There are two types of families over the Christmas period. The family that gathers together for a wholesome afternoon of Monopoly, accompanied by cups of tea and M&S biscuits - and the family kickstarting World War Three over a vigorous battle to the death via the PlayStation.
Whatever your itinerary during the Yuletide period, it goes without saying that gaming is a hobby (for some a career) valued by millions. In fact, the gaming world is so immense, that it has financially superseded both the music and film industries combined. According to a report Statista, by the end of 2023, the gaming market is projected to reach a revenue of $249.60 billion (£196.94 billion) and is expected to grow at an annual rate of 9.32 per cent between 2023 and 2028, resulting in a projected market volume of US $389.70 billion (£307.57 billion) by 2028.
Stats aside, there’s no better way to make it through the grey January weather than by cocooning yourself away and escaping into another world. Be it via a VR headset, Nintendo Switch or Xbox, clocking off and switching on is a stimulating couple of hours well spent.
And this can be done either with friends or solo. Perhaps you’re feeling the need for some alone time after the frantic festive season or maybe you want to surround yourself with friends to keep morale high before the SAD blues settle in. Both guarantee downtime well spent.
Discover the best Boxing Day deals on all things gaming and kit yourself out in time for 2024.
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Meta Quest 2 - Advanced All-In-One VR Headset - 128 GB
Was: £399.99
Buy now £249.99, Argos
Sony PS5 Disc Console + PlayStation Plus Premium 24 Month Subscription
Was £699
Buy now £599.00, EE
Xbox Series X Console & Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edn Bundle
Was £439
Buy now £389.99, Argos
Panasonic SC-HTB01 SoundSlayer Gaming Speaker with Built-in Subwoofer
Was £249
Buy now £199.99, Amazon
Sony DualSense Wireless Controller - EA SPORTS FC 24 Bundle
Was £99.99
Buy now £89.99, Currys
Nintendo Switch Lite Coral
Was £209.99
More colours available at Argos
- Nintendo Switch Lite Handheld Console - Turquoise - now: £199.99
- Nintendo Switch Lite Handheld Console - Yellow - now: £199.99
- Nintendo Switch Lite Handheld Console - Blue - now: £199.99
Buy now £198.00, Amazon
PlayStation Consoles
PlayStation 5 825GB - White - was: £700, now: £580
Buy now, Argos
PlayStation Games
EA SPORTS FC 24 Standard Edition PS5 - was: £69.99, now: £44.95
Grand Theft Auto V (PS5) - was: £24.99, now: £16.95
Hogwarts Legacy PS5 (Amazon Exclusive) - was: £49.99, now: £34.99
EA SPORTS UFC 5 Standard Edition PS5 - was: £69.99, now: £49.95
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare - was: £69.99, now: £16.95
Disney Dreamlight Valley - was: £44.99, now: £29.99
Mortal Kombat 1 Standard Edition - was: £64.99, now: £39.99
Gran Turismo 7 PS5 Game - was: £59.99, now: £29.99
PlayStation Accessories
SteelSeries Arctis 9 - was £194.99, now £158.59
Nintendo Switch Games
Human: Fall Flat - Anniversary Edition (Nintendo Switch) - was: £29.99, now: £21.50
Argos - 2 for £20 on Nintendo games
WRC 10 FIA World Rally Championship - was £44.99, now £4.49
Nintendo Switch Accessories
Orzly Accessories Bundle Compatible with Nintendo Switch - was £79.99, now: £54.99
Horus X • Blue Light Blocking Gaming Glasses - Professional Screen Filter Anti Glare Fatigue and Eyestrain - was: £29.90, now: £29.90
Xbox consoles
Xbox Series S - was £249.99 now £209.99
Xbox Series X - was £479.99, now £369.99
Xbox Series S Console with Optional Extras - was: £249, now: £209
Xbox Series X 1TB Console - was: £409.99, now: £359.99
Microsoft Xbox Series S Starter Bundle | Next-Gen & 3 Months of Game Pass Ultimate - was: £249.99, now: £209.99
Xbox Games
EA SPORTS FC™ 24 Ultimate Edition Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S - was £99.99, now £39.99
Red Dead Redemption 2 - was £54.99, now £18.14
Call of Duty: Black Ops - was £24, now £12.49
Call of Duty: Black Ops III - Zombies Chronicles Edition - was £24.99, now £18.14
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition - was £34.99, now £10.49
Dead Island 2 - Day One Edition (Xbox Series X / Xbox One) - was £59.99, now £24.99
LEGO Jurassic World (Xbox One) - was £14.99, now £9.95
Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Edition - was £24.99, now £16.74
Xbox Accessories
Turtle Beach Stealth Pro Multiplatform Wireless Noise-Cancelling Gaming Headset for Xbox - was £279.99, now £269.99
Xbox Wireless Controller – Carbon Black - was £54.99, now £49.95
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 - was £159.99, now £103.99
Xbox Wireless Controller – Remix Special Edition - was £74.99, now £63
Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S - was £462.83, now £277.19
Other accessories
RedThunder K10 Wireless Gaming Keyboard and Mouse Combo - was: £69.99, now: £62.99ACER Predator Rift Gaming Chair - Black - was: £299, now: £199
STEELSERIES Apex Pro TKL 2023 Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard - was: £229, now: £189
Nintendo Switch (Neon Red/Neon blue)
Was £299.99
Buy now £249.89, Amazon