But you know what you can never go wrong with? A special DIY birthday gift. And to give you ideas, we compiled eight awesome DIY devices to gift your gaming fanatic friend.

1. Mini Gaming Wheel With Gas and Brake Pedals

Gaming with a gaming wheel is a whole different experience. The force feedback, the brakes, and the steering action add to the immersion of a casual gaming session, unlike when using an old gaming pad. It’s something you’ve got to try yourself.

That is why a mini gaming wheel with brake pedals is such a good gift idea for that gaming buddy in your life. These gadgets cost a ton in the market, so making one for them will certainly be appreciated. Check out this Hackster.io guide for the items you’ll need to build one.

2. Arduino-Based Handheld Gaming Device

Gamers like to fidget with whatever gaming device they can get their hands on, which is why this Arduino-based gaming device is an excellent addition to your unique gifts for the gamer in your life.

It’s equipped with several letter and pattern-themed games that are incredibly mind-stimulating. Therefore, it is also an ideal gift for kids because it’ll keep them occupied for a long time.

Here’s an Instructables guide with more details on the build. Check out this similar but easier-to-follow guide on how to build a simple handheld video game using an Arduino.

3. Arduino Game Gun for PC

Fighting-genre games like Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Tekken, and Injustice will keep you on the edge of your seat with excitement. Add modern-day features like 3D graphics, extra modes, and the most realistic fighting scene options, and the experience can feel quite exhilarating.

But you know what will make a fighting game feel even more immersive? An actual gaming gun. Check out this Instructables project to learn how to build an Arduino-based one. It’ll be an excellent gift for that gaming head in your life.

4. World’s Smallest Raspberry Pi-Based Gaming Device

We all have that one gaming kid who never lets your phone rest because they want to play games on it. They are adorable, puppy-eyed, and strong-headed, so it’s usually impossible to say no to their demands but once you do, getting your phone back is always another challenge.

Unfortunately, they are usually too young to get their phone. On the bright side, you can always build them one, and this TinyPi is a good start. Based on Raspberry Pi, the TinyPi is so small one can easily carry it wherever. But don’t let the tiny size fool you; it features fun games.

See this Instructables guide for supplies and instructions. Here are more Raspberry Pi Christmas projects you can check out.

5. IKEA Lack Game Table

We’re currently in the innovative era of gaming, where options for interactive games abound. From immersive games like GTA that let you own an entire fleet of cars and even build a reality away from reality to fighting games like Mortal Kombat, there are truly options to suit every taste.

But even so, classic games like Tetris and Snake will forever have a place in our hearts, and if you want, they can also have a place in your living room. But how, you ask? Well, by building this IKEA Lack table as a gift for that gaming fanatic in your life, of course!

It features Tetris, snake, and pong shooter. Here’s a Hackaday.io guide with more details. Also, check out these more incredible DIY gifts your family and friends will love.

6. DIY Cheap Arduino Game Boy

Flappy Bird is a classic and a favorite for most of us who grew up back in the early days of smartphones when they couldn’t smoothly handle console-quality games. But even then, Flappy Bird would keep you engaged for hours. The game was so addictive that the creator deleted it from the App Store and Play Store to prevent over-usage.

So, if you know a gamer who struggles with boredom while on the move, a Flappy Bird-based gaming device will certainly be a game-changer for them (literally). Discover how to build an Arduino-based Flappy Bird gaming device just in time for their birthday by following this Instructables tutorial.

7. Handheld Arduino Pong Console

Pong, a table-tennis-themed game, is among the first-ever video games to hit the market. As a result, it took the world by storm and is still revered by game heads globally. Surprisingly, it wasn’t meant to be a game. It was initially created as a training exercise, but the trainee ended up making a game ahead of time, and his trainers decided to turn it into a commercial product.

It was the first commercially successful video game setting the pace for other classic arcade games like Tetris. Today, there are nearly endless variations of it, some even colored. Still, the original 2D-based pong game will always be on top, and the good news is that you can build one.

So, check out this Instructables project to learn how to build a handheld pong console as a gift for that gamer you love. If the person you want to gift is big on classic games, this guide on the best ESP32 gaming projects has more options.

8. Simple Gaming Wheel

Fancy the idea of a gaming wheel as a birthday or Christmas present but lack the tools or experts to build the detailed one we initially suggested? This Instructables guide has one you’ll certainly pull off whether you’ve handled DIYs or not.

It’s based on copper wires, cardboard pieces, and glue sticks. Start by twisting the copper wires and follow the steps illustrated in the YouTube video above. The results are a gaming wheel so simple that one wouldn’t believe it’s functional, but it works well and is meant for smartphones.

Make Unique Gifts With Your DIY Skills

Put your DIY skills to good use and make your gifts extra special for that gamer in your life. All you need is some spare time, and you can build any of these DIY gifts from scratch.

We’ve provided you with all the good ideas, so you only have to worry about execution. Ensure you build one, and feel free to tweak it to fit your needs.