What should I get my online friend for their birthday?

Submitted ⁨⁨12⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨TriflingToad@sh.itjust.works⁩ to ⁨[deleted]⁩

https://sh.itjust.works/pictrs/image/329f01ae-9718-4aa5-aa94-3d7adc2c311f.png

We met on a Minecraft server over ~6 ish years ago when we were like 12. We’ve definitely split over time but we still chat sometimes. Their birthday is in like a week and id like to give them a gift this year since it’s their 18th and also I would like to give back to them since they’ve been a great friend for so long.

I’ll list some attributes:

they are trans but closeted for the foreseeable future (I am trans too that’s kinda why we get along so well)
they cosplay for conventions every year. I considered going once but it’s like 13 hours away.
they have a laptop and a Nintendo switch, but mainly use the laptop
they like Minecraft
they like the band Crane Wives

I ideally would like to spend $15-20 and my options are really limited since we only know each other online. My thoughts are either like 3 months of the basic discord subscription (they expressed they wanted it in the past) or a game on Steam.
I’m leaning more towards the game on steam as it’s a long lasting thing.

I’m thinking either A Hat in Time or OneShot

I’ve never bought a gift for someone online other than among us to someone for $5 when it was popular.

Is there anything im missing or anything else you’d recommend?

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Comments

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BuboScandiacus@mander.xyz ⁨1⁩ ⁨hour⁩ ago
Noita (<- Minecraft)

A short Hike (<- Webfishing, Stardew Valley)

And just a suggestion, since you mentioned that they had a switch: Maybe try finding a used copy of Animal Crossing : New Horizons and bring it at that convention (this would be an amzing suprise but pretty costly depending on how you intend to do this 13h trip)

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- Vupware@lemmy.zip ⁨1⁩ ⁨hour⁩ ago
  Fair warning: Noita is excellent, but it is also quite difficult and obtuse when you first pick it up.
  
  My rec for Minecraft similarity is Terraria.
  
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  - BuboScandiacus@mander.xyz ⁨1⁩ ⁨hour⁩ ago
    I’ve never really gotten into terraria, to much “what am I supposed to do now ???”
    
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devdoggy@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
13 hours is not that far if you’re in the states… You should go and meet them!!

Just kidding, good luck in whatever you decide to do; your heart is in the right place!

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njm1314@lemmy.world ⁨12⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Do they have a wish list? That’s what I’d recommend doing. Most people don’t play games they’re bought by other people I’ve learned that very well over the years, but if it’s on their wish list already there’s a good chance they will.

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gibmiser@lemmy.world ⁨12⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Try Celeste. It’s not obviously about being trans but it’s a really good puzzle game that has a story they might find relatable.

How Celeste became an icon of trans gaming share.google/tWB4bVUbyYeLM8s6Y article about it

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- sunshine@lemmy.ml ⁨10⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  great suggestion, it’s just hard to imagine a trans person who owns a Switch not already owning it.
  
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kippinitreal@lemmy.world ⁨7⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
A short hike

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ArchmageAzor@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
If they like story games Oneshot is a good idea. You could also send them Steam credit so they can pick one for themselves, like sending them a gift card.

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Neverclear@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨12⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Look for a humblebundle that donates to a cause they would care about.

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altkey@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨7⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Have you considered sending them a physical letter? You can put a lot of digital goods as codes there (even steam games, albeit bought in 3rd party stores), also gift cards like ‘$10 in X store chain’ if that’s a thing at their place, but the novelty (hehe) of getting a birthday card that they can keep is waaay more cool than a gift notification. See if that’s possible and is up your alley.

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18107@aussie.zone ⁨11⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
As stated by others, their Steam wishlist is always a good starting place.

If they like story games, To The Moon is like a book you wish you could forget so you could read it again for the first time. It’s best played with 0 spoilers.

If they are the type of person who tries to optimise everything and automates a lot on Minecraft, Factorio (a bit expensive) might take over their entire life for a few years.

If they enjoy puzzles and/or you want to play with them, Portal 2 has a co-op section.

I will happily agree with everyone who mentioned Stardew Valley. It can be single or multiplayer, and has a large number of mods. The Expanded and Ridgeside mods add a huge amount of content including trans characters.

Depending on how well you know them, you could try asking if there’s any game they’d like to play together that they don’t have. Having a friend to play with is often better than the game itself.
PULSAR: Lost Colony and Void Crew are mediocre games made fun by forcing interaction with other players (friends or random people in open games). They also have a surprising proportion of LGBTQ+ players.

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- derpgon@programming.dev ⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Instead of Void Crew (which uses Epic launcher and is not quite done yet) I recommend Raft. Quite replayable, fun, has a nice story.
  
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  - 18107@aussie.zone ⁨2⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    You might be thinking of another game. Void Crew is only available on Steam.
    
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recklessengagement@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Dave the Diver

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Fecundpossum@lemmy.world ⁨11⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Definitely Stardew. Everyone should have Stardew.

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- zkfcfbzr@lemmy.world ⁨11⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  I think the screenshot is from their friend’s account, to show us what kinds of games they’ve already played? Wasn’t super clear to me either though
  
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  - Fecundpossum@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    Ohhhhhh shit you’re right. I still stand by my statement lol. If you don’t own Stardew you should.
    
    Hollow knight is another one like that. Absolute must play.
    
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Nay@feddit.nl ⁨11⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
No Mans Sky might be a good idea.

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Philote@lemmy.ml ⁨11⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Vintage story.

www.vintagestory.at

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Artisian@lemmy.world ⁨8⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
If you have a venmo or other money-transfer method, consider cash.

While a thoughtful gift is nice, cash is flexible. Enough small gifts, and one can flee home…

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Witchfire@lemmy.world ⁨11⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
RimWorld or Terraria maybe?

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finitebanjo@lemmy.world ⁨12⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Terraria.

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PoorYorick@lemmy.world ⁨11⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Core keeper.

It’s a co-op base building game similar to minecraft only top-down pixel art graphics. Easy to sink hundreds of hours into, and if you get yourself a copy as well, then you can both play together

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hisao@ani.social ⁨12⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Idk, but if you want some cool indie game recs: Pseudoregalia, Dread Delusion, Demon Turf.

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justsquigglez@leminal.space ⁨8⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Since they like Stardew, I would recommend Coral Island! It’s like Stardew but Mermaid themed. And I believe they’re working on a co-op mode for it too!

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VerilyFemme@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨8⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
They’re trans. Is it safe to assume New Vegas is in their library?

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FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world ⁨11⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
If you’re friends with them on Steam you should be able to see their wish list. That’s what I usually get my friends for Christmas, just something gifted that they’ve already flagged on their wish list.

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Phen@lemmy.eco.br ⁨11⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
A second vote for Core Keeper here. I think it’s a safer option than Terraria, which could also be a good option but isn’t for everyone.

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Coskii@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨11⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Any idea if they are playing the games solo (where possible) or with a group? They do all support multiplayer, and it’s kind of important to understand why they play the games they play.

I’d probably check the wishlist or literally ask.

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Godort@lemmy.ca ⁨11⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
Satisfactory was a phenomenal video game that you guys can play together. Not quite like Minecraft, but similar.

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