Best PS5 Gifts For 2020: PlayStation Gift Ideas, Games, And More
The PlayStation 5 released in November, kicking off a new generation of gaming for PlayStation fans. The PS5 launch included an exciting lineup of titles like Demon’s Souls and Spider-Man: Miles Morales, but it was also marked by a disappointing lack of stock available at retailers. Unless you were someone who preordered as soon as listings went live in September, you’ve pretty much been out of luck the past few months. There have been PS5 restocks, including ones on launch day and Black Friday, but those have been prone to site crashes and quick sellout. We’ve included the PS5 as part of our PlayStation gift guide this year as Sony has promised more PS5 inventory will be sent to retailers before the end of the year, but just keep in mind you may have trouble buying the new console. (See our PS5 restock guide for more details.)
However, you may also be shopping for someone who was lucky enough to buy a PS5 and has happily been playing it for the past month or so. Maybe your PlayStation fan is satisfied to keep gaming on their PS4 for the time being. Either way, you might be wondering what to gift them this year, and to help you out, we’ve rounded up the best PlayStation gifts for 2020. Naturally, the PS5 is on this list, but there’s no shortage of games, accessories, collectibles, and merchandise available as well.
This holiday season is absolutely packed with huge PS4 and PS5 games, and there are plenty of new figures, art books, and more for gamers to add to their collection. Marquee titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Cyberpunk 2077, and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla join the vast library of great PlayStation games along with gems from earlier this year like The Last of Us Part II, Ghost of Tsushima, and Final Fantasy VII Remake.
For more PlayStation gift ideas, see our guides to the best PS5 gaming headsets, the best 4K TVs for next-gen gaming, and the biggest PS5 games up for preorder now.
$500
At the top of our list, of course, is this year’s brand-new PlayStation console: the PS5. Unless you preordered the PS5 when listings first went live in mid-September, you may have a hard time getting your hands on the console in time for the holidays–all major retailers are currently out of PS5 stock, and restocks always sell out within minutes. Still, Sony has promised more inventory will be sent to retailers in the near future, so keep an eye on retailer listings for a chance at buying the console.
See more: Where To Buy A PS5 In December 2020
The PS5 has a handful of exciting exclusives available already–such as Demon’s Souls, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Sackboy: A Big Adventure–and thankfully, it’s able to play the vast majority of PS4 games as well. In addition, many games are releasing on both PS4 and PS5 this holiday season, with most new PS4 games featuring free next-gen upgrades–that way, even if the person you’re shopping for doesn’t have a PS5 just yet, they can rest assured knowing they’ll be able to play their new games on it eventually.
$400
The standard PS5 console features a disc drive, but if they prefer to buy games digitally, the PS5 digital edition may be a better option. The digital-only version of the PS5 doesn’t feature a disc drive and costs $100 less. This means they won’t be able to buy physical games at Amazon, Best Buy, or anywhere else, but there are still gift cards for PlayStation Store credit, which your loved one can then use toward digital games. And though the PS5 digital edition lacks the 4K Blu-ray player of the standard model, streaming apps like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video are available on the console, so your loved one won’t be without a deluge of options for movies and shows.
Like the standard PS5, it’s going to be difficult to find the PS5 Digital in stock this holiday season. But just like physical PS4 games, many digital games–like Cyberpunk 2077 and Watch Dogs Legion–come with free next-gen upgrades when you download and play them on the PS5. Of course, because there’s no disc drive, physical games won’t get a free upgrade on the PS5 Digital.
PS5 and PS4 games
It’s looking to be one of the biggest holiday seasons for games in quite a while. First-party launch games like Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Demon’s Souls have spiked a huge amount of interest in the PlayStation 5, and the highly anticipated Cyberpunk 2077 is out soon as well. Even if you can’t snag a PS5 before Christmas, you can buy your loved one PS4 games as they will still run on PS5 in the future (due to backwards-compatibility), and many new PS4 games come with a free next-gen upgrade as well.
If you’re unsure what games your loved one may want, then a PlayStation Store gift card is always a great option. They can spend it on a number of things, including PS4 or PS5 games, DLC, and even movies. And if they have a digital-only PS5, a gift card is an even better choice. You can buy PlayStation Store gift cards at Amazon and put up to $100 on one. However, it’s actually a digital code you’ll receive via email, and you can print that off and put it in a card (or however you prefer to gift it).
$60
PlayStation Plus grants PS4 and PS5 users access to online multiplayer as well as free monthly games. A new added benefit that’s coming with PS5 is a sizable library of PS4 games that PS Plus members can play for free on the new console. The PlayStation Plus Collection includes first-party games like God of War, Bloodborne, and Uncharted 4 as well as third-party titles like Monster Hunter World, Resident Evil 7, and Persona 5, so it offers a lot of great games to get started with.
A 12-month PS Plus membership costs $60 a year and makes a great gift for any PlayStation user, especially since memberships stack–even if they’re a current subscriber, they’ll be able to instantly add 12 more months to their membership.
$70
The DualSense wireless controller is what they’ll need to play PS5 games–the DualShock 4 is only compatible with PS4 games. Each PS5 comes with a DualSense controller, but if they want to play split-screen multiplayer or any other local co-op game, they’ll need another one of these next-gen controllers. The controller has adaptive triggers and haptic feedback that Sony says can replicate the feeling of pulling a bowstring back, while other developers have said they’re using it to emulate the feeling of a gun locking up and more.
$100
The Pulse 3D wireless headset launched alongside the PS5, but it’s the most popular accessory in the official first-party lineup, which means it’s sold out everywhere. We’ve seen some restocks, but it always sells out again fast. You can check a few of the listings below. If you don’t find the Pulse 3D headset in stock, see our guide to the best PS5 gaming headsets for more options, as there are great third-party alternatives.
$180
The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro wireless gaming headset is currently our favorite PS5 gaming headset, even compared to Sony’s Pulse 3D headset. Though more expensive than the first-party option, Razer’s BlackShark V2 Pro delivers fantastic audio quality and is extremely comfortable with its soft, cooling gel-infused ear cushions. This headset also features the same Hyperspeed wireless tech used in Razer’s keyboards and mice, proving a low latency connection. If you’re not set on getting them the Pulse 3D headset, the BlackShark V2 should suit their needs very well if you’re willing to pay a little more.
$100
The SteelSeries Arctis 1 wireless is another one of the best PS5 gaming headsets you can buy right now, as it’s affordable, comfortable, and versatile. Not only does it work with the PS5, but it also comes with everything you need to work with all major gaming platforms–that includes the Nintendo Switch in handheld mode as well as the Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One if you buy the SteelSeries Arctis 1 for Xbox.
If you’re shopping for someone who’s a movie and TV buff, then the PS5 media remote is a must-have. The DualSense controller will turn off to save battery after a period of time, and on top of that, it’s easy to accidentally bump the DualSense and have your movie pause, fast-forward, or even turn off. With the PS5 media remote, they can turn off their DualSense and enjoy movies and shows as if they were using a streaming-focused device or dedicated Blu-ray player. The convenience is hard to deny.
Like the Pulse 3D headset, the PS5 media remote is very popular, and it tends to be out of stock at most stores. You can check some listings below in case it’s available.
For those who won’t be getting a PS5 this holiday, this media remote from PDP is a great option for the PS4. Like the PS5 media remote, you’re able to use this without a controller turned on, making it easy to pause, fast-forward, and everything in between.
The PS5 HD Camera is a useful accessory for those who like to stream their gameplay on platforms like Twitch and YouTube. It lets the user add a blip of their face to all of their gameplay, letting their audience see their reactions in real time. If your loved one enjoys broadcasting their livestreams and entertaining, then this is a great accessory to throw under the tree.
$400
With a new gaming generation upon us, it’s an excellent time to invest in a specialty controller like a racing wheel. Racing fans will love the Logitech G923 racing wheel, which features TrueForce feedback that makes it feel more accurate to the real thing–as real as it can get from the comfort of your couch, at least. The PS5 will have a ton of great racing games like Gran Turismo 7 and Dirt 5, so the Logitech G923 racing wheel is a fantastic gift for anyone who has a need for speed.
$350
A fight stick makes an awesome gift for fans of fighting games like Tekken and Dragon Ball FighterZ. Thankfully, all specialty accessories like fight sticks will work with the PS5 as well as the PS4. And when it comes to arcade sticks, no company does it better than Victrix. Its Victrix Pro FS fight stick is made of aluminum, giving it a solid and sturdy feel. The metal joystick feels great and the buttons are fast and responsive, though your fighting game fan can customize the entirety of the stick and replace the parts as they wish. There are also handles, cable organizers, and more that make this one heck of a package.
Thankfully, the PS5 is backwards-compatible with the majority of the PS4’s library, and gamers can use PS4-specific controllers with these games on the new console. The DualShock 4 is Sony’s official controller for the PS4, and thankfully, you can snag it for a pretty good price these days. It’s still an awesome controller that’s well worth owning, and a unique color could make a great gift for PS4 fans. It can also be used on PC via microUSB cable and on Bluetooth-enabled devices.
PlayStation art books
Sometimes a game is so good, you want to dive even deeper into its world, and an art book is a great way of doing so. Fortunately, Sony has a ton of them for its best games, and they make great gifts as well. These hardcover books are full of gorgeous art, in-depth information about the game’s world, and usually behind-the-scenes development details. If your loved one is a fan of any of the following PlayStation games, an art book will be the perfect addition to their collection.
The PS4’s Spider-Man game is an excellent one, and if you’re looking for a gift for a wall-crawling fan, then this Spider-Man statue is an affordable figure that looks great. It stands at around 10 inches tall and is made of durable PVC plastic.
The newly released Bloodborne Funko Pop is equipped with a hunter’s favorite weapons: the Saw Cleaver and trusty Pistol. The tiny little figure also dons the iconic Hunter Garb clothing set and is ready to fight beasts that are hopefully as cute as he is.
Ghost of Tsushima’s Jin Sakai is a samurai and fashion icon, and his Funko Pop has him donning particularly fancy armor. Adorned with gold, it also looks like he’s just finished some business with the local invaders. The Funko Pop features blood spatter on his sword, face, and clothes.
This isn’t Norman Reedus’s first Funko Pop, but it’s definitely his best. Death Stranding protagonist Sam Porter Bridges’ Funko Pop is carrying a case that he’s ready to deliver, thanks to his BB and Odradek terrain scanner.
Ratchet and Clank fans will love this two-pack that comes with both characters. Ratchet looks great with his trusty wrench, but his friendly robot sidekick Clank really steals the show with this one.
Keanu Reeves and Cyberpunk 2077 have both captured the hearts of movie buffs and gamers these past few years, and in November, they’re coming together. Reeves plays Cyberpunk 2077’s Johnny Silverhand, an augmented rockstar who is going to help you on your mission in Night City. His Funko Pop features him wearing red-tinted aviators and packing dual pistols.
This fun PlayStation light is a great addition to any fan’s bedroom, living room, or any other part of the house that needs to let people know a gamer lives there. It’s powered by USB or three AAA batteries and has three modes: On, Color Phasing, and Music Reactive.
Staying hydrated is important, and this PlayStation water bottle features an awesome design that turns the PlayStation icons into somewhat of an optical illusion. The 16-ounce bottle is made of stainless steel and comes with two PlayStation-themed stickers.
These figures are capable of holding a controller when it’s not being used. The three characters featured are Spyro, Crash Bandicoot, and Sonic the Hedgehog, making them great for fans of these classic gaming icons. Each figure stands at about 8 inches tall.
God of War fans will love this collector’s box, which comes with a bunch of goodies that make perfect stocking stuffers. It includes a Kratos and Atreus mug, a God of War bottle opener, and a themed lanyard as well as a car magnet and fleece blanket.
TeePublic has a large selection of T-shirts, and its PlayStation-themed ones are among the best. They cover everything from Sony’s early PlayStation years to the latest games and characters. The PlayStation All-Stars and neon PlayStation 1 T-shirts are our favorites, but there are plenty more options your PlayStation fan will be proud to wear.
T-shirts are great, but if you want something that’ll keep them warm during the holidays, then this hoodie is a great choice. It’s made of 50% cotton and 50% polyester and features an embroidered PlayStation logo on the left chest. It comes in sizes XS through 2XL.
This hat looks great and would make an excellent gift for under the tree or the top of your loved one’s stocking. It features a PlayStation logo situated next to a Since ’94 design, marking anyone who wears it as a PlayStation diehard.
