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It’s hard to believe, but Valentine’s Day 2021 (which falls on Sunday, February 14) is nearly here. Like every other holiday for the past year, Valentine’s Day will look rather different than usual, as many restaurants are still closed (at least for indoor dining), and other traditional date spots like movie theaters are no longer an option either. Essentially, you should be planning a date night at home this year. Fortunately, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate safely with your significant other this Valentine’s Day, and you can still make their day feel extra special with a thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift.
There are the traditional Valentine’s Day gift ideas, of course–chocolate, flowers, cards, jewelry. These are classics for a reason (and chocolate is always a good idea), but Valentine’s Day is also a nice opportunity to think about your unique relationship and what makes it special. Maybe that person collects a specific type of merch, maybe they’re a tabletop gaming enthusiast, or maybe you both love playing games on the couch together. The best Valentine’s Day gift ideas stem from things that bring them joy year-round or that bring you closer together as a couple. And fortunately, when it comes to gaming and pop culture, there’s no shortage of gift options out there.
Planning activities that you can do together is always a great Valentine’s Day gift idea as well. That’s why it’s great to find games that you can play together, whether that’s co-op video games or board games. There are some great card games out there as well that are specifically designed to help couples discover new aspects of each other and ignite interesting conversations–we’ve included Valentine’s gift ideas with that in mind as well.
Whether you’re in a new, blossoming relationship or celebrating an anniversary this year, these Valentine’s Day gift ideas can help make the holiday feel extra special, even being stuck inside during the pandemic. And for more ideas on how to spend this Valentine’s Day indoors, see our guides to the best games for couples to play together and cozy films to watch this Valentine’s Day.
Star Wars Funko Pops
As part of Funko Fair 2021, these new Valentine’s Day-themed Star Wars Funko Pops were announced, releasing just in time for the upcoming holiday. Chewbacca, Yoda, Darth Vader, and a Storm Trooper are all available as adorable pink-and-red Funkos holding a box of chocolates, making a perfect gift for the Star Wars fan in your life. (Note that these are starting to sell out and have longer shipping times now.)
See Valentine’s StormtrooperSee Valentine’s ChewbaccaSee Valentine’s YodaSee Valentine’s Darth Vader See at Amazon
Fog of Love
Fog of Love is a two-player board game where you create and role-play as two characters who meet, fall in love, and face challenges in their relationship. From sweet moments to difficult arguments, you’ll have to decide how your character would react, and you’ll earn points in certain traits along the way. Just like in real life, your characters may also have different goals, and by the end of the game, the relationship could grow stronger–or fall apart. But hey, this is just a game! Regardless of how your fictional lovers fare in Fog of Love, you and your real-life sweetheart are sure to have a blast starring in this tabletop rom-com. This board game also has a few different covers available to include LGBTQ relationships.
PowerA Enhanced Wireless Switch Controllers
Pick up a new controller in their favorite color this Valentine’s Day. For Nintendo Switch owners, PowerA offers gorgeous third-party Switch controllers at a more affordable price point, making them a great option for multiplayer or just to have an extra gamepad on hand. If you plan to have a co-op game night this Valentine’s Day, handing them a new controller based on their favorite game will be the cherry on top.
Pikachu & Mew Admiration Flower Pin Box Set
If your loved one is a Pokemon fanatic, you can’t do better than Pokemon Center’s official Valentine’s Day collection. Every year, the store puts out a positively adorable collection of jewelry, collectibles, and apparel for Valentine’s Day, and 2021’s offerings do not disappoint. For Pokemon collectors, this heart box is a fantastic option, offering four silvery metal pins in place of chocolate (that way they can enjoy it long-term!). Pikachu, Mew, Ditto, and Eevee are captured in silver next to colorful pastel flowers, and they can be worn on a jacket, lanyard, or backpack.
You can also check out the entire Pokemon Valentine’s collection at Pokemon Center.
Cuphead and Mugman set
Show them just how well you go together with this matching Cuphead and Mugman set, inspired by the acclaimed run-and-gun game. These adorable mugs are perfect for a cozy game or movie night, and even if you two don’t live together, they’ll think of you every time they make a drink. Each mug comes with a removable stirring straw. Just note they’re not dishwasher or microwave safe.
Sega Genesis Mini
Retro gamers will delight in the Sega Genesis Mini, which includes 42 nostalgic games and two controllers so you can play some of the classic games together, like Golden Axe, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and ToeJam & Earl. This mini console is truly tiny and won’t take up much space, but it’s sure to bring hours of fun if they have fond memories of the original Sega Genesis.
Razer Kraken BT Kitty Edition
Released late last year as a wireless version of Razer’s popular Kraken Kitty headset, the BT Kitty Edition ranks among our favorite Bluetooth headphones for PC gamers. Perfect for those who prefer the convenience of wireless listening, the BT Kitty Edition retains the cute light-up cat ear style of the original Kraken Kitty and offers a stable wireless connection with solid audio. The BT Kitty Edition connects easily to your PC or other devices, making it a versatile option for those who would use it for gaming, music, podcasts, and other audio experiences. Its over-ear fit is also remarkably comfortable.
It’s worth noting that for streamers, we do recommend the wired Kraken Kitty as it has more features that are useful to those who play games on Twitch and other platforms, such as responsive lighting and an active noise-canceling mic.
Nintendo Switch Lite
For someone looking to get more into gaming or who wants to play specific games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the Nintendo Switch Lite is a fantastic option. While it can’t be docked and played on the TV, it’s a great option for handheld gamers as it feels more comfortable to hold, and it comes in four colors as well: turquoise, yellow, gray, and coral. At $200, the Switch Lite is the most affordable current-gen system on the market, and it has great games for fans of every genre.
Baby Yoda Pop-Up Valentine's Day Card
Nothing says “I love you” like this adorable pop-up Valentine’s Day card featuring everyone’s favorite green alien from The Mandalorian. The card opens up into a three-dimensional diorama of The Child, with text that says, “Just reaching out… to say I love you.” Whether you’re mailing this card or handing it directly to your beloved this Valentine’s Day, it’s sure to make them smile.
Millennium Falcon Galactic Love T-Shirt
Your special someone will love cozying up in this soft Millennium Falcon tee this Valentine’s Day. Made of 100% cotton, this official T-shirt has a vintage style that’s great for both lounging around the house and wearing out.
"Date Night In" Flower Bouquet
Flowers are a Valentine’s Day staple, and the impact of receiving a fresh bouquet from someone you love can’t be overstated. That said, we like this fresh take on the Valentine’s Day bouquet at Bouqs, which gets you a lovely arrangement of red roses and pink alstroemeria along with a card game to play with your significant other. The card game is called We’re Not Really Strangers, and it’s designed to help deepen your connection with someone through three levels of carefully crafted questions and wildcards. Whether you’re in the budding stages of a new relationship or playing with a long-term partner, We’re Not Really Strangers will bring you even closer together and help you see each other from a fresh perspective.
Sailor Moon x ColourPop Collection
The Sailor Moon x ColourPop collection is one of the coolest makeup collabs in recent years, combining the affordable, reliable quality of ColourPop with the magical pastel shades of Sailor Moon, one of the most popular anime of all time. For people who wear makeup, the Sailor Moon collection would make a wonderful addition to their collection, and it’s currently back in stock in time for Valentine’s Day. You can buy the entire Sailor Moon collection on sale for just $73.50 right now, but if you’re looking for a cheaper gift, you can buy just the eyeshadow palette for $16.50 or any of the other products separately as well.
Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros.
Released last year for Mario’s 35th anniversary, the Nintendo Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. Edition would make a great Valentine’s Day gift idea for fans of the old-school system. This system lets you play through the original Super Mario Bros. game as well as Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels and a special Game & Watch: Ball game. It also doubles as a digital clock and makes for a neat collectible.
Spider-Man 4-Film Collection (Blu-ray Steelbook)
For fans of Marvel’s wall-climbing hero, this four-film Spider-Man collection is a fantastic Valentine’s Day gift idea. It includes the acclaimed Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which recently left Netflix, along with Spider-Man: Far From Home, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Venom. This collectible set also comes with a cool steelbook case along with Blu-ray and digital copies of the film. For 4K fans, however, we suggest the 4K Ultra HD copy of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, also available from Best Buy.
See Blu-ray set at Best Buy See Spider-Verse 4K at Best Buy
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
While we’ve focused on Valentine’s Day gift ideas beyond video games for the purposes of this list, we’d be remiss not to mention a major game releasing on Nintendo Switch two days before Valentine’s Day: Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury. An enhanced port of the 2013 Wii U game, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury brings the beloved game to Nintendo Switch with modern graphics, improved gameplay, and all-new content involving Bowser. It features both local and online co-op for up to four players, so you’ll be able to play through the game with your partner whether you live together or separately. If you preorder the game now, you’ll receive it on release day, just in time for Valentine’s Day.
The Couple's Bucket List
For couples who live together, these date night ideas cards can help you come up with new activities and challenges to do together. Sure, it may seem cheesy, but it can help break you out of your day-to-day routine and reignite that spark of doing something together for the first time. You could break in the set and use the first card to kickstart your Valentine’s Day evening.
