You would think there would be a huge difference between a 13-year-old and an 18-year-old. Luckily, when it comes to teenage boys, this isn't necessarily true. Warfare, guns, explosions – they're popular with the whole age range (it's just that the level of violence and bad language increases with the age rating).

Appearance is more important than it used to be (he will, these days, be dragged away from alien destruction for the sake of his social life). But practical jokes are still popular. No teenager is so cool that he won't voluntarily make himself look completely ridiculous if he feels the occasion demands it.

So it's extreme silliness or total war. You choose. Or just buy him an Amazon voucher.

10 of the best gifts for teen boys

  • <p> 127 Hours, &pound;7.99, from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> tells the true story of Aron Ralston, the adventurer who became trapped while mountain-climbing in Utah&nbsp; - and ended up having to cut off his right arm in order to free himself from the boulder that was pinning him down. Tense and compelling. Certificate 15.</p>
  • <p> Shoot aliens that are coming at you from the walls of the room you&rsquo;re standing in by clipping an iPhone 3Gs, iPhone 4 or iPod Touch 4th Gen into the appBlaster gun. This is basically a new way to play the free App &lsquo;apptoyz alien attack&rsquo;, available on iTunes, making you physically move around to find the aliens. There are dual triggers that fire bullets, laser beams and grenades, and you can play on multiple levels. Completely addictive.<br /> appBlaster iPhone gun, &pound;19.99, from <a href="http://www.red5.co.uk/" target="_blank">Red5.&nbsp; </a></p>
  • <p> In Battlefield 3, Limited Edition, PC, Xbox 360 and PS3, &pound;38.71, from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/" target="_blank">Amazon,</a> players step into the role of the elite US Marines where they will experience heart-pounding single player missions and competitive multiplayer actions ranging across diverse locations from around the globe including Paris, Tehran and New York. Rated 16 and over.</p>
  • <p> Last year&rsquo;s Great British Bake-Off winner has come up with a brilliant collection of cakes, cookies, tarts, tortes, crumbles, cobblers, pies and puddings in The Boy Who Bakes, &pound;16.99, Kyle Books, or &pound;9, from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/" target="_blank">Amazon,</a> which might inspire young males to whip out a rolling pin. Rose and raspberry macarons, anyone?</p>
  • <p> Slogans never go out of fashion, especially if they&rsquo;re funny. US company David and Goliath has hand-print 100% cotton jersey T-shirts with words and pictures that make you laugh. (Some of the humour is definitely InBetweeners. But you don&rsquo;t have to choose those ones.)&nbsp; They&rsquo;re quite roomy&nbsp; &ndash;&nbsp; size small is 36&rdquo; chest. We love this one, &pound;20, from <a href="http://www.chicksrule.co.uk/" target="_blank">Chicks Rule. </a></p>
  • <p> It&rsquo;s not clear why teenage boys love Morphsuits, &pound;32.99, from <a href="http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/" target="_blank">Iwantoneofthose.com,</a> but they do (you have only to look at all the weird pictures on Facebook). 100% Lycra with a zip up the back. Apparently you can drink and breathe through them, which is probably an advantage. Available in 17 different styles and colours, including the Tuxedo, the Ninja, and bright green, orange and purple.</p>
  • <p> From Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, who also co-starred in Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, Paul, &pound;7.99, from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/" target="_blank">Amazon </a>is a comedy adventure in which two sci-fi geeks meet an alien who&rsquo;s been hiding out at a top-secret US military base. In order to return him to the mother ship, they have to dodge federal agents and the father of a young woman they accidentally kidnap.&nbsp; Certificate 15.</p>
  • <p> No one likes staring at a blank wall when they&rsquo;re learning about oxbow lakes (or maybe checking posts on Facebook). There&rsquo;s a huge collection of new and retro images at very reasonable prices at <a href="http://www.easyart.com/" target="_blank">Easy Art,</a> including this Band Poster, &pound;5.99.</p>
  • <p> The intergalactic robe of choice for all aspiring sci-fi fanatics. Yes, it&rsquo;s a dressing-gown substitute, the Space Rug, &pound;24.99, from <a href="http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/" target="_blank">Iwantoneofthose.com</a>, but it&rsquo;s also perfect for those days when he wants to slob around in the house watching films full of explosions. Machine-washable, as if he cared, and available in black, white or brown. Maybe buy a light sabre, too.</p>
  • <p> Looks like a standard calculator, but this Wrongulator, &pound;4.95, from <a href="http://www.red5.co.uk/" target="_blank">Red5</a> is guaranteed never to give you the right answer. Not much use for Maths GCSE, but will wind up friends (and parents) who are desperately trying to work out what&rsquo;s going wrong.</p>


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