Game room gifts under $100

Nothing else in this price range changes the experience as much. A proper paddle replaces the low-grip racket that came with their table, and the effect is immediate — the ball grips, spin becomes possible, and the table feels like a better table.

It is also universally applicable: every ping pong table owner has bundled paddles, and almost none of them have replaced them.

House cues that come with tables are warped, badly tipped or both. A real two-piece cue is the first upgrade almost every table owner makes, and doing it for them is a genuinely good gift.

Around 19 ounces is the safe weight when buying for someone else.

The darts bundled with boards are unbalanced with flights that fall apart. A real set around 22 to 24 grams is inexpensive and makes an enormous difference to how quickly someone improves.

Only for bristle boards — check before buying.

A surround catches the darts that miss before they reach plaster. It works with any board and any darts, which makes it one of the safest gifts in the category.

If you are buying for a family rather than an individual, four matched paddles is better than one good one: everyone gets something decent and doubles becomes possible.

A scoreboard is the thing that turns throwing and potting into playing games, and it is one of the last things people get around to buying for themselves.

It also does something no accessory does: it makes the room look finished. For someone who has just set up a game room, that is a genuinely nice gift.