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Gifts that will keep Mom entertained past Mother’s Day

26 gift ideas to show some love to the mom in your life

By Cameron Faulkner and Alice Newcome-Beill Updated
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A graphic for Mother’s Day gift guide containing nine products, including a Nintendo Switch OLED model, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, an Apple iPad Mini, AirPods Pro 2, a Microsoft Xbox wireless controller, Fujifilm’s Instax mini 2 photo printer, a Grogu and Grogu Pram set of cat and dog beds, and Warmies slippers with lavender scent. Graphic: Will Joel/Polygon | Source images: Various

Mother’s Day in the U.S. is on Sunday, May 14, which is right around the corner. The moms in your life may tell you that they don’t want a gift, but would they turn one down? Probably not. It’s important to recognize their around-the-clock efforts, so on this national day of recognition, give some of your time to a mom or moms who’d like to hear from you or see you, and maybe snag them a fun gift, too.

If you happen to be shopping online, we’ve put together this list of gift ideas that can arrive in a matter of days. It was developed thanks to suggestions from several Polygon staffers, some of whom know very cool moms who like anime and video games, which makes shopping for them super easy. But let’s be real: Most of our moms aren’t that simple to shop for. We hope that these ideas help you out a little bit.

Woobles Leader of the PAC Bundle

  • $75
  • $87
  • 14% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Each crochet kit comes pre-started and packaged with everything you need to crochet your own Pac-Man, Blinky the Ghost, and a piece of bonus fruit, including step-by-step video instructions, stuffing, and a tapestry needle. The Woobles even offers help over email if you hit any bumps along the way.

Codenames

  • $12
  • $25
  • 53% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

On one hand, Codenames is surprisingly simple to explain. On the other, it’s deceptively complex once you start playing and realize that you’ve never connected two words in your life. Come for the spy intrigue, stay for the bonkers associations you’ll have to pull out of your ass.

Uncanny Brands Pokémon Waffle Maker

  • $45
  • $55
  • 19% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Pikachu used “Make Waffle.” It’s Super Effective! The Uncanny Brands Pikachu Waffle Iron is engraved with the visage of everyone’s favorite yellow, electrified rodent. While it's intended to produce waffles, the waffle iron can also be used to make eggs, cakes, or even quesadillas. And with an easy-to-clean Teflon surface, there’s no excuse not to experiment.

Whisper of the Heart (Blu-ray + DVD)

  • $19
  • $20
  • 6% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Whisper of the Heart evokes nostalgic feelings for a girlhood summer in 1995 Tokyo that you never thought you were capable of. Also, you’ll never listen to “Take Me Home, Country Roads” the same way again.

Ember Mug 2

  • $100
  • $130
  • 24% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Suffer lukewarm beverages no longer. The Ember Mug is a wirelessly charging 14 ounce mug that can keep your drink of choice piping hot for up to 80 minutes. The Ember Mug app even allows you to set a specific temperature depending on your preference, with an LED indicating when your drink has reached the ideal temperature.

LectroFan white noise machine

  • $32
  • $50
  • 37% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

There’s nothing relaxing about the look of LectroFan’s white noise machine, but if you value the drone of serene nothingness (either to sleep or concentrate), it’ll quickly become a favorite item.

Uncanny Brands Star Wars Death Star Popcorn Maker

  • $60

Prices taken at time of publishing.

You don’t need a popcorn maker to make popcorn, but the Empire didn’t technically need the Death Star to blow up Alderaan either. This popcorn maker produces the perfect amount to fill its removable bowl top and even features a built-in reservoir to melt butter.

Mandalorian Grogu + Grogu Pram pet beds

  • $45
  • $60
  • 26% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Listen, your pets don’t get to make the call when it comes to where they’ll sleep. If you want them to sleep inside of a Grogu head, or in Grogu’s Pram, then darn it, that’ll have to do.

Essential Oils from Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab

  • $20

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs produces an adorable line of essential oils modeled after the day jobs of the races and creatures of Dungeons & Dragons. If you’ve ever wondered what a Tiefling therapist or a Kobold Barista smells like, now is your chance.

Homesick Star Wars Candles

  • $44

Prices taken at time of publishing.

I always imagined the Death Star smelled like the DMV, but now I know it smells like forged steel and leather. The Homesick Star Wars candle collection offers scents inspired by some of the most iconic locations in the galaxy far, far away. In addition to the Death Star, you can also find candles based on Tatooine (bergamot and sage), and Endor (wood and fern).

Personalized Xbox Design Lab Controller

  • $70

Prices taken at time of publishing.

The Xbox Design Lab lets you make a bespoke Xbox controller with an amazing variety of color and design options. Each controller starts at just $70, but for an additional $10, you can get an embarrassing custom message engraved on it.

Update (May 10): With Mother’s Day right around the corner, we’ve checked pricing and availability on all of the products mentioned in this post.

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