Whether you are a pro or casual gamer, accessories are essential to your gaming experience. They create an atmosphere, protect your health, and put you in a position to win that League of Legends match.
Any self-respecting gamer knows how to create an optimum environment for success, and there are accessories and equipment that can help achieve that.
Here are 10 PC gaming accessories that will take your setup from zero to hero.
💻 A gaming PC
You can’t become the ultimate PC gamer without a PC. But not just any old PC will do, you need one with specs good enough to run your Counter Strike matches. You need a gaming PC.
Your PC needs to be ultra-efficient to meet the demands of the latest games and support the countless hours you'll spend on them.
➡️That means a high-power processor, graphics card, motherboard, power supply, and plenty of RAM. Check out our guide for more help on building a top-tier gaming PC.
🖥️ A high-resolution screen
Like the PC, this is an essential accessory. Most gamers are happy with one good, high-resolution screen; but if you’re a Twitch star who streams regularly, you’ll need two monitors.
Just like choosing your work from home screen (and other things👀), size is important. A good size screen is necessary for the best visual rendering and the least digital eye strain. No one wants to try and play Cyberpunk 2077 on a Game Boy-sized screen.
👉 We recommend a screen of at least 24 inches (32 is even better), with a refresh rate of 144 Hz for fluidity.
🐭 An ergonomic gaming mouse and an XXL mouse pad
Video games mean precision and fluidity of movement.
To get a string of headshots in a game like COD, you need a special gaming mouse with no lag. Ergonomic gaming mice are faster, more efficient, and have a longer lifespan than a regular mouse (live or computer-based).
Plus, ergonomic mice have a more comfortable shape, perfectly fitted to the user’s hand and suitable for hours of frantic clicking. Their rather stylish design will make your classic mouse want to hide in a hole and give up all its cheese.
To choose a good gaming mouse, you need to consider the following:
- The weight
- The form
- The number of buttons
- The number of dpi (dot per inch)
- Mouse type: right-handed, left-handed, ambidextrous
Don’t forget to also invest in a good mousepad, otherwise your ergonomic whiskery friend will struggle with traction. For precise control and smooth gliding, choose an XXL mouse pad of 90x40cm – if your desk allows it!
Sometimes bigger really is better.
🎮 A wired or wireless controller
Some games play better with a controller than a keyboard and mouse.
So, we’re not saying this is a good excuse to invest in one of the many attractively designed controllers out there… but who doesn’t want Astrobot in controller form?
Choosing your controller
- A wired controller that will never be flat, but which can hinder your movements
- A bluetooth controller that will have to hold the charge so as not to let you down in the middle of a game
Any top-of-the-line controller will do (we recommend PS or Xbox), but Xbox is also made by Microsoft so it’s easily compatible with your PC.
⌨️ A keyboard suitable for gaming
A good gamer can’t just take their office-based keyboard and use it for high-end, competitive gaming. They need something that will do the job properly.
A good keyboard will boost your performance and your precision to the millimeter - super useful for chaining together your constructions at lightning speed in Fortnite!
In general, we recommend a mechanical keyboard as these are more sensitive, responsive and have more solid keys than a standard model. They are significantly more robust than traditional keyboards since they have been designed to withstand the aggressive tapping of someone trying to beat someone’s behind on Street Fighter.
It’s worth noting though, they might not be accessible to everyone, as they are a fair bit more expensive than a regular keyboard.
🎧 A headset
There’s nothing worse than background interference and noise when you’re trying to concentrate on downing your latest target. A good headset will drown out ambient noise, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the esports world. When you can hear every “thwack” and “Ow” it ultimately adds to the complete experience.
We recommend choosing a lightweight model, and preferably a headset that can be worn with glasses because even non-glasses wearers should be equipped with anti-blue light glasses. The lighter the headset is the less likely it is to cause you pain if worn for long periods, giving your temples and ears a rest.
🔉 Speakers
If you're lucky enough to have an isolated space to play (meaning not your main sitting room when your family or friends are trying to watch TV), then you can create a cinematic gaming experience with a robust pair of speakers.
We recommend 5.1 speakers for total immersion. That’s 5 speakers and a subwoofer, so you’re fully surrounded by the world of the game.
🧑💻 A gaming desk
An absolute must in any self-respecting PC gamer’s setup; a stylish, gaming-appropriate desk. Of course, we can’t all live in mansions, so measuring the space you want it to fit in is the first essential requirement. From there you can look at different styles and types, including standing or adjustable desks, and look at storage space options for storing your gaming accessories.
Some can even include extras designed for streamers, like a cup holder, controller holder, and top-of-the-line cable management.
💺 A gamer chair
The seat you choose is crucial in ensuring you’re comfortable and suffer no bad long-term effects caused by sitting for extended periods. That’s why it’s important to invest in an ergonomic chair. These are specially designed to counter long hours spent gaming and help you to avoid fatigue, muscle tension, and back or neck pain caused by staying in one position for too long.
This type of This type of seat adapts perfectly to your body shape and allows you to adopt a good posture.
Consider choosing a chair that has:
- Adjustable armrests
- A backrest that can be inclined up to 180 degrees
- A lumbar cusion
- Headrest
- Footrest
👓 Anti-blue light glasses
After a few hours of playing League of Legends, you might find your eyes getting achy and/or tired. This is thanks to all the artificial blue light that emanates from digital screens (and LED lightbulbs).
Luckily, there’s a way to protect your eyes from the pesky dangers of blue light. Blue light blocking glasses!
At Horus X we know all about blue light glasses and talk about it extensively. But now with our League of Legends partnership, we’ve designed a range, especially for esports gamers. Our gaming glasses offer the best filtration on the market to allow you to fully enjoy your gaming experience.
Bonus accessories
Because we’re that nice, we’re also going to throw in some bonus suggestions. These may not be essential accessories, but they’ll enhance your PC and gaming space for a better overall experience:
- 🏎️ A steering wheel controller: to play as Hamilton on the latest Gran Turismo. By adding a steering wheel, you can feel like you're in a real racing car. Some models even include the gear lever and pedals, at an extra cost, of course.
- 📹 A webcam: For Twitch addicts, a webcam is a highly recommended purchase for streaming and interacting with your subscribers.
- 📂 A headset stand: It may seem a bit superfluous, but the headset stand can have its place in your gaming setup. With a stand, you have a dedicated space on you desk, and you also extend the life of your headset by preventing accidental falls.
- 𖢫 A gaming floor mat: For stability and to avoid marking or scratching up your floor.
- 🔌 Something to group your cables: Cable management is life! Opt for sheaths or gutters to group all the cables that are ruining your otherwise perfect gaming aesthetic.
The 10 best PC gaming accessories: Final thoughts
This list isn’t exhaustive, but with these accessories you can take your gaming set up to the next level, making the space comfortable and functional.
These items will give you greater precision, better speed and optimal comfort, helping you in the fight against back and eye pain. As this is especially important for those of us who spend hours in front of the screen, don’t forget to invest in ergonomic accessories like a good mouse and gaming chair. And always protect your eyes with a pair of blue light glasses.
Keeping up good healthy habits in other facets of your life will also help, bolstering your good work. With a healthy living and a happy gaming space, you’ll become the pro gamer of your dreams.
