I have to be honest with you, I started this blog post a few different ways.
See, Christmas is hands-down one of my favourite times of year. It’s always very family-centric, and we have a lot of little traditions.
Last year, I talked about how my sister always gets me Lego games for Christmas, and how it’s turned into a tradition that we play them together every year.
This year, I wanted to talk about why those games are such a good gift for geeks. I actually got started writing that, but then I got distracted by my Instagram feed. And that made me think about all the other super-cool gift ideas there are out there for the geek on your list.
And well, I honestly suck at thinking of present ideas for people, so I love having lists like this. So here’s my guide to holiday shopping for your geek!
Lego games
Not that I hinted at this in the intro (or blatantly stated it or anything). Lego games are a huge amount of fun, and their publisher, Tt Games, seems to have a real power of persuasion for getting access to just about every popular franchise.
Which means that whatever your geek giftee’s particular fandom, there’s probably a Lego game for it, chock-full of subtle references and hilarity.
Bonus: They’re available on most platforms, and it’s really easy to switch between single-player and two-player.
I Find Your Lack of Faith Disturbing: Star Wars and the Triumph of Geek Culture
You might remember that I reviewed this fun little read a few months ago. Honestly, I think it’s a great gift for just about any geek who likes to read!
In a nutshell, this book tells the story of how modern geek culture came to be, from the point of view of someone who both subscribes to the culture and grew up alongside it.
It’s also particularly appealing to Star Wars fans, since it basically positions that series as the foundational keystone for the entirety of geekery.
The PlayStation Classic
This little console was just released in early December, and it’s a great gift idea for any PlayStation gamer.
Despite its diminutive size, it packs a whole lot of nostalgia in its original design and the form of 20 pre-loaded classic games, like Tekken 3, Rayman, Resident Evil, and more.
It also comes with two old-school controllers, wires and all—and at $129 suggested retail price, it’s definitely one of the more affordable consoles out there right now.
Rocklove Jewelry’s original designs
I’ve been obsessed with this brand for a very long time, and if you’re buying for a girly-type geek this year, this is a good pick.
Rocklove carries a whole lot of amazing, handcrafted jewelry focused around fandoms—from Disney movies to Studio Ghibli, Marvel, Star Trek, and so many more. Plus, everything is made with fair-trade gemstones and quality materials, and a lot of the designs actually function, like this locket from The Little Mermaid:
An essential streaming starter kit
If you have a budding streamer on your hands, or one who wants an equipment upgrade, you could always consider making them their own essential starter kit!
For this, you’ll need things like a ring light that can clip onto a computer monitor (Amazon is a good place for this), a half-decent webcam, and a headset with a microphone.
If your streamer geek will be using it in a room often inhabited by others, Shane and I have found it’s a good idea to have a microphone with foam on it to dampen background noise.
Storybook Cosmetics
Another Instagram pick, this is a great choice for a geek who likes makeup.
As the name suggests, Storybook Cosmetics covers a lot of book- and story-based fandoms. It’s especially well-suited to Potterheads; they’ve got an entire line based on Harry Potter, from wand-shaped makeup brushes to House-coloured lipsticks and more.
YOUR TURN