It’s the most wonderful time of the year, where sales are rife and desires are unabated! For gamers, it’s a good time to up your game with the latest gaming tech, gear and collection, so read up on our guide before parting with your precious moolah for yourself or your loved ones.
Nintendo Switch 2 game console (S$676)
This year’s biggest console launch is the Nintendo Switch 2, which is an upgrade from the first Switch launched in 2017.
In terms of form factor, Switch 2 is similar to the first Switch with but with a larger 7.9-inch screen with 1080p resolution, two Joycon controllers that attach magnetically, as well as 4K video output that can support a framerate of 120fps when connected to a 4K TV.
The Switch 2 is an ideal console for the family with its many child-friendly co-op games while offering the flexibility of playing on the go or on the living room TV.
The good news (or bad news depending on your gaming needs) is that a Nintendo eShop has recently launched in Singapore on November 18. It’s been a long time coming for Nintendo fans in Singapore as it means you can finally stop setting your console’s region as the United States just so you can use it in English.
However, the biggest drawback is that the Singapore eShop’s game selection is pretty limited for now, and you can no longer use a Singapore credit card to purchase games at the US store.
In Singapore, the Switch 2 is available at electronics retailers like Challenger and Best Denki, as well as various online retailers. Bundles with Mario Kart World and Pokemon Legends A-Z games are also available.
The new game console is backward compatible to most Switch 1 games, so your game collection should be mostly playable if you are upgrading from the Switch 1.
Asus ROG Xbox Ally X gaming handheld (S$1,299)
If you want to play your PC games on the go seamlessly across the various launchers like Xbox Game Pass, Steam, Epic Games, GOG Galaxy and Ubisoft+, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is a handheld gaming device that does exactly that.
It runs on the Windows 11 OS, meaning that most PC games can be played on it if controller inputs are supported.
With a 7-inch full HD IPS screen running at 120Hz, 24GB of LPDDR5X memory, AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor and AMD Radeon Graphics, the ROG Xbox Ally X runs most games decently.
The exceptions are graphically demanding games like Assassin’s Creed Shadows or Borderlands 4, which the new Asus gadget struggles with.
Other drawbacks include high temperatures, a hefty price and the lack of trackpads — read our in-depth review here.
The ROG Xbox Ally X is available at the Asus Singapore store. It’s for folks who want gaming on the go without the heft of a laptop, though you’d have to watch the battery life when you’re out and about.
Razer Blade 14 gaming laptop (S$2,654)
For road warriors who are gaming and working on the go, a gaming laptop with a small form factor and powerful specs is a great travel companion.
One of the smallest and most compact gaming laptops is the diminutive 14-inch Razer Blade 14 with a thickness of less than 16mm and weighs around 1.63kg, making it easy to carry around.
With an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 graphics chip, 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a QHD+ 120Hz OLED screen, the Razer Blade can render modern games effortlessly on its gorgeous OLED display.
To overcome the problems of heat, especially when it comes to playing graphically demanding games, the Razer Blade 14 has built-in vapour chambers, thermal gels and fins, all in bid to dissipate the heat that comes from fast and furious gaming in a compact body.
The Razer Blade 14 is available at Razer stores in Singapore.
PlayStation Portal remote player (S$295.90)
The PlayStation Portal Remote Player handheld was launched late 2024, and will make a nice gift for devoted PlayStation gamers. It lets them play their games remotely as long as they are connected to Wi-Fi.
So if your family wants to watch K-Pop Demon Hunters on the living room TV for the 100th time, you can still stream and play games installed on your PlayStation 5 via the PlayStation Portal handheld.
With an 8-inch LCD screen at 1080p resolution, adaptive triggers and full haptic feedback just like the sensations offered by the DualSense controller, it’s a small compromise if you need to share a TV with others.
The PlayStation Portal streams your PlayStation 5 games over Wi-Fi, so you need to keep your PlayStation 5 console on Rest Mode and connected to the internet.
Technically, you can stream games on the PlayStation Portal anywhere with a good Wi-Fi connection but it performs the best when using the same network as your PlayStation 5 console.
It’s available the online Sony Store, major electronics stores and online retailers.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate annual subscription (S$29.90 a month)
For those who play on both the Xbox and PC, a Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription is actually a great way to get access to a huge library of Xbox and PC games, including day one launches of blockbuster titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
Although the price has gone up significantly (from S$18.90 to S$29.99 per month) since November 4, it might still be worth the cost for gamers who enjoy a large selection of titles.
The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate grants access to popular game franchises from renowned studios such as Blizzard for Diablo and Starcraft, Ubisoft for Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry, EA for Star Wars and Football Club, as well as Microsoft Studios for Gears of War and Minecraft.
Apart from triple-A titles, the Game Pass also has a host of award-worthy double-A and indie games such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Atomfall, The Outer Worlds 2 and Hollow Knight: Silksong which are nominated for The Game Awards 2025.
The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is available at S$29.99 per month or S$359.88 for 12 months although there are certain promotions that can bring the price down. For PC only gamers, the PC Game Pass is available at S$16.49 per month.
8Bitdo Ultimate 2 wireless controller (-S$70)
Speaking from personal experience, you can’t have too many controllers since you always need backups. I have personally wrecked several, especially while playing punishing titles like Elden Ring and Black Myth: Wukong.
A good controller to have is the 8Bitdo Ultimate 2 wireless controller which has plenty of features, themed designs and configurations. It lets you connect to your devices via a USB-C 2.4GHz dongle or cable, and is compatible with Windows, Android and Apple devices and even the Steam Deck that runs on the SteamOS. It does have Bluetooth connectivity as well, but that’s limited only to Android devices.
The controller offers a variety of customisations to suit different gaming scenarios, including a switch for switching between Hall Effect triggers and non-linear tactile triggers, which can enhance the feel of games that use the trigger for shooting a firearm or pulling a bow.
The rumble vibrations are adequately strong, which makes games more immersive. I also like the convenience of the charging dock where you can simply rest the controller on it without having to fiddle with charging cables especially when swapping controllers midgame.
The pretty RGB light rings around the thumbsticks are an added bonus for those of us who like to play in the dark!
The 8Bitdo Ultimate 2 wireless controller is available at online retailers like Amazon.sg and Lazada at around S$70.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card (from about S$4,500)
For PC gamers who crave gaming in 4K splendour with high FPS (frames per second) and realistic lighting effects, a powerful graphics card is the best gift to receive, assuming the rest of the rig can complement it.
The most sought after GPU (graphics processing unit) at the moment is Nvidia’s top-of-the-line GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card for the best performance.
An Asus ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 32GB GDDR7 OC Edition will set you back around a crazy S$5,000, but less premium makes can be obtained at around S$4,500.
If the price tag is making you choke and you are thinking about managing expectations and dropping down a few rungs, know that the Geforce RTX 5080 performs more poorly than an older Geforce RTX 4090, so it’s not much of an upgrade if you already have a Geforce RTX 4090.
The RTX 5090 graphics cards are available at online retailers like Amazon, but stocks seem pretty limited during my search, so go for it if you have deep pockets and are lucky enough to snag one.
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX graphics card (-S$1,400)
Alternatively, if you can live without DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) – the AI upscaling technology used exclusively on Nvidia-based graphics cards – AMD’s Radeon RX 7900 XTX is the most powerful (though not the newest card) alternative at the moment.
Performance-wise, it is closer to Nvidia’s RTX 4080 but lags behind the Geforce RTX 4090. It’s pretty good value at the moment, so if you don’t need the best of the best for bragging rights or chasing the Nvidia brand name, the Radeon RX 7900 XTX is available for around S$1,400 from online retailers like Amazon and Lazada, such as this excellent card from Sapphire Tech.
Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM gaming monitor (S$1,679)
If you have been sitting on the fence about 4K OLED gaming monitors, I was in the same situation too until I finally made the switch. I was weeping happy tears when I saw how beautiful some of my favourite games look in 4K OLED, like Horizon Forbidden West, DOOM: The Dark Ages and Borderlands 4.
For a small gaming space, a 27-inch monitor is probably good enough – one example is Asus’ ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM. It features a 4K QD-OLED panel, a 240Hz refresh rate, 0.03ms (gray to gray) response time as well as a host of display technologies.
It even has a heatsink for those concerned about heat and potential damage due to high temperatures, especially after long hours of gaming.
Another plus is compatibility with both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-SYNC, which ensures tear-free visuals with low latency. It will work with both AMD and Nvidia graphics cards, as you upgrade them over time.
The Asus monitor is available at the ASUS estore for S$1,679.
Logitech G502 X gaming mouse (from S$79)
For gamers who love fast-paced shooting games and firing head shots with deadly accuracy, the Logitech G502 X gaming mouse is a great weapon to add to your arsenal.
With a 25K Hero sensor and an easily accessible DPI shift button, the mouse is ideal for first-person shooters. The wired version weighs only 89g although the wireless version is significantly heavier at 106g.
The adjustable DPI shift thumb button is my favourite feature as it can be adjusted to suit your thumb position, which makes a difference in how quickly and accurately you can line up head shots.
The G502 X is available at the Logitech Lazada store for a decent price tag of S$79 for the wired version, while the wireless G502 X Plus Lightspeed with the pretty RGB lights goes for S$189.
For gamers who play primarily at the desk, prefer the reliability of a wired connection as well as a lighter mouse without the bling, the wired G502 X should do nicely.
Lego Horizon Adventures Aloy & Varl versus Shell-Walker and Sawtooth (S$69.90)
With the release of the Lego Horizon Adventures game, we all know that the Horizon-themed Lego sets will follow soon after. The first set features Aloy and Varl versus Shell-Walker and Sawtooth, not counting the Horizon Forbidden West Tallneck set which was available prior to LEGO Horizon Adventures.
Although the heavily “kiddified” and overly slapstick Lego Horizon Adventures game pales in comparison to the original post-apocalyptic Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West games, the zoomorphic machines still make for amazing collectibles and display pieces. For fans of Horizon games, this will be a great set to collect, and likely the first of many.
The Lego Horizon Adventures Shell-Walker and Sawtooth set is available at physical and online Lego shops at S$69.90.
Techgoondu is part of the voting jury for The Game Awards 2025! Cast votes for your own favourites at www.thegameawards.com, and catch the show over various online channels on December 12, 8:30am Singapore time. This year’s Game of the Year nominees include Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and more!
