The 2025 Player 2 Gift Guide
As is tradition here at Player 2, the team got together to chat all things Christmas, giving and fun stuff they would love to see under their tree. But more importantly, they wrote this all down so you, our dear reader who may be bereft of Christmas ideas, can steal ours when you shop. So here it is, 2025’s P2 Gift Guide.
Stephen del Prado
Is a young person in your life driving you mad with Clash Royale, a game single-handedly ensuring I will wage war against devices in high school classrooms for years to come? Then it’s time to force them to play the ridiculously cool, definitely not copyright infringing two-player head-to-head tabletop game Toy Battle, which comes absolutely packed with maps and high quality components. From designers Paolo Mori and Allesandro Zucchini, Toy Battle has players sending forth their troops down lanes on a map, vying for complete control of a map area to claim a Star token. Each map has a set amount of these tokens needed to win, as well as a unique map effect that can turn the game upside down. Toy Battle is fast, engaging and is sure to be a hit for players of all ages this Christmas.
Over $50 - GoChess Wizard Mini
Yes, the price – but this is the sort of chessboard that you’ll want to dedicate a space in your house to. It looks schmick, has great tactility and will even help you learn or get better at the game. My review goes into more detail, but if you have a chess-minded individual in your midst or would like to become one, the GoChess Wizard Mini has you covered. If you’d like to save a few hundred in licensing and production fees and/or plain old hate J K Rowling, there is a themeless version of the board available as well. I have to say, I do love the theming of the Wizard Mini, which can be purchased here.
Price is no Object - Kumano Kodo Walk
Last year, I recommended a Yakuza-themed pilgrimage to Japan, and this year I’ve amended that. Tourism on the Golden Route in Japan is making travel and experiencing those locations far more of a headache than it was just a few years ago, so instead, get away from it all and go rural. I recently completed the Nakaheci route of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage walk in Japan, which stretches roughly 80km over mountainous terrain in the Wakayama region, a few hours south of Osaka. If you’re a tightass like me, it’s easy to book the entire thing for under $1500 sans flights and spend 6-7 days in beautiful forests before finishing up in the picturesque seaside town of Kii Katsuura.
Jason Hawkins
Under $50 - Steam Gift Card
Personally, I kinda hate giving gift cards as they feel impersonal. But you know what? Steam sales are common, the Steam Machine is coming, and handhelds that play PC games are not uncommon. $50 can buy a whole lot of gaming, and it gives people the flexibility to buy whatever the hell they want. Irony is, there’s nothing more personal than that.
Over $50 - Videogame Soundtracks
I was going to say ‘vinyls’, but in reality it can be anything. A lot of game soundtracks look great on walls, shelves, or coffee tables if you’re a maniac. Some of my favourites include Doom (5th anniversary), Monster Hunter: World, Persona 4 Golden and any of myriad Final Fantasy XIV soundtracks. There’s a lot of good soundtracks out there in gaming, just make sure you’re not getting your pants pulled down over the prices.
Price is no Object - Splurge on Sound
I know it’s pragmatic, but way too many people I know have garbage sound setups for their gaming. Whether that be some very average headphones, to a pedestrian soundbar, you likely know someone who needs to upgrade. Do yourself a favour, go out there and buy a nice amp and speaker setup (if you have room), or some really good studio quality headphones if you don’t. If you’re not made of money, I picked up a Yamaha RX-V385 and some good 5.1 speakers, and a pair of AKG K612 pro headphones, and it made so much difference to my gaming experience. Don’t ignore sound quality, it’s important.
Jenn Christodoulou
Under $50 - Palermo Perfume
One thing about me is that I love smelling good. Another thing about me is that I also love really expensive things… especially perfume. And whilst I can accept the occasional splurge on a $400 perfume, the amount of perfumes I want vs the amount of money I want to spend on them doesn’t quite add up. That’s why Palermo Perfume is such a freaking winner to me – you get all the benefits of a designer perfume, but for a smidge of the price.
To put it bluntly, Palermo Perfume dupes designer scents. I don’t give two craps about the ethics of it; designer brands don’t need more profits. Plus, what if I spend $400 on perfume and it doesn’t sit nicely on my skin? By buying Palermo Perfume, I get to spend $35 and test drive the scent on my skin. If I like it, I’ll likely go and fork out the cash for the real thing. If I don’t, then oh well, who cares, all I’ve done is spend $35.
Over $50 - ROG Ally Dock (or any PC Handheld)
If you read the gift guide last year, you’ll know my ROG Ally is one of my most favourite things I’ve ever bought. I love being able to sit on the couch and play games comfortably. I also love being able to stream them from my computer to the Ally. The one drawback to the Ally is the small screen – but with a handy dandy dock, that’s a problem of the past!
The dock for the ROG Ally is similar to the one for the Nintendo Switch; plug your unit in and it’ll connect to your television, allowing you to play games while the unit itself charges. Hook up a controller and it’s just like playing any other console – except this one fits in your bag if you wanna take it on a plane.
Price is No Object - Robot Dog
I never understood people when they said they were feeling “clucky” and wanted to have kids. And then I got older, and I realised that growing your family can be a beautiful thing…But I don’t want to add kids to my family; instead, I want a dog.
Unfortunately, I cannot have a real dog, but for a cheeky $145,k I could have a robot dog (or the Unitree B2 Inspection Robot, if you want to call it by its government name).
Robot Dog, or Patch, as he will now lovingly be called, is an industry-level robot, which means he is made for more than simple consumer enjoyment. Patch is better trained for use in a warehouse or as a search and rescue dog – but screw that. I want him to jump on the couch with me and do tricks.
I saw one of these in Singapore last year (not this exact model, but very similar) and let me tell you, it’s a dystopian nightmare come to life. Which makes it AWESOME. Giving pets as a gift is always a bad idea, but giving a ROBOT DOG as a gift? What could go wrong?
Paul James
Under $50 - A PSN Gift Card
Between PlayStation’s own titles, the third parties, and now even Xbox delivering games to the PS5 community, there’s no better time than now to just start buying everything for your PS5. If you’ve got that loved one who loves their PS5, do them a solid and send them a $50 PSN gift card to go towards that next big purchase. GTA VI won’t pay for itself next year
Over $50 - Nintendo Switch 2
The big ticket gaming item of 2025 is, of course, the Nintendo Switch 2. Given how new it is, there’s a high likelihood that you, or someone special in your life, doesn’t yet have one. With the console already boasting Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, Metroid Prime 4, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, and a litany of other excellent titles, there’s already no excuse to not have a Switch 2, so get one, get one for a friend, just buy a Switch 2 already!
Price is no Object - An Elite Hacking Group
Look, the gaming world keeps foaming at the mouth over the Valve Steam Machines, and rumours abound about Half-Life 3. I don’t have any world-changing plans with an elite hacking group at my disposal, but use their chaotic power for good, and not evil. Hack into Valve, pry out the trailer for Half Life 3 that is clearly sitting there, ready to go, and leak it out for the world to enjoy. I don’t even care about Half Life, I’ve got no experience with it, I just need this nearly two decades of “Where’s Half Life 3?!” to stop… and this, if you’re like me, then this is a very expensive way to get that solution.
Also, if you hire out one of these groups, protect your identity once they’ve done the deed, because it’s fair to say the Gabe police will be after you.
Shaun Nicholls
Under $50 - Throw Throw Burrito/Avocado
Christmas is a time when families come together to enjoy good food and the company of their loved ones. Inevitably, though, this means you are bound to engage with someone you may not be too fond of. Whether it’s the annoying spoilt golden child of the family, the slightly tipsy uncle who makes questionable comments or even your own angst-ridden sarcasm-spewing spawn. Many times in my life had I wished it was socially acceptable to throw food at said individuals when the annoyance becomes too great, but in almost all of those cases, the host would not be impressed with the need to clean mashed potatoes off the walls.
Fortunately, with Throw Throw Avocado and its predecessor Throw Throw Burrito, you have a perfectly acceptable reason to launch food-shaped objects at the targets of your ire. They are each simple games to play, but the excitement comes when you use either the squishy avocado or burrito in a spirited game of close-quarters dodgeball. Both of these games play in pretty much the same way, but if you really want to bring the chaos, you can combine the two into one game, with a special combo set of cards packed into Throw Throw Avocado to make things just that little bit more exciting.
Over $50 - Gameboy Lego Set
It was a tough choice for the over-$50 option this year. As in 2024, I was drawn to some of the cool new Lego sets for my gift guide choice, specifically the Soundwave set released earlier this year. However, it was the warm, fuzzy feelings of nostalgia the Gameboy Lego set brought to my heart that tipped the scales, reminding me of a time when I carried that little grey brick that couldn’t be used in the dark wherever I went. Much like the NES set previously released, the Gameboy Set comes with buildable cartridges that you can slot into the unit and some stickers so your kids can see just what it looked like when playing on that tiny grayscale screen.
Price is no Object - Bambu Lab H2C Laser Full Combo
I love the idea of using minis in my D&D games. Combining them with a virtual tabletop display really helps to engage your players in the game, and it looks far better than flat tokens being moved around on the screen. Enter the Bambu Lab H2C. Gone are the days when 3D prints needed to be hand-painted, something my lack of artistic understanding and fine motor skills akin to the humble platypus prevented me from engaging in.
Fear not, fellow artistically challenged TTRPG aficionados, for this printer is capable of printing in multiple colours throughout all stages of the print job without wasting material from changing over nozzles and associated pieces. This thing is very close to the one-and-done machine needed by those who want a quality end product but lack the skills to perform the job themselves.
As a bonus, this thing even has a laser engraver built in, allowing you to create all kinds of fancy patterns or cuts on wood. Ever fancied crafting your own personal coat-of-arms and putting it on a coaster? With this baby, you can do that and more.
Tim Henderson
Under $50 - Paradise Killer On the Rocks T-Shirt
I admit that I’m pushing the boundaries of what counts as fifty bucks here, as the shirt itself comes in at $32 US, which, as of the last time I checked the conversion rate, just squeaks in under the line. Never mind that shipping is extra. But also, with inflation moving at its current speed, fifty dollarydoos probably won’t be enough to buy a decent bunch of bananas a few years from now. This category really should be changed to ‘the category formerly known as under $50’.
Paradise Killer is more than a bit of a cult game, granted, so there’s a very good chance that your recipient has heard of it but never actually played it. Does that matter? It shouldn’t! This is a game with a supremely confident aesthetic vision, and this extends to some pretty wild and eccentric character designs, meaning that the design on the shirt here just looks cool regardless. There are a couple of other options on the website, but I’m leaning in and suggesting the On the Rocks one as the character it portrays, Sam Daybreak, is a red skeleton who happens to work as a bartender and the design looks maybe even cooler than what you’re imagining right now.
Over $50 - A Spare Switch 2 Dock
A few weeks ago, there was a realistic shot of being able to slot this one into the under $50 category, but then Nintendo went and updated the Switch 2 firmware and now 3rd party options have become a bit of a shot-in-the-dark as to if they will actually put video out to a display or not (and even if they do, for just how long?) Honestly, the move feels kind of gross, especially since the official dock is, to put it mildly, extremely overpriced. So, why not be a good friend and take a bullet for a mate?
Ironically, as a gift, this is both more expensive and perhaps less useful than it was going to be. If you do want to be cheaper and live on the edge, then the Antank options seem to be the most reliable right now, but otherwise the official dock is pretty chunky, with fiddly bits of plastic there to make plugging and removing cables a bit of a pain, whereas some of the budget-friendly ones out there were little more than a glorified cable, which would be great for travelling and plugging into things like a hotel TV. Still, the official one probably is more reliable, and plenty of people have a second TV or computer monitor that they might be inclined to play their console on were it made a mite more convenient.
Price is no Object - A little bit more RAM
Alternatively, if you could wave a magic wand and stop shit like blockchain and AI from ever having existed, that would be even better. But in the absence of that, if you have loads of the other kind of magic (sometimes referred to as money), you could buy a friend or family member a couple of sticks of RAM to upgrade their PC because HOLY SHIT HAVE YOU SEEN WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN THIS SPACE!?
Maybe this is a personal cry for help, as I purchased my first new desktop in around 13 years back in October and told myself I’d double the RAM from 32 to 64GB as a personal holiday treat, but in the time since the sticks I was looking at have LITERALLY QUADRUPPLED IN PRICE (a similar problem is happening with storage, which I also had plans for and could also fit into this category). It’s the goddamn graphics card apocalypse all over again (for what it’s worth, you can get at least some of those at their actual RRP now). In any case, if you have stupidly deep pockets and don’t mind giving greed more money, then if you have a PC gamer in your life who is in want of an upgrade that is pretty easy to DIY, then find out what kind and speed is needed and just slap that credit card down.
Matt Hewson
Under $50 - A Good Meat Thermometer
Anyone who has followed me on socials knows I love to cook. I don’t consider myself to be the world’s best chef by any means, but I am pretty proud of how my meat dishes turn out, especially steak. My secret? A good meat thermometer. If you cook steak every day, you probably don’t need one, but for a home cook, a good thermometer is key to success. But here is the real trick: you can spend hundreds on wireless ones that do everything under the sun, and while they are great, they aren’t really needed. Just a good quality probe style one is all that you need to make sure your steak, roast, chicken, brisket or even fish is cooked exactly how you want it. You can get a good one that should last for a good couple of years for under $50, so don’t be suckered in by the flashy wireless, Bluetooth ones. A side note, getting one with a magnetic back is a must.
Over $50 - A Firechef Serbian Cleaver
Staying with the cooking theme, if there is one tool in my kitchen that I absolutely cannot do without, it is my Firechef Cleaver. It is easily the best knife I have ever used, and I have worked in professional kitchens. It is super sharp, easy to look after, and easy to use, even for someone who hasn’t been trained to use a knife. The real kicker is, it doubles as a scoop. Its wide blade allows for scooping things up off the chopping board and putting them wherever they are needed. That may seem like a small thing, but when you are chopping a bag of onions, trust me when I say it is a godsend. To top it all off, you can get it engraved, just to show your favourite cooking nerd that you really love them. A seriously great knife and one that will never ever let you down.
Price is no Object - Hisense C2 Ultra 4K Trichroma Laser Mini Projector
What can I say about this absolute beast of an entertainment device that I didn’t already say back when I reviewed it early in the year? It is bloody fantastic, and I have never loved a bit of gear more. In fact, I purchased one after I sent my review one back. My family loves it, my friends love it, hell, even my neighbours love it. If you have the space for a projector screen, this is the toy for you. You have to pay for it… But honestly, it is worth it.
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