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    Video Game Gifts: 12 Picks, Sorted by the Console They Already Own

    For anyone buying a video game, controller or console for a kid, teen or adult, who wants to be sure it works with what is already under their TV.

    Picks for shoppers in Canada. Links go to Amazon.ca, where prices are shown in CAD.Published October 24, 2026

    Affiliate disclosure: the merchant buttons on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through one we earn a commission from Amazon.ca, at no extra cost to you. It does not change which products we picked or what we say about them.

    Three quick picks

    Different answers for different situations. The full list and the reasons are below.

    For a Nintendo Switch 2 owner

    Mario Kart World — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition

    Rated E, up to four players on one Switch 2, and it is made only for that console, so it is the safe game to bring to a Switch 2 household.

    View on Amazon.ca

    For a teen with a PlayStation 5

    Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls - PlayStation 5

    Rated T, with two-player fights on one PS5 and a single-player story mode, so it works whether a friend is over or not.

    View on Amazon.ca

    For someone with no console yet

    Nintendo Switch 2 System

    Plays on the TV or in the hand, and runs both the Switch 2 picks and the Switch picks on this page.

    View on Amazon.ca

    Which console is under their TV?

    A video game gift has one way to fail completely: it is for the wrong console. A Switch 2 game will not run on the original Switch, a PlayStation game will not run on an Xbox, and a controller only pairs with the system it was made for.

    So this guide is sorted by the console they already own. Four picks are for the Nintendo Switch 2 only. Two are Nintendo Switch games that Nintendo lists as also playing on a Switch 2. Two are for PlayStation 5, two for Xbox, and two are consoles for someone who has none yet.

    Every rating on this page is the ESRB rating printed on the box: E for Everyone, E10+ for Everyone 10 and up, and T for Teen. Online play in these games needs a paid membership on that console (Nintendo Switch Online, PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass), and we say so on each pick where it matters.

    We do not show prices on this page. Amazon prices move daily, so every button goes to the live product page on Amazon.ca.

    • Find out the exact console, not just the brand. Switch or Switch 2, and for Xbox, whether it has a disc drive.
    • Check the ESRB letter against the player's age: E, E10+ and T all appear on this page.
    • Ask whether they play with someone on the couch. Some picks are two to four players on one system, some are one player offline.
    • If they mostly play online, they also need that console's membership, which is sold separately.

    Compare the picks

    Current prices are on Amazon.ca, shown in CAD. Each button opens the product there.

    Compare all 12 picks
    1. Mario Kart WorldA Switch 2 household that wants a game everyone can play
    2. Star FoxAn older kid or adult who likes flying and shooting games
    3. Nintendo Switch Sports ResortA family that wants to get off the couch together
    4. Nintendo Switch 2 Pro ControllerA Switch 2 player who mostly plays on the TV
    5. Tomodachi Life: Living the DreamA kid or adult who likes funny, gentle life simulation
    6. The Grinch 2: Saving ChristmasA young player and a parent who want a holiday game together
    7. Marvel Tōkon: Fighting SoulsA teen PS5 player who likes fighting games or Marvel
    8. Star Wars Galactic RacerA PS5 player aged 10 and up who likes racing and Star Wars
    9. Xbox Rematch Advanced Wired ControllerAn Xbox or PC player who needs a second controller
    10. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, 1 monthAn Xbox player who likes trying many games
    11. Xbox Series S, 512GBA first console for someone who will buy games digitally
    12. Nintendo Switch 2A family or kid getting their first console

    All 12 picks

    Mario Kart World — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
    1

    Mario Kart World — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition

    Best for: A Switch 2 household that wants a game everyone can play

    by Nintendo

    The only pick for up to four racers on one Switch 2, rated E

    • Nintendo Switch 2 only; ESRB rating E on the box
    • 1 to 4 players on one system, 2 to 8 by local wireless, 2 to 24 online
    • Grand Prix and the Knockout Tour elimination mode
    • Online play needs a Nintendo Switch Online membership

    Why it fits

    Four players on one console with an E rating means it works for a parent, a seven-year-old and a teenager at the same time, which is what most Switch 2 families want from a holiday game.

    Skip this if

    They have the original Switch, not a Switch 2. Nintendo makes it for the Switch 2 only, and it will not run on the older console.

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    Star Fox — Physical Edition (Nintendo Switch 2)
    2

    Star Fox — Physical Edition (Nintendo Switch 2)

    Best for: An older kid or adult who likes flying and shooting games

    by Nintendo

    A retelling of the Star Fox 64 story, with a second player as co-pilot

    • Nintendo Switch 2 only; ESRB rating E10+ on the box
    • 1 to 2 players offline, 1 to 8 online
    • Retells the Star Fox 64 story with voiced dialogue and cutscenes
    • Online play needs a Nintendo Switch Online membership

    Why it fits

    It suits someone who grew up on Star Fox 64 and now owns a Switch 2, and a second player can join on the same console, so a parent and an older child can fly it together.

    Skip this if

    The player is under 10, or wants a game for a whole group. It is rated E10+, and offline it takes two players at most.

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    Nintendo Switch Sports Resort - Physical Edition
    3

    Nintendo Switch Sports Resort - Physical Edition

    Best for: A family that wants to get off the couch together

    by Nintendo

    Twelve motion-controlled sports for up to four on one Switch 2

    • Nintendo Switch 2 only; ESRB rating E10+ on the box
    • Up to 4 players on one system, 2 to 16 online
    • 12 sports, including archery, bowling, tennis, table tennis and skateboarding
    • Motion controls with Joy-Con 2; the maker notes extra Joy-Con 2 may be needed for multiplayer

    Why it fits

    It turns the living room into the game, so it suits a family where not everyone is a gamer but everyone can swing at a tennis ball, and up to four can play on one console.

    Skip this if

    There is no clear space in front of the TV, or they own one pair of Joy-Con 2 and want four players at once. Nintendo says to allow room, and more players may need more controllers.

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    Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller - Regular Edition
    4

    Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller - Regular Edition

    Best for: A Switch 2 player who mostly plays on the TV

    by Nintendo

    Nintendo's own full-size controller for the Switch 2, with extra rear buttons

    • For the Nintendo Switch 2 only, as Nintendo states
    • GL and GR rear buttons that map to any button
    • C Button for GameChat and a 3.5mm headphone jack
    • Rechargeable battery; USB-C charging cable included

    Why it fits

    Someone who plays long sessions on the TV often wants a full-size controller instead of the small Joy-Con 2, and this is Nintendo's own one, so there is no question of fit.

    Skip this if

    They have the original Switch. Nintendo says this controller is only for use with the Switch 2, so it is the wrong gift for the older console.

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    Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream — Physical Edition
    5

    Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream — Physical Edition

    Best for: A kid or adult who likes funny, gentle life simulation

    by Nintendo

    An island of Mii characters made to look like family and friends

    • Nintendo Switch game; Nintendo lists it as supported on Switch 2
    • ESRB rating E on the box
    • 1 player on one system, 2 by local wireless
    • Create Mii characters and look after the island they live on together

    Why it fits

    Putting the family into the game as Mii characters and watching what they get up to is the whole point, so it suits someone who would rather laugh than compete, on either Switch.

    Skip this if

    They want something to play together on one screen. On one console it is a single-player game; the two-player mode needs a second system.

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    The Grinch 2: Saving Christmas - Nintendo Switch
    6

    The Grinch 2: Saving Christmas - Nintendo Switch

    Best for: A young player and a parent who want a holiday game together

    The seasonal pick, with couch co-op as the Grinch and Max

    • Nintendo Switch game; Nintendo lists it as supported on Switch 2
    • ESRB rating E on the box
    • 1 to 2 players on one system: solo as the Grinch, or a friend joins as Max
    • Exclusive sticker inside, as printed on the box

    Why it fits

    It is the one game on this page made for the season, and the second player joins as Max on the same console, so it suits a parent who wants to play with a young child over the holidays.

    Skip this if

    They want a game that lasts past December, or the player is a teen. It is a holiday story built for younger players and families.

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    Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls - PlayStation 5
    7

    Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls - PlayStation 5

    Best for: A teen PS5 player who likes fighting games or Marvel

    by Marvel

    A 4v4 tag-team fighter with two-player matches on one PS5

    • PlayStation 5; ESRB rating T (Teen) on the box
    • 1 to 2 players offline; up to 64 in online lobbies
    • Online play on PS5 needs PlayStation Plus
    • Single-player Episode Mode for each team

    Why it fits

    Local versus means two friends can fight on one console, and Episode Mode gives a solo player something to work through, so it suits a teen who plays both ways.

    Skip this if

    The player is younger than the T rating suits. The ESRB lists blood, language, mild suggestive themes and violence.

    View on Amazon.caDetails
    Star Wars Galactic Racer - PlayStation 5 Standard Edition
    8

    Star Wars Galactic Racer - PlayStation 5 Standard Edition

    Best for: A PS5 player aged 10 and up who likes racing and Star Wars

    by Star Wars

    Pod racers and speeder bikes, with a story campaign

    • PlayStation 5; ESRB rating E10+ on the box
    • 1 player offline; up to 12 online with PlayStation Plus
    • Story campaign plus online grudge matches
    • Land speeders, speeder bikes, skim speeders and pod racers to build and customize

    Why it fits

    It is the PS5 pick for a younger player than the T-rated fighter, and it has a story campaign for solo play, so it suits a Star Wars fan who mostly plays alone.

    Skip this if

    Two people want to race on one console. The maker lists it as one player offline, and racing others needs PlayStation Plus.

    View on Amazon.caDetails
    Xbox Rematch Advanced Wired Controller — Dark Cosmos Reveal
    9

    Xbox Rematch Advanced Wired Controller — Dark Cosmos Reveal

    Best for: An Xbox or PC player who needs a second controller

    by Xbox

    A wired controller with back buttons and a lenticular finish that changes as it moves

    • Works with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows 10 and 11 PC
    • Wired, with a detachable 2.5 m (8 ft) USB-C cable
    • Two-stop Hall effect triggers and two mappable back buttons
    • Headset jack with game and chat mix, volume and mic mute controls

    Why it fits

    A second controller is the gift every Xbox household runs short of, and this one also works with a Windows PC, which suits a player who games at a desk as well as on the TV.

    Skip this if

    They play from a couch far from the console. It is wired with a 2.5 m cable, so a wireless controller suits a big room better.

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    Xbox Game Pass Ultimate — 1 Month Membership
    10

    Xbox Game Pass Ultimate — 1 Month Membership

    Best for: An Xbox player who likes trying many games

    by Xbox

    A month of a game library instead of one game

    • One-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership
    • Library of 400+ games on Xbox console and PC, plus new games on day one
    • Includes online console multiplayer, EA Play, Ubisoft+ Classics and Fortnite Crew
    • 15 hours of cloud play a month

    Why it fits

    It also unlocks online multiplayer on the console, so it suits an Xbox owner who would rather sample a dozen games over the holidays than own one.

    Skip this if

    They want something to unwrap, or they will not play much in one month. It is one month of access, not a game they keep.

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    Xbox Series S All-Digital 512GB (2025) — Robot White
    11

    Xbox Series S All-Digital 512GB (2025) — Robot White

    Best for: A first console for someone who will buy games digitally

    by Xbox

    The compact all-digital Xbox, with no disc drive

    • 512GB all-digital Xbox Series S (2025), Robot White
    • Games at up to 1440p and up to 120 fps
    • No disc drive: disc-based games do not work on it
    • Comes with one Xbox Wireless Controller, HDMI cable, power cable and 2 AA batteries

    Why it fits

    It pairs naturally with the Game Pass pick above, and it suits a first-time console owner who will download games rather than collect discs.

    Skip this if

    They already own games on disc, or want 4K on a big TV. Microsoft says disc games will not play on it, and its resolution target is 1440p.

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    Nintendo Switch 2 System
    12

    Nintendo Switch 2 System

    Best for: A family or kid getting their first console

    by Nintendo

    The console that plays on the TV and in the hand

    • 7.9-inch 1080p screen; up to 4K on a TV in TV mode
    • 256 GB of storage, part reserved for the system; takes microSD Express cards only
    • Plays Switch 2 games and compatible Nintendo Switch games
    • This listing is the system on its own, not a bundle with a game

    Why it fits

    It plays every Nintendo pick on this page, including the two Switch games, and it travels, so it suits a family that wants one console for the TV and the car.

    Skip this if

    They expect every old Switch game to work. Nintendo says some Switch games may not be supported or fully compatible, and a game has to be bought separately.

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