Gaming is serious business. Some people even game as a profession, but they don’t get where they’re at using a $10 mouse and a keyboard from Walmart. If you’re tired of hearing “git gud,” here are some accessories you can purchase to seriously upgrade your gaming edge. Keep in mind that these items won’t be the cheapest on the market for a reason, but I’ve tried to find the best quality for as reasonable a price as possible.
Gunnar Glasses ($58)
Some people consider Gunnars to be nothing more than a gimmick, but other gamers swear by the glasses. Staring at tablets, computers, or TVs can give anyone an intense headache, but Gunnar lenses are designed to cut down on glare and filter some of the blue light from screens. The company claims that the glasses can help decrease headaches, dry eyes, blurred vision, and eye strain. Gunnar also offers prescription glasses if you wear 1.00, 1.50, or 2.00 power—they're available in both the crystalline and amber lenses.
Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Headset ($130)
The Sound BlasterX H7 is cheaper than many headsets on the market, but it’s also easily one of the best. It’s capable of delivering 7.1 Dolby Surround sound so you can hear the footsteps of your enemy before they kill you first or that quiet whisper in the cut scene. The Sound BlasterX H7 also comes with a detachable, noise-reducing microphone, so you can let your teammates know where the enemies are or just listen music in peace. It connects via analog or USB connection, so you can connect it to your Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, or Mac.
Logitech G610 Keyboard ($90)
Logitech is known for making affordable gaming accessories that are incredibly high-quality, and, in this case, the G610 keyboard outperforms many of its competitors. While it doesn’t have anything exceptionally fancy, it does have everything you could need in a gaming keyboard: media controls, custom key assignments, height adjustment, backlight personalization, and authentic Cherry MX keys. This keyboard may make you fall in love with mechanical keyboards all over again.
Razer Wildcat Controller ($130)
The Razer Wildcat is designed for Xbox One play, but it also works seamlessly with your PC. The hand grips give you a better hold on the controller, and it’s incredibly lightweight—especially when compared to the classic Xbox controller. Extra buttons and easy programming give you the chance to utilize it for whatever game you want to play, and the built-in audio controls let you mute your mic without distraction.
One thing you may notice is that the Wildcat isn’t wireless. Why? So that your controller won’t crap out at the most important moment of the game, causing you to die…repeatedly until you finally grab batteries.
SCUF Infinity ($130)
The console wars are real, but we’ve got you PlayStation 4 guys covered. SCUF makes quality controllers that can change the way you game forever. Infinity comes with PRO paddles that allow you to keep your thumbs on the sticks at all times and also come with EMR technology so you can remap the paddles to any face button. Plus, you’ll never have to worry about dropping your controller ever again, because the Infinity is coated in a military-grade, non-slip material that resists sweat and other liquids. SCUF lets you make the Infinity yours with complete customization, although this will up the price some.
Grip-iT Analog Stick Covers ($5)
You may love the controller that your system comes with, so there’s no need to buy a different one. You’ve grown accustomed to it, but you can get Grip-iT analog stick covers to keep your thumbs on the joysticks without any slippage. Grip-iT’s can also revive an old controller if the rubber has begun to peel off. No one likes holding the plastic on your thumbs and waking up the next day with sore fingers.
Logitech G502 Mouse ($87)
Another Logitech item, the G502 mouse is much cheaper than the average gaming mouse and is just as great for those long, long nights in front of the computer. This mouse lets you customize the weight to respond to your play style, and it has a dual-mode, hyper-fast scroll wheel. The G502 also has several configurable buttons that you can program for your MMO, FPS, survival, or whatever game genre you’re currently addicted to.
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