Have someone in your life who is attached to their Steam Deck at the hip? First off, they’ve got impeccable taste. Secondly, you may be wondering what to buy them for the holidays. Sure, a game or two would be appreciated, but you can take a few other options too. Here is our holiday gift guide for the ultimate Steam Deck fan.
Note that none of the included gifts are sponsored – we aren’t receiving money for any links. We simply love and recommend these products.
What to Buy a Steam Deck Lover for the Holidays
When it comes to the Steam Deck, any fan of the system will undoubtedly love three types of gifts: protective, accessories, and aesthetic.
Related: This Steam Deck Mod Changed My (Gaming) Life
A protective gift is literally what it says on the tin: these will help to shield the console from damage that may accidentally occur, such as scratches or worse. Accessories are optional additions that aren’t needed to enjoy the Steam Deck, but will definitely help boost the overall experience. And an aesthetic gift is just that – they make the system look nice.
Tempered Glass Screen Protector – dbrand, $24.95
While $25 is expensive for a screen protector (technically around $12 each since it comes with two), we highly recommend dbrand’s tempered glass one over others. I’ve personally had one on my Steam Deck since the day it arrived at my house, and six months on, it’s still going strong, and I’ve dropped my console accidentally at least once.
The screen protector is very easy to install and comes with screen cleaning wipes and an accessory to help smooth out the air bubbles too. If you understandably don’t want to spend the $25, there are cheaper tempered glass alternatives on Amazon, though we can’t vouch for their durability.
Rugged Armor Protective Case – Spigen, $22.99
A protective case is one of the first things any Steam Deck user should buy for their system, but if they somehow don’t have one or if you think they need an upgrade, the Spigen Rugged Armor Protective Case is a great option.
It’s made of flexible TPU, meaning it’s easy to take on and off, and it comes with a wrist strap, so there are no worries about accidentally dropping the console. And according to reviews, it’s comfortable to hold, has precise button cut-outs, and fits in the stock case.
1TB MicroSD Card – SanDisk, $119.83
Unless the recipient has the 512GB model, they’ll likely be running out of space fairly quickly if they’re one to download all their favorite games on their system. And even if they have the 512GB model, they may want more memory. The SanDisk 1TB MicroSD card is currently the biggest optional storage option, though they sell smaller capacities if you’d prefer.
Related: How to Use Custom Boot Videos on Steam Deck
This is the exact microSD I use in my own Steam Deck, and it’s served me well, alleviating the stress of “do I have enough space for this game?” I get every time I want to download anything over 10GB. And while other microSD card brands sell cheaper versions, SanDisk is one of the most reliable, so if you have the budget, it’s definitely worth spending more for the brand alone.
DeckMate – Etsy, $53
If the Steam Deck fan in your life does a lot of hands-free gaming, then the DeckMate will make a great gift. It is essentially an add-on with a set of attachments for universal and VESA mounting, a kickstand, space for spare microSD cards, and more.
The complete kit comes with everything, but cheaper options are available if you don’t want to gift the full set of attachments.
Steam Deck Skin – dbrand, $24.95 – $49.95
We promise this isn’t a sponsored post – dbrand just has elite Steam Deck accessories. If your recipient’s Deck could use a makeover, buying them a skin is a good option because there’s no shell replacement needed; peel and stick, apply some heat and pressure, and voila.
There are many dbrand Steam Deck skin options to choose from, from plain colors like purple and blue to wild patterns and even a “teardown” that shows what the system’s internals look like. Again, I have a dbrand skin on my own Steam Deck (a pink one), and it’s held up incredibly well over the half a year it’s been on, making my console look unique.
