If you know someone who is nuts about Ninty, then get a load of this list of the best Nintendo gifts of all time!
Yes, we’ve taken all the stress out of buying the perfect present by listing 15 Nintendo gifts that would make any fan smile at any occasion.
Whether you’re looking to get some extra screen time in or have a break from the TV, we’ve got a gift for every gamer of every age below.
And yeah, we love them all.
So, without further ado, I’m going to pipe down and let you get shopping!
Table of Contents
1. Nintendo Switch – OLED Model – The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Edition
- Release Date: April, 2023
- Price: $386/£320
- Where To Buy: Amazon
First up on our list of the best Nintendo gifts is the new Nintendo Switch – OLED Model – The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Edition console. Having had both the OG Switch and the new 4K edition, I can confirm it’s totally worth upgrading too.
Everything about this console is perfect. The removable back piece on the dock is much nicer, the tabletop stand is so much sturdier than the original thin leg that folded out, and the screen is superb. And of course, it’s got the Tears of the Kingdom branding on it and Zelda-themed joycons!
The OLED screen is just so vibrant and clear, making this the ultimate handheld gaming device on the planet (sorry, Steam Deck). With upgraded speakers, a built-in LAN port in the dock, and 64GB of internal storage, it’s the Switch that you deserve! Plus it comes with Tears of the Kingdom bundled in too!
2. CRKD Nitro Deck
- Release Date: October, 2023
- Price: £49.99/$49.99
- Where To Buy: CRKD, Amazon
- Our Review: Nitro Deck Full Review
You’ll see the Nitro Deck a couple of times through this article as it’s a device that we use on a daily basis when playing our Switches. CRKD has revolutionised the way we play the Switch with this piece of kit; it makes playing in handheld mode so much more comfortable and adds an extra weight and grip that makes the Switch feel more like a Steam Deck.
Simply slot your Switch into the unit after making sure you have Pro Controller Wired Connection turned on, and away you go. The original Nitro Deck comes in multiple colours, but the most nostalgic are the PAL Grey and Retro Purple variants that mimic the days of the SNES and the GameCube.
There’s also the Nitro Deck+ which allows you to use the deck as a dock to hook up to your TV. CRKD has just been released in an epic new Retro Grey Edition which is perfect for retro Nintendo fans too! If you know someone who loves their Nintendo Switch, then this is a perfect gift for them!
Oh, and that tiny little controller that looks like a super-small SNES pad, that’s the CRKD ATOM, another epic little gift that would be perfect for a stocking filler!
3. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Release Date: June, 2018
- Price: $50.49/£44.95,
- Where To Buy: Amazon
If you know someone that owns a Nintendo Switch and doesn’t have Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, then it’s your job to right that wrong! This game is an absolute tour de force, with players competing religiously every day all over the world.
I’m going to go as far as to say that it’s the best multiplayer game out today too!
Think about it; multiple characters from different franchises, all fighting together in a game that anyone can play no matter their age or ability.
Keep PUBG or Fall Guys; with 77 characters, tonnes of stages, and more items that you can shake a stick at, this is the biggest fighting title of our age!
4. Nintendo Switch Lite
- Release Date: April, 2020
- Price: $170-199/£178-194
- Where To Buy: Amazon
Look how slick this Nintendo Switch Lite is. Out of all the colour variants, this Yellow one is our favourite as it takes us back to the days of battling with Pikachu on the GBA (as you can see from our picture above, Brandon loves Pokémon!).
For those of you that don’t play docked or want a specific handheld console, then the Lite is the way to go. It can play all the games the OLED Switch does, hook up to other consoles, and download games from the Nintendo Store.
The only thing it can’t do is dock! It’s a great console for those who solely play in handheld mode and want a portable solution that’s smaller than using the original Switch with the Nitro Deck. It could probably fit in your coat pocket too so you can play on a walk, in the park, while walking the dog, or when you go to your cousin’s house and don’t want to listen to him talking about loft insulation for the 800th time…
5. Game & Watch: The Legend Of Zelda
- Release Date: November, 2021
- Price: $51.40/£49.97
- Where To Buy: Amazon
Next up on this list of the best Nintendo gifts is the classic blast from the past, remade after the success of the Mario Game and Watch console that dropped during Mazza’s Anniversary.
If you know someone that loves BotW, then you need to get them into old school Zelda and see where Link’s journey began.
The handheld looks just like the Game and Watch consoles of old and comes preloaded with three games. Delve into The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II: The Adventure Of Link, and The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. It’s also got a clock that you can look at at night too. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!
6. Pokemon Violet – Nintendo Switch
- Release Date: June, 2022
- Price: $49.99/£37.99
- Where To Buy: Amazon
- Read Our Review: Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Review
Who’s excited about Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet – Nintendo Switch?
I’ve got to say that I’m most looking forward to Pokemon Violet. Am I going to get both? Probably. But, the cover of Violet just looks epic, and I’ve already decided I’m Team Turo.
If you don’t already know, there are version specific professor’s on each game, and your character will be wearing different clothes depending on which game you get too.
This is going to be one heck of an open-world adventure. I still stand by the fact that Arceus was to Pokemon Violet what Skyward Sword was to Breath of the Wild. In other words, I’m saying Arceus was a tester for Violet and Scarlet, and that these new adventures are going to absolutely blow us away.
Sorry; you didn’t come here for my review. You just came here to see whether it would make a great gift. Yes… yes it would.
7. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Release Date: April, 2017
- Price: $49.98/£37.99
- Where To Buy: Amazon
One of the best multiplayer experiences on the Switch comes in the form of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Since this game’s arrival on the Switch just after a month after the console dropped, it’s been a staple for gaming get-togethers, online tournaments, and multiplayer mayhem all over the world.
Twinned with a Nintendo Switch Online account, players can race with friends and new challengers all over the world.
Shy Guy, Luigi, Villager, Yoshi, Ludwig, Baby Bowser, Mazza – the whole gang is here and ready for you to race around brand new tracks and classic courses from yesteryear. Since Kalimari Desert popped up on the DLC, i’ve finally been able to beat my friends… sometimes, at least.
8. Pokemon Monopoly Kanto Edition
- Release Date: August, 2014
- Price: £29.99
- Where To Buy: Amazon
Instead of moving around buying properties like the traditional Monopoly, players now have the choice to pick their starer Pokemon in physical form to make those sweet Poke’dollars.
You’ll also notice well known towns, locations and gyms from the original games, all while beating your friends to the finish line.I don’t wan to ruin the whole surprise!
Monopoly is always a safe gift for someone if you don’t know what to buy them, especially when Nintendo is added into the mix too. Beware though, this game can cause more family arguments in one day than you’ve had in a lifetime. You’ve been warned!
9. Lego Nintendo Entertainment System
Come on, we all want to open this Lego Nintendo Entertainment System on a birthday or special occasion. Look how good it is; it’s hard to believe that this is an actual Lego set when you see it.
Especially when you see the TV moving and little Mario jumping up and down!
Complete with a NES controller, game cart, NES, and TV, this buildable set is effete for both Lego and gaming fans, the ultimate crossover. Honestly, if you had a Geiger counter for ’80’s Nostalgic Vibes’, it would register off the scale when passed over this thing!
10. Super Mario Bros Wonder
- Release Date: June, 2023
- Price: $52.84/£42.99
- Where To Buy: Amazon, GAME
- Read Our Review: Super Mario Bros Wonder Full Review
Get ready for the latest in Mario’s 2D side-scrolling series, a brand new title that will undoubtedly leave you full of wonder from the moment you turn it on until the final boss battle!
From old school Nintendo fans who have been with Mario since the NES days to fans of the mustachioed marvel an his side-scrolling games of recent years, this new title has a little something for everyone. I mean, we never knew we needed elephant Mario in our lives until we saw the trailers, but we definitely do now!
11. Kirby And The Forgotten Land
- Release Date: March, 2022
- Price: £37.99/$51.20
- Where To Buy: Amazon
Next up in our Nintendo gifts list is a game that’ll suck you in right from the word go… mainly because that’s Kirby’s superpower.
This game is best described as Super Mario Odyssey but with Kirby as the main character. The levels have a similar feel, and instead of throwing a hat onto certain objects, Kirby can inhale them and become them. Swallow a tank to get some heavy-duty firepower, or inhale a car and zoom around on some slick wheels.
There’s even a multiplayer mode where you and a friend can team up together to tackle the story, just like in Yoshi’s Woolly World!
12. Pikmin 4
- Release Date: July, 2023
- Price: £37.99/$59.99
- Where To Buy: Amazon
If you’ve never come across Pikmin before, then don’t worry – you can still jump straight in at Pikmin 4 and enjoy all of the collecting and exploring action that these games have to offer. So what are Pikmin? Well, they’re little plant-like creatures that you can pluck out of the ground and send off to find things, overcome obstacles, and attack enemies.
The colour of a specific Pikmin means it has certain properties. Blue Pikmin are the only ones that can swim, and Red Pikmin don’t get burned. You’ll have to discover what the other ones do for yourselves!
There’s a new addition to the team too in the form of Oatchi the Space Dog. It’s fun for all the family and the type of game that you could either play for hours or get excited about watching someone else play all day too!
13. Mario Question Block Switch Game Holder
- Release Date: May, 2020
- Price: $13.99/£8.99
- Where To Buy: Amazon
I actually got this as a present from one of my friends one Christmas and have used it ever since. It’s a simple and compact way to store your Switch games and a cheap solution for keeping your games safe. Plus, it looks great on a shelf or sitting next to your Switch too!
With a design based on the iconic yellow Question Mark Blocks from the Mario series this block can hold 16 Switch games and is small enough to place in your bag or pocket when taking your game collection round to a friend or family member’s house. Just press the button on the top, unfold the block, and get access to your games – simple!
14. A Handheld History
- Release Date: October, 2023
- Price: $40.00/£35.00
- Where To Buy: Amazon
A Handheld History is our first book based on the legacy of handheld gaming consoles and the games that made them so popular over the decades, and more importantly, it’s choc-a-block with facts, figures, and pictures about all of your favourite Nintendo handhelds.
With 270 pages showcasing over 30 consoles and utilising the wisdom of over 25 contributors from the gaming world, it’s a one-stop-shop for everything you might want to know about Nintendo handhelds and more besides, covering the Game Gear, Atari Lynx, and many more!
As you can see form the image above, the book covers classic Nintendo machines from the Game & Watch series through to the GBA SP, DS family, and of course, the Nintendo Switch. I know I sound biased because it’s our book, but the photography inside is absolutely stunning too. In fact, you can visit our shop and grab 20 phone wallpapers made from the photos used in the book to show off your love of retro gaming anytime, anywhere!
15. The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom
The Echoes of Wisdom had some big shoes to fill after Tears of the Kingdom, and it did it perfectly by marrying an open world game with the classic top-down Zelda action of yesteryear. I love this game, and having Zelda take the starring role on a major console is brilliant. I mean, I know she had The Wand of Gamelan, but the Nintendo Switch has sold way more units than the CDI, so this is Zelda technically hitting the big time, and it’s about time too!
Instead of fighting herself, Zelda uses her powers to create echoes of other enemies that players then send into battle. It’s such a clever mechanic that sees players calling forth echoes of beds and trees and trampolines too in order to reach new areas. It uses the same top-down stylings and graphic as the Link’s Awakening remake that came out in 2019, and seeing the world of Hyrule with Zora’s, Gorons, and the Gerudo in this cutesy style never gets old. I’ve hardly put it down since I bought it and instantly put it into Number 4 in my list of the best Zelda games on the Switch – high praise!
