PlayStation Wishlist 2025!
Or how to make a gamer happy in 10 steps
Someone please tell me when it became 19 November already, because it feels like just yesterday it was February and I was passionately button-mashing Kingdom Come: Deliverance II on my PS5.
Time has flown faster than a loading screen on PlayStation consoles’ super-fast SSDs… Oh, what a mad, good year! We’ve had incredible releases from all sides. Sony blessed us with excellent titles such as Ghost of Yōtei and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Nintendo came up strong with the highly anticipated Switch 2 and games designed to delight the entire family — Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World —, and Xbox… well, Xbox finally waved the white flag and ended the console war.
And just like that, Forza Horizon 5 and Gears of War arrived on PlayStation 5 this year! Who would’ve thought, eh?! By the way, let me tell you a secret: Gears of War: Reloaded plays fantastically on PlayStation 5, even better than on an Xbox Series X! And if I think about it, wow, what a year awaits us – Halo: Campaign Evolved and Marvel’s Wolverine on PlayStation 5, Resident Evil Requiem and Silent Hill 2 Remake on Nintendo Switch 2 and, above all, the daddy of modern video games – Grand Theft Auto VI! I can’t wait to devour it on the PlayStation 5 Pro…. All I can say is that 2026 is “cooking well,” as the English like to say.
Isn’t it a good time to be a gamer? If only we had money. And, especially, time. Speaking of money, I hope you still have some resources left, because Halloween is over and probably the most anticipated moment of the year for any gamer is coming up: the Christmas holidays! It’s that cosy time when hot chocolate becomes the family’s favourite drink, and the cold outside is the perfect excuse for a long gaming session on the sofa, controller in hand.
Because the holidays are about family, joy, relaxation and, of course, gifts, I thought I’d share my list of gift ideas with you. Maybe it’ll inspire you. Personally, this year I’ve played more than ever on PlayStation 5. I’ve started to appreciate the comfort of the sofa and the 4K TV more and more, instead of the office chair and the monitor I already spend over eight hours in front of daily at work.
This console still has a lot to say, especially with games like Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, which looks phe-no-me-nal! Proof of this: even five years after its launch, the hardware remains surprisingly capable, if you know how to put it to work. Did you get that, developers?!
So, if you want to level up or make a gamer happy, I’ve got 10 gift ideas for the 2025 holiday season.
P.S. On Friday, 21 November, it will be PlayStation Black Friday – the perfect opportunity to shop for great prices.
10. Ghost of Yōtei
From my point of view, Ghost of Yōtei is one of this year’s must-play titles. It’s the kind of game that makes buying a PlayStation 5 worth it. Don’t think too much, just do it!
9. Astro Bot
Do we even need an introduction when we’re talking about a Game of the Year? Astro Bot is the cutest robot in the galaxy and the protagonist of a family-friendly game that you absolutely must have in your collection.
8. LEGO Horizon Adventures
If you’re a fan of LEGO or Horizon Zero Dawn, you’ve got the perfect mix right here. It has the best graphics for a LEGO game and it’s incredibly fun when you play it with a teammate. One of the perfect games to play on the sofa.
7. The Last of Us Complete
For me, the two The Last of Us titles are in my TOP 10 favourite games ever! The first title convinced me to buy a PlayStation console for the first time, that’s how good it is. You can “unfriend” me if you’re not planning to play them…
6. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Hideo Kojima’s genius strikes again. Wow, what a story, what actors, what graphics, what production, what a game! This is one of the “Masterpiece” titles that received a solid 7 from the GRIND editorial team. If you haven’t already read Tudor Enea’s review in GRIND V, I’ll just tell you that Death Stranding 2 is an “experience” that defies almost every convention about video games. It’s excellently optimised on PlayStation 5, especially on the Pro model. See you “on the Beach!”.
5. Audeze Maxwell PlayStation
There are gaming headphones and then there are Audeze Maxwell PlayStation. Since they landed on my ears, I’ve rediscovered the pleasure of listening to music and especially playing games on console. In shooters such as Battlefield 6 or Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, these headphones can almost be considered cheating, but don’t worry, you won’t get banned, just some extra auditory advantages over your enemies. They come with a special dongle for PlayStation 5 and PC, so you can enjoy great sound on both platforms.
4. PS Plus
Want to play Alan Wake 2 for 44 lei? PS Plus is what you’re looking for! If you opt for the Premium subscription, you get access to a catalogue of hundreds of great games, including classic PS1, 2 and 3 titles. Perfect for a co-op gaming session.
3. DualSense Edge
The DualSense Edge is my new favourite controller! It feels premium, has a bunch of extra buttons, and it’s the simplest option if you get hit by the stick drift curse. It takes 10 seconds to replace the thumbstick module.
2. PlayStation 5 Pro
The PlayStation 5 Pro is probably the dream of any console gamer. Not only is it a PS5 that’s been to the gym, but it’s also the best option to play Grand Theft Auto VI next year. It’s the perfect time to be future-proof.
1. PS Portal
Although I was initially among the sceptics, after more than a year of playing, I’ve become a huge fan of the PlayStation Portal. Sony hasn’t neglected the little “console” at all, and after the latest updates, it has become a reliable toy. It’s almost never missing from my backpack when I spend weekends away. I even have a Portal with me now, which I can’t wait to put to work in a new session of Ghost of Yōtei. Considering the price, it’s probably the perfect gift and the best friend of any gamer looking for a moment of indulgence.
Recently, PlayStation released a new update for the Portal, and the little “tablet” practically becomes a console! Why do I say that? Because you no longer need its big brother, the PS5, to play. Now, you can stream directly through the PS Plus Premium subscription. Game changer! 😊
Happy shopping!
Well, my dears, this is my wishlist for this year. Whether you want to surprise someone or are simply looking for a personal reward after a busy year, I hope you find at least one useful idea in the list above. Writing these lines has made me crave a session of Ghost of Yōtei, so I’m off. I wish you happy shopping and many relaxing gaming sessions!
Comments (1)
Comments are shown in their original language.
Foarte Adevarat! Un Dualsense Edge pe un PS5 Pro aproape se simte ca o generatie noua! Portal a devenit din punctul meu de vedere cel mai accesibil mod de a intra in gaming! Mos Craciun sper ca ai ciulit urechile si ai facut ochi mari la lista, ca am asteptari de la tine :))
New comments will open again soon.