Winter is Coming's 2024 holiday gift guide: Gift ideas for the nerds in your life

Winter is Coming is already your go-to place for all things fantasy and sci-fi, so why not trust us with your 2024 holiday gift list, too? We’ve got clothing, collectibles, and everything in between from some of your favorite established franchises (and those you’ve yet to discover). 

We’re confident you’ll be able to find something at every price point to fit the wants and needs of all the nerdy loved ones in your life. So have a look through and get ready for the most unique season of gift-giving you’ve ever experienced. Who knows? You might even discover something to treat yourself with while you’re at it!

For the folks in your life who still haven’t read J.R.R. Tolkien’s finest work

Starting off with an all-timer, we’ve got this four-volume, pocket-sized box set of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic works. It features The Hobbit and all three volumes of The Lord of the Rings. The set comes in a leatherette-bound box with gold foil stamping, and each book features an elegant cover with a stamped title sigil. The books’ pocket-sized nature makes them perfect to carry anywhere and read on the go, while their leather motif means they’ll make for a striking display piece in any living room, office, or library. At their current sale price of $34.29, they’re the perfect way to encourage folks to read these foundational texts for all of modern fantasy.

For the Lord of the Rings superfan

This Lord Of The Rings Trilogy: One Ring Gift Box will allow the LOTR superfans in your life to experience their favorite films like never before. It includes the theatrical and extended editions of Peter Jackson's movie trilogy in 4K Ultra HD as well as a replica of the One Ring for their tactile enjoyment. The boxset of films are housed in a case that is meant to look like an old leather-bound book with pages wreathed in gold foil and a map of Middle-earth on its inside flap.

This edition will start shipping on Dec. 20, according to its Amazon listing, and is available for pre-order now for $157.32. There's also a cheaper version ($69.99) out now that comes with fewer bells and whistles (but still has the One Ring). That one's out now.

For the friend who keeps asking you to play board games

Mindbug is an easy-to-learn, quick-to-play card game from the designer of Magic: The Gathering that takes out the collectible card game element of Magic and amps up the strategy bits. Economic accessibility is something that I’m constantly frustrated with when it comes to trading card games that force players to spend money at frequent intervals to keep up. Mindbug does away with that aspect and focuses purely on the fun of card-based dueling.

You summon hybrid creatures and send them to battle against your opponent – but when you summon a creature, they may use one of their Mindbugs to take control of it. Outwit them in a fascinating tactical duel that is unique every time thanks to Mindbug’s elegant design. Pick up the base set for $21.00 and make that special board gamer in your life very happy this holiday season.

For the Settlers of Catan god who keeps screaming about how winter is coming

In this Game of Thrones-themed entry into the Catan series, the Brothers of the Night’s Watch recognize you as a natural leader as you struggle for promotion within their ranks. You hope to gain recognition by improving infrastructure in the area south of the Wall known as the Gift. Build, defend, and rise above your brothers to become the new Lord Commander. Pick this up for the board game fan in your life for $60.99 before a blizzard blocks your supply lines.

For the Zelda fan who loves to build

With this botanic Lego set, fans of The Legend of Zelda can build and rebuild the iconic Great Deku tree from Ocarina of Time or Breath of the Wild. It’s Lego’s first collaboration with Nintendo to bring Zelda to builders everywhere, and though the eye-watering $299.99 price tag might be a disqualifier, it’s important to remember that it’s essentially two builds in one set, making for hours of play and pleasure. That said, while we do endorse the quality and joy this product has the potential to bring, we definitely wish it weren’t quite so expensive, as its cost makes it viable for luxury consumers only. 

For the fantasy RPG junkie

Metaphor: ReFantazio dropped in October to critical acclaim and has since set the video game world abuzz. Fans of the classic Japanese RPG series Persona adore its updated mechanics, while questing nerds can’t get enough of its unique high fantasy setting. It also has a lot of meaningful things to say about...politics?

This video game will bring nearly 100 hours of fun to a special RPG fan in your life. Just make sure they like turn-based combat and are ready for some pretty in-depth strategy before diving in. The game is going for $69.99 for PC and consoles at the time of writing.

For your favorite cartographer

Beak, Feather, & Bone is a one-of-a kind tabletop RPG that can be used as a collaborative worldbuilding tool as well as a competitive map-labeling game. Starting with an unlabeled city map, players are assigned community roles before taking turns claiming and describing locations. As buildings are claimed, a narrative for the town and its inhabitants emerges, including major NPCs and shifting power-dynamics to make for a compelling and unique story every time. Pick it up now for $15.00!

For the D&D and Magic: The Gathering collector

For 50 years, some of the world’s most evocative fantasy art has graced the covers of Dungeons & Dragons tomes, inspiring generations of gamers to imagine themselves in a world suffused with sorcery and danger. In this retrospective drop, Wizards of the Coast has taken some of the most iconic cover art from actual Dungeon & Dragons books and paired them with Magic: The Gathering spells.

Across seven cards, you’ll find art from Supplement I: Greyhawk (1975), Players Handbook (1978), the “Red Box” Basic Rules (1983), 2nd Edition Dungeon Master Guide (1989), 3rd Edition Monster Manual (2000), 4th Edition Dungeon Master’s Guide (2008), and 5th Edition Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014). Purchase this limited run of cards now for $29.99 while supplies last.

For your stylish friend who just loves ketchup for some reason

While this is probably the least nerdy series of items on the list, it makes up for it in weirdness. Kate Spade’s collaboration with Heinz has resulted in a range of items themed around everyone's favorite tomato-based condiment, including loafers, bags, tea kettles, and even a bandana. All of them will have the stylish ketchup fans in your life drooling for more.

For the keycap fiend

We all have that one friend who owns far too many keyboards and keeps tweaking their loadout for maximum thocky-ness. Fuel their addiction with a full 114 keys ceramic keycap set with color and legend options from Cerakey. Each keycap is made of industrial grade alumina ceramics and fired to ensure extreme durability and impact resistance, achieving ultimate silky smooth typing with the ability to remain cool to the touch after hours of typing. At $126.00, this gift is for serious keycap fiends only.

For your hypebeast Lord of the Rings bro who needs to look sick while repping Middle Earth

Big, comfy shirts with something to say are in these days, especially if they can make being nerdy look cool. This Nazgul-themed vintage-style T from Culture Kings does just that. Keep that hypebeast LOTR fan in your life looking dope this holiday season for $39.00. We have no doubt they’ll be repping all year long.

For Chaplin dads

Want to hear a little-known fact about nerds? It’s likely that their parents are equally nerdy, if not more so. However, the tastes of the older generations are a little different. For instance, they may be more into silent films than Game of Thrones. Pick up this absolutely gorgeous Charlie Chaplin coffee table book for the dads out there that just can’t get enough of the most iconic figure in silent film history.

This edition follows the making of Chaplin’s films (including City Lights, The Great Dictator, Modern Times and more) with letters, sketches, storyboards, posters, on-set photos, and an oral history from Chaplin and his closest collaborators. Discover the mix of improvisation and tight planning that made Chaplin the first global film star. $100.

For cozy Stardew chefs

Farm Sims have become the love-language of millions of cozy nerds over the years, and no entry into the genre has come close to having the impact of Stardew Valley. Now, gamers and farmers alike can experience the most iconic recipes in the series with this branded cookbook, featuring seasonal meals that will keep you nourished and happy all year long.

In spring, enjoy a delicious Complete Breakfast made with fresh early spring rhubarb, followed by a filling Farmer’s Lunch. In summer, snack on tasty Crab Cakes and, as a dessert, the almost unanimously adored Pink Cake. In fall, cozy up with some Pumpkin Soup and the Survival Burger. In winter, warm up with the seasonal Roots Platter, Seafoam Pudding, or the ever-odd Strange Bun! Pick it up for $26.04 today.

For advent cal supertrainers

Help your family and friends count down to their favorite holiday, or any special occasion, with the Pokémon 24-Day Countdown Calendar from Funko, featuring a unique miniature figurine for each day. Open the tiny doors to reveal different Funko Pocket Pops featuring some of your most beloved Pokémon! Which will you catch next for your collection? The only way to find out is to purchase this for yourself or a loved one. $50 at Funko’s website now.

For the indie video game fanatic who needs more decorations in their apartment

For one of the most niche gifts on this list, look no further than this miniature Spelunky arcade cabinet from Mossmouth. Each mini-cabinet is hand assembled and includes an internal battery-powered light to illuminate the screen/marquee areas. While the piece isn’t playable, its aesthetic value would mean the world to the indie video game fanatic in your life who wants to rep one of the genre’s most iconic franchises from all-star game designer Derek Yu. $200.00 while supplies last.

For the tarot card enthusiast

This Game of Thrones tarot set includes 78 gorgeously illustrated cards and a hardcover guidebook. It melds the tradition of the tarot with the deep archetypes of Game of Thrones and is perfect for George R.R. Martin fans looking to get into readings. Pick it up for a song (used, like new) on Amazon – $8.48.

For the person you just got tarot cards for and who needs something to do with them

Black Mass is a meticulously designed tabletop RPG for four to eight players set during the Salem Witch Trials. During the game, players take turns inhabiting different elements of the main characters’ histories, personalities, and tendencies. It can be completed over the course of two to three hours, and its core mechanic centers around the pulling of tarot cards from a deck. Perfect for tarot lovers in your life (or the person you just bought that GoT deck for). We love supporting indie game makers. This one is $30 from Good Luck Press.

For the puzzler on the Wall

This 4D Cityscape Westeros Puzzle is perfect for the puzzlers in your life who likes to put on episodes of Game of Thrones in the background and zone out for a cozy day in. The set brings George R.R. Martin’s iconic setting to life, featuring iconic locations such as King's Landing, Winterfell, Casterly Rock, and more. Detailed miniatures synergize with a surprisingly complex build to captivate puzzle-lovers for hours on end. What’s more, you can give the experience of creating an interactive map of one of fantasy’s most compelling settings for the low price of $31.70.

For the person who needs to drink to forget the fact that George R. R. Martin still has two books to go:

Game of Thrones-themed wine. All bottles under $20. Need we say more?

For the jock with a Yu-Gi-Oh! obsession 

This truly unique piece will allow your sports-obsessed friends to get back in touch with their Yu-Gi-Oh! nostalgia. Nothing like wearing a hockey jersey with the Dark Magician on it. It’s always been Yugi’s favorite duel monster. Now it can be your friend’s favorite...piece of clothing. $64.90 from BoxLunch. Dripping with captain-of-the-team energy.

For the Lae’zel-pilled Baldur’s Gate III stan

For fans of the smash hit computer RPG Baldur’s Gate III, the most special thing about playing the game is the friends (and/or enemies) your character makes along the way. Why not celebrate the experience’s most polarizing NPC? Grab this thrift-style Lae’zel shirt for the people in your life who know her better as “Bae’zel,” or a gag gift for those who just can’t stand the green-scaled, wrath-filled red dragon rider. At right around $20 on Etsy, this statement piece can flex into either category. And if there’s one thing we love in this gift guide, it’s flexible gifts that pack a punch (as Lae’zel certainly will, one way or another).

For Yahtzee players with an anime bent

For certain nerds, there’s nothing more sacred than a roll of the dice. Why not make it a double whammy and give this One Piece-themed Yahtzee set to that special someone who has watched all 1,000+ episodes of the world-famous anime? For $21.95 you get five dice featuring iconic characters from the series and a novelty version of Monkey D. Luffy’s hat to roll them with. No quest to become the King of the Pirates will be complete without it.

And there you have it, folks. A list of 22 truly unique gifts across a range of fandoms and price points. If nothing else, we hope having a look through this guide has sparked some inspiration for what you might want to get (or craft at home) for your loved ones this holiday season.

At the end of the day, it’s not the gifts themselves that make for a special holiday. Rather, it’s the sweetness we share by showing friends and family that we care for them. Whether a Yu-Gi-Oh!-themed hockey jersey helps you do that depends on your unique situation.

We just hope you find some joy as the days get shorter and colder. Because nothing burns warmer or brighter than kinship...and maybe this Mystical Elvish Fire Ring from Etsy (for the very low price range of $120-$440 depending on the materials you choose for your unique build).

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