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As one of the biggest names in all of gaming, it’s no surprise that finding the best Nintendo gifts is like trying to track down a 1-Up mushroom. There are countless options to choose from, and not all of them are created equal. That’s why the GamesRadar+ present-hunting experts and I are here to point you in the right direction.
If you ask us, these are some of the best gifts for gamers… and we say that from first-hand experience, because we actually own a lot of these. That’s how we know your loved one will adore the best Nintendo gifts; we’d be very happy to receive them ourselves.
Benjamin has spent well over a decade recommending the best Nintendo gifts – first when he worked in a video game store during the late 2000s, and now in his role as GamesRadar+ Tabletop & Merch Editor. He’s also played Nintendo consoles since the SNES days, and his favorite Nintendo game is Super Mario Galaxy (followed in a close second by The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker).
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Best Nintendo gifts under $20/£20
Looking for the path of least resistance, or left things a bit late? Don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone. This digital gift card should save your bacon, because it’s delivered to your inbox right away and can be used to buy games or add-ons at the official Nintendo eShop. That makes it a great last-minute present.
Super Mario Heat-Change Mug
Seeing as Super Mario is amongst the most beloved franchises in gaming, Nintendo fans are likely to appreciate this heat-change mug that recreates the original Mario level. This one’s made by well-respected merch company Paladone, which has plenty of great Nintendo-themed mugs at Amazon.
See all Nintendo mugs at Amazon
There are plenty of excellent Nintendo-themed t-shirts out there (both official and not), but this has to be my favorite. It depicts one of Super Mario’s most recognizable foes, but they’re made up of memorable items from the series. It’s a clever and classy design.
See all Nintendo t-shirts at Amazon
Animal Crossing Water Bottle
Animal Crossing got a lot of us through the pandemic, and its villagers are beloved for a reason – so slapping them onto a sturdy metal water bottle is an instant thumbs up from me. It’s an easy recommendation for fans of the series, and in terms of Nintendo bottles, it’s only beaten by this excellent Tears of the Kingdom equivalent in my eyes.
See all Nintendo water bottles at Amazon
Super Mario Mushroom Light
OK, now we’re talking. If Super Mario is one of the most iconic gaming franchises, this mushroom power-up has to be amongst the most iconic items. You can get a light-up display version to go on your desk or for brightening up your gaming space, so it’s the perfect Nintendo gift.
See all Paladone Nintendo merch at Amazon
It’s hard to get a better stocking-filler than these Lego Super Mario mini-packs. Each one turns a foe or ally into a bricky figure you can put on display or add to the toybox, and because there are always new versions, your loved one is unlikely to have it.
See all Lego Mario packs at Amazon
Best Nintendo gifts under $50/$50
Donkey Kong and Pauline Amiibo
Is your loved one making their way through the latest Donkey Kong game on Switch 2? This is the perfect gift for them. Amiibo recreate iconic Nintendo characters in impressively high detail, and they’re designed for display and for use in-game.
See all Amiibo at Amazon
You won’t struggle to find good Nintendo Lego sets, but the Piranha Plant shown here might be my favorite. It’s incredibly characterful, and despite having a prig tag of over $50/£50, it’s almost always available for less than that.
See all Nintendo Lego at Amazon
Shopping for fans of old-school gaming or Nintendo consoles from days gone by? This controller is an excellent gift for a couple of reasons: it’s modeled after the iconic SNES handset, but it’s also made by the consistently great 8BitDo.
See all retro controllers at Amazon
Poke-fever is back at an all time high following the launch of the most recent Pokemon Legends game, Z-A, so plushies like this adorable Pikachu are sure bets when it comes to present-buying. There have been many different designs over the years, but this one seems particularly soft and snuggly.
See all Nintendo plushies at Amazon
Hallmark gaming ornaments
A new Mario Kart screeched onto shelves this year, and it just so happens that plenty of racers are available as ornaments from Hallmark. The company makes so genuinely impressive models that are of a surprisingly high quality, so they’re amongst my favorite Nintendo gifts overall.
See all Hallmark gaming decorations at Amazon
If you’re hoping to find something a little more practical, this quirky plant pot should do the trick. It’s modelled after the Super Mario warp pipes that are so iconic, so fans will recognize it immediately. The fact you can add the likes of a Venus fly trap to create a real-life Piranha Plant is simply a bonus.
See all Nintendo decorations at Amazon
It’s traditional to break out your ugliest sweaters around Christmastime, and this Legend of Zelda one featuring the Triforce should delight fans of the fantasy series. It’s very nerdy but manages to look tasteful at the same time, which is easier said than done.
See all Nintendo ugly Christmas sweaters at Amazon
Want to make sure everything stays tidy in your loved one’s gaming space, or the shared living room? This locker from Numskull gives you the ability to tidily store away games, controllers, and headsets. Sure, it’s not specifically Nintendo-themed. But it will still do the job very nicely.
If you’d like to get your loved one a cute little desk buddy or a decoration for their gaming space, this adorable Piranha Plant would like a word. Sure, the quality on the actual camera is rubbish, but that’s not why I’d recommend buying it anyway – it’s just a nice ornament in itself.
How to choose the best Nintendo gifts
There is a mountain worth of Nintendo goodies available today that would make the perfect gift. While many will instinctively think of the Super Mario Bros series when they think of ‘Nintendo’, the brand actually encompasses so many different series, including Animal Crossing, Kirby, Pikmin, and, of course, Pokemon, making the amount of products you need to browse through pretty overwhelming.
There’s no shortage of Nintendo products out there, but it doesn’t have to be such a slog to find the perfect gift. Checking what your budget is should be your first bit of protocol when it comes to choosing the best gift. Nintendo has been around for a long time, so there are gifts that range from everywhere to $10 all the way up to $900 and more. To make your shopping a little easier, we’ve narrowed down gifts under the $20 and $50 range. Giving yourself a price range like that to adhere can help narrow down your options and make finding the perfect Nintendo gift far easier and less stressful.
After you’ve got your budget sorted, I recommend checking what Nintendo characters and games the recipient of your gift is a fan of, when it comes to choosing that perfect gift. It’s all well and good hunting down the cutest Pikachu plush, but what if the person prefers Squirtle or Charmander instead? What if they don’t like the Pokemon at all and are instead massive Pikmin fans? Knowing who and what they’re a fan of can go a long way in making your gift a memorable one.
Lastly, always double-check that you have an idea of what the recipient of your Nintendo gift of choice has and doesn’t have. For example, if they don’t have a Nintendo Switch 2 yet, then buying the Hori Piranha Plant Camera listed above is not a wise plan. Making sure to do your research will help ensure you don’t double up and buy a gift they already have, or buy something they can’t even use.
For more nerdy goodness, don’t miss the best Lego sets or the best retro gifts.
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