9 Winning Gifts for Gamers

The object of The Walking Dead Risk; conquer the post-apocalyptic United States. While fending off zombies, naturally. ($49.99; thinkgeek.com)

Use brains and brawn to save parallel worlds from destruction when you play the Nintendo 3DS XL bundle with The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. ($219.99; gamestop.com)

The LeapPad Ultra boasts kid-safe Web browsing, preloaded apps, and a high-res touchscreen that swipes just like a grown-up tablet. ($249.99; shop.leapfrog.com)

The Sony Playstation 4 brings super-computer power for movie-like gaming, which you can share as a live stream to others (or as clips to post as you play). Post-game there's Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon video, and others to complete the home theater experience. ($399.99; us.playstation.com)

Come for the photo-realistic gaming — even in massive multiplayer games — and incredible interactivity via the mindblowing Kinect camera, but stay for what may be the best system for streaming Internet video services so far. ($499.99; xbox.com)

A gaming system is only as good as its games. Among the year's most buzzed-about and best-selling titles: Tomb Raider ($23.29; amazon.com), Batman Arkham Origins ($59.99; toysrus.com), Grand Theft Auto V ($59.99; bestbuy.com), BioShock Infinite ($29.99; amazon.com), Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist ($59.96; walmart.com), Rayman Legends ($53.91; sears.com), Killzone Shadow Fall ($59.99; gamestop.com), Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag ($59.95; target.com), The Last of Us ($58.14; overstock.com)

The Disney Infinity ''sandbox video game'' allows Disney and Pixar characters — sold separately — to meet, mingle, and go on adventures. ($74.99; toysrus.com)

The XBox Live 12-month Gold membership ($59.96; walmart.com) and the 1-year PlayStation Plus membership ($49.99; amazon.com) are a must for anyone giving their gamer a new system this year.

With a specially designed ear cup that lets the user hear external game sounds while chatting, the Ear Force P4c communicator headset is an affordable way to enhance game play on the PS4. ($24.95; turtlebeach.com)