Featured in this article
The Best Wireless Gaming HeadsetSteelSeries Arctis Nova 3P WirelessRead more$110 $71 (35% off)
Amazon (White)
Small, Desktop SpeakersCreative Pebble V3 SpeakersRead more$40Amazon
An Affordable MouseSteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2Read more$35
Amazon (Wired)
A Fantastic, Compact KeyboardAsus ROG Falchion Ace HFXRead more$200 $140 (30% off)
Amazon
Shopping for a PC gamer is a perilous endeavor. What might look like a great sale on a GPU or gaming keyboard can turn out to be a bad deal because of an arcane spec only the most die-hard forum-dwellers understand. If you're shopping for the gamer in your life who lives that nerd life, we have a simple, accessible guide to what they might like.
Be sure to check out our other buying guides, including Best Gaming Laptops, Best Gaming Headsets, Best Keyboards, Best Gaming Mice, and Best Game Controllers. If your giftee prefers console gaming, read our Best PS5 Accessories and Best Switch 2 Accessories guides.
Updated November 2026: We've added the Razer Viper V4 Pro, SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2, Smartish Cord Holders, Razer Kraken Kitty V3 Pro, Branch Ergonomic Chair SEGA Edition, and Creative Pebble V3 Speakers.
Shopping Tips
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronThe best advice I can give when shopping for a PC gaming enthusiast is simple: If you're unsure, just ask. Find out if they have a favorite mouse, keyboard, or headset brand they've been eyeing, or anything else they've been thinking about picking up for themselves. If you're still not sure and don't want to get them the wrong thing, another one-size-fits-all gift any PC gamer will like is a Steam gift card. This lets them pick a game from a vast online store. Most popular titles are around $60, so use that as a baseline for how much to add to the card.
The Best Wireless Gaming Headset
- Photograph: Brad Bourque
- Courtesy of Best Buy
SteelSeries
Arctis Nova 3P Wireless
$110 $71 (35% off)Amazon (White)
$110 $80 (27% off)Amazon (Lavender)
$110 $90 (18% off)Amazon (Aqua)
$110 $80 (27% off)Best Buy
Dedicated gaming headsets can get very expensive, especially if you want something higher quality with the latest features. But the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 Wireless (9/10, WIRED Recommends) delivers the goods at half the price of the competition without sacrificing sound quality or comfort. Reviewer Brad Bourque even called it the “most comfortable gaming headset" he'd ever tested. Check out our Best Gaming Headsets guide for other options.
Small, Desktop Speakers
Photograph: Nena FarrellSave to wishlistSave to wishlistCreative
Pebble V3 Speakers
$40Amazon
$45 $40 (11% off)Creative
There are more powerful computer speakers out there, but none are as giftable as the Creative Pebble V3. These tiny little speakers are shockingly small, so they don't dominate your desk. However, they are angled up toward your ears to deliver clear, loud sound that brings your games to life. WIRED reviewer Nena Farell has often recommended these, noting the impressive sound quality for the price.
An Affordable Mouse
- Photograph: Henri Robbins
- Photograph: Henri Robbins
- Photograph: Henri Robbins
SteelSeries
Rival 3 Gen 2
$35Amazon (Wired)
$60 $50 (17% off)Amazon (Wireless)
Not everyone needs a mouse that costs over $100. If you want to spend a bit less, I'd recommend the SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2. It doesn't have some of the bells and whistles that higher-end mice have, but the average PC gamer will find everything they need here. It's light, has a grippy scroll wheel, and comes in either a cheaper wired model or a wireless option. It's the rare PC gaming accessory that comes in at a perfectly giftable price.
A Fantastic, Compact Keyboard
- Courtesy of Republic of Games
- Photograph: Henri Robbins
- Photograph: Henri Robbins
- Photograph: Henri Robbins
Asus
ROG Falchion Ace HFX
$200 $140 (30% off)Amazon
$200Best Buy
$210 $200 (5% off)Target
Asus' compact ROG Falchion Ace HFX (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a great example of why small keyboards are all the rage. It removes the number pad, function keys, and navigation keys in favor of a smaller footprint (also known as 65 percent layout) than even the tenkeyless (TKL) layout. It won't get in the way of your mouse hand, especially when turned sideways or on a smaller desk. Meanwhile, the Hall effect switches feel snappy, and the software makes it easy to customize everything. The keyboard doesn't cut as much as a 60% layout, which removes the arrow keys, making it more usable for work and school.
A Splash of Color
Photograph: Simon HillSave to wishlistSave to wishlistGovee
Neon Rope Light Strip 2
$100 $80 (20% off)Amazon
For the gamer who has it all, lighting can be an aesthetic upgrade that enhances the PC gaming experience. It doesn't take much to toss in a splash of color to a wall or desk. This Govee light strip is a great option, since the light is already diffused, so it won't blind you when it's in full view. Whether you curve it into a shape on a wall or line your desk with it, these light strips are a simple way to enhance a gaming station.
For Competitive Gamers
- Photograph: Henri Robbins
- Photograph: Henri Robbins
- Photograph: Henri Robbins
Razer
Viper V4 Pro
$160Amazon
$160Best Buy
$160Razer
If your giftee takes their multiplayer gaming seriously, they need a mouse that is fast, lightweight, and highly customizable—and that's exactly what the Razer Viper V4 Pro (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is. New this year, the Viper V4 Pro replaced its already popular predecessor (our gift recommendation last year), making it even lighter and adding some pro-level features. Our resident mouse enthusiast, Henri Robbins, calls it “perfectly balanced” and notes that the added agility gave him “the ability to contend with multiple enemies at once” in Helldivers 2.
A Great Stocking Stuffer
Photograph: SteelseriesSave to wishlistSave to wishlistSteelSeries
QcK Mousepad
$12Amazon
$12SteelSeries
Here's a great stocking stuffer if the PC gamer in your life doesn't already have a mousepad. It's basic, yes—but that's the point. While we typically recommend desk-sized mats like the Wool Felt Desk Pad from Grovemade, this smaller SteelSeries mousepad is a whole lot cheaper and more practical for smaller desks. Most importantly, the smooth surface ensures the mouse is responsive, regardless of what kind of surface the gaming is happening on. Even better, you can choose from a variety of sizes and colors.
World’s Cutest Gaming Headset
Save to wishlistSave to wishlistRazer
Kraken Kitty V3 Pro
$180 $159 (12% off)Amazon
$180Razer
$180 $150 (17% off)Best Buy
Razer’s most adorable wireless headset is best recognized for its iconic kitty ears. They feature RGB lights you can customize in the Razer Chroma app, including the lights scattered across the earcups. The cute design is eye-catching, with comfortable memory foam ear cushions and a squishy lining on the headband. Sound quality is strong, and the retractable mic sounds great when in use and tucks away neatly when it isn’t. It's compatible with PC, Mac, PlayStation, and smartphones, so it’s an easy gift recommendation for any gamer. (It connects to Xbox via Bluetooth.) I prefer the light pink color scheme, but it’s also available in black or white. —Louryn Strampe
A Glowing USB Mic
Photograph: Eric RavenscraftSave to wishlistSave to wishlistHyperX
Quadcast 2 S
$200 $149 (26% off)Amazon
$200 $140 (30% off)Best Buy
$200HyperX
The HyperX Quadcast 2 S improves on its predecessor, the USB mic that almost every Twitch streamer seemed to own, in every way. It has even more of its trademark vibrant LEDs, allowing for complex patterns and designs that look great for anyone streaming online. Audio recording has been upgraded to 32-bit/192 kHz, which is handy if you plan to edit your audio later, and its shock-mount design makes it easy to pull it from its stand and use it elsewhere. If your gift recipient plans to be on camera while playing games for an audience (or likes accessories that glow), this is one of the best USB mics you can get.
Full Battlestation Control
Courtesy of ElgatoSave to wishlistSave to wishlistElgato
Stream Deck+
$180Amazon
$200Elgato
The Elgato Stream Deck+ feels a bit like having a piece of a space shuttle on your desk. It packs eight full-color LCD buttons that can be customized with macros and shortcuts to easily launch apps, mute a mic, or run scripts with a single press. A second, wider color touchscreen provides a heads-up display for different system stats; paired with the four prominent dials along the bottom, it's a handy tool for anything from running sound to video editing. It's designed for streamers who need to handle complex technical tasks while broadcasting, but it's also helpful for anyone who wants to record gameplay, adjust music or chat while they're playing, or fine-tune their setup to their exact preferences.
Easy Cable Management
-Reviewer-Photo-(no-border)-SOURCE-Julian-Chokkattu.jpg)
Photograph: Julian ChokkattuSave to wishlistSave to wishlistSmartish
Magnetic Cord Holder
$30Amazon
Even with the proliferation of wireless accessories, it's far too easy to let a desk get disorganized and descend into chaos. WIRED editor Julian Chokkattu stands by these small cable-tidying accessories. They keep your cables together where they should be, but not in a more permanent way that other solutions use. They magnetically stick to the base when not in use, ensuring that you disconnected cables don't clutter up your desk.
A Desk Light
Photograph: Julian ChokkattuSave to wishlistSave to wishlistBenQ
ScreenBar Pro
$139Amazon
$139BenQ
I have been using BenQ's ScreenBar lights for years, and they are fantastic. It essentially hangs off the top of a monitor, illuminating the keyboard and desktop. You can angle it just right so it doesn't cast light onto your monitor screen. The ScreenBar Pro has a motion sensor, so your giftee can have their setup automatically light up when they sit down. There are touch controls to adjust the color temperature and brightness, with a toggle for auto brightness. This is a must-have desk accessory for any gamer. —Julian Chokkattu
A Gaming Chair (Not Just for Sonic Fans)
- Photograph: Louryn Strampe
- Photograph: Louryn Strampe
- Photograph: Louryn Strampe
Branch
Ergonomic Chair Pro: SEGA Edition
$569Branch
Intense gaming sessions can get physically taxing when you sit in the wrong chair for too long. This is actually our favorite office chair, but the Sega collaboration makes it perfect for any gaming setup. You can dial in the perfect fit with several ergonomic adjustments, from the back to the seat tilt to the armrests. I regularly work in this chair for eight hours, followed by several sweaty hours of League of Legends gaming, and I never feel sore or unsupported. Except for my teammates, of course. If your giftee is still sitting in an uncomfortable chair, this upgrade will make a world of difference. Assembly is easy too. —Louryn Strampe
A Worthwhile Controller
-Reviewer-Photo-SOURCE-Eric-Ravenscraft.png)
Photograph: Eric RavenscraftSave to wishlistSave to wishlistXbox/Microsoft
Elite Wireless Controller Series 2
$150 $110 (27% off)Amazon
$150Walmart
$140Best Buy
$200 $158 (21% off)Microsoft
Even games that are better with a controller can have disadvantages compared to a keyboard and mouse. That's where highly customizable options like the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 can help. It lets you tweak the resistance of its control sticks, swap out paddles and D-pads, and even add extra rear buttons to customize your game. This is not the same controller that comes with the Xbox, but an upgraded version.
For more recommendations, read our Best Game Controllers guide.
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Luke Larsen is a product writer and reviewer at WIRED, covering laptops, PCs, Macs, monitors, and the wider PC peripheral ecosystem. He’s been reporting on tech for over a decade, previously at Digital Trends as the senior editor in computing, where he spent seven years leading the publication’s daily coverage. ... Read MoreProduct Writer & ReviewerTopicsShoppingbuying guidesgift guidesvideo gamesPC GamesAccessories and PeripheralsGaming40 Gifts Under $100 That Will Delight Any Tech EnthusiastScore a great gift for everyone on your list without breaking the bank. Every one of these gifts comes WIRED-recommended.Simon Hill9 WIRED-Approved Gifts for the Techie in Your LifeDon’t buy a loved one something you wouldn’t want for yourself. These are the must-haves that tech enthusiasts have on their wish lists this year.Luke LarsenBe the Friend Who Gives the Good GiftsThese are the WIRED-tested gadgets, kitchen tools, and cozy comforts I’d actually buy for my own inner circle.Molly HigginsSnag Last-Minute Digital Gifts Online and Stay Cozy InsideForget the wrapping paper and shipping. Go digital this year with subscriptions, ebooks, apps, and more.Simon HillAfter Testing Hundreds of Laptops, These Are the Best Options I RecommendI’ve tested laptops for more than a decade, and here’s my advice for finding the right laptop for you.Luke LarsenThe Ultra-Slim GamerCard Isn’t Ready to PlayThis pocket-size Raspberry Pi handheld has a fantastic retro-ready screen, but awful controls and awkward software deal it a losing hand.Matt KamenCheap Gifts, Good Taste: WIRED-Tested Picks Under $25We found genuinely good presents for home cooks, teens, coffee lovers, and the person who already has everything.Kat MerckRazer’s Newest Headset Covers All Your Listening Needs From Morning to NightThe Razer Barracuda V2 Pro headset has a place in the office as well as at your gaming battle station.Louryn StrampeTop NZXT Discount Codes for 2026Save 50%, plus up to $250 with NZXT promo codes and discounts.Luke LarsenCan’t Wait for Black Friday? Check Out These Live DealsThe early bird gets the worm. Here are the best Black Friday deals for 2026 you can already get right now.Simon HillGet Some of the Best Toys, Lego Sets, and Board Games for Less This Prime DaySnag some gifts for your kiddos or unleash your inner child with the best Prime Day toy deals, including Lego, STEM toys, and board games.Simon Hill20 Best Gifts for Men, Manly Men, and Manly Man MenWhen you need something that’s as mannishly masculinized as you can get for the Man™ in your life, we have you covered.Matthew Korfhage
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