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Polygon’s 2018 holiday gift guide

Check out our annual round-up of all the toys, books and merchandise you never knew you wanted

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Some people have an innate knack for gift-giving, somehow pinpointing the perfect presents time and again. But for many, choosing the right gift for a friend or family member is often a frustrating and time-consuming experience. Whether you’re out of ideas or have way too many options to consider, it can be a real struggle to make a choice.

We’re here to help. While we’ll happily point you towards the latest and greatest games via our reviews archive, our annual gift guide is here to highlight things that you might not have considered — books, toys, shirts, fun subscriptions and more. Click on a category and/or price level to help pare down the list below.

What are you looking for?

Tabletop Games Memorabilia Books Accessories Toys Shirts Artwork Subscriptions Albums Entertainment

How much do you want to spend?

$ $$ $$$

Monopoly: Fortnite Edition, $19.99

Fortnite is everywhere right now … including all over the iconic board game.

Guinness World Records: Gamer's Edition 2019, $11.99

Get the lowdown on loads of seemingly unbeatable gaming records.

Hyperkin Duke wired controller, $69.99

Loved the original Xbox's bulbous gamepad? It's back, now for Xbox One and PC.

Pokémon Ditto As… plush, $14.99

Stare into those creepy, beady eyes as Ditto embodies Pikachu, Snorlax and more.

Fortnite Christmas sweaters, $54.99

Drop into the holidays with one of these delightfully tacky Fortnite sweaters.

500 Years Later: An Oral History of Final Fantasy VII, ~$40

Polygon's Final Fantasy 7 retrospective article gets a gorgeous, expanded print edition via publisher Read-Only Memory.

Jet Set Radio artwork, $99

Recall the Dreamcast classic with Sega's dynamic new giclée print from Cook & Becker.

The Art of Point-and-Click Adventure Games, $39.30

Bitmap Books' stunning tome captures the beauty and legacy of the classic genre.

Capcom Wave 1 shirt combo, $64

Dig deep into Capcom's legacy with these aggressive Bionic Commando, Demon's Crest and Dino Crisis shirts.

TokyoTreat Anime Snacks subscription, $25+

Get a monthly selection of anime and game-themed candy and treats, straight from Japan.

Splatoon Vol. 1, $9.99

Nintendo's manga adaptation is almost as much silly, raucous fun as the game itself.

Dark Souls Elite Knight hoodie, $49

Perfect for those cold, winter nights spent dying incessantly in Dark Souls Remastered.

SteelSeries Arctis 3 Bluetooth, $99.99

This headset is subtly designed, super comfortable and your best option for the Switch.

Comixology Unlimited subscription, $5.99/mo

Give the gift of 15,000+ digital comics and graphic novels from all across the spectrum.

Resurrection: Panzer Dragoon Saga 20th Anniversary Arrangement, $15+

The Saturn cult classic's soundtrack gets a stirring redux, with dreamy packaging to boot.

Sony PlayStation Classic, $99.99

The original PS1 gets the pint-sized, plug-and-play treatment with 20 built-in games.

Boo Bean Bag Chair, $139.99

Squash Super Mario baddie Boo (and get cozy) with this enormous bean bag chair.

A History of Video Games in 64 Objects, $26.99

This book takes charts a unique path based on key games, hardware, tech and trends.

Sphero Bolt, $149.99

A programmable, neon-lit, waterproof robot ball that you can control with a phone or tablet.

Scuf Vantage, $169.95

Basically the PS4's Elite Controller, it's ultra-customizable with extra buttons and premium perks.

Star Wars: Women of the Galaxy, $29.95

From Leia and Rey to Iden and Maz, Star Wars' women take the spotlight with loads of new artwork.

Mysterious Package Company experience, $199.99+

Some are creepy, others fun, but there's nothing quite like any of these elaborate narrative experiences.

The Secret History of Mac Gaming, $40

Dig into the stories of classic Mac gaming thanks to 60+ interviews with those who shaped it.

Hot Wheels Rocket League RC Rivals, $179.99

It's "real" Rocket League, played with app-controlled cars on a plastic pitch.

Ooblets Ooblet Friends t-shirt, $20

You can't play Ooblets yet, but you certainly can wear the shirt.

Hori D-Pad Controller for Switch, $24.99

Swap your left Joy-Con for one with a proper d-pad – and a Mario or Zelda skin, to boot.

Thumper Space Beetle Pin, $10

Relive the horror of Thumper's "rhythm violence" with this sleek little lapel pin.

Pokémon Super Deluxe Essential Handbook, $14.99

Memorize every last Pokémon – all 800+ of them – with this comprehensive guide.

Power Mitt 2.0, $15

Now you're cooking with power with these NES Power Glove-inspired oven mitts.

Lego Overwatch Omnic Bastion kit, $25

Build Overwatch's heroes brick by brick with officially licensed Lego kits.

Loot Gaming subscription, $28.95+

Get a fresh box of video game-inspired merch delivered each and every month.

Celeste vinyl soundtrack, $33

One of 2018's most charming indie games commits its synthy chiptunes to vinyl.

Hollow Knight Talking Grub plush, $29

Here's one grub that you didn't find scattered around Hollow Knight's world … and it's chatty, too.

Captain Marvel Vol. 1: Higher, Further, Faster, More, $17.99

Get prepped for Marvel's next big flick by reading this 2014 graphic novel.

Doom Patrol Vol. 1: Brick by Brick, $16.99

One of last year's best comics is weird and wonderful, and a delight to look at too.

Fog of Love, $49.97

Build – and then test – a relationship in this role playing-heavy, romantic comedy board game.

KeyForge: Call of the Archons starter set, $39.95

This new card game skips deck-building and booster packs, as each complete deck is unique.

Dungeons & Dragons – Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, $49.95

The best new D&D campaign in years is also one of the best-ever introductions to the RPG.

Magic: The Gathering – Guilds of Ravnica Planeswalker Deck, $14.99

Celebrate Magic's 25th anniversary with this impressive new expansion's Planeswalker decks.

Shadows in the Forest, $24.99

This family-friendly riff on a German classic has you shine a real light on dwarves in the woods.

Dude, $10.99

Dude? Dude. This party game just has cards with different variations of "dude," and it's super fun.

Root: A Game of Woodland Might and Right, $60

This asymmetrical strategy game pits adorable forest creature factions against each other.

News of the World, $15.99

Paulette Jiles' novel is a beautiful and melancholy Western novel that pairs well with Red Dead Redemption 2.

The Adventure Zone: Here There Be Gerblins, $19.99

The McElroys' hit D&D-inspired podcast gets a hilarious graphic novel adaptation.

Cyberpunk 2077 Fine Art Prints, $105

Get immersed in Cyberpunk 2077's world well ahead of time with a dazzling giclée print.

64 Schematics print, $20

Relive the technical allure of the Nintendo 64 with this sleek schematic print.

Everything Was Perfect print, $12

Zac Gorman's comic is years old now, but this Earthbound tribute remains immensely heartwarming.

God of War art prints, $95+

Put one of the year's most memorable games on your wall with these official art prints.

Black Panther: The Album vinyl, $27.99

Kendrick Lamar's powerful Black Panther soundtrack gets a dazzling translucent red vinyl rendition.

LittleBits Avengers Hero Inventor Kit, $149.99

Perfect for kids: build and customize an electronic gauntlet, and then dig into coding activities.

Spider-Man vs. Mister Negative 2-Pack, $28.49

The PS4 game's Spider-Man and his nemesis get the ultra-poseable, 3.75in toy treatment.

Game of Thrones Tarot Cards, $24.95

The HBO hit's iconic characters are a perfect fit for these fortune-telling cards.

Incredible Dad Hulk t-shirt, $22.95+

Got an incredible dad? This shirt really sells itself ...

Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle, $399.99

The iconic Harry Potter locale comes to life thanks to a whopping 6,020 pieces.

The Game by Namco Museum Collection t-shirts, $14.90

Uniqlo's arcade-inspired collection features sprite-adorned shirts with Pac-Man, Galaga and more.

Stardew Valley Map, $25

Anyone spending a lot of time in Stardew Valley might enjoy having this 16x20" map in view.

Arcade1Up – Deluxe Edition 12-in-1 Cabinet, $399.99

This officially-licensed, 3/4-scale arcade cabinet packs in Asteroids, Centipede and other classics.

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin Vol. 1, $29.95

Fans of the legendary anime will adore this first manga book—a beautiful, hardcover volume.

The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia, $39.99

From the NES original to Twilight Princess HD, this official book is an exhaustive 30-year resource.

Overwatch Snowball Plush, $35

Mei's adorable companion comes with glow-in-the-dark jets and swappable facial expressions.

PowerA Switch Joy-Con & Pro Controller Charging Dock, $29.99

Charge the Switch's Pro Controller and both Joy-Cons with one handy, compact dock.

Final Fantasy Ultimania Archive Vol. 1, $39.99

More than 300 pages of gorgeous concept art, process pieces, and more from the first six games.

Paladone Super Mario Bros. Fridge Magnets, $9.99

It's like Super Mario Maker for a totally new platform: your fridge.

Hallmark Donkey Kong Arcade Cabinet Ornament, $19.99

You can't actually play this tiny cabinet, but it does light up and make authentic sounds.

Hunt a Killer subscription, $25+

Give the gift of … a monthly hunt to solve a grisly (fictional) murder.

Undertale Sans Hoodie, $58

This cozy-looking hoodie was made for a skeleton, but probably fits humans too.

Street Fighter Rolento Tomatoes t-shirt, $9.97

For those who like their video game t-shirts odd and obscure.

Funko Pop! Fortnite – Cuddle Team Leader, $10.99

These two pop culture sensations have paired up with a plethora of cute vinyl figurines.

Red Dead Redemption 2 Zippo lighter, $44.99

Put a little Red Dead flair in your pocket with this nicely detailed brass lighter.

Spyro the Dragon Incense Burner Statue, $39.99

It might sound ridiculous, but the smoke comes out of his nostrils.

Fallout Nuclear Option Bomb Mug, $28.99

Perfect for housing a strong cup of brew to power late-night Fallout 76 adventures.

Destiny 2 Seeing Stars Backpack, $79.99

This Destiny 2-themed bag is both functional and beautifully designed.

Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia, $39.99

Dig deep into Mario history with this official guide that runs from Super Mario Bros. to 3D World.

The C64 Mini, $79.99

This Commodore 64 throwback comes with 64 games, plus you can add more via USB drive.

God of War Official Soundtrack, $11.50+

Bear McCreary's stirring, choir-driven soundtrack can add ample atmosphere to anyone's day.

Octopath Traveler Original Soundtrack (Japanese import), $39.99

Nearly four hours of orchestral bliss from Square Enix's excellent original Switch RPG.

The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, $25.99

This murder mystery, in which a protagonist that repeats one day through the eyes of different guests, is an unintentional celebration of inhabiting video game avatars.

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