Super Mario Odyssey Nintendo Switch Bundle
The Nintendo Switch is entering its first Holiday season in incredible shape. It’s been a roaring success for Nintendo since day one and it’s sure to be a must-buy gift for kids and adults. But if there’s one version of the Switch you should aim to get, it’s the Super Mario Odyssey bundle that comes out on October 27th. Not only does it include two unique red Joy-Cons and case, it comes with a download code for Mario’s latest “captivating” 3D adventure. The whole bundle may cost more than the standard grey or neon bundles, but its overall a better value. I mean, what Switch owner is going to refuse to buy Super Mario Odyssey anyway? If you have the cash to throw in an extra Switch game or two for your kids, they’ll be thanking you for a long, long time. Well, until next Christmas at least.
The LEGO Ninjago Movie Video Game
The LEGO Ninjago Movie Video Game is pretty much what you’d expect out of a LEGO game these days, albeit with some much-needed additions to gameplay. Based off the LEGO Ninjago Movie (couldn’t you guess from the title?), this one follows the same storyline as the movie while offering the usual breadth of playable levels, unlockable characters, and a ton of charm and humor for good measure. It also has enjoyable split-screen multiplayer so parents can join in on the fun with their kids. Honestly, parents can’t go wrong picking up The LEGO Ninjago Movie Video Game as a Holiday gift. It also helps that you can find it quite literally on every platform.
Blood, Sweat, and Pixels: The Triumphant, Turbulent Stories Behind How Video Games Are Made
When you’re not playing hit games like Uncharted 4 and The Witcher 3 why not read about their tumultuous development cycle? Jason Schreier’s book, “Blood, Sweat, and Pixels” is a must-read for any gamer that has even a remote interest in how games are made. It’s a deep and personal dive into the challenges video game studio’s go through from a game’s conception to its final hours before completion. Anyone who has criticized game developers (both big and small) of being lazy or have the misconception that game development is easy work is in for a real slap of reality. “Blood, Sweat, and Pixels” is riveting, brutally honest, and most importantly, engaging to read. Snuggle up with a piping cup of cocoa and a copy of this book this Christmas. You won’t regret it.
Gaming Gift Cards
I wouldn’t normally say that gift cards make the best gifts, especially during Christmas time. But personally, I love them. With the rise of digital content, there’s always something to pick up from the various digital marketplace stores. Similar to receiving a gift card to your favorite clothing store, gamers have the option of selecting exactly what they’re looking for. Or, for the adventurous type, downloading something they typically wouldn’t in fear of making a poor purchase with their own money. Once again, these are great stocking stuffers.
DropMix
I’ll be honest, I was pretty skeptical when I first heard about DropMix. I mean, a card-based rhythm game on mobile doesn’t quite scream “must buy.” But holy crap was I wrong because DropMix is all sorts of cool and is a total blast at parties. It really must be seen (and heard) to understand what DropMix is all about but I’ll do my best to explain it. Essentially you have 60 NFC cards that contain various music tracks that are placed on an electronic game board that reads those cards and plays them. Depending on the card color, the board will detect the NFC code and play a sample of that song such as a drum loop or vocal track. You can then combine other cards and songs to mash them together and create a unique mix. It sounds a little complicated, but it’s a mind-blowing experience and made me feel like a real DJ — at its most simplistic, that is. Created by Hasbro and Harmonix (Guitar Hero, Rock Band), DropMix is so creative and fun that you won’t want to have a party without it.
GAEMS Vanguard Personal Gaming Environment
While the PS4 and Xbox One are strictly home consoles, certain situations require me to bring them along with me. The GAEMS Vanguard PGE helps with this scenario by being more than a suitcase for my consoles. It comes loaded with a 19” 720p display, an HDMI cable, and its own power supply. Just slide your console in, make sure the cables are connected, and voila, you have your very own personal gaming set up and you don’t even need to remove it from the case. It’s built to ensure your console is protected with rugged armored shells and is even TSA friendly so traveling with it won’t be a hassle. While the price isn’t for everyone, it certainly has its place for gamers that want to play the latest games on their Xbox One or PS4 but aren’t always home to do so.
Click on over to PAGE 3 for more gift ideas for the rug rats…