The Geekly Grind 2022 Holiday Gift Guide

By: Mithrandiel & The Geekly Grind Staff

Unbelievably, it’s nearly Thanksgiving already! That means we have just over a month left before Christmas, and many of you are likely nearing the phase of shopping where you’d like to get it out of the way as soon as possible so that you can enjoy as much of December as you can. And I don’t blame you!

So, with this in mind, we wanted to share some suggestions on things to buy that special Geek in your life.

A quick rundown on some of the staff offering their recommendations:

Chris - One of the hosts of affiliated podcast, Comic Book Keepers. A talented artist with a love for comics!

Lance - One of the hosts of affiliated podcast, Comic Book Keepers. A complete comic junkie with an impressive knowledge of the industry!

Mithrandiel - Editor in Chief, Mithrandiel dabbles in a little bit of everything: D&D, comics, video games…he’s likely got opinions on it all!

Rae - Indie game connoisseur and lover of all things adorable and fun!

As you review our guide, note that some of these items feature promotional discount codes, so feel free to take advantage!

Comics

Die [Hardcover Edition]: One of my favorite reads in recent years, Die was recently treated to a beautiful hardcover release. Collecting all 20 issues of the series (so far), writer Kieron Gillen takes us on an emotionally powerful and visually engrossing journey through a realm of make-believe that became so much more. With a fantastic selection of essays in the closing pages, and gorgeous art by Stephanie Hans, this book will scratch the itch of not only comic fans in your life, but also those that enjoy Dungeons & Dragons, as the narrative revolves extensively around tabletop RPG mechanics. [Recommendation from Mithrandiel]

Murder Falcon [Hardcover Edition]: Writer Daniel Warren Johnson has captured the attention of many comic fans due to his unique art style and brutal combat sequences. From Beta Ray Bill to Wonder Woman, he has taken command of a gamut of various heroes and delivered superbly with all of them. However, where he really shines is in his independent work, and Murder Falcon is undoubtedly his strongest work to date. This beautiful deluxe edition is not only a superb narrative with fantastic art, but perhaps more impressively it is extremely accessible - you don’t need to be a comic fan to appreciate this story. Even better, you can get this book (often) for less than $30. I assure you it is a tremendous amount of bang for your buck! [Recommendation from Lance & Mithrandiel]

Once & Future [Hardcover Edition]: Another impressive collected edition from Kieron Gillen that’s sure to please the geek in your life is the Once & Future series. Chronicling the tale of former monster hunter Bridgette McGuire, after British Nationalist forces begin to awaken the legendary King Arthur, thinking it will save their country, Bridgette is forced to run her grandson Duncan through a crash course on hunting mythical creatures and tackling otherworldly threats. Spectacularly drawn by Dan Mora, this collected edition will sit handsomely on any bookshelf, and is currently less than $40! At just under 500 pages, I’d say that’s some pretty solid value! [Recommendation from Chris & Mithrandiel]

Seven to Eternity Deluxe Edition [Hardcover]: Rick Remender’s Seven to Eternity is an epic tale of vengeance - a flavorful twist on the classic Seven Samurai story with some terrific writing and an even more impressive build quality when it comes to the collected hardcover. Slightly pricier than the previous recommendations, the book still sits at around $50 currently on Amazon, though you can also check out Organic Priced Books and use “GIFTGUIDE” for 5% off! [Recommendation from Mithrandiel]

Tabletop Gaming

Deck of Stories (1985 Games): As any DM will tell you, sometimes your players will take you on a narrative side-road that you weren’t necessarily ready to travel…Yet!

The ability to adapt to changes like these is essential, and having tools at your disposal like 1985 Games’ Deck of Stories helps to keep the game running smoothly for DMs and players alike. These cards provide various narrative points and resolutions, and would be a great addition to any DM’s toolkit.

In fact, there are quite a few things in the 1985 Games catalog that DM’s (and players) are sure to enjoy, so use the link from this section as well as the code “THEGEEKLYGRIND” for 10% off any orders or subscriptions! [Recommendation from Mithrandiel]

Dragonlance - Shadow of the Dragon Queen: You might think that your resident Dungeon Master has enough sourcebooks, but you would be wrong! If you’re interested in keeping them up to date with the latest material from Wizards of the Coast, make sure a copy of Dragonlance - Shadow of the Dragon Queen is wrapped and ready! You can find my extended thoughts on it here, but suffice it to say with some new feats and a rich world to explore, it’s a great addition to any DM’s library. [Recommendation from Mithrandiel]

Dungeon Mayhem - Monster Madness: Sometimes the most challenging part of a proper game night is deciding which game you should use to kick things off. Well, with Dungeon Mayhem, that problem should become much easier to solve! A fun, to-the-point game, Dungeon Mayhem pits players against each other as they play a selection of monsters (and some heroes…) that have decided to battle each other for loot! With simple gameplay mechanics, games move quickly (typically around 10-15 minutes) and keep players engaged. Not only that, the variety of characters allows for slightly different games each time. A great pick-up! [Recommendation from Chris]

Gloomhaven: On the other side of the spectrum in terms of difficulty and time commitment, we have Gloomhaven. Now, we’ve featured Gloomhaven in the past, and our recommendation persists only because it remains one of the most intensive board game experiences out there. With over 100 hours worth of gameplay in the scenario/story mode, as well as numerous hero classes to explore and dungeons to crawl through, Gloomhaven is a definitive title that has helped to define a new genre of tabletop games. One of the pricier items on this list, but if splitting the cost is an option, the board game enthusiast in your life will properly freak out to find this under the tree. [Recommendation from Lance]

Video Games

God of War - Ragnarok: One of Sony’s most iconic franchises, God of War returns with the long-awaited continuation of Kratos’ story. Having disrupted the Norse Pantheon of Gods with the killing of Baldur, Kratos and Atreus find themselves at odds with Odin and Thor, working to unravel the mysteries of the giants and somehow survive the coming war. Taking the previous title and refining it even further, Ragnarok provides one of the year’s best gaming experiences, and with options on both PS4 and PS5, you can gift this great game even if the geek in your life is still searching high and low for a PS5. [Recommendation from Mithrandiel]

Kirby Star Allies: Kirby Star Allies is a lot of fun, a good couch co-op experience, and really nostalgic if you've enjoyed a lot of the series. Being a Kirby game, it’s also family-friendly and a win for your younger geeks! [Recommendation from Rae]

Nintendo Switch OLED: Most geeks dream of getting a console for Christmas. Indeed, some of my most memorable holidays were those milestone years where a Super Nintendo or Sony Playstation was under the tree. While there are plenty of reasons to pick up an Xbox Series X or a PS5, we wanted to spotlight the Nintendo Switch OLED this year. The Switch offers a very strong library, with some notable additions this year including Metroid Dread, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Bayonetta 3 and more. With a great battery life and that larger, beautiful OLED display, it’s a fantastic way to scratch your gaming itch while on the go. If you’re looking for a more economical option, the Nintendo Switch Lite is a fantastic option. At just under $200, it doesn’t feature a dock or the ability to connect to the TV, but still offers the fantastic library that will keep gamers coming back for more. [Recommendation from Chris]

Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Always a sucker for good JRPGs, it’s no surprise that Xenoblade Chronicles 3 ended up on this list. With an 80+ hour narrative, detailed combat systems and a fantastic soundtrack, Xenoblade Chronicles is sure to please any JRPG fan in your life. [Recommendation from Mithrandiel]

Miscellaneous

Geek-Inspired Jewelry (Bisoulovely): On the higher end, if you’re looking for a nice gift for your geeky partner, Bisoulovely is an independent jewelry company that specializes in magical girl inspired pieces. They've done Genshin Impact, and also have Sailor Moon, Naruto and other franchises to choose from. Definitely check it out if you’re looking for something a bit more special this year! They are having a number of deals as well, giving you between 10 to 40% off depending on the number of items you order! [Recommendation from Rae]

Custom Jackets/Cardigans (ClawDraws): ClawDraws is an indie designer on Twitter who's done some genshin collections. They have a Kickstarter right now for Genshin Impact jackets and cardigans - the stuff is great quality and comfortable and a nice unique option if you don't mind waiting for your order! [Recommendation from Rae]

Ewinracing Gaming Chair: While formal lockdowns may be over, and home-office expansions might be slowing down a bit, you may still find yourself (or the geek in your life) in need of a new gaming chair. Thankfully, we’ve got a great deal on some solid gaming chairs from ewinracing - follow the link and use “THEGEEKLYGRIND” for a stunning 30% off your order! With a great selection of gaming chairs, you’re sure to find the right one for you, and at a decent price too! [Recommendation from Mithrandiel]

We hope some of these options help you with your shopping, and thanks for stopping by!