The holidays are here, and that means it's time to scramble and find the perfect gift for your family & friends.
When it comes to fans of immersive & experiential works, this is either a very easy proposition – get them a ticket to that new show that's opening up – or next to impossible.
Luckily the NoPro Staff are filled with this exact character archetype, and we got the team to weigh in on what's worth stuffing into stockings, putting under trees, and shipping across continents this season.
This is the SEVENTH YEAR of the guide, and you can check out the 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019 editions. Because we are bad at capitalism, what you find below don’t involve any kickbacks or AI-generated shill text. We’re shilling by hand for FREE, friends. But we DID reuse this graph from last year AND the year before because we are environmentally conscious!
This Year's Categories
- Live Action And Tabletop Games
- Video And Mobile Games
- Books
- Gift Cards
- Jewelry
- Productivity
- Toys
- Travel
LIVE ACTION AND TABLETOP GAMES
Clue Advent Calendar: Secrets Under Snowfall
Game
$29.99
Perfect for: Young Puzzle Fans, Families, Clue Completists
Mystery advent calendars have become a thing, and now Clue has gotten in on the action. The mystery plays out over 24 days, and once it’s done there are six winter themed tokens that can be used in other Clue games.
Word on the street is that most of the puzzles are fairly easy, up until the finale, which frames this calendar as good for the family that puzzles together like Col. Mustard in the kitchen with the pistol.
– Noah J. Nelson, Publisher
RPG Sourcebook
$10.00-30.00
Perfect for: Edgerunners, Solos, Medias, Medtechs… oops. Fans Of Cyberpunk, RPG Rules Afficiandos
Ask any RPG player over the 25 what the biggest problem with the hobby is and the answer will always be the same: finding time to get the gang together. Which is why the arrival of “single player mode” rules for RPGs is such a big deal. While it’s no replacement for the social fun of TTRPGs, these kinds of rules can help you make the most out of all those books someone may have bought after playing a popular video game a few years back. Or so I’ve been, ah, told.
If the thought of TTRPGs becoming an anti-social thing irks you Cyberpunk: Single Player Mode can also act as a co-pilot for GM’d games or a substitute for a group who wants to go GM-free. The Cyberpunk: RED rule book is required.
– Noah J. Nelson
Role Playing game
$3.93 - $20.00
Perfect for: TTRPG Players Who Like Layers, Fans Of DIE, Postmodern RPG Punks
Kieron Gillen is one of the best comic book writers working today, and his DIE series — which just started a sequel in the form of DIE: Reloaded — is all about an RPG that whisks away its players to a dangerous world where they have to become versions of their alter egos.
Gillen made the game alongside the original comic, and now there’s a Quick Start set if you want to see what it would be like to play a bunch of people playing a game that turns into a more dangerous game! If you know someone who likes their RPGs melodramatic and genre-splicy this is for them.
– Noah J. Nelson
Card Game
$6.99
Perfect for: Sneaky Friends, Game Night Hosts
Sometimes you need an amuse bouche for game night, or something to pass the time right quick while waiting for the gang to get together for an RPG session.
UNO has always been one of my go-tos for that, and when I spotted something called Liar’s UNO it was an instant buy.
This variation on the classic adds a social deduction element to the game, allowing players to attempt to bluff their way to a win.
– Noah J. Nelson
VIDEO AND MOBILE GAMES
VR Game
$29.99
Perfect For: Puzzlers, Haunted House Fans, Agatha Christie Fans
In this bold remake of the 1993 CD-ROM video game, a player explores a seemingly empty mansion to quickly discover six guests were invited as unwilling pawns in a nefarious, otherworldly plot. Yet, where is everyone? And who is this seventh guest they were all being pitted against to find? This game is easily one of the best narrative puzzle experiences available in VR, as the puzzle design is a perfect balance between challenging and accessible. Furthermore, the presentation of record performances is expertly staged, elevating the mystery’s melodramatic plot. And when paired with the game’s spooky and suspenseful tone, The 7th Guest cements its status as a delightfully rewarding narrative experience.
– Patrick B. McLean, Chicago Curator & Remote Experiences Editor
Video/Mobile Game
For Itch, Steam, iOS, and Android; pricing varies/in-app purchases available
Perfect For: Enthusiasts of The Room Series of Games, Fans of Point-and-Click Adventures, Twin Peaks Devotees
Cube Escape Collection isn’t just a game; it’s a collection of nine narratively connected “escape room” like games by puzzle game developer Rusty Lake. All nine games are set in the same delightfully bizarre universe and the player is along for an extremely unsettling, macabre ride as homicide detective Dale Vandermeer investigates a woman’s mysterious death and finds himself sucked into the Lynchian world of Rusty Lake (which is both the studio’s moniker and the story world for many of their games).
Fans of IRL escape rooms or the golden era of LucasArts-style point-and-click games will find a lot to admire here, especially in the studio’s unique art style. This nine chapter collection is available on Itch, Steam, iOS, and Android, but I will recommend a larger, tablet-style device here as interacting with the surreal environments on a touchscreen is quite satisfying. And once you or your gift recipient finishes all nine games, don’t worry - Rusty Lake’s entire catalog is worth playing.
– Kathryn Yu, Senior LA Reviewer
Demeo X DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Battlemarked
VR Game
$29.99
Perfect For: TTRPG Players, Far Flung Gamer Groups, Fantasy Tactics Fans
We’re huge Demeo fans here at NoPro, and the latest in the series from Resolution Games finds them teaming up with the makers of D&D to create a perfect blending of the two games. One that can be played in VR or on a computer/game console. Friends across all systems can play together, so long as everyone has a copy.
It’s a great way to get far flung friends back together to play.
–Noah J. Nelson
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Video Game
$69.99
Perfect For: Puzzlers, Explorers, People Who Like Fighting Fascism And Punching Nazis
If this had come out a little earlier last year it would have made the 2024 Gift Guide. As it is, this all too slept on Indiana Jones game is the best Indy adventure since The Last Crusade and one of the most immersive games ever made. All without VR in the mix.
The puzzles can feel like elaborate escape rooms at points, which makes a hell of a lot of sense. The only off note in the whole game is a final boss battle that relies a little too much on the combat mechanics you can otherwise practically ignore.
If someone on your list loves adventure, this game has it.
– Noah J. Nelson
VR Game
$49.99
Perfect for: Deadpool Fans, VR Fans With A Twisted Sense Of Humor
One of the biggest VR releases of the season — and we have to note that Kathryn who is also making recommendations worked on it — but this is the next big single player VR experience and its chock full of great writing and performances from an all-star cast.
Of course, this isn’t for the Deadpool curious, but if you know someone who really liked the movies and has a Quest well: this will fit tighter than a leather bodyglove on a mutate merc.
–Noah J. Nelson
Video Game
$49.99
Perfect For: Co-op Players, Fight with Friends On the Old Debate Of Which is Better - Sci-Fi Or Fantasy
Serving as the spiritual successor to A Way Out and It Takes Two, Split Fiction follows two young female writers who find themselves trapped within digital recreations of their own fictional work due to a technical mishap. In fighting not only to survive but also reclaim ownership of their work, the two writers work together closely and carefully constantly through ever-changing fantasy and sci-fi backdrops. Immersive fans will love this game as it can only be played cooperatively, requiring both players to be focused and aware of the other’s needs and actions. Supporting the gameplay is the narrative, a thoughtful, timely discussion on making art and how important it is for dealing with life’s hardships collectively. Along with some delightfully surprising minigames and dynamic visual staging, Split Fiction is an absolute must play.
– Patrick B. McLean
BOOKS
All This and More by Peng Shepherd
Fiction Book
$20
Perfect for: Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Fans, Reality TV Lovers, Speculative Fiction Fanatics, Readers Who Yell at the Main Character When They Do Something Dumb
Peng Shepherd’s 2024 science fiction novel takes the choose-your-own-adventure format and elevates it for adults. The story alone is a fun speculative fiction romp, but seasoned puzzlers and gamers will get even more enjoyment out of finding their way to all the different endings. Blurring the lines between “reader,” “player,” and “twisted reality tv producer,” All This and More invites its audience to take risks and see how they play out as mild-mannered protagonist Marsh wins the chance to build her perfect life, one choice at a time.
— Parker Sela, Podcast Associate Producer
The Blair Witch Project: a Dossier (1999)
Fictional Compilation of Police Reports, Journal Entries & Letters
$8-12 on various book reseller websites
Perfect for: Blair Witch Fans Ranging From Casual to Cult-Level
A true piece of movie memorabilia, this 191-page dossier was part of the viral marketing campaign designed to make audiences believe the events of The Blair Witch movie were real. Readers are exposed to a fictional compilation of photographs, interviews, newspaper articles, police reports, letters and journal entries that provide “factual” support and elaboration of the film’s narrative and characters. The limited-run book was briefly available in bookstores in 1999 and has long since been out of print, but is surprisingly affordable and easy to find on book reseller websites.
— Danielle Riha, Denver Curator
Borderline Visible by Ant Hampton
Audio/Visual Book Experience
$25
Perfect For: Historians and Vagabonds, Fans of Tactile Media, Podcast Listeners
Borderline Visible is a book which is incomplete without the reader. It is designed to be “read” while listening to a soundscape. Readers scan a QR code to begin and carefully follow the instructions of the author, Ant Hampton, who acts as the narrator. The pages are filled with photographs, maps, screenshots, snippets of documents, and more. NoPro’s readers may also recognize Ant Hampton as half of Rotozaza, who, with Silvia Mercuriali, created Etiquette back in 2007, an audio-led “autotheatro” piece performed by the audience for the audience.
Similarly, one does not read Borderline Visible so much as one performs it, flipping from page to page non-linearly when instructed. The reader may be asked to place a finger and hold their place while flipping to a map in the back of the book. Or turn to a specific page, almost like a Choose Your Own Adventure volume, but then close their eyes and imagine what it feels like to touch a surface depicted on within. Or turn and place one’s hand flat on the page, obscuring its contents, until instructed.
During the 77-minute run time, Hampton recounts his physical travels from Switzerland to Turkey while interweaving themes about family, language, migration, war, history, the differences between swifts and swallows, T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land, and more. As the creator notes on the back cover: “This book is the printed half. The other half is sound. The two come together between your hands and ears.”
– Kathryn Yu
The Future of Storytelling by Charles Melcher
Book
$35
Perfect for: Immersive Heads Who Love Coffee Table Books, People Who Crave Theory Discussions About Immersive
Part coffee table book showcasing the last few years of immersive experiences, part exploration of what makes them tick by the globe-traveling founder of The Future of Storytelling organization, the book of the same name is a gorgeous tome.
Melcher’s frameworks are sure to be debated, but no one has put together a book quite like this celebrating experiential work yet. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Melcher has been producing book since the 1990’s — Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth among them — which makes the book a showstopper of a work of art.
– Noah J. Nelson
Horror Novel
$16-24
Perfect for: Fans of The Blair Witch, Horror Movie Enthusiasts, Amateur Filmmakers, Directors & Writers
In a stroke of pure brilliance, the author of this book about amateur-filmmaking-gone-wrong uses the actual screenplay from the cursed film to help tell the story. The unique format has the effect of letting the reader first see how things were supposed to go according to the script, followed by the main character’s first-person account of where everything went wrong. Add in present day narrative as the decades-old cult film that was never finished or released is being remade, and you have the makings of a very heady horror novel.
— Danielle Riha
Infinite Right Answers Zine by Mister and Mischief
Zine
$15
Perfect for: Creators, Process Nerds, Anyone Who Enjoys Mister & Mischief’s Work
From the brilliant, bonkers minds that helped bring us Escape From Godot, and 40 Watts From Nowhere comes Infinite Right Answers, a playful peek into the creative process of Mister & Mischief (Jeff and Andy Crocker). If you've ever had the chance to chat with them, or see them speak at an event (like at this past year’s The Next Stage, where Andy led a workshop,) you know that they're also joyful human beings who revel in sharing their craft. Equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and useful, this zine distills the duo’s immersive wisdom into a “mini-festo”.
– Katrina Lat, Toronto Curator
The Night Circus, Folio Society Edition by Erin Morgenstern
Book As Art Object
$100 plus shipping from the UK
Perfect For: People Who View Books as Art Objects, Tactile Media Lovers, Punchdrunk Lovers
After the McKittrick Hotel in New York City closed its doors earlier this year, I know that a lot of folks had a Sleep No More-shaped hole in their hearts. Enter one of my favorite books for immersonauts, The Night Circus by Punchdrunk fan and author Erin Morgenstern, a tale about a magical circus which appears and disappears overnight and the passionate fans who love attending it.
For those who are inclined to purchase physical media for others (or for themselves!), let me strongly recommend this brand new edition of the beloved novel from The Folio Society. This beautiful collectable volume of The Night Circus includes endpapers printed with metallic gold, a strikingly bold slipcase, and additional full page color illustrations by Cristina Bencina. The art is stunning and sure to strike a chord with any one who wishes that Le Cirque Des Reves was real (and hopes one day it will set up shop near their town).
— Kathryn Yu
Otherworldly Fantasy
$17.99
Perfect For: Those Who Dream of Infinitely Explorable Spaces, Blue Prince Sickos
Imagine a house that is enormously vast and seemingly infinite, filled with marble hallways and statues. There is room upon room upon room, rooms which never repeat. Sometimes, though, the house floods. And there is a man. Just one man, who lives there, all alone. He lives to explore the house and document its secrets. He calls himself Piranesi. But who is he really? How did he come to live in the house? And what is the true nature of the house?
That’s just the starting point of Piranesi by Susanne Clarke, a dreamlike, imaginative novel which itself unfolds like a mysterious mansion of many rooms and many doors. To say too much more would be to rob new readers of Susanne Clarke’s masterpiece. I’ll just say this: as soon as I finished reading this book, all I wanted to do was to read it again.
— Kathryn Yu
GIFT CARDS
Gift Card
$50 and up (select your location, then scroll to the bottom for Gift Cards)
Perfect for: Puzzle People; Families & Groups; Competitive Personalities; 90’s Nickelodeon Kids Who Want to Get Slimed
Beat the Bomb is an exciting mix of puzzles and video games that requires quick thinking and teamwork. First, work your way through a series of rooms – each with a different challenge or game and a new way to interact with the tech – to earn time for your final mission. Then, after donning a hazmat suit, you’ll face your hardest challenge yet as you and your team try to Beat the Bomb. If you fail (and it’s pretty likely that you will) you’ll be blasted with foam, slime or paint… and take home a funny video clip of the hit!
— Danielle Riha
Gift Card
CA$50-200
Perfect for: Escape Room Enthusiasts, Immersive Folk Who Seek Narrative-Driven Games, Anyone Who Wants An Excuse To Come Visit Canada
Located just half an hour from Montreal, Canada is Escaparium Laval, home to some of the world’s most acclaimed escape rooms Magnifico (TERPECA #1), The Forgotten Cathedral (#3), Wardrobe for Sale (#14), Lost Island of the Voodoo Queen (#37), and Ctrl + Alt + Reboot (their newest game, which is yet to be ranked, but is actually my favourite of the bunch). These are fantastic narrative-driven games with incredible set design, memorable characters, and actors. Having this many top rooms all under the same roof is incredible.
— Katrina Lat
JEWELRY
Sleep No More-Inspired Custom Jewelry by Galactic Ephemera on Etsy
Pendants, Brooches, and Necklaces
$20, 24, and 30 respectively
Perfect for: Ghosts Who Still Haunt the McKittrick Hotel, Punchdrunk Obsessives
This gorgeous and affordable jewelry inspired by Sleep No More will make the perfect gift for your Punchdrunk enthusiast. Choose from a wide variety of charms, each one picked by the creator to align to specific characters from the show. Perhaps you’d like a playing card because it reminds of your favorite Speakeasy Bartender? Or a tiny paper boat charm reminiscent of the Hotel Porter? Or a shiny red anatomical heart charm, or a blood red lipstick, in honor of Hecate?
Just make sure you order before December 16 so there is plenty of time to create and ship your custom pendant, brooch, or necklace before the big holiday. Bonus: NoPro readers can save 20% using the code NOPRO25 or by shopping via the link above.
– Kathryn Yu
PRODUCTIVITY
Notetaking Kit
$49
Perfect for: Brainstormers, Those Who Like Everything In The Right Place,
Years ago I put Ugmonk’s Analog productivity system on the list, as it had become a key part of my own system for staying “organized.” An elegant system of well designed cards and card holders that help focus attention on the objectives at hand — which lord knows I need — and that system has grown and my affection for it along with it, even as I use it in conjunction with digital tools.
This year Ugmonk added “Capture” cards to the set. Larger cards for brainstorming and note taking along with their own very cleverly designed holder that makes it easy to slide a card back in the bottom of the stack once it has served its purpose. All in all: a joy to use that so far always creates a moment of “I have just the thing!”
– Noah J. Nelson
Unfinished Projects Release Forms Booklet by April Soetarman
Paper Goods
$18 for one, $45 for three
Perfect for: Creatives Who Won’t Admit Defeat, Chronic Dabblers and Dilettantes
Have you ever started a project and found it just too dang difficult to see it through to the very end? Perhaps you’ve realized it’s just not in the budget, or you simply don’t have the time, or your creative partner moved away, or you’re just not that into the idea any more.
Well, this holiday season, give the gift of letting go with some Unfinished Projects Release Forms by artist April Soetarman. The form is a two part carbonless slip which acts as a permission slip for letting go of a project you’re just not going to finish.
Congratulations, you are now free! Go on and archive those files. Let the domain name go. Stop checking that inbox. It’s just like it says on the form: you have permission. (And if you need inspiration as to what to do next, check out the Project Impasse Toolkit as well.)
— Kathryn Yu
TOYS
Pokemon x Haneyama “Huzzle” Physical Puzzles
Mechanical PuzzlePrice: ¥3000 at retail (but you’ll need to buy them off a third-party reseller to get a hold of one outside of Japan)
Perfect for: Puzzle Lovers, Anyone Who Wants To Nerd Up Their Desk But in a “Classy” Manner, Folks Who Want to be the Very Best Like No One Ever Was
Part art object, part brain teaser, the Pokémon x Hanayama Huzzle puzzles are a gorgeous collaboration between the legendary puzzle-makers and The Pokémon Company. These cast metal mechanical puzzles come in four difficulty levels, cleverly themed to Pokéball types: Poké Ball (easiest), Great Ball, Ultra Ball, and Master Ball (most difficult). Whether you’re a seasoned puzzler or just want something beautiful (and slightly nerdy) to fiddle with on your desk, these are a delight.
– Katrina Lat
Star Wars: The Black Series The Stranger Helmet
Prop Replica
$99.99
Perfect for: Sith Apprentices, Knights of Ren, Those Who Think The Acolyte Could Have Used Another Season
A funny thing happened while I was researching the gift guide. I, uh, bought this.
The Star Wars Black Series line has long made some fine, fine helmets and I have steadfastly avoided going anywhere near them. After all, I don’t have the space to really get into collecting them. Or the money.
But the helmet of The Stranger, the villain of and the best thing about The Acolyte, is just so cool. Easily the coolest Star Wars helmet since Darth Vader & Boba Fett and there’s a lot of cool helmets in Star Wars.
If you’ve got a fan in your life who thought The Stranger looked cool they are gonna flip.
– Noah J. Nelson
TRAVEL
Suitcase
$325
Perfect for: Frequent Flyers, Overpackers Who Don’t Like Checking In Luggage
After spending five months living out of this suitcase across North America, Europe, and Asia, I can confidently say that the Away Carry-On Flex was my best purchase of last year. It fits even the most restrictive international flight requirements, and the zippered expansion is perfect for lazy travel legs when repacking feels like a chore. While I was initially wary of buying such a popular bag, its ubiquity means I’ve never been asked to size it at the gate. It’s also backed by a limited lifetime warranty that covers everything other than cosmetic damage, which gives me a lot of peace of mind.
– Katrina Lat
Luggage
Pieces Starting at $25
Perfect for: Fans Who Like To Flaunt It, Travelers Of The Nerd Persuasion
When it comes to bags and luggage there are two types of people: those who like plain AF pieces and those who want something with some character. In the case of the Hero & Villains travel line that’s literal, as the company produces kit based on the X-Men, Star Wars, and other “geek” properties.
Somehow, they also make pretty damn good kit. I got my Jedi Order convertible backpack three years ago and it’s still my everyday carry and holding up brilliantly. The designs have been popular enough that the company has full matching luggage sets at this point.
– Noah J. Nelson
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