Some ideas to get you started when you’re staring at a blank list for your favorite gamers.

Gaming is unprecedentedly popular this year, but you don’t have to give an expensive, hard-to-find console or PC to spread the love — every PC gamer needs a great gaming mouse, gaming keyboard, comfy chair or headset. Here’s my first stab at a list of the best gaming accessories to gift the video gamers in your life, intended to appeal to a variety of gamers and wallets. I’ll be expanding it on a regular basis, so check back.

     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.

Backbone One

Best iPhone game controller

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. .

Glorious PC Gaming Race mice and keyboards

Light on the wallet but not on the features

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.

HyperX Alloy Origin or Origin Core keyboard

Excellent keyboarding for a midrange price

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.

$90 at Best Buy

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

The best controller for the crowd-pleasing console

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.

PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch

Best budget Nintendo Pro-like controller

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 Rival 3 mouse

Cheap but excellent mouse

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.

Logitech G920 or G29 racing wheels

Baby drivers

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.

Razer BlackShark V2 headsets

For every budget and head

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.

Guardian Insider
Recent Post
Trendy vs Timeless: How to Incorporate
  • December 6, 2024
  • 5 min read
Fashion Bloggers We Love: Influencers Making
  • December 3, 2024
  • 5 min read
The Evolution of Street Style: From
  • December 1, 2024
  • 6 min read
The Latest Technological Innovations: A Guide
  • November 25, 2024
  • 6 min read
Creating a Life You Love: Strategies
  • November 18, 2024
  • 5 min read
Why Gaming is Good for You:
  • November 15, 2024
  • 8 min read
Empower Your Life: How Women’s Lifestyle
  • November 14, 2024
  • 6 min read
Gallery
Top Categories

Related Posts

Technology
The Latest Technological Innovations: A Guide to the Future of Tech
Technology
The Impact of Tech on Society: Uncovering the Role of Innovation in Today’s World
Technology
From AI to AR: Exploring the Cutting-Edge Technologies Shaping Our World
Technology
Revolutionizing Our Everyday Lives: A Comprehensive Guide