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Photograph: Microsoft
For Cyberpunk Alternatives
Cloudpunk
After eight years of hype and high hopes, Cyberpunk 2077 launched as a buggy, disappointing mess. If your giftee is one of the many people feeling burned by that belly flop, soothe their wounds with another neon-soaked, ’80s-inspired adventure. Cloudpunk is a slow burn, more focused on atmosphere and story than chaotic cyborg violence.
If your giftee is more into the robo body modification, try Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. Sure, it’s an older game that has issues of its own, but at least it’s not a broken mess.
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Photograph: Moon Studios
For Side-Scrolling Action
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
This breathtakingly gorgeous platformer is the sequel to the widely beloved Ori and the Blind Forest. It’s a tale of friendship, woodland creatures, and zapping weird bug monsters with spirit lightning. You can also opt for the Collector’s Edition, which comes with the soundtrack and a colorful art book that showcases the game’s visual splendor.
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Photograph: SteelSeries
For Audiophiles
SteelSeries Arctis 9X
These slick cans are our pick for the best Xbox gaming headset. They’re incredibly comfortable, have great mic quality, and can wirelessly sync to an Xbox One or Xbox Series X/S as easily as you pair a controller. They can also connect to your phone via Bluetooth, so you can pipe in some tunes.
