Some of the best presents are the unexpected ones. The quirky finds; the unique gifts that show you how much your loved ones understand you. Whether you’re looking for a gift for someone who’s into smart tech, science, retro video games or something else that’s odd and unexpected, this gift guide is packed with eight of the best gifts for geeks—so you can show them how much you love their inner geek.
Smart tech gifts for innovative minds
The geeky brain loves a gift that’s all about innovation. Whether your loved one is into media, STEM, or something else, one thing all geeks and nerds have in common is passion. Look for tech toys that can be used to build something bigger, like smart home components or DIY kits.
Twinkly Candies smart RGB LED lights
Smart home tools are a great way for geeks to create a custom home experience. These tech toys can be enjoyed every day, and they’re fun for a wide range of different skill levels. Basic users can integrate their thermostat, water sensors, smart lights, and more, while developers can automate their tech for an immersive home experience that’s as unique as their fingerprint.
SMILESSKIDDO science kits
STEM building kits and smart toys are a great way to help a geek get their kiddos into their favourite hobby. These kits encourage both learning and creativity, teaching kids skills like circuit-building and coding at a scale that’s manageable for their age level.
Fun, quirky gifts they’ll obsess over
Got a friend, family member, or coworker who’s head-over-heels obsessed with a certain character, toy, era, or universe? Perfect. Use these quirky gift ideas to show them that you’ve been paying attention!
UNI Pocket Player Pro Tetris portable gaming system
Retro gaming consoles, emulators, and handhelds are having a moment. They make great gifts for 80s and 90s kids who still miss the good old days of classic gaming, and they’re a great way to show that you’ve been listening! These consoles make fantastic gifts for millennials, Gen Xers, and parents who got you into video games as a kid. (My first retro game was Tetris in black and white. I thought I’d prefer an iOS-based emulator for it, but as any Tetris player knows—having physical controls is vital. You’re not hitting any high scores without them!)
Looking for a modern gaming gift? Check out Jon’s best gamer gifts of 2025.
Squishmallows Harry Potter Ravenclaw jumbo plush
One of my fears growing up was that, one day, I’d have to live in a world where the magic of Harry Potter was just… over. As an incorrigible Harry Potter kid, I hoped (with some amount of desperation) that I’d still be able to connect with people over my geeky little passion 10, 20, 30 years down the line. I’m happy to say that that future has come true. Nowadays, I get to read The Philosopher’s Stone to my nieces. I still get to put funny, geeky gifts like this Ravenclaw Squishmallow on nerdy gift guides, and I still get to ask strangers at parties what house they’re in. My love for the original series hasn’t ended, and neither has the rest of the world’s.
Unique gift ideas with an unexpectedly thoughtful twist
Whether you’re showing someone that you know their Hogwarts house or that you know their favourite Star Wars spacecraft, it’s the details that make unique gifts hit home. Shop these recommendations only if you dare—because you have to know with precision the recipient’s favourites before you purchase!
LEGO Star Wars Collectible Millennium Falcon Starship model
LEGO kits are one of those gifts for geeks that never gets old. They’re fun, thoughtful, and I swear they get more unique every year. From models of the Millennium Falcon to Spider-Man minifigures from across the multiverse, there’s a LEGO set for every kind of geek out there. (And for the geeks that are a little less media-motivated, look for sets in themes like flowers and Ford Broncos!)
Mysterium board game
If you’re part of a board game group, you know how important it is to know your gift recipient well. From memorizing their board game shelf to knowing their playing style like the back of your hand, it can be hard to give a board game lover a great gift! I recommend going with a game that’s not too normie, but also not too niche. Figure out what they love most about a game—my best friend loves a spooky factor, so we play a lot of Mysterium when the opportunity arises.
Budget-friendly gifts under $50
Great gifts don’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Surprisingly, a lot of gifts in this list are under $50—from cool gadgets for adults to fun gifts for curious minds, there’s just a lot to love out there for geeks on a budget! Here are two more picks for cool, quirky gifts that are packed with personality.
Tamagotchi
Growing up, I loved my Tamagotchi. I’ve tried to raise one since then and it was not fun (it turns out feeding a digital pet is way more rewarding when you don’t have an actual pet meowing the house down), but I still really love the idea of a Tamagotchi pet for kids. The brand has stayed true to their original toys, and geeks-in-the-making still light up for a brand new Tamagotchi. Their three-button, 8-bit design isn’t as overstimulating as something like a smartphone or an iPad, and the toys’ basic chirping noises come with the nostalgia already built in for the rest of us.
Steam games
The price of games may feel like it’s rising every year, but there are some solid exceptions to that! Indie games on platforms like Nintendo and Steam are often priced very reasonably, from Hollow Knight: Silksong to Stardew Valley. I love receiving an indie game because it always tells me something about the person who gave it to me. More than a regular gift, it’s a little “I loved this game; I think you might too,” which feels like a shot right to the heart in the best way possible.
What makes a great gift?
What makes a great gift is the amount of love and thought put into the present. As a geek, however, I’ll go ahead and introduce two other metrics for the label. A great gift is often something your recipient will love and get a lot of use out of. Sometimes, however, a great gift is also something they will adore and never once touch.
One of the best gifts I’ve ever received was a knockoff Chinese gong. My long-distance bestie and I made a series of jokes about gongs one afternoon, and I thought that was that. Then, literally the next day, I opened up my door to find a gong shipped with priority delivery. I couldn’t stop laughing. It was so useless; so niche; so silly. Not once has the gong ever been useful to me, and I’m not even sure I still have it—but I loved it. I think about it all the time, and we reference it to this day.
It’s time to embrace your inner weirdo this holiday season. Make that nerdy reference; buy that gong. I promise you: they’ll love it.
Shop geek-approved gift ideas online at BestBuy.ca.
