Gift guide for gamers: Black Friday and holidays 2026
Want to give a game but not sure which? We picked highly rated games by budget, plus a separate list for kids. Prices update from the stores, so check again before you buy.
Black Friday falls on 27/11/2026, and Hanukkah starts on the evening of 04/12/2026.
Under $20
- Portal 2 – 9.8/10, age 10+, $1.99 (parent guide)
- Red Dead Redemption 2 – 9.8/10, age 18+, $13.46 (parent guide)
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – 9.8/10, age 18+, $7.99 (parent guide)
- Grand Theft Auto V – 9.7/10, age 17+, $19.79 (parent guide)
- Outer Wilds – 9.7/10, age 10+, $18.99 (parent guide)
- Disco Elysium – 9.6/10, age 16+, $7.99 (parent guide)
- Mass Effect 2 – 9.6/10, age 16+, $7.49 (parent guide)
- Resident Evil 4 (original) – 9.6/10, age 18+, $9.24 (parent guide)
$20 to $40
- God of War Ragnarök – 10.0/10, age 16+, $33.58 (parent guide)
- Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree – 9.6/10, age 17+, $35.17 (parent guide)
- Divinity: Original Sin 2 – 9.5/10, age 14+, $24.00 (parent guide)
- The Last of Us Part I – 9.5/10, age 18+, $25.03 (parent guide)
- Red Dead Redemption – 9.5/10, age 17+, $22.50 (parent guide)
- Split Fiction – 9.5/10, age 10+, $34.99 (parent guide)
- The Last of Us – 9.5/10, age 18+, $29.99 (parent guide)
- Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice – 9.4/10, age 16+, $29.99 (parent guide)
Over $40
- Persona 5 Royal – 9.6/10, age 14+, $49.74 (parent guide)
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – 9.5/10, age 14+, $50.90 (parent guide)
- Metaphor: ReFantazio – 9.3/10, age 14+, $58.04 (parent guide)
- Persona 5 – 9.3/10, age 13+, $49.74 (parent guide)
- Black Myth: Wukong – 9.2/10, age 16+, $59.99 (parent guide)
- Marvel's Spider-Man – 9.1/10, age 13+, $44.74 (parent guide)
- Monster Hunter Stories 3 – 9.0/10, age 10+, $48.99 (parent guide)
- Microsoft Flight Simulator – 9.0/10, age 3+, $45.49 (parent guide)
Gifts for kids up to age 10
- Portal 2 – 9.8/10, age 10+, $1.99 (parent guide)
- Outer Wilds – 9.7/10, age 10+, $18.99 (parent guide)
- Hollow Knight – 9.5/10, age 10+, $7.49 (parent guide)
- Hollow Knight: Silksong – 9.5/10, age 10+, $15.99 (parent guide)
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps – 9.5/10, age 8+, $7.49 (parent guide)
- Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye – 9.5/10, age 10+, $11.89 (parent guide)
- Split Fiction – 9.5/10, age 10+, $34.99 (parent guide)
- Stardew Valley – 9.5/10, age 8+, $7.49 (parent guide)
Lowest price we found across stores, in US dollars. Actual price may change.
Before you buy a game as a gift
- Check the platform: a PS5 game won't run on a Switch. Ask which device they play on.
- Check the age: every game on the list has a parent guide with a recommended age.
- Not sure? A store gift card (Steam, PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo) is a safe gift.
- Wait for a sale: set a price alert on the game page and get an email when the price drops.
FAQ
When is the best time to buy games?
Around Black Friday many stores cut prices. Follow the hot deals or set a price alert on a specific game.
What game to buy for a kid who has everything?
Try the game matchmaker: answer a few questions and get picks that fit their taste.
Can I give a digital game as a gift?
Yes. Most stores let you buy a game as a gift for another account, or give a fixed-amount gift card.