Some ideas to get you started when you’re staring at a blank list for your favorite gamers.
Some ideas to get you started when you’re staring at a blank list for your favorite gamers.
As you’re shopping, keep in mind that gamers can be a picky lot. Do you know what mouse grip she prefers? Whether he likes his keyboard switches clicky or smooth and silent? In theory, this list would need to be about 50 products long to cover all the bases just for keyboards, mice, headsets and controllers. So your best bet is to (somehow) suss out in advance what they need or want. Or at least make sure they’ll be able to exchange it for something they really like.
It’s amazing how good this Lightning-connected controller from startup Backbone is compared to the alternatives. It turns any iPhone 6s or later into a Nintendo Switch-style gaming experience, with added smarts for social and chatty gamers. .
With budget prices but better-than-budget build quality and features, this line of mice and keyboards come highly recommended. The mice come in two sizes (which is rare), because hands aren’t one-size-fits-all — the “minus” models are the smaller sizes — and the keyboards have swappable switches. Before you buy a keyboard, check with your giftee to find out what type of switches they prefer.
The HyperX Alloy Origin and its tenkeyless (TKL) sibling, the Alloy Origin Core, are great streamlined gaming keyboards and will only run you around $100. There are no discrete media controls, but the function keys are marked out with media controls as well as a Game Mode so you can disable the Windows key and certain key combos while gaming. (The markings are illuminated also, which isn’t always the case.) The company’s Ngenuity app is simple enough for building custom macros and reassigning key functions. And the keyboard’s bright per-key RGB lighting is fully programmable with the app.
The Alloy Origin’s braided cable is removable and, since it’s a USB-C connector, you can easily plug it in without looking. Plus, rear flip-down legs give you three keyboard angles to work with.
If you can afford to get the official Switch Pro Controller, do it. It’s the best you can give at the moment in terms of comfort, performance and features. And even if your giftee already has an inexpensive controller, this one can serve for at-home gaming while the less expensive option can be drafted for visits with friends and family.
Sitting on our list of best Nintendo Switch controllers, the PowerA Enhanced Wireless is the closest you’ll find to Nintendo’s own Pro. How low the price is depends on which model you buy, from Pokemon to Overwatch, though.
Steelseries’ $30 Rival 3 is surprisingly decent for the money. The ergonomic right-handed six-button mouse is very light at 77g (2.7 oz.) and uses the company’s TrueMove Core sensor with an 8,500 CPI and one-to-one tracking for precise movement. This wired mouse uses the same switches as the $120 Rival 650 mouse, and, while the buttons require a little more force than others we’ve tested, it has a fair amount of configuration possibilities, including three zones of RGB LED lights that Steelseries says are the brightest it’s used in any mouse.
According to our friends at Roadshow (who know best), these are the best steering wheels for the driving-game aficionado in your life; at least, with prices in the mid-$200 range, the best that don’t cost a gazillion bucks. Both are PC compatible; the G920 is designed to be used with an Xbox and the G29 with a PlayStation.
There’s a BlackShark V2 headset for every budget, starting with the V2 X at $60 through the V2 Pro wireless at $180. These are some of the most comfortable headsets I’ve ever worn, lightweight and not too head-squeezy, with excellent sound. They all work with consoles as well through 3.5mm jacks. If you have the budget, I’d opt for at least the $100 BlackShark V2; it’s got a lot of nice touches, such as a removable mic, braided cable and USB dongle.
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