Several years deep into the latest console releases, you’d think it would be easier to discuss the many options available at the hands of video game shoppers over the holidays. Heck, maybe there’s even a new inexpensive bundle box or two that’ll have items includes alongside the console, making for an attractive box and perhaps a free game or two to spark excitement. Alas, it’s the year 2022, where we’re stuck in the tidal shifts between supply-chain production issues and rising costs due to inflation (disproportionate as they might be). Instead, we’re left with a different sort of exciting aspect of shopping for video game systems over the holidays, one folks haven’t been able to enjoy for several years: if they shop early, they should be able to get a system this year without all the hoops.

Will this actually be the case this year? Who knows, but more and more retailers have been able to put stock of the ever-elusive PS5 on shelves over the past few months, and more online retailers have made pockets of stock available in one way or another. If you’d like a few hints on how to keep tabs on stock of the various systems through trackers, please check out Ben’s Bargains 2021 Video Game Hardware Guide about halfway down. Beyond, give this year’s guide a look and see what’s new in the landscape of consoles and accessories for the players in your life.

For Fans of Kratos, Comfy Controllers and 4K Horizons, Gift This.

PlayStation 5 Console – God of War: Rganarok Bundle

Pros: 4K Gaming, PS4 Compatibility, HDR Disc Playback, GAMES | MSRP: $559

But wait! Look! Is that a bundle I see before me? As someone who’s been covering the most unique, all-inclusive ways to give video game hardware as awesome gifts over the years, it’s admittedly been quite a bummer to see the snazzy All-In-One Bundle dry up and become such a scarce item.  This year, however, despite the rampant demand and chip supply/production complications, Sony will be offering a brand-new bundle that coincides with the release of the hotly-anticipated God of War: Ragnarok. How easy this will be to find remains a mystery; however, the optimist in me seems to think that if they’re designing specific PS5 retail boxes to draw attention to the bundle and, of course, will be including the digital info in the paperwork included with the system … then they’re going to be reasonable available.

Opinions about the power of the PS5 over the Xbox Series X have largely become moot, as they’re quite similar under the hood and will play most of the games anyone’s wanting to play, so the topic once again gravitates towards other factors: exclusive titles and the strength of supplemental features. PlayStation added several noteworthy games to the PS5-only roster this year, notably the sequels to sprawling action franchises like God of War: Ragnarok and Horizon: Forbidden West, to which their execution of both gameplay and aesthetics result in not-to-be-missed adventures. There’s also the remake of PlayStation darling The Last of Us, and that’ll become relevant at the beginning of next year when people are wanting to replay the game before the HBO series gets started.  Couple those things with an outstanding, comfy controller and continuously reliable 4K disc playback, and you’ve got the makings of a console that’s moved ahead of the pack in desirability.

Check Price/Availability on Amazon Or Search Ben’s for PS5 Console Deals

For Fans of High-End HD Tech, Legacy Gaming, and Bethesda, Gift This.

Xbox Series X Console

Pros: 4K Gaming/Media, Multi-Gen Back Compatibility, Not THAT Big | MSRP: $499

Both primary systems have been a pain to buy over the past few years, and that conversation usually lumps the Xbox Series X and the PS5 together as simply “hard-to-find” without much need to emphasize which is more difficult. When it comes to power under the hood, the specs may give the Xbox Series X a slight processing advantage, but if they’re viewed side-by-side it’s about as close as you can get … and outside of exclusive titles and compatibility choices, there aren’t many factors giving the edge to either one. Truth be told, it’s been a quieter year on the Xbox side of things, without much in the way of attention-grabbing exclusives that might push this decision any further in their direction; heavy hitter games like Bethesda’s Starfield and Arkane’s Redfall were pushed to 2023.

Instead, the Xbox Series X continues to rely on the pillars from which it was built: rock-solid operation, stunningly up-to-date graphics, and a dedication to backwards compatibility.  While it’s true that the Xbox team halted its efforts this year to add any further backwards compatible titles, this BC dedication resulted in the current generation of Xbox consoles being able to play close to 5,000 games across the platform’s history: 600+ of them being Xbox 360 titles and several dozen being original Xbox classics. It also shouldn’t go without saying that the process of unplugging the previous generation of Xbox peripherals from the One system and reconnecting/resynching them with the new Series console is a generally seamless process, all of which makes the choice of upgrading someone’s console as a gift pretty much a no-brainer. And it’s still a perfectly fine 4K disc player, too!

Check Price/Availability on Amazon Or Search Ben’s for Xbox Series X Deals

For Those Who Want Available, Reliable, Family-Friendly Fun, Gift This.

Nintendo Switch OLED Edition

Pros: Improved, Larger OLED Screen, Metal Body, Available | Cons: $50 More | MSRP: $349

Rumors have circulated over the past 2-3 years that Nintendo might be working on a beefed-up version of their Switch console – a higher-end “Switch Plus”, if you will. Given the age of the console’s life cycle, one would expect for this to be coming in the not-so-distant future; the Switch launched in 2017, after all. Instead, what materialized is an OLED screen model of the console everyone’s come to know and love, providing a dose of disappointment to those who expected improved graphics or performance … but also a satisfying new version with improved hardware all-around.   

Released last October, the Switch OLED model obviously boasts an improved screen, jumping from a 6-inch LCD to a 7-inch OLED for improved on-the-go play. A further adjustment to this comes in the widened stand for the screen that assists with Tabletop mode, further making this an appealing portable system even in comparison to their Switch Lite models. On top of that, the OLED model doubles up on the internal storage available, giving it 64GB of available space, and encases the system in a metal alloy body. Yes, these are upgrades to a system that’s 5 years into its product cycle – the Gamecube stuck around for 6 years and the Wii U lingered for 5 – and there’s a $50 upcharge, but there are a lot of great things still going for it. For instance, the Switch library has grown into an impressive range of both Nintendo franchises and third-party heavy hitters — Skyrim, The Witcher, Dark Souls and Minecraft are all options – and the upticks in material build quality suggest forward thinking for the Switch’s future.

Check Price/Availability on Amazon Or Search Ben’s for Switch Console Deals

For Those Who Light Up at Steam Sales And Want Their PC Library Mobile, Gift This.

Steam Deck

Pros: Play Steam Game Library on Strong Mobile Device | Cons: Battery Life | MSRP: $399-649

A specific piece of equipment designed to play PC games from a user’s Steam account on-the-go isn’t the easiest sell, because you’ve got to explain why this isn’t essentially a laptop and what it does that, say, a Switch wouldn’t. Once you’ve worked yourself into the conversation and learned that the Steam Deck does exactly what’s being described, focusing on the nuts-‘n-bolts of gaming instead of other PC noise and making it straightforward to play computer games on a ready-to-go device, the question kind of answers itself. The mastermind at Steam/Valve, Gabe Newell, has stated that he’s always wanted this product as a gamer and further wanted it for PC developers, and it’s easy to see why. Broad questions like “When will this game come to consoles?” and “Why is it worth it to build a gaming PC?” could reach an end with a device like the Steam Deck that makes it all … easy.

With a processor named after one of the main characters from Final Fantasy VII, a Linux-based version of the Steam desktop client, and a team of people curating and ensuring that games are “verified” to run on the device, the Steam Deck has a lot of thought poured into its power and accessibility.  Consoles have been priced relatively affordably — $399 for 64GB of storage; $520 for 128GB; $649 for 256GB – and the anticipated delivery dates have been trimmed down to just 1-2 weeks.  There’s also a peripheral charging and connection dock now available, which makes it easier to plug-and-play the system into conventional TVs and hook up other devices via USB-C ports. If someone has ever seen a PC gamer get all googly-eyed over the prospect of the “Steam Sale” and its heaps of cheap games, and wanted to revel in the good times, the Steam Deck might just be the way they finally take the plunge.  

Click to Buy Steam Deck Or Search Ben’s for Steam Deck Deals

For Those Into Getting Lots of Gaming For Their Buck, Gift This.

Xbox or PlayStation Branded Gift Cards – Pre-Paid Subscriptions

$100 Xbox Card on Amazon $110 PS+ Wallet Funds on Amazon

There has been lots of talk over the past few years about when and how the subscription services would ultimately change, moving into their next evolutionary step as the old, simple paradigm of “free downloads + online gaming” reaches its end. Sure enough, that finally happened this year as PlayStation Plus transformed into a 3-tier subscription service: the $9.99/month tier is the “free games + online” as it’s known; the $14.99 tier unlocks a gaming library similar to Xbox’s Game Pass; and the $17.99 tier unlocks an extensive retro gaming backlog. The change isn’t as drastic, but the team at Xbox also did a bit of restructuring by scrapping any further 360 and original Xbox freebies – and backwards compatibility – while keeping the number of free titles each month to 2, doing a heavy number of the perceived value of the Gold-only tier. The two lowest $10 sub tiers are looking … old, and obsolete.

 The $15 tiers, on the other hand, have risen more and more in value, and that’s where our gift recommendation comes from this year. Instead of the year-long Gold or bottom-tier PlayStation Plus subscription cards that we’ve generally recommended here, it’s probably best to go ahead and splurge on the more expensive $15 subscription programs for either the Xbox or the PlayStation to better maximize the dollar value. The Xbox has previously made Game Pass Ultimate prepaid subs available in up to 3-month increments; PlayStation hasn’t done the same yet, but they have a clearly labeled “PlayStation Plus” digital gift card / “wallet funds”. Best bet? Find a way of wrapping up a printed Sony or Microsoft gift card for them to apply to their accounts, or just hook them up with an Amazon gift card with a specific purpose in mind (hint: they may not use it for that).

For the Gamer That’ll Appreciate a Touch of Personality and Usefulness, Gift This.

Exquisite Games “Cable Guy” Character Device Holders

Pros: Holds Controllers, Holds Cellphones, Adds Personality to Game Space | MSRP: $20-40

There are 2 aspects to these statues that’ll appeal to gamers. The first should be obvious: these are awesome ways to represent one’s fandom in a functional way. Unlike, say, Funko Pop figures that merely sit there for the sole purpose of proclaiming one’s appreciation for a franchise, these will actually hold your favorite controller and wait patiently until it’s picked up again. The designers of these products – represented here by Exquisite Gaming’s Cable Guy brand – have figured out the right height and character arm distance to comfortably hold most modern controllers, at the perfect level for maximum stability and character recognition.  Keeping controllers safe from fluids or Cheeto dust? Let Sonic or Vault Boy hold ‘em above such hazards.

The other fun aspect of these “device holders” for gamers is, perhaps oddly enough, how they also function as mobile phone stands. If the player’s trying to pull off a certain combo of skills in a fighting game (or looking at a map or tutorial), they can have Claptrap hold up their phone with the button connection loaded up on the phone screen while brawling it out on the primary one.  Or, maybe there’s a sports event on and they’d like to flip it on while in the middle of a gaming session.  Just fork it over to Spyro or Ryu to hold for a while. Yes, it’s a simple concept with other, simpler solutions, but if there’s someone in your life who even mildly appreciates one of the available popular characters – which extend beyond gaming; Wolverine, Spider-man, and  they’ll get a charge out of these device holders.  Not a literal charge, mind you: a charge cable may be included, but actual cables aren’t looped through the statue itself.

Check Price of Vault Boy on Amazon Check Price of Sonic on Amazon

For Those Nostalgic For the Retro Arcade Glow But With Limited Space, Gift This.

Arcade1UP’s CounterCade and PartyCade Models

Pros: Retro Gaming That Occupies Small Spaces | Cons: Tight Control Spaces | MSRP: Varies ($150-300)

By now, even the significant others and family members of starry-eyed gamers have probably seen a photo or video of someone who’s transformed their basement or spare room into an arcade, thanks in large part to the affordable, fit-to-scale cabinets from Arcade 1Up. They’ve made it pretty easy to replicate the lovely neon radiance in any dedicated space, but they’ve also made it possible to just slide one near full-sized arcade machine into a corner for a splash of functional enjoyment, as the Arcade 1UP machines are also significantly above-average quality than one might expect for a pint-sized replication. Thing is, even that might occupy too much for space for some, but why should they be left out of the nostalgia?

Recently, Arcade 1UP introduced something new for that crowd: their PartyCade and CounterCade line. The Countercade is somewhat self-explanatory, compacting the scale of an arcade cabinet into a structure that both fits on a countertop and captures the retro feel of old-school machines. PartyCades are slightly different but essentially go in the other direction, condensing the cabinet into a long, slim profile that can be mounted to the wall (or, with the stabilizer feet attached, also placed on a tabletop surface). Sure, these smaller retro cabinets may be getting a little brave with what they’re doing – after all, the actual games can be bought and saved on most game consoles and any PC for a fraction of the price – but these scaled-down cabinets still capture enough of that vintage magic to be worth it.

Super Pac-Man PartyCade at BestBuy NBA Jam CounterCade at BestBuy

2022 Gift Guide: Video Game Hardware and Accessories

Whether it was the novelty of the NES Classic console that caused this or how Nintendo continued and elevated the quality into the SNES Classic, the nostalgia video game console market has transformed from an experiment into a genuine product marketplace.  Sure, there was some expectation that an officially released, small-scale retro console loaded up with popular old-school games might do well, but the scarcity of both Nintendo’s little devices upon release proves how even that was underestimated.  Since, the other companies have come to the realization that they’d like a piece of that market as well, and now we’ve got a full-on “Nostalgia Game Console” market.

Nintendo may or may not have plans for other consoles in the future — *cough* N64 Classic *cough* — but this year they aren’t getting involved with the mini console market, instead letting the other companies fight it out with their own releases.  Along with that, other companies have realized the potential for tapping into nostalgia as well, so now we’re getting other higher-quality spins on retro video game devices that aren’t necessarily home consoles.  This may be the renaissance of retro, so let’s live in the moment. Below, we’re going to explore what 2019 had in store for this new niche, what’s worth the scramble over the holiday season and, perhaps, at what price.

While, yes, it’s hard to argue with the fond memories of little red plumbers flattening turtles and dogs chuckling after ducks get shot at, the evolution into the next line of consoles proved to be the real genesis point for the rise in home video gaming. Sure, earlier units did many of the same things, but this batch of Nintendo and SEGA systems for the 16-bit era did ‘em far, far better, tapping into the potential of graphics, storytelling, and multiplayer competition.  Whether you belonged to one console fanbase or the other was a big deal, and sometimes it boiled down to more than personal preference. Regardless, however, the capability of the SEGA Genesis to compete as well as it did with the House of Mario was impressive, resulting in one of the most enjoyable systems ever created.

Perhaps more than other companies, SEGA has offered compilations of their games on disc format for many later generations of systems, yet there’s something particularly iconic about the shape and presence of the top-loaded, jet black Genesis system. Because of that, it’s hard to deny the appeal of the Genesis Mini system, a perfectly scaled-down duplication.  It isn’t just a copy-paste of the same old games, though: yeah, you’re getting Sonic and Altered Beast and Streets of Rage again, but you’re also getting some deeper cuts as well, from Ecco the Dolphin and Earthworm Jim to the lesser-known fighting game Eternal Champions.  The interface options are awesome in how they allow for numerous sorting and display functions, and it comes with a few visual tweak options, adding in scan lines and adjusting aspect ratio. Down to the pair of hefty 3-button controllers included, this is a retro console done right.

This retro mini comes with some flaws and caveats, but it deserves to be viewed a little differently this year. Enthusiasm quickly mounted upon the announcement of a small-scale PS1 sourced directly from Sony, as there’s a wealth of potential for the titles that could be released within the compact rendering of the iconic console. Unlike its Nintendo predecessors, this one could also have a slate of more mature-leaning games, from survival horror titles to in-depth RPGs and the original stealth experiences from Hideo Kojima.  Add to that the expectation that the PS Classic would want to rival Nintendo’s consoles in quality and stability, and you had the making of a real competitor.  Then, the details started coming out: no thumbsticks, no dualshock, and restrictions on the included titles as a result.

For $100, the PlayStation Classic didn’t meet expectations … but as the price has tumbled since release, settling in the $30-40 range, the positives of the unit have grown far more appealing. There is some hardcore nostalgia to be gleaned from the fact that it’s a direct replication of the state in which the system was originally released, which was without those modern bells-‘n-whistles that would later exemplify it.  While it’s missing notable heavy hitters — no Tomb Raider, no Silent Hill, no FF: Tactics — it does come with both some desirable familiar titles and some deep cuts. Final Fantasy VII and Resident Evil: Director’s Cut are expected yet welcome, while Revelations: Persona and Intelligent Qube delve deeper into its unique catalog.

Do you prefer your retro experiences to be more about function or aesthetics? It’s a relevant question, as part of the appeal of most of the mini systems lies in how they’re shrunken representations of their original builds. One of the most unique things about the Neo Geo home gaming system was its build, in that it was available both as a standard top-loading console and as a multi-slot full arcade cabinet typically reserved for commercial use. Previously, if someone wanted to have some of the Neo Geo catalog crammed into one unit, they could purchase the Neo Geo X: it contains a limited, yet robust selection of 20 titles from several of the format’s primary franchises, fit within a PSP-like portable device that could also be run to a TV.  What SNK have done with this Neo Geo Mini, however, is captured the experience of owning one of the cabinets in, yes, a shrunken-down format.

At less than 9 inches tall and still equipped with a fully functional joystick on the front, the Neo Geo Mini clearly aims for the novelty approach.  A 3.5” LCD screen displays the games in their original glory, contained within the nifty replication of the arcade cabinet positioned just high enough above the joystick for full visibility. An HDMI port and controller jacks – controllers sold separately — can transform it into a standard Neo Geo unit playable on the TV, though, and it comes equipped with 40 titles across its history, including installments from the Metal Slug, Fatal Fury, and Samurai Showdown franchises. While you’ll have to check out the list of games to see if the right ones are there, as it isn’t comprehensive, there’s a whole lot to battle through in this compact device.

So, what’s the status of these bad boys nowadays?  For a while, people were still spotting them randomly at Targets and GameStops and such for their asking price, but that time seems to have ended.  Across most online and brick-and-mortar retailers, both have become scarce commodities; you can still find them for not-so absurd amounts through third-party avenues on Amazon, but they’re almost certainly going to be above retail.  At this point, the physical media or downloadable alternatives are probably worth considering above hunting the minis down; however, bear in mind that Star Fox 2 remains a SNES Classic exclusive, so there’s something special to pursue with that one.

And now for something completely different. Something that runs against pretty much everything that the previously mentioned mini consoles are hoping to achieve, but taps into as much, perhaps even more good feels from the past. While standard arcade cabinets can get very pricy, someone has found a way to bring the stick-clacking, button-mashing feel of that experience to the home in a cost-efficient way: Arcade1UP’s at-home machines. Just be prepared to do some light assembly if the plan’s to give one as a gift.

Available in brick and mortar stores (like Walmart) and online, the options currently come in a nice handful of flavors: Pac-Man, Street Fighter, Golden Tee, several compilations, and as of this year Mortal Kombat.  These are smaller in scale, sit low out of the box, and need to be assembled; however, they’ve received numerous positive reviews for the build quality and accuracy of the titles once they’re together. In the case of Mortal Kombat, it comes with the first three entries in the franchise, notably the “ultimate” version of MKIII. From control responsiveness to build sturdiness and screen vividness, these cabinets pack a punch in a small body.  Note: booster platforms can be purchased separately.

2019 Gift Guide: Nostalgic Classic Video Game Consoles

Developed by graphic artist Joseph Baranowski and other artists, this collection of illustrations combines the classic propaganda poster design from the 1940s and 1950s era with the world of Namco’s Pac-Man. Over the years, Pac-Man has made a resurgence of sorts on modern gaming consoles with the release of Pac-Man Championship Edition on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network in addition to versions for iOS and Android mobile devices.

Just three years ago, Pac-Man celebrated his 30th birthday. Google also celebrated by changing the Google doodle to a playable version of Pac-Man on a game board that spelled the search company’s logo. You can see the playable Google doodle stored here. As an added Easter Egg, if you hit the Insert Coin button a second time, Ms. Pac-Man will join the game board for some pellet-eating fun.

Check out the collection of retro Pac-Man propaganda posters below:

Power Up! Ten Retro Pac-Man Propaganda Posters

Developed by the McKinney creative agency, the Beercade replaces the coin slots on a traditional arcade machine with beer taps and encourages players to compete for some frosty, ice cold beer. Featuring a custom made game called The Last Barfighter, two players battle in a Street Fighter style of game featuring a dive bar setting, a crazy group of silly characters and a ridiculous set of fighting moves that include hurling fire, butt smacks and impaling characters with unicorn horns.

To start, the players must first place their cups underneath the blue and red taps. The developers of the machine have included two sensors within the taps that are triggered once the cups are in place.

Players battle up to three rounds and the first person that wins two rounds will trigger their tap. The loser gets nothing and has to wait for another player for a shot at a free beer.

The arcade machine can house one full-sized keg and is set to dispense approximately three ounces of beer for sample tasting. However, the machine could easily be tweaked for longer pours.

The machine was specifically created for Big Boss Brewing Company, a brewery located within Raleigh, North Carolina. While it can be found at the brewery on a regular basis, the Beercade is displayed at local festivals, fairs and other events in the area.

Beercade: the arcade game that rewards winners with beer