Editorials
The Ultimate Gift Guide For That Special Gamer In Your Life
Christmas is just around the corner, but if you’re anything like me you’ve procrastinated and still haven’t bought the gifts you need to get for all the special people in your life. That’s okay, I understand your situation and I’m here to help. I’m sure most of us know gamers, whether they’re of the casual variety or the more hardcore persuasion. You might not know what to get for these people, I mean, how can you know what games they own and which ones they don’t? If you’re getting them video games, you have to take their personal taste into account. Final Fantasy may be a good game, but maybe they’re not a fan of the series. Getting them a game they don’t enjoy could be detrimental to your relationship with that person. They could think you don’t know them, or worse, they think you’re angry with them because you gave them a video game they hated. This could lead to a pretty awkward Christmas.
To keep something like this from happening, we’re going to forgo looking for video games so we can instead focus on gaming related items. I’ve even separated this list of goods into three tiers, divided by price. No need to thank me, I did it because I care. I’m here to spread Christmas faster than the T-Virus spreads a hunger for living flesh. Now sit back, grab a mug of hot cocoa, click that little read more button, and start gifting.
These gifts are for someone you know is a gamer, but you’re not necessarily besties. They’re great for new friends, co-workers, younger relatives you put up with, etc.
Gears of War COG Tags ($10, get it here)
The best thing about these tags is you don’t have to pull them off the mangled corpse of a fellow soldier. That’s worth the $10 asking price right there.
Indie Game: The Movie ($10, get it here)
I watched this movie when it released back in June and loved it. If you’re an aspiring indie dev, a fan of games like Super Meat Boy, Fez, or Bastion, this is a great watch.
Diablo III Keychain ($12, get it here)
Show which side you’re on with this crazy detailed Diablo III keychain! Tyreal can suck it, I’m on the Big D’s side.
Left 4 Dead Movie Posters ($13, get it here)
Anyone who’s played Left 4 Dead or its sequel should be familiar with the movie poster-style loading screens that feature the game’s four protagonists against a backdrop taken from or inspired by the level you’re about to play. I have the posters for the original game’s four levels on my wall, and they look great. These are a fabulous addition to the wall of any game room.
Resident Evil: Damnation ($15-30, get it here)
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: this is the best Resident Evil movie I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen all of them. Granted, that’s not necessarily saying much for this franchise, which hasn’t seen much success (critically, not commercially) on the big screen, but still, this is a very entertaining movie.
Minecraft Foam Pickaxe ($20, get it here)
I really want one of these, but only if it comes with some diamond armor so I can wear it and go around calling people Creepers and poking them with my pickaxe.
Cards Against Humanity ($25, get it here)
This is hands down the best card game ever made. My previous favorite was Apples to Apples, but this one is far more entertaining. This is a fantastic game to whip out at a party, or better yet — when the family’s gathered around the campfire unwrapping presents.
Creeper Vinyl Figure ($30, get it here)
Ssssssssssssss, BOOM! That is all.
Resident Evil Welcome To Raccoon City Sign ($30, get it here)
Those who pre-ordered Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City at the Capcom store got one of these for free. The rest of us will have to purchase ours individually. I’m all right with that, because it’s just so cool.
Were those too cheap to fully reflect the love you have for the person, or people, you’re looking to buy gifts for? Well okay then. This tier of gift-giving is reserved for the special friends in your life — the people you’d call first to let them know you just pwned their score in a game.
Awakening: The Art of Halo 4 ($35, get it here)
I own several video game art books, but this is easily one of my favorites. You don’t need to be a Halo fan to enjoy the gorgeous concept art in this book.
Razer Onza ($40, get it here)
I came so close to buying a Mass Effect branded Onza when Mass Effect 3 came out, but then I realized I have several fully functional controllers at home, so there’s basically no need for a new one. That’s when I went home and immediately broke one of my controllers so I’d have a reason to get one of these. All right, so that didn’t really happen, but I still want one of these. Third party controllers usually suck, but this one looks great and it has a few tweaks to make perform better.
Assassin’s Creed III Tomahawk ($45, get it here)
I like Assassin’s Creed III, though it’s only occasionally tread into love territory (those incredible naval battles really stick out). One of my favorite weapons in the game is one you get pretty early on: the assassin’s tomahawk. In the game, I can use this to unleash death, but in real life, I’d probably just end up hurting myself.
Dead Space Ishimura Hoodie ($58, get it here)
Remember the Ishimura? Of course you do. It’s one of the creepiest video game worlds we’ve had the pleasure of exploring, so why not help it live forever with this hoodie? You can even get an extra large one so there’s room for you and I to cuddle in it.
Legend of Zelda Shield Replica ($70, get it here)
If you’ve donned your Link outfit (green garb, elf ears, pointy shoes, and all) but found yourself lacking a shield, then fear not, because Think Geek has the solution for you. This shield looks super cool, and it won’t break the bank.
Gunnar Optics Gaming Glasses ($80-100, get it here)
I have no idea if these actually work, but if you’re the type of gamer who tends to endure super long gaming marathons, you may want to consider getting one of these. Think of your eyes, all naked and abused. Give them the protection they deserve!
Assassin’s Creed Hoodie ($90, get it here)
If the Dead Space hoodie just doesn’t do it for you, this might. The assassin look has quickly become one of the most iconic character designs of this generation. Now you can take that look into the real world, and if anyone calls you a nerd you can stab them in the back with your hidden blade (Bloody Disgusting does not endorse the shanking of your fellow man)
Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device ($100, get it here)
Before you ask: no, this doesn’t actually make portals. That was my first question too, and I was sorely disappointed when I found out it didn’t. It still looks neat, and this version of the portal gun can be customized using the magnetic bits that come with it.
This is the more luxurious tier. If you have a fat wallet and a crazy generous heart, then you’ll find some great gifts to give the special people in your life. Ya know, people like me, who entertain and inform you every day.
Astro A30 Headset ($130-210, get it here)
I’ve had two pairs of Astro A30’s for three years now (both work fine, I just keep one at work and the other at home) and they’re easily the best headsets I’ve ever owned. For Black Friday, I got myself the 2013 edition, and it’s glorious. If you want a stylish, reliable headset that sounds great and works across multiple platforms (PC, 360, PS3, MP3 player, etc.), I highly recommend you get one of these.
Silent Hill Figures ($150, get it here)
When these figures aren’t busy being absolutely amazeballs, they’re haunting my dreams (my sexual ones, not the nightmares). They were unveiled at Comic-Con this past summer and assuming everything’s still on track, these babies should be jumping into gamers’ open arms sometime this month.
Resident Evil T-Virus & Anti-Virus Display Prop ($200, get it here)
When the first Resident Evil movie released back in 2002, I was obsessed with it. I loved that movie, and on multiple occasions I came close to buying a replica of the T-Virus prop used in the movie. They were charging several hundred bucks back then, but thankfully that price has since dropped to something that’s a little more affordable.
Silent Hill Sounds Box ($250-ish, get it here)
I’ve wanted this for some time now, even though I own the Silent Hill OSTs, this is just so cool. Whether you’re a fan of the series or you simply want something to counteract all the Christmas music, this is for you.
Wii U ($300-350, get it here)
I’ve come pretty close to buying one of these, but I haven’t bitten that family-friendly bullet just yet. If you’re looking to grab one of these for a special someone in your life (or yourself!) then I suggest dropping the extra $50 for the Deluxe version, which comes with four times the storage space as the basic model.
Resident Evil Nemesis Polystone Statue ($300, get it here)
If the Silent Hill figures don’t release in time, there’s always this beautifully crafted Nemesis to take up space on your shelf/mantle/pillow. It’s double the price, but really, can you put a price tag on the happiness that will wash over you after you get one of these?
Mass Effect M-3 Predator Full Scale Replica ($385, get it here)
Forget what so many people are saying about Mass Effect 3, because it’s a fantastic game. It also has one of the best video game arsenals in recent memory. Now you can take one of these babies home (there are several gun replicas but they all seem to be out of stock, except for this one) and use it to scare any Krogans that try to wander into your home at night.
Sumo Gigantor bean bag ($420-550, get it here)
I’ve reviewed a couple Sumo products, but my favorite so far has been the Sumo Gigantor. As far as bean bags go, this one is massive. This makes it the perfect place to snuggle up next to that special someone (or someones — believe me, there’s room) in your life.
Razer Blade ($2,000-2,500, get it here)
Does all of the above bore you? Do you have all the monies? Then I suggest grabbing one of these. The cleverly titled Razer Blade is the ultimate console for any gamer on the go. This is reflected in its extraordinarily high asking price. If you can afford it, this is one of the best mobile gaming laptops on the market.
Have a question? Feel free to ever-so-gently toss Adam an email, or follow him on Twitter and Bloody Disgusting.
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We’re now officially in the back half of 2026 now that July is here, but what a year it’s been for horror so far. The sequels and reboots are still holding strong at the box office with films like Scream 7 and Scary Movie, but it’s also been a year where new voices are shattering records in unexpected ways.
Markiplier eschewed conventional production and distribution channels with his feature adaptation of Iron Lung, for example. We’re also still in the midst of Backrooms and Obsession-mania, with the former back in theaters with bonus footage and the latter extending its box office reign. Liminal horror has exploded, and low-budget indie horror is seeing just as much, and sometimes even more, success as big studio-backed fare.
All of which to say that 2026 has been a hell of a year so far for the genre, and it’s only getting warmed up. Still on the way are Evil Dead Burn, Insidious: Out of the Further, Resident Evil, Clayface, Whalefall, and Werwulf, just to name a few.
Also catch up with the Best Horror Books and Best Horror Games of the year so far.
Here are the ten best horror movies of the year (so far).
10) Chime
Horror master Kiyoshi Kurosawa is back with one of his most haunting yet, though one that’d likely be higher on this list if it were more accessible. The 45-minute feature was initially produced and distributed as an NFT before receiving a theatrical run earlier this year, with no plans to distribute digitally or on home media. It spins a somewhat cryptic tale, introducing a culinary teacher, Takuji Matsuoka (Mutsuo Yoshioka, Never After Dark), whose classroom becomes disrupted by a strange sound that leads to violence. It’s a quiet but haunting unraveling, one that leaves no aspect of Matsuoka’s life untouched, in true Kiyoshi Kurosawa style. That it defies any easy explanation also ensures Chime embeds itself under your skin.
9) Send Help
Sam Raimi’s splatstick return to form is a delightfully deranged two-hander that doubles as infectious catharsis for anyone who’s ever had a bad boss. Rachel McAdams (Doctor Strange) and Dylan O’Brien (The Maze Runner) face off when their characters are shipwrecked on an island, prompting a bid for survival in more ways than one. While O’Brien often matches her, It’s McAdams who shines as she deftly handles everything that Raimi, working from a script by Damian Shannon & Mark Swift (Freddy vs. Jason), throws at her. Send Help is full of vibrant personality, packed with all of Raimi’s signatures, making for one of the most entertaining films of the year.
8) Mārama
New Zealand filmmaker Taratoa Stappard’s gothic tale begins in familiar fashion, with Mary Stevens (Ariāna Osborne) arriving in Yorkshire upon invitation to learn more about her parents, only to find the remote manor haunted. Just when Stappard’s period horror story feels doomed to succumb to familiar gothic trappings and jump scares, though, its true horror emerges. The more Mary uncovers about her heritage and her Māori culture, the clearer it becomes that this grim home is built on violence and exploitation. Stappard’s vision comes into its own when it leaves behind its gothic influences and embraces its Māori identity; few scenes are as powerful as when Osborne’s Mary performs a haka in response to her vile oppressors, heralding in a righteous bloodbath.
7) Touch Me
Writer/Director Addison Heimann draws from retro Japanese horror, exploitation cinema, and perhaps even hentai for his campy, psychosexual sophomore feature. A toxic friendship plagued by trauma, codependency, and addiction gets tested to the extreme when Brian (Lou Taylor Pucci), a hip-hop-loving, tracksuit-sporting alien, gets between them. Olivia Taylor Dudley and Jordan Gavaris have an easy rapport and play off each other well as directionless, depressed Millennial besties prone to ignoring their problems until they become insurmountable. But it’s Pucci’s inspired, childlike take on the chicken nugget-loving extraterrestrial with tentacled secrets of his own that steals the show. Heimann has a lot on his mind with his sophomore feature and neatly condenses it all into a quirky, eccentric psychosexual camp odyssey that leans heavily into humor.
6) Backrooms
Director Kane Parsons translates the vast liminal labyrinth of his web series to the big screen in his feature debut, one that instills existential dread with its atmospheric horror and narrative. The ‘ 90s-set horror movie introduces a protagonist with a serious chip on his shoulder over life’s many disappointments, who then discovers his furniture store harbors a hidden door that leads to an endless labyrinth. It’s not just the incredible production design that instills a disorienting sense of doom and terror, but the lead characters’ palpable and profound sense of loneliness and isolation. Parsons exudes impressive confidence and control as he methodically entrusts his quiet worldbuilding and talented leads to carry the dramatic weight. While Backrooms does deflate by the film’s cryptic, cliffhanger-y end, it’s arguably the most effective and scariest yet at capturing the uncanny valley of generative AI.
5) Leviticus
Writer/Director Adrian Chiarella uses an It Follows-like supernatural entity that relentlessly stalks its prey as a launchpad to immerse audiences in the horror of constantly living in fear for simply existing. A conversion therapy ritual among a deeply conservative community plunges a pair of erstwhile lovers into a nightmarish bid for survival when it summons a force that takes the shape of those whom the afflicted desires most. Chiarella refines the horror mechanics and metaphor with much sharper precision, ensuring that the scares and emotional gravity of the young couple’s terrifying predicament reach their intended impact. It’s the central layered performances by Joe Bird (Talk to Me) and Stacy Clausen (Thrash) that clinch emotional investment in their heartbreaking plight, ensuring that the social horror cuts deep.
4) Redux Redux
The McManus Brothers, writer/director duo Matthew and Kevin McManus (The Block Island Sound), dials up the intensity of a classic revenge story by setting it within a multiverse, where Irene Kelly (Michaela McManus) seeks to snuff out every single iteration of her daughter’s murderer, Neville (Jeremy Holm). The more she stalks and slays every world’s Neville, the more she risks losing her humanity entirely. Through a narrative foil in Mia (Stella Marcus), Redux Redux smartly bypasses repetition as it explores the moral complexities and vulnerabilities of Irene’s extremely violent quest. Holm becomes utterly terrifying in the climax, ensuring that no matter whether Irene loses herself to vengeance for good or not, it’s justified if it means ridding the world of this sick maniac.
3) 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Director Nia DaCosta takes the reins in the second entry in writer Alex Garland and original director Danny Boyle’s trilogy, picking up from the previous conclusion that saw Spike (Alfie Williams) fleeing from the infected straight into the welcoming arms of Sir Jimmy Crystal (Sinners’ Jack O’Connell). From here, DaCosta presents a stark contrast between humanity’s best and worst. The former sees the tender studies of Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) make poignant strides toward humankind’s future, while the latter unleashes more pain and bloodshed courtesy of the Jimmies. The dual paths of light and dark collide in one epic conclusion, an inspired confrontation between good and evil on a stunning set piece of heavy metal insanity. Yet it’s DaCosta’s handling of both extremes that impresses most, teeing up one epic conclusion to this trilogy.
2) Obsession
Sketch comedian turned horror filmmaker Curry Barker (Milk & Serial) wrings blood-curdling terror from a classic Monkey’s Paw wish fulfillment scenario in a way that no one could have ever anticipated. To say that it’s taken the box office by storm would be a massive understatement; Obsession is the top horror movie of the year in terms of gross. It’s not hard to see why, either. While Monkey’s Paw scenarios often yield predictable outcomes, and this outcome is practically telegraphed from the start, Barker manages to surprise with the journey itself. And it’s one insane journey paved with blood-soaked violence and no shortage of nightmare fuel. What truly sets it apart, though, is leads Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette as the central pair undone by one vicious wish. Expect to see a lot more from breakout Navarette.
1) Hokum
A surly, traumatized writer must break free from his self-imposed shackles of guilt when confronted by a wicked witch haunting a quaint Irish inn in the latest by writer/director Damian McCarthy (Oddity). Adam Scott’s Ohm makes for an atypical but rewarding protagonist, and his complicated emotional journey gives way to a deeply moving story of a man so thoroughly broken by personal trauma that he constantly dwells in darkness. In true McCarthy style, expect the creepy as hell witch to dole out some supernatural retribution for crimes committed, but never in the way you’d expect. The filmmaker has a way of making whimsy pure nightmare fuel; Hokum distorts a kids’ show into eerie, uncanny valley-induced terror in its torment of Ohm. Channeling Stephen King, this creeper plays like a traditional campfire tale in mood and style, infusing genuine scares with a sense of magic and heart.
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