Growing up, I’d always carefully inspect the presents under the Christmas tree to locate any suspiciously video game-shaped boxes. I’ve been a gamer since I could hold a controller, and my family thankfully gifted accordingly.
Now, as an adult who is shopping for other friends and family, I enjoy returning the favor by gifting awesome video games as Christmas presents. Of course, with so many games on the market these days, it can be tough to really know what the best choices are for the gamers in your life.
Let’s take some of the guesswork out for you. Below, we’ll highlight 15 different games that would make for incredible gifts on Christmas this year. All platforms, player bases, and genres are welcome.
Video Games to Gift for Christmas 2026
Before we dive into the best video games to gift in 2026, I have a couple of logistical notes for you. First, this guide only includes games that you can buy as a physical copy. Christmas gifts are more exciting when they can actually be unwrapped under the tree, and though there are ways to get creative with a download code, it’s just inherently less fun. Trust me, I’ve gifted games both ways.
Secondly, this list is organized in order from most kid-friendly to least. If you’re shopping for someone 18 and over, anything here is fair game. If you’re in the market for a game for a kiddo, stop when you’ve reached the age/maturity threshold for your recipient. Basically, you probably shouldn’t buy your six-year-old nephew Grand Theft Auto 6 when you see it at the end of the list, is what I’m getting at.
With that, here are the best video games to give as Christmas gifts in 2026.
Bluey’s Quest for the Gold Pen
Starting off, we have Bluey’s Quest for the Gold Pen. This is a video game that anyone can play, but it’s primarily aimed at younger kiddos. I have a couple of nephews who have thoroughly adored Bluey and Dingo growing up, and while the Aussie pups have had some previous video game appearances, Quest for the Gold Pen is the best of the bunch.
This will be a low-frustration experience for the littlest of gamers, but still one they should enjoy working their way through. From a critical perspective, it’s also one of the best-looking kid-focused games in recent memory, making it a great candidate for gifting. It’s a high-quality kid’s game, not just a mindless tablet app you throw on for a child to keep them busy.
| Platform | Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PS4, PS5, XBOX Series X/S, PC |
| Genre | Adventure |
| Age Suitability | Everyone |
| Number of Players | One |
| Best For | Young kids who love Bluey and are new to video games. |
| Where To Buy | HERE |
Rhythm Heaven Groove
Full of cute art and quirky ideas, Rhythm Heaven Groove tasks players with keeping the beat and executing button inputs at the right time in simple tunes. Extremely simple in concept, it’s one that kids can hop into and enjoy, but has an eventual learning curve to keep older gamers engaged as well.
There’s a full solo mode here if you’re buying for someone who’s most likely to play alone, but also multiplayer options up to four players, making Rhythm Heaven Groove one you can even open up and start playing together on Christmas morning.
| Platform | Nintendo Switch |
| Genre | Rhythm/Music |
| Age Suitability | Everyone |
| Number of Players | One to Four |
| Best For | Anyone who can keep a beat and likes quirky games. |
| Where To Buy | HERE |
Pokémon Pokopia
Games like Minecraft and Animal Crossing have already more than proven their mass appeal globally. Combine some of their mechanics and ideas with an IP as prolific as Pokémon, and it’s pretty obvious why Pokopia has become as beloved as it already is.
Pokémon Pokopia is primarily single-player, but also has modes where up to four gamers can run around and build/interact with dozens of adorable, talking Pokémon favorites. Don’t be fooled by the cute style and artwork either, as Pokémon Pokopia has resonated extremely well with kids and adults alike.
| Platform | Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Genre | Adventure, Sandbox |
| Age Suitability | Everyone |
| Number of Players | One to Four (But Primarily One) |
| Best For | Fans of Pokémon, Minecraft, and/or Animal Crossing |
| Where To Buy | HERE |
- RELATED:Best Family and Couch Co-Op Games to Play This Christmas
LEGO Party!
A game like Mario Party doesn’t need much introduction anymore, and LEGO Party! is the exact same idea. The added benefit here is that it’s available on all modern consoles, not just the Nintendo Switch. This makes LEGO Party! an easy video game recommendation for Christmas 2026, because genuinely any modern gamer can enjoy it.
For anyone uninitiated, this genre functions as a digital board game, with fun, competitive mini-games between each round of play. It’s chaotic, hilarious, and simply a blast, and also one that the entire family can sit and enjoy together.
| Platform | Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PS4, PS5, XBOX Series X/S, PC |
| Genre | Party |
| Age Suitability | Everyone |
| Number of Players | One to Four |
| Best For | Board game and Mario Party fans, people who are competitive. |
| Where To Buy | HERE |
Astro Bot
One of the best 3D platformers of all time, Astro Bot won Game of the Year in 2024, and it deserved every bit of its praise. Your gamer will need a PS5 specifically to play, but Astro Bot is a genuine no-brainer if your Sony owner hasn’t picked up a copy yet.
It’s rated E10+ and is perhaps a little too difficult in places for the youngest kids, but still is a title that absolutely anyone will enjoy. Anyone who’s owned a PlayStation console before will love the callbacks to iconic Sony characters, too. One of my personal favorite games ever, Astro Bot is a slam dunk.
| Platform | PS5 |
| Genre | 3D Platformer |
| Age Suitability | Everyone 10 and Up |
| Number of Players | One |
| Best For | Anyone who loves 3D platformers, players with nostalgia for PlayStation. |
| Where To Buy | HERE |
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight
Literally anyone who likes either Batman and/or LEGO needs to experience LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. It’s absolutely hilarious, consistently fun to play, and is sneakily one of the best ways to experience and enjoy the entire history of the Caped Crusader and his crew. Even better, it also has couch co-op for two players, so it’s a great choice if you’re buying for siblings.
Despite looking like it’s probably more for kids, I’ve played the entire game as a 30-something-year-old Batman fan, and I was laughing and smiling the entire way through.
| Platform | Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, XBOX Series X/S, PC |
| Genre | Open-World Action |
| Age Suitability | Everyone 10 and Up |
| Number of Players | One to Two (Local Co-Op Only) |
| Best For | Any fans of Batman or Action games in general. |
| Where To Buy | HERE |
Yooka-Replaylee
A retry/remake of the original Yooka-Laylee, Yooka-Replaylee is a 2025 release that aimed to reboot the IP while correcting any of the shortcomings of the 2017 release. I’m here to tell you that they knocked it out of the park. Yooka-Replaylee is an absolute joy, particularly for anyone with love for some more classic 3D platformers like Banjo-Kazooie.
It’s a collect-a-thon-type platformer, meaning the game is jam-packed with hundreds of things to track down as you complete the levels and take on fun bosses. This type of game also ensures your recipient has plenty of things to do, giving some extra value to the experience compared to some other contemporary options in the genre.
| Platform | Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, XBOX Series X/S, PC |
| Genre | 3D Platformer, Collect-a-Thon |
| Age Suitability | Everyone 10 and Up |
| Number of Players | One |
| Best For | Fans of retro 3D platformers like Banjo-Kazooie, people who like to collect things. |
| Where To Buy | HERE |
- RELATED:PlayStation’s Black Friday Sale is Live for Everyone
Star Fox (2026)
2026 has been a big year for Nintendo going back to the well and bringing some classic games back into the spotlight. The first example on this 2026 video game Christmas list is Star Fox, a ground-up remake of the 1997 title for the Nintendo 64. Fans of the original, and also of properties like Star Wars, will love this one.
For kids, you’ll need to be okay with them blasting enemy ships with laser guns from the cockpit of their Arwing (spaceship), but generally speaking, it’s a tame action experience in terms of violence. Star Fox isn’t the most complicated on-rails shooter ever, but anyone who played this in the ’90s will get a kick out of revisiting.
| Platform | Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Genre | Action/Flying |
| Age Suitability | Everyone 10 and Up |
| Number of Players | One to Four (Though the campaign is only up to Two) |
| Best For | Fans of the original N64 game and on-rail shooters. |
| Where To Buy | HERE |
Rayman Legends Retold
Full disclosure, Rayman Legends Retold isn’t quite out yet, but you can still pre-order and get it in time for Christmas, assuming it’s ready to go by release date. It’s already been delayed once, so the December 3 target should be enough time for Ubisoft to get this one out the door.
Normally, I wouldn’t suggest an unreleased game in a list like this (though there’s one additional example further below), but Legends Retold should be great. In fact, I’ve already previewed this game for about four hours total at this point, and I’ve had an amazing time. The is a 2D platformer (think old school Mario) that’s multiplayer up to four players, and is one of the most beloved franchises in the genre.
| Platform | Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, XBOX Series X/S, PC |
| Genre | 2D Platformer |
| Age Suitability | Likely Everyone 10 and Up (Not rated yet) |
| Number of Players | One to Four |
| Best For | Fans of the original, or 2D Platformers in general, like Mario. |
| Where To Buy | HERE |
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (2026)
The otherN64 remake that Nintendo put forth in 2026, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and a full reworking of 1998’s original, which still holds up as possibly the greatest video game of all time. It’s up for debate which version of the game is now the one to play, but there’s no denying that the remake still captures the magic of Link’s greatest adventure.
This is truly a must-play on the Nintendo Switch 2, and if a console owner you’re buying for doesn’t already have the game, it’s absolutely the correct choice to make, and for just about any age. It’s also arguably the best possible entry point into the series, so if you think it’s time to introduce a gamer to the world of Zelda, consider starting here.
| Platform | Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Genre | Action/Adventure |
| Age Suitability | Everyone 10 and Up |
| Number of Players | One |
| Best For | Fans of the original N64 game and epic adventures. |
| Where To Buy | HERE |
Star Wars: Galactic Racer
Arcade racers are pretty universally appealing, and there’s been no better entry into the genre recently than Star Wars: Galactic Racer. A colleague described this one to me as “the most fun he’s had with a racing game since Burnout,” and if you’re a fan of that series, you know that’s a mjor compliment.
Of course, the other thing going in Galactic Racer’s favor is that it’s a Star Wars game, which expands its appeal massively. Fans of the franchise will definitely be able to appreciate what this game has created, as well as enjoy the cameos made by certain characters from some of the movies. Now this is podracing.
| Platform | PS5, XBOX Series X/S, PC |
| Genre | Arcade Racing |
| Age Suitability | Everyone 10 and Up |
| Number of Players | One (Plus Online Multiplayer) |
| Best For | Star Wars and arcade racing fans alike. |
| Where To Buy | HERE |
- RELATED:Star Wars: Galactic Racer Review
Kingdom Hearts Collection [1~3]
![Kingdom Hearts Collection [1-3]](https://insider-gaming.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Kingdom-Hearts-Collection-1-3-1024x576.jpeg)
Kingdom Hearts looks pretty innocent on the surface with all of the Disney character inclusions, but it’s really a pretty deep and absurdly layered JRPG saga once you actually get into it. At this point, most fans of the series probably already own all the games individually, but the recently released Collection [1~3] is a great way to package it all together on modern platforms.
This collection includes a whopping eight games, plus movies and extra cutscenes, which makes it the new best way to experience this sprawling, expansive, somewhat confusing franchise. Just be warned that if you start on player on this IP for the first time and create a new fan, it might be all they’re interested in for quite a while.
| Platform | Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, XBOX Series X/S, PC |
| Genre | JRPG, Action/Adventure |
| Age Suitability | Everyone 10 and Up |
| Number of Players | One |
| Best For | Fans of the series looking for everything collected in one place, Disney and/or JRPG lovers. |
| Where To Buy | HERE |
Pragmata
Stepping things up with our first game rated for teenagers and higher, Pragmata makes a wonderful Christmas video game choice for older players looking for some more action. Pragmata leans into a sort of father/child dynamic between main characters Hugh and Diana as they fight together to survive a quickly deteriorating sitation on a lunar base.
Pair the interesting narrativepremise with some of the most genuinely unique third-person shooter gameplay mechanics in recent memory, and Pragmata is a true standout experience. It’s one of my picks for best games of 2026, and if anyone hasn’t had the chance to get to it yet, consider giving them the opportunity.
| Platform | Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, XBOX Series X/S, PC |
| Genre | Action, Third-Person Shooter |
| Age Suitability | Teen and Up |
| Number of Players | One |
| Best For | Fans of sci-fi and unique shooters with creative mechanics. |
| Where To Buy | HERE |
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
These last couple suggestions are only recommended for players 18 and up, and for good reason. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 deals with a lot of mature themes and bloody action, so make sure you’re okay with that before buying. If so, however, KCD2 is also perhaps the densest, deepest, most immersive medievel role playing game you’ll ever play, and certain players adore it for that.
This isn’t a game for everyone, but if you’re shopping for someone you know is into reading, great storytelling, stat management, and steep learning curves, KCD2 is about as good as it gets. There is somuch to do here that you can genuinely set an interested player up for weeks on end if you decide to get them started on this gritty, grounded tale of Henry and Hans.
| Platform | PS5, XBOX Series X/S, PC |
| Genre | RPG, Open-World, Medieval |
| Age Suitability | 18 and Up |
| Number of Players | One |
| Best For | Players looking to fully immerse themselves in a game for weeks. |
| Where To Buy | HERE |
Grand Theft Auto 6
At the time of writing, Grand Theft Auto 6 isn’t quite out yet, but you better believe it’s the game everyone of age is going to want this Christmas if they don’t pick it up for themselves. 13 years after the release of GTA5, the sixth entry into the iconic franchise is going to shut down the world for a while as everyone calls in sick to work to mainline this game.
It’s going to be as mature as a video game can get, which is exactly why pretty much everyonewants to see what it’s going to all be about. Double check to make sure the person you’re buying for doesn’t already have the game. If not, buying anyone that can handle it a copy of GTA6 is a surefire way to win Christmas 2026.
| Platform | PS5, XBOX Series X/S |
| Genre | Action, Open-World |
| Age Suitability | 18 and Up |
| Number of Players | One |
| Best For | Any adult who hasn’t already bought it themselves. |
| Where To Buy | HERE |
Which games are you thinking about gifting this Christmas? Let us know over in the Insider Gaming Discord server.
If you’re looking for some games to take to your parties and gatherings over the holidays, check out our recommendations. For more gaming news and updates, subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
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Ethan Krieger got started as a sports journalist covering the NBA, but video games have always been his main passion. Since then, he’s edited and written for multiple gaming outlets,…
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