Video games are more realistic, expansive, and ambitious than ever, but there’s one thing that most modern titles can’t offer: a hit of nostalgia. If you’re shopping for the retro gaming enthusiast in your life, check out these 11 gift suggestions that promise to level up their holiday season.
1. Pac-Man Ghost Light Table Lamp; $30
Liven up a stagnant work area or nightstand with this cool LED lamp in the likeness of Pac-Man’s ghost nemesis. It can flash in a variety of different colors, and at a compact 8 inches tall, you can buy more than one to haunt your living space.
Buy It: Amazon
2. Street Fighter II Home Arcade; $245
Relive the sweaty palms and raw fingertips of your youth with this Street Fighter II arcade cabinet from Arcade1Up. The entire package is true to its classic arcade roots, with era-appropriate artwork adorning the outside and buttons and joysticks that look like they were transported right out of a '90s Pizza Hut. But this cabinet comes with a bonus: Instead of just getting Street Fighter II: Champion Edition, it also plays Street Fighter ll: The New Challengers and Street Fighter ll Turbo. If you're not in the mood for competitive play, the company also offers a retro Star Wars arcade cabinet, featuring games based on A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi.
Buy It: Amazon
3. Level One Donkey Kong T-Shirt; $41
Show off your love of arcade gaming with this cool design that depicts Mario’s earliest challenge: navigating the barrel-tossing rage of a giant ape.
Buy It: 80sTees.com
4. Playstation Coasters; $12
Keep beverage stains off your gaming-adjacent furniture with this set of four coasters depicting classic Playstation controller buttons.
Buy It: Amazon
5. SEGA Genesis Mini-Console: $79
Flash back to the Genesis era with this retro console that features over 40 games from SEGA’s heyday, including Sonic the Hedgehog, Earthworm Jim, and Virtua Fighter. The system also features a port of the arcade version of Tetris, which never actually made its way to the original Genesis.
Buy It: Amazon
6. Sock It to Me Retro Gaming Socks; $11
Keep it professional in a suit but game on underneath with these dress socks featuring iconic game controllers from Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony.
Buy It: Amazon
7. The Game Console: A Photographic History from Atari to Xbox; $19
Take in a photographic history of gaming consoles, from the vintage devices of the ‘70s like the Magnavox Odyssey on through Nintendo’s reign and the emergence of Sony and Microsoft. In all, 86 consoles are on display, ending with the era of the PS4 and Wii U.
Buy It: Amazon
8. Nintendo Super Mario Bowser Vs. Mario 3-Pack Diorama; $26
Let other people display fine art. You can show off this diorama depicting the biggest rivalry in retro gaming between Mario and Bowser. You'll also get a Bob-Omb figurine, just in case you want to recreate one of the duo's video game battles.
Buy It: Amazon
9. Playstation Wallet; $25
Keep your cards and cash in one place with this Playstation-shaped wallet. There's even a button-snap opening in the shape of the system's disc tray.
Buy It: Amazon
10. Pong Shirt; $38
Go so retro that Millennials won’t even know what you’re referencing with this nod to the popular game Pong.
Buy It: 80sTees.com
11. The Legend of Zelda Ugly Christmas Sweater; $39
It may call itself ugly, but those pixelated images of Link from Legend of Zelda are nothing but gorgeous to retro gamers. There's also a Mario version, if the portly Italian plumber is more your style.
Buy It: Amazon
Mental Floss has affiliate relationships with certain retailers and may receive a small percentage of any sale. But we choose all products independently and only get commission on items you buy and don’t return, so we’re only happy if you’re happy. Thanks for helping us pay the bills!
