The Best Gifts for the PC Gamer in Your Life

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 is the company's latest version, and it 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. BenQ also has a mount to affix a webcam on top so the camera won't have to sit off to the side. This is a must-have desk accessory for any gamer. —Julian Chokkattu

Small keyboards are all the rage these days, and Asus' tiny 65% model is a great example of why. It removes the number pad, function keys, and navigation keys in favor of a smaller footprint than even the tenkeyless (TKL) layout, such as in the Keychron Q1 HE (see below). The idea is to have a keyboard that won't get in the way of your mouse hand. Meanwhile, the Hall effect switches feel snappy, and it's all easily customizable in the software. The ROG Falchion Ace HFX (7/10, WIRED Recommends) doesn't strip away as much as a 60% layout, which even removes the arrow keys, making this more usable for work and school.

For the gamer who has it all, lighting can be an aesthetic upgrade that adds a lot to the PC gaming experience. It doesn't take much to toss in a splash of color on a wall or desk. This light strip from Govee is a great option, as the light is already diffused, so it won't blind you being in full view. So, whether you curve this on your wall into a shape or just line your desk with it, these light strips are a simple way to enhance a gaming station.

A mouse is a great gift for a PC gamer. If you know they're still using an old, wired mouse that's not suited for gaming, the Razer Viper Pro V3 will be a huge step up, especially in terms of lightness and performance. Because it's symmetrical, it should be comfortable for most gamers, too, though the Viper Pro V3 is an especially good fit for smaller hands.

PC gamers have lots of choices for handheld gaming these days, ranging from the Steam Deck to the variety of Windows-based handhelds out there. The latest and most impressive, though, is the ROG Xbox Ally. It's more than just the official Xbox branding—it's the real deal in terms of performance, battery life, and display quality. And while even the base ROG Xbox Ally is expensive (never mind the more expensive and more powerful ROG Xbox Ally X), it represents the peak of what Windows gaming handhelds can be.

Hall effect keyboards are sort of the new frontier in the world of keyboards. These have magnetic switches as opposed to mechanical switches, and that means gamers have more control over when the switch actuates. They’re also more reliable and responsive. We reviewed Keychron's first HE keyboard, the Keychron Q1 HE, last year, and liked it a lot, but the Keychron Q5 HE and Q6 HE Wireless are even better. The Q5 is our choice, as it's a little more compact despite being a full-size keyboard. (It can be connected via Bluetooth or a 2.4-GHz dongle). —Julian Chokkattu

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-size mats, such as the Wool Felt Desk Pad from Grovemade, this smaller SteelSeries mousepad is a whole lot cheaper and more practical for smaller desks. But most importantly, the smooth surface will guarantee that the mouse feels responsive, regardless of what kind of desk the gaming is happening on. Even better, there are a variety of different sizes and colors to choose from, too.

Gamer or not, these are the best computer speakers around. They have an elegant design, are compact enough for most desks, and they pack a serious punch. The bass may not be as thumpy as a system with a dedicated subwoofer, but the A2+ performs exceptionally well even in video games. Best of all, your giftee will have plenty of connectivity options, so you don't have to worry about whether or not it's compatible with their system.

Read our Best Computer Speakers guide for other options.

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 and 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.

I waited for, quite literally, over a decade for Logitech to make a wireless version of the G600 MMO mouse I love so much. But Corsair beat Logitech to it. The Scimitar Elite Wireless SE is a comfortable, powerful wireless mouse that packs an array of 12 buttons on the side for easy thumb access. It's designed for massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) or fast-paced shooters, where having quick and easy access to certain abilities can be lifesaving, but I'm also a big believer in using them for work too.

PC gamers often worry about performance first, for good reason. But if you (or the person you're buying for) haven't upgraded their monitor in a while and are still using 1080p, that may be the biggest improvement you can make to your setup. Despite costing just $150, this AOC monitor increases the resolution to 2560 x 1440 and the refresh rate to 180 Hz. 1440p is increasingly becoming the new standard for resolution, and so long as you have a decent graphics card, you should still be able to manage solid frame rates. While the 1440p is a VA (vertical alignment) panel with less impressive image quality, AOC also has some great, higher-quality mini-LED and QD-OLED options, which are much brighter in HDR.

For more gaming monitor recommendations, check out our full guide to the Best Gaming Monitors.

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, and, 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 to be useful for streamers, who need to do a lot of complicated technical tasks while broadcasting, but it's helpful for anyone who wants to record gameplay, adjust music or chats while they're playing, or tweak their setup to their exact preferences.

Even games that are better with a controller can have disadvantages versus a keyboard and mouse. That's where highly customizable controllers 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.

Hot trend: Trading out one key in a mechanical keyboard for a super cute keycap. Switch out the escape button for a tiny Poké Ball or the F3 for a pawprint. They can fill the number bar with ducks, because honestly, why not? Or they can make each of their arrow keys a different dessert. Get something that will make your loved one hungry every time they look down. Seriously, these things look so delicious you'll just want to pop them in your mouth. Don't, though. WIRED's expert testers have confirmed, they are not food.

Note: You'll need to know what kind of switches their keyboard uses (like MX switches) and make sure the keycap supports it.

Cable organization is the bane of any PC gamer. It's so hard to organize those pesky wires! These metal desks from Secretlab are the answer. They have a trench at the back where your giftee can route all their wires and even store a surge protector, keeping the mess hidden. Secretlab also has tons of magnetic accessories you can buy separately, like cable sheaths to hide wires on the underside of the desk, cable clips to hold charging cords in place, and even a headphone holder to suspend them without taking up desk space.

The Magnus is a standard desk, and the Magnus Pro is a standing desk that will let your giftee stretch their legs once in a while after long hours of raids.