Nothing beats opening up a brand new game for the holidays, especially for children, but as gamers get older, it’s harder for parents to find the “new big thing” that they don’t already have.Subscription services like PS Plus Premiumand Xbox Game Pass make it all the harder, but gaming-related gifts of all sorts are welcome. Books may not be the first thing to come to mind, but there are a lot of gaming-related books that many fans would welcome.
Indeed, whether it’s forFromSoftware fans obsessed withElden Ring, DC fans who are forgiving ofGotham Knights' faults, or the avidDestiny 2collector, it’s a safe bet that there are some great books for everyone, and these are the best to pick up for the holidays.
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Elden Ring Official Strategy Guide, Vol. 1: The Lands Between
Elden Ringis easily one of the biggest hits of the year, having dominated gaming conversation for months after release. Many are still playing it or are eagerly awaitingElden RingDLC. To bide that time, the official strategy guide would make a great gift. This book focuses on the world of The Lands Between, discussing each of its regions, inhabitants, and so on. A second volume,The Shards of the Shattering, focuses on the enemies, armor, and weapons ofElden Ring. It is set to release sometime in 2023, but pre-ordering it now would make for a great, second gift associated with this first guidebook.
Destiny: The Exotic Collection, Volume One
Destiny 2’s overarching lore keeps players invested in the franchise, but it’s the guns that define its moment-to-moment gameplay. This volume gives players an intimate look at all the exotic weapons up toSeason of the Lost, accompanied by a few more lore tidbits to appease all fans of the franchise. For anyDestiny 2fan, this would make a great gift, so they can turn to look at their favorite exotics, like Thorn, Outbreaked Perfected, Vex Mytholoclast, Lorentz Driver, and many more.
Gaming Cookbooks
Someone who loves gaming, cooking, and books may be hard to shop for, but rolling all of those passions into one is a great way. Luckily, there are plenty of official cookbooks out there. In fact, theGod of War: Official Cookbook of the Nine Realmsjust recently released to coincide withGod of War Ragnarok. The latest entry in the franchise has broken sales records, dominated Game Awards nominations, and its cookbook (along with many others) would make for a great gift.
Gotham Knights: The Official Collector’s Compendium
TheGotham Knights Official Collector’s Compendiumis a great bookfor fans of the game and/or DC fans at large. This book introduces great concept art, concept phases, and things for the game, but it also doubles as a guide book, development manifest, and more. It’s a great item for many reasons, and an excellent gift at that.
The World of the Witcher: Video Game Compendium
The Witcheris as popular as ever, with CD Projekt Red releasing anext-gen update forThe Witcher 3in December, aWitcher 1 Remakebeing in the works, and a brand newWitcherSaga in development to boot. There’s never been a better time to pick up the full-blown compendium either. This illustrated, hardback work focuses on the weapons, regions, and beasts ofThe Witcher,and it’s a great deep dive for fans who want a little more Geralt in their life. What’s more, if fans of the game are avid readers too, it’s hard to go wrong with the books that inspired the games. The games are not 1:1 adaptations, but at the same time, there’s still plenty of joy to be hard.
Disrupting the Game: From the Bronx to the Top of Nintendo
Disrupting the Game: From the Bronx to the Top of Nintendois a must-readfor any Nintendo fans, but it does stand out from the rest of the list. Instead of highlighting a game, this entry highlights one of the most prolific figures in the industry. Reggie Fils-Aime defined Nintendo during his career there, and this book is one part autobiography (discussing things such as being the son of Haitian immigrants to his relationship with Satoru Iwata), one part business book about shaking up the status quo within gaming and developing realistic visions, and one part self-help book as Fils-Aime’s advice easily translates to life too.
Control Freak: My Epic Adventure Making Video Games
CliffyB is known for his work on theUnrealandGears of Warseries, becoming another well-known developer in the industry. Perfect for anyone who wants to enter the game development industry,Control Freakis CliffyB’s memoirabout his work in the industry. It goes over Epic Games' rise in the industry, is filled with his unique humor, but also addresses serious issues within the industry such as sexism and lack of representation.
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