Retro Gaming Gifts (2025 Holiday Season)
Looking for the perfect retro gaming gifts for that special someone who is obsessed with retro video games? Here are some of my favorite gifts that I think anyone who’s a fan of nostalgic gaming would love.
Retro Gaming Apparel Gifts
Help that retro gamer in your life gear up with great retro gaming clothes, including beanies, t-shirts and hoodies.
Space Invaders Beanie
Straight from the arcades and Atari 2600, this retro beanie features some of the classic enemies from Space Invaders.
Tecmo Bowl Hoodie
A Nintendo classic, Tecmo Bowl revolutionized sports games and helped amplify the legend of Bo Jackson. This super comfy hoodie makes a great gift.
Oregon Trail T-Shirt
A classic Oregon Trail game t-shirt for those of us who grew up in the 80’s and 90’s. Ferry the Wagon and play it safe.
Classically Trained Retro Gaming T-Shirt
A classic Oregon Trail game t-shirt for those of us who grew up in the 80’s and 90’s. Ferry the Wagon and play it safe.
Commodore 64 Hoodie
The classic Commodore 64 logo on a premium hoodie to keep you warm while you play M.U.L.E.
Virtua Fighter 2 T-Shirt
Sega’s classic fighter, Virtua Fighter 2, represented in a stylish t-shirt for fans of all ages.
Space Invaders Apron
Look good and represent your retro gaming love with this Space Invaders Apron.
Street Fighter 2 T-Shirt
A classic t-shirt featuring the cast of Street Fighter 2. Pick your fighter, and pick your size, it’s time to gear up.
Castlevania Shirt
Simon Belmont takes on one of the deadliest ghosts of all time in this crossover shirt.
Retro Gaming Toy Gifts
Living the golden age of gaming sometimes requires awesome toys and plushies for the home or office.
Nintendo Thwomp Cusion/Pillow Plush, 12″
Snuggle up with this angry block of sentient cement from Super Mario Bros. A perfect gift for any Mario fan.
Nintendo Super Mario Coin Block Plushie 10″
A cozy plushie coin block from Super Mario Bros!
Mario Kart Blue Shell Plushie
Unlike the one found in the game, his version of the blue shell won’t ruin your friendships.
Sonic the Hedgehog Green Hill Zone Lego Set
Sonic’s famous Green Hill Zone in Lego form. A must have for any Sega/Lego fan.
Mario Kart Lego Set – Mario & Standard Kart
A wonderful gift for that kid or adult that is obsessed with Mario Kart and Lego.
Nintendo Gameboy Lego Set
Build the handheld that changed gaming forever. Great for any retro Nintendo fan.
Retro Gaming Mug Gifts
Most retro gaming nerds how have office jobs (which we’re all pretty sad about). So what better thing to do to cheer them up than getting them than a nice mug?
Warcraft II Mug – More Work?
A peasant’s work is really never done. This is a great mug for fans of the Warcraft franchise.
“Winners Don’t Use Drugs” Mug
The classic arcade warning in mug-form.
MS-DOS Mug
The operating system that many retro gamers first cut their teeth on. Celebrate its legacy with a mug.
Retro Gaming Book Gifts
If you’re not sure what games the retro gamer in your life is into, and you want to cast a wide net, you can’t go wrong going with retro gaming books. Here are some I’ve enjoyed over the years.
Console Wars by Blake J. Harris
The definitive book about the console wars between Nintendo and Sega that defined gaming in the 1990’s. It’s a narrative told incredibly well by the author of Moneyball.
Press Reset by Jason Schreier
The definitive book about the console wars between Nintendo and Sega that defined gaming in the 1990’s. It’s a narrative told incredibly well by the author of Moneyball.
The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1988–1998 by Brett Weiss
A great book full of the games that defined a generation of console gamers.
The Ultimate History of Video Games Vol. 1 by Steven L. Kent
This is a great behind-the-scenes history of how video games went from a tiny niche to a multibillion-dollar industry.
