Buy the right console, controller or card box — the first time.
Plain-English guides to consoles, games, accessories, trading cards and collectibles. Written for players, and for the parents, partners and grandparents who shop for them. We compare specs, read the fine print and explain the trade-offs, so you don't have to.
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The 2026 holiday gaming gift guide: what to buy for every kind of player
Gift ideas sorted by who you're buying for — kids, teens, collectors, couch co-op families, and the player who seems to have everything — with the compatibility checks done for you.
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PS5 vs Xbox Series X|S vs Nintendo Switch 2: which console should your household buy?
A plain-English comparison for families, first-time buyers and gift shoppers — games, price tiers, online fees, storage and who each console suits best.
Nintendo Switch 2 buying guide: storage, game-key cards and what to buy with it
Everything to know before buying a Switch 2 — what's in the box, which microSD card works, how game-key cards differ from normal cartridges, and the accessories worth adding.
PS5, PS5 Digital Edition or PS5 Pro? Every PlayStation 5 model explained
Disc or digital, standard or Pro — what actually differs between the PlayStation 5 models, who needs the Pro, and the add-on disc drive explained.
Xbox Series X vs Series S in 2026: which one, and is Xbox still worth it?
The real differences between Xbox Series X and Series S — resolution, discs, storage, Game Pass — plus an honest look at Xbox after the August 2026 price increase.
Handheld gaming PCs explained: Steam Deck, ROG Xbox Ally, Legion Go and PlayStation Portal
What a handheld gaming PC is, how it differs from a Switch 2 or a PlayStation Portal, and who should — and shouldn't — buy one.
How to choose a gaming controller: compatibility, stick drift and pro features explained
Which controllers work with which console, what Hall effect sticks are, when a 'pro' controller is worth it, and the mistakes gift buyers make most.
Gaming headset buying guide: wired, wireless and what actually works with each console
Why a wireless headset that works on PS5 may not work on Xbox, what 3D audio is, and how to pick a comfortable headset for long sessions.
Console storage guide: adding space to PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2
How much space modern games take, and the exact kind of SSD, expansion card or microSD card each console needs — so you don't buy one that won't work.
Getting the most from your TV: HDMI 2.1, 120Hz, VRR and Game Mode for consoles
The TV and monitor features that matter for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2, explained without jargon — and the five-minute settings checklist for a new console.
Gift guides
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The 2026 holiday gaming gift guide: what to buy for every kind of player
Gift ideas sorted by who you're buying for — kids, teens, collectors, couch co-op families, and the player who seems to have everything — with the compatibility checks done for you.
Gifts for gamers under $50 that they'll actually use
Practical, compatible gift ideas for PlayStation, Xbox, Switch 2 and PC players that usually come in under fifty dollars.
Stocking stuffers for gamers: small gifts under $25
Inexpensive gifts that fit in a stocking — card packs, small figures, grips, cables and gift cards — for gamers of every age.
Gifts for Pokémon fans: cards, games, plush and more
Gift ideas for young Pokémon fans, card collectors and grown-up trainers, from battle decks and Elite Trainer Boxes to games, plush and display supplies.
Gifts for Nintendo Switch 2 owners: accessories that fit and games they'll love
Switch 2-compatible gift ideas — cases, controllers, microSD Express storage, games and amiibo — with notes on what does and doesn't carry over from the original Switch.
Gifts for PS5 owners: the accessories and add-ons worth buying
PS5-compatible gift ideas — DualSense controllers, headsets, storage, the disc drive, PlayStation Portal and gift cards — with the compatibility notes that matter.
Browse by topic
Consoles
PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo and handheld PCs — which one fits which player.
Controllers & Accessories
Controllers, headsets, storage and the add-ons that actually matter.
Games
How to pick games by age, genre and play style — without wasting money.
Trading Cards
Pokémon, Magic and friends: what the boxes contain and how to buy sensibly.
Collectibles
Figures, vinyl and merch — condition, value and display.
Gaming for Families
Parental controls, ratings, screen time and shared consoles.
Buying Smart
Trade-ins, pre-owned, memberships, timing and returns.
Why "Spare Controller"?
Every household with a gamer has one: the second controller in the drawer, kept for whoever wants to join in. That's who we write for. Half our readers play every day; the other half are buying for someone who does and just want to get it right. We explain what the boxes don't — compatibility, storage, ratings, what's actually inside — and we never pretend to have tested something we haven't.
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