It’s hard to believe that the holiday season is already upon us (unless you watch ads and visit pretty much any retail store for the last month, that is), but it’s time yet again to start thinking about that special gamer in your life and what would bring even more joy to them. It’s easy (especially if you read our reviews) to know what game is worth getting, and let’s face it, they’ve probably already purchased it for themselves. That’s where the magic of hardware comes in. Maybe the special someone in your life is still using a chair that’s worn down to foam or a headset that touts surround sound as being “new.” With contributions from Chris Shive and Cory Wells, we’ve put together a 2023 list of both essential hardware and items that will bring extra luxury and flash to the gamer in your life.
Best Multi-platform Headset: Turtle Beach Stealth Pro Headset (Buy)
Having a good headset can be a game changer for multiplayer games, or just good to have for those times when you don’t want to disturb anyone else at home. One of the problems with multi-console households is many headsets are designed for one specific platform. This isn’t an issue with the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro. It can operate on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. One particular feature that makes this stand out from most other gaming headsets is the swappable batteries, so if one battery dies during an extended play session, the user only needs to take a few seconds to swap in the second battery. The sound quality is delivered through 50 mm drivers and supports 5.1 surround sound for headsets. Combine this with noise cancelling, a flip-to-mute mic and Turtle Beach’s glasses-friendly ProSpecs relief system and you have a high-quality headset that can be used on just about any modern gaming platform.
PlayStation Controller That Offers a Little Extra: Nacon Revolution Pro 5(Buy)
Standard controllers are fine in most situations, but sometimes it’s nice to have a controller that delivers a little extra. The Revolution Pro 5 is one such controller which is compatible with PC, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. One of the hallmarks of its design is Hall effect technology which prevents between parts to improve durability and reduce stick drift. This controller with a 3m detachable cable for wireless or wired gameplay. It’s compatible with an app that allows for four profiles per platform to allow for customizable set ups and additional buttons on the back of the controller which can be programmed to the individual user’s desired specifics. There are also three sets of weights, stick bases and stick heads so the player is free to adjust the controller for their individual ergonomic comfort. This is a good controller overall, but there are a few caveats to consider, which may outweigh the benefits for some. The haptic functions are disabled on PlayStation 5 and it can’t be used to turn on the console or awaken it from sleep mode. The controller also lacks a speaker, and the charging port is so deeply recessed the USB-C cable that is included is necessary to charge it as the charging cable that comes with the PS5 won’t fit.
Xbox Controller That Offers a Little Extra: Nacon Revolution X (Buy)
Not to leave Microsoft fans out in the cold, Nacon has also created a controller that offers a little extra for Xbox. The Revolution X is a wired controller that’s compatible with PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. Users can create custom profiles using the Revolution X App which supports up to four separate profiles, with four additional shortcut keys that can be customizable. The joystick amplitude can be adjusted from 44 to 30 degrees. The ergonomics of the controller can be further customized with 6 weights along with 2 additional sets of joystick weights and joystick heads. The controller’s RGB lighting effects and vibration can also be customized. For most gaming situations standard controllers are fine, but there are those who prefer the competition-style controllers that include additional back buttons. The Revolution X caters to gamers with the preference for those features. For someone who just needs another controller, the standard Xbox controller will do, but for people who care about these extra bells and whistles, the Revolution X is a fine option. For a limited time the Revolution X is available with a camo design.
Best Gift For Gamers Concerned About Blue Light Exposure: Gunnar Gaming Glasses (Buy)
Taking care of one’s eyes seems like it would be an important aspect and gaming, and for those who are concerned about exposure to blue light from long hours in front of various screens, Gunnar has you covered. Their gaming glasses are designed to reduce eye fatigue and block blue light exposure, which is said to cause interference with keeping a normal sleep schedule. Gunnar gaming glasses come in a variety of styles and for an additional cost can be outfitted with an individual’s prescription if applicable. Each pair of glasses comes with a pouch and cleaning cloth. For the stylish gamer, they have launched many styles that are adorned with logos of popular games that were released this year such as Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Call of Duty, Diablo IV and Spider-Man 2.
Best Keyboard For Serious PC Gamers: Corsair K70 Max (Buy)
Whether someone is into first-person shooters like Call of Duty or RPGs like Baldur’s Gate 3, having a good keyboard is an important part of a PC gaming set up. The Corsair K70 Max is equipped with adjustable magnetic-mechanical switches that allows users to set every key’s actuation point. Combining this with dual-point actuation allows users to assign two discrete actions to a single keypress, granting the ability to instantly execute one-two combos. Additionally the K70 Max is capable of processing speeds up to eight times that of conventional keyboards which is crucial in games where a split second can be the difference between victory or defeat.
Best Overkill PC Component to Add to a Holiday Build: Kingston FURY Beast DDR5 RGB Memory (Buy)
Sure, going all out for an RTX 4090 is a big buy, but have you ever thrown down on RAM? Like, really thrown down on RAM? Maybe not getting something gold plated, but something arguably just as beautiful to not only complete a build, but actually take it over? Kingston FURY Beast RGB DDR5 RAM kits focus on overclocking automatically with either Intel XMP 3.0 or AMD EXPO options. They’re available in up to kits of four and 128GB with varying speeds. Extremely vibrant and beautiful lighting that’s customizable via the FURY CTRL software and includes Kingston’s patented Infrared Sync Technology and new heat spreader designs will maximize what the RAM can do. It’s just a question if your system is up to the task. The noticeable increase in performance will allow tasks to get done faster and games to become more competitive. For those who set out to specifically overclock components, there are a lot of tools here and the FURY Beast RGB was designed for improved stability with on-die ECC and on-board PMIC for power balance. The Kingston FURY Beast RGB is the flashiest of the flash.
Best PC Case for a New Holiday Build: NZXT H6 Flow (Buy)
For years, NZXT has always innovated its case design and the latest H6 Flow is no different. Featuring a beautiful panoramic glass design for an unobstructed view of the interior of the case, it’s the way of the future. Immense airflow comes through the pre-installed 120mm fans with options to add up to a 360mm radiator at the top, two fans at the bottom and one in the rear. The H6 Flow allows for maximum ventilation with its dual-chamber design as this thicc boy focuses on width rather than height. The clever design includes tool-free access as panels are easily removed without force, the power supply slides into the rear that allows heat to dissipate away from the components, and cable management is available to allow for a clean aesthetic. The case is available in both black and white, but the white tends to stand out the best and NZXT offers matching color components to fill the need including motherboards, fans and AIO coolers. The big bonus is having the front panel connectors all in one connector rather than being split up. The H6 Flow is the perfect case to start a build with this Holiday season.
Best Gaming Gift to Open: PlayStation VR2 (Buy)
The icing on top of the cake for PS5 owners is access to the PSVR2. While it seems it released eons ago, it actually released in March and has significant titles to go with it. While the Meta Quest 3 recently released, a lot more settings tweaking goes into making the Quest work with PC games that aren’t actually on the device. With the PSVR 2, both the headset and controllers offer haptic feedback with a 4K OLED display with HDR capabilities. While games like Resident Evil Village and The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners may cater more to specific gamers, others like Gran Turismo 7, Moss Book 1 & 2 and Horizon Call of the Mountain are more suited for everyone. NFL Pro Era II even recently released for it, so there’s a wide variety of games in less than a year available to experience with high visual fidelity and just one cable. The headset also features built-in audio with wired earbuds coming directly from the headset. The established library, updated technology and the ease of use straight out of the box will have families putting aside the rest of the gifts to open this Holiday season.
Best Soundbar to Relieve Your Headset of its Duties: Razer Leviathan V2 Pro (Buy)
If the amount of volume from your system has no limits, then the innovation that has been put into the Leviathan V2 Pro will have PC gamers retire their headsets. THX Spatial Audio in combination with beamforming technology will allow players to receive the benefits of playing with a headset without having to wear one. Headsets are great, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes you want to let everyone else know how well you’re doing in a game. The world’s first soundbar with beamforming technology means the audio is sent directly to your ears. It does this by using head-tracking AI with an infrared camera. It also has RGB, Bluetooth 5.0 and a 5.25-inch downward-firing subwoofer. Different equalizer settings are also preset to help change the quality of experience you’re looking for and options and volume are easily adjustable via the interface on the Leviathan V2 Pro, itself. There are currently three Leviathan V2’s available to suit your needs, but the V2 Pro leads the way.
Best Gaming Throne for the Winter: AndaSeat Kaiser 3 (Buy)
Comfort is important while gaming, but another aspect is assembling the product. The AndaSeat Kaiser 3 is AndaSeat’s premium chair with many color options. Whether you want to keep it simple with black Premium PVC Leather or go gray with Linen Fabric, the simplicity of these chairs keeps things in order for gamers. The leather offer seven different colors including a pink, aqua and orange while the Linen is offered in gray and black. Choices of either large or extra large are available along with built-in four-way lumbar support via a knob on the side, 90-165 degree recline and lock, and magnets. Yes, magnets. A head pillow is included that uses a magnet to hold itself to the chair. This allows for positioning changes and eliminates that tacky Velcro strap. Magnets are also used to attach pieces to the chair during installation, so trying to mash plastic together to fit is eliminated. Chair assembly only took about 20-30 minutes, which includes the unboxing that was organized well. Along with a reshaped seatbase, the Kaiser 3 is meant to feel spacious. The Kaiser 3 is currently discounted for Black Friday.
