera brings another blast from the past — a throwback to a time before Instagram. This starter set includes a pack of Stranger Things-branded instant film.
For the Marvel dad
Thor Hammer Tool Set
- $100
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Even the God of Thunder needs to fix a chair every now and then. With Thor rocking a new dad bod, this gift is even more appropriate for your own superhero dad.
For the sci-fi dad
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Earth Break
- $29
Prices taken at time of publishing.
The popular subscription mystery box Hunt A Killer just launched a sci-fi experience described as “an escape room delivered to your door where ‘Fallout’ meets ‘Alien.’” Dads can role-play as a survivor of an extraterrestrial plague, with new clues delivered each month to solve the mystery of what the heck is happening.
For the board game dad
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Gloomhaven
- $140
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Gloomhaven is just about the closest you can get to playing D&D without actually playing D&D. The huge tactical strategy board game can even be played solo.
For the Nintendo dad
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NES Classic
- $60
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Dads who had an original Nintendo Entertainment System will love the nostalgia blast of Nintendo’s mini version, the NES Classic.
For the book dad
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Kindle Paperwhite
- $130
Prices taken at time of publishing.
If your dad doesn’t yet have a device to load up with Dan Brown and John Grisham novels, an e-reader would make a great gift. According to our friends at The Verge, Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite is the best model on the market right now.
For the Game of Thrones dad
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Game of Thrones soundtrack
- $24
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Music from the first seven seasons are available now, and are a perfect addition to the Thrones fan’s vinyl collection.
For the DIY dad
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Raspberry Pi 3 Complete Starter Kit
- $75
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Raspberry Pi’s credit card-sized computers are favorites among tinkerers and your dad can get in on the fun with a starter set from CanaKit.
For the kid-at-heart dad
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Fortnite Nerf Blasters
- $50
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Grab your whole family a set of Fortnite Nerf Blasters this Father’s Day — but make sure to let your dad get at least one Victory Royale.
For the Lord of the Rings dad
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Custom Lord of the Rings set
- $95
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Replace your dad’s dog-eared copies of the Lord of the Rings series with this gorgeous set made to be a statement piece on his bookshelf. Juniper Books has a whole line of custom dust jackets for beloved series like Harry Potter and Game of Thrones too!
For the arcade dad
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Arcade1Up Street Fighter Cabinet
- $400
Prices taken at time of publishing.
The three-quarter-size arcade cabinets fit perfectly in a basement game room, and make a great gift for dads who used to spend all of their allowance at the arcade after school.
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