I’m a nerd, gamer, & dad. I would like these 10 Christmas presents as a result of nobody ever asks!

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi gaming headset

My present set of cans is a catastrophe. The Razer Kraken Execs served me properly throughout hundreds of gaming periods and esports romps, however now their ear padding is clinging on for expensive life due to a judicial utility of duct tape (it fixes the whole lot).

I haven’t changed them but as a result of, you recognize, lease and meals and children’ sports activities ain’t low-cost, particularly whenever you’re a single dad. However I’ve been eyeing a substitute headset for when my tax returns or an additional paycheck rolls round, and I do know my subsequent set: SteelSeries’ Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi gaming headset.

These got here out in 2022, however they nonetheless verify each field I search. Sterling audio and mic high quality are desk stakes after all, however as a geek, I’m drawn to the deep software program personalizations accessible. Extra importantly, this S-tier headset connects not solely to PCs, but in addition all main gaming consoles, with essential twin wi-fi performance that allows you to swap between sources with the press of a button. Placing a recreation down in my workplace and choosing it up in my lounge can be a breeze.

However the true draw is Energetic Noise Cancellation. Generally I simply want some quiet, man — and the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi delivers. Apparently, a characteristic we listed as a destructive in our overview (“Energetic Noise Cancellation received’t block out all exterior sound”) is definitely a optimistic for me. I need to listen to if my daughter begins yelling or a pipe bursts.

The Düngeonmeister Cookbook

Jef Aldrich/Jon Taylor

In THIS family we stan Dungeons & Dragons. However my daughter is in highschool and received’t be a part of THIS family for much longer. So, I wish to stage up her life expertise whereas she’s nonetheless in tutorial mode.

Enter The Düngeonmeister Cookbook, a tome so pleasant my colleague Gabriela Vatu highlighted it in her personal geeky presents roundup as properly. Wish to attempt your individual bardic tavern meals? This comes with 75 recipes — pleasant dishes like Dwarven Battle Pasta, Adamantine Bars, and Dragon on a Stick Straightforward-Eat Meat Skewers — and since they dovetail with our D20-rolling pursuits, I’m positive my child would love rolling up her sleeves and making meals with me.

Private time with the child and scrumptious eats? How will you go fallacious?

Amazon says it will present up by Christmas should you order with rush delivery right now. However should you miss the deadline, there’s additionally a Kindle model accessible to obtain.

Luca Designs Males’s Commander Jacket

I’m obsessive about Mass Impact. (Let’s neglect Andromeda exists.) How obsessed? I burned by means of not one, not two, however 4 unique Xbox 360s tormented by Purple Rings of Dying and disc learn errors so I might maintain maintain of the console’s awkward side-slice onerous drive and end my unique Shepard’s trilogy. I sobbed so onerous in the course of the run on the finish of ME3 that it made my then-wife begin crying in sympathy.

So yeahhhhhh… I’d kill for this leather-based N7-themed jacket from Luca Design. Good god, I’d be raring to endorse my favourite retailer on the Citadel on this beaut. It ain’t low-cost at $350, however rattling.

Talking of my favourite retailer on the Citadel, Luca Design’s personal web site is stuffed with wonderful recreations and inspirations from popular culture. Simply look at this wonderful Samurai jacket recreation from Cyberpunk 2077. I’m drooling. There’s one thing for each gaming, anime, and comedian geek there, man or lady!

None of those will arrive earlier than Christmas, together with the N7 jacket on Amazon alas… however should you gave me a card saying this is able to land at my doorstep in a couple of weeks, I’d downright swoon.

Nextmug self-heating espresso mug

I begin my days getting up earlier than daybreak to tug my child to highschool, then return residence to take a stroll, bathe, and begin my workday — a workday that begins at full velocity since PCWorld is a multinational staff that operates throughout the globe. My espresso typically goes chilly, is what I’m saying.

But it surely wouldn’t with a Nextmug. This ingenious gadget retains your espresso at heat (130 levels Fahrenheit), sizzling (140) or piping (150) for as much as two hours away from its dock, or indefinitely whenever you’ve plopped it the charging pad, no apps or further software program required. That’s it. And that’s all I would like.

Is it value $95 to maintain your espresso heat all day lengthy? As a dad whose schedule is packed till about 10pm tonight: Completely.

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An Apple present card for Apple TV

Apple

Hello, I’m Brad, and I’m hooked on F1 racing.

Luckily for my household, the season wrapped up simply earlier than the vacations (get it, Lando!), however I’m dealing with a pickle in 2026: F1 was on regular tv by way of ESPN, however in 2026, all F1 races are migrating to Apple TV for the following 5 years.

Ugh. It’s not that a lot of a change, however I already pay for YouTube TV, Netflix, and a pair different streaming providers. I’m not thrilled concerning the thought of paying for an additional service, however I received’t abandon the game. Higher but, Apple TV’s model will embody the deep, nerdy options beforehand solely present in an F1 TV subscription, together with auxiliary feeds exhibiting cockpit views and radio transmissions for each staff.

It wasn’t value subscribing to F1 TV once I already had ESPN, however now that it’s on Apple TV? I’m quivering on the thought of watching full races from the attitude of my favourite drivers.

So somebody gifting me an Apple TV subscription can be warmly welcomed and deeply appreciated, particularly since I might spend weeknights catching up on dad-friendly exhibits like Severance and Ted Lasso. You may’t present particular person Apple TV subscriptions, however a $100 Apple present card would cowl the price of the service for the yr. Simply sayin’!

TheraGun Reduction physique massager

As a result of I nonetheless work out and take walks, however I’m getting older and the whole lot hurts.

The TheraGun Reduction is one among TheraBody’s entry-level massagers, however I’m not prepared to drop $250 or extra on a stronger TheraGun till I’ve tried this and confirm it’s well worth the funding. I’m a geeky dad. I min-max shopping for choices, what can I say?

Alienware AW2725D OLED gaming monitor

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Okay, again to the costly stuff. (Possibly that is why no person ever asks what I would like?)

I’m a PC and gaming geek, however I’m particularly a monitor nerd. I used to have screens of all styles and sizes earlier than a devastating home fireplace in 2023 wiped ‘em out, and it’s time to lastly get an honest substitute for all-around gaming. In 2025, meaning OLED.

Ideally, I’d snag the chic MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED ultrawide, which simply earned PC accent of the yr in our 2025 Full Nerd Awards. However right here in the true world, payments are due and I can’t drop a grand on a show even when it’s well worth the money. Enter the Alienware AW2725D, a “funds” gaming OLED that hangs with screens costing a whole lot extra.

At present on sale and arriving earlier than Christmas, the AW2725D is a 27-inch OLED gaming monitor with a 1440p decision and a blistering-fast 280Hz refresh price — the present PC gaming “candy spot,” particularly when you’ve got an Nvidia RTX 50-series graphics card that may use DLSS 4 multi-frame era to maintain this beast fed with frames.

You may learn our complete overview for extra particulars, however right here’s the upshot: This monitor will soften your eyeballs for a complete lot much less than comparable panels. I would like one monitor to rule all of them till I can rebuild my assortment and this one delivers bang-for-buck like no different.

Playing cards Towards Humanity Nerd Bundle

Nothing’s higher than cracking open some chilly ones and taking part in Playing cards Towards Humanity with my homies after a protracted week. The Nerd Bundle provides geeky aptitude to your combos, including an non-obligatory Fantasy Pack, Geek Pack, Sci-Fi Pack, World Vast Net Pack, A.I. Pack, and Human Pack.

Sounds prefer it ought to pair properly with “being a motherf***ing sorcerer,” one among my favourite playing cards within the base recreation. Er, one among my favourite playing cards that I received’t be fired for mentioning on this web site, no less than.

An RGB mousepad

Some folks hate RGB of their gaming rigs and solely need a neat, clear, svelte setup. Not me. I don’t need full-on rainbow puke, however I really like customizing my desk with tasteful lighting accents.

Enter Corsair’s MM700 RGB prolonged material gaming pad. Not solely does it embody refined, customizable RGB LEDs across the periphery, but it surely’s additionally a big-ass material gaming pad designed to deal with each your keyboard and mouse, with ample room to mouse round. Aggressive avid gamers want room to mouse round after they’re sniping and wall-dashing… and with the MM700 you’ll look good doing it. Think about gaming on this when you’re sporting that candy N7 leather-based jacket 😍

Some sweet-ass Full Nerd merch

As soon as once more, my child has to eat, so let’s finish this with blatant shilling, despite the fact that I personal most of these things already.

I’m genuinely an enormous fan of the shirts, hoodies, and different merch that Adam helped create for our Full Nerd podcast. My favourite’s the Outrage Pony, however from Construct It Your self to the Smooooooth 30 tee poking enjoyable at console gaming, I really like letting my PC geek flag fly whereas I’m cruising round city in these dangerous boys.

If you wish to be a part of the Cool Youngsters Membership, head over to our Crowdmade retailer, and you’ll want to observe our Full Nerd podcast on YouTube when you’re at it. We stream a number of instances per week, digging deep into the most well liked, geekiest PC subjects of the day — as a result of when you go Full Nerd, you by no means return.