Gaming Gift Guide 2013: What are the Cutest Gamer Gifts?
Looking for a fun - and cute - gaming-themed gift? Our collection of the softest, most irresistible goodies should do you quite nicely.
This article first appeared on USgamer, a partner publication of VG247. Some content, such as this article, has been migrated to VG247 for posterity after USgamer's closure - but it has not been edited or further vetted by the VG247 team.
'Tis indeed the season for festive goodness and wanton purchases. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday barely behind us, the question needs to be posed: if you failed to do your Christmas shopping last week, what now? Never fear. Now that we've exhausted the cheaper options, it's time to delve into the eclectic, the eccentric and the all-out weird. We're creating a series of outlandish, original and just plain crazy gift ideas suitable for, well, pretty much anyone. As long as they enjoy good things. We can't help you if your friends have bad taste. This article is all about:
Gifts for the those who love ultimate gaming cuteness
Animal Crossing Plushies
Animal Crossing: New Leaf was a bit of a smash hit in this year's line-up -- a rather remarkable thing, honestly, if you stop and think about it. After all, the game's practically a menial labor simulator. Weeding. Participation in the retail cycle. Household chores. The works. Yet, cocooned in its twee environment and fenced in by all those candy-colored bipedal animals, Animal Crossing: New Leaf succeeded in doing something no mother ever could: it made all of those activities compelling. If there's someone in your life who still rigorously checks into portable town every other day, you may find boundless gratitude if you surprise them with this armament of plushies.
Zerg Overlord Plush Pattern
Who said hardcore gamers can't have cute things? Etsy merchant Arixystix's Overlord Plush Pattern is a two-pronged attack: it's one of the rare attempts at making hardcore RTS Starcraft cute and it allows for the opportunity to smugly expound on the virtues of making your own gifts. Fair warning, though, Ariyxstix's wonderfully squishy-looking Overlord sits on the "advanced difficulty" tier so you're likely going to want to have some talent with the needle before delving into this critter's immaculate conception.
League of Legends Rammus Plushie
Sorry, League of Legends fanatics. Rammus is better cute. I don't care how much you enjoy the ominous, razer-spiked version. This plushie version? Far superior. Measuring a comfortable 16" in height and 13" in width, the Rammus plush is a cuddly, smiley fellow that will brighten up any gaming desktop. Added bonus: the Rammus plushie ships with some of the character's most iconic lines.
Headcrab Plush
Aw, what's cuddly and intent on seizing control of your bodily functions? This headcrab plush, that's what! Once so highly coveted that it was literally impossible to even contemplate ordering one without having to wait for months, the Half Life 2 Headcrab, which is lovingly printed with bloodstains, is currently sitting in Jinx awaiting the contents of your piggy bank.
Balloonicorn Plush
Balloonicorn? Balloonicorn. The disconcertingly precious Balloonicorn is a staple of the Team Fortress 2 landscape. Only visible to those occupying Pyroland, the Balloonicorn is a signal of insanity, of murder sprees disguised by happier hallucinations. Get this for the Pyromaniac in your life and then gingerly request the shiny unlock code it ships with. (Or let them keep it if, you know, you're the nice sort who wants to live.)
Need more gift ideas? Check out our other lists!
- The best gifts for gamer collectors
- Great gifts for retro gamers
- Ideal gifts for the gaming nerd(ette)
- What to get the gamer who has everything
- Gifts for power players
- And finally - Team USG's slightly insane personal wish list