Father’s Day can be one of the hardest holidays to shop for–after all, what do you get the man who has everything? However, it’s time to start thinking about how you can show your appreciation for the dad in your life, as Father’s Day 2020 is coming up soon on Sunday, June 21. Fortunately, if your dad or husband is into games, there’s practically an endless list of games-related products he’d probably enjoy, especially with new games coming out for PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC all the time.
Feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the choices out there? We’ve got you covered–here are some of the best gift ideas for gamer dads this Father’s Day, including consoles, accessories, merchandise, tabletop games, and more. Whether your dad is a hardcore retro gamer, looking to get into gaming, or just looking for some quality-of-life improvements around the house, we’ve got picks you can get before Father’s Day.
Quick look: Best Father’s Day gift ideas for 2020
If your dad has been into gaming for a while, they’ll probably get a kick out of the Sega Genesis Mini. Loaded with 40 classic games that defined the retro console, the Genesis Mini connects to modern TVs through HDMI and comes with two controllers, making it the perfect way to spend the afternoon catching up on retro milestones like Sonic the Hedgehog, Castlevania, Contra, and more.
If the dad in your life is more of a hardcore collector, the Analogue Super NT is the perfect gift. It’s a luxury piece of kit, but it’s the absolute best way to play your Super Nintendo games on an HDTV, with fantastic image quality and tons of options for both seeing and playing some of the most revered games of all time. Analogue also makes similar consoles that play NES and Sega Genesis games, so no matter what side of the console wars your dad was on in their earlier years, the company has a console for them.
If he owns a PS4, then a PlayStation VR headset is the next logical addition to his gaming setup. Despite being more affordable than many VR headsets on the market, PSVR produced some of the best VR games out there, with more on the way, like Iron Man VR. He’ll be able to buy and download PSVR games right away, or you can also get the headset as part of a bundle that includes games.
If he doesn’t own a headset or a PC, then the Oculus Quest is the go-to headset to get. It’s entirely standalone (which means you’re not plugging it into anything else except to charge the battery), and offers support for some of the best VR games available, including Beat Saber and Tetris Effect. It’s VR as you always expected, and while it’s become hard to find as of late, it’s worth poking around for a little while to find a decent price on this one.
For more details on the Quest and virtual reality gaming, see our guide to the best VR headsets of 2020.
Nintendo’s newest console was built to be portable, but that large, precious screen is especially vulnerable to scratches if you ever take it outside the house (and most of us do, at some point). If he travels frequently and likes to play his Switch on the plane, train, bus, or elsewhere, this hard case will protect the console and also provides handy storage for all its games and accessories.
Creative’s SFXI gaming headset is a cut above the competition when it comes to pure audio. Every explosion pops, every long-distance gunshot rings, and dialogue and smaller cues all stand out as you’re playing. This is a high-fidelity wireless audio experience worth paying for, and while the microphone isn’t as great as others, this headset is worth it for the audio output alone.
The Legend of Zelda is a powerhouse franchise that isn’t slowing down anytime soon, as Breath of the Wild proved with its critically acclaimed release. If he’s a Zelda fan, he’ll appreciate this 320-page guide to the Zelda universe, from the 1986 original to Twilight Princess (BOTW isn’t included here, but there’s another book completely dedicated to it). This encyclopedia is a fascinating look at the making of the games, including their art and lore, and makes the perfect gift for any hardcore Zelda enthusiast.
Utilizing only a single AA battery that takes 240 hours of use to drain, the Logitech G604 offers a lot of utility without having to rely on wires. Six side buttons, a pair of volume buttons, and a high response time–this is everything you could want in a high-end mouse, and the dad in your life will definitely appreciate it.
The Xbox Design Lab allows you to build your own custom Xbox controller from the ground up, letting you change the color of the faceplate, analog sticks, bumpers, and more. You can even add a rubberized grip to make it feel better. So if your dad has a specific color scheme they’re really tied to (if they’re a big football fan, for example), this custom-made controller is the perfect gift. And in case you were wondering, yes, this one’s future-proof, and it’s compatible not only with Xbox One and PC, but the upcoming Xbox Series X as well.
If he’s a dad who still enjoys listening to vinyl records, surprise him with a deluxe set featuring the official soundtrack from his favorite game or movie. (Even if he doesn’t own a record player, vinyl records look quite nice as decor on a shelf.) This stunning deluxe vinyl set featuring the soundtrack from Cuphead would make a great gift for any fan of the old-school shooter-platformer, and the Jazz and ragtime soundtrack is perfect for the format.
Cufflinks and tie clips are subtle ways of adding personality to an otherwise traditional suit, and this silver set made from high-quality metal makes an excellent gift for any Zelda fan. You can also get the same set in gold, if that’s his preference.
If he’s a fan of board games, horror, and/or games with a strong narrative, he’ll get a kick out of Betrayal at House on the Hill, a board game for three to six players who play as a group of strangers exploring a haunted house. As they enter different rooms, they’ll stumble across mysterious objects and trigger certain events that will eventually lead to one player turning on the others, who must then fight for survival. Suspenseful and addictively fun, Betrayal has a ton of replay value with 50 unique scenarios that make the game different every time. It’s a game that’ll satiate his appetite for horror, but that he can potentially play with his family and friends, too. Plus, see more of the best board games we recommend.
If he’s a dedicated console player who isn’t subscribed to PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold, getting him a pre-paid membership is a solid gift any gamer would appreciate. The subscription services for each console grant access to online multiplayer, free monthly games, and exclusive discounts. A one-year membership generally sells for $60 on each platform, and one-month, three-month, and six-month passes are also available for cheaper.
If your dad isn’t a dedicated gamer, one of the best ways to take advantage of their moderately strong PC or existing Xbox One is Xbox Game Pass. The service is essentially the Netflix of gaming, offering access to dozens of titles as long as you hold your subscription, and this includes all first-party Microsoft games the day they release. If they’re a lapsed gamer looking to get back into Halo Infinite, for example, this is the perfect time to revisit the entire Halo series ahead of Infinite’s release later this year.
If his PS4 is the main media device in your household–meaning he uses it to stream movies and TV and play DVDs as well as games–then this handy little device will be a small quality-of-life improvement for his entertainment space. For just $20, this officially licensed remote can quickly turn the PS4 on and off, navigate the PS4 screen, pause and play media, and more. While the capabilities are essentially the same as a PS4 controller, it saves your controller’s battery for gaming, and some people simply prefer the feeling of a traditional remote.
Voice-controlled lights are one of the best ways for any house to feel high-tech on a budget. Not only can you turn them on and off using your voice, but you can also change their hue, level of light warmth, and more. It’s compatible with Alexa, HomeKit, and Google Assistant, which makes it easy to use no matter what kind of phone your dad has.
No matter what kind of dad you have, they’re likely to have a few devices they need to charge regularly. This portable battery will let them charge those devices wherever they are. It has 3 USB ports and two Micro-USB ports, which covers a wide swath of devices on the market today.
