27 Helpful Things That Could Make Gaming Easier And Frankly, Way Better

Some video game accessories that just wanna help.

1. A pair of Nintendo controller grips that'll make it way easier to hold onto a single Joy-Con when playing couch co-ops like Mario Kart.

amazon.com

Promising review: "Even though just a piece of plastic, it does its job surprisingly well. If you have giant hands, then you know that the original stand-alone Joy-Con controllers may be a bit cramped, and this product helps alleviate this a bit. Very easy to slip on and off without having to deal with any cumbersome latch mechanism." —Vincent

Get two from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in five colorways).

2. A pair of blue light-blocking glasses to help prevent eye strain from staring at a screen all day. Goodbye, Final Fantasy VII-induced headaches!

amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: "LOVE these!! I plan on buying these again in a different color because I love them so much. I keep them at work and wear them to prevent headaches while staring at the computer all day. I have not gotten a single headache since starting to wear these." —Amazon Customer

Get them from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in seven colors).

3. An ultra-popular gaming headset that offers surround-sound, has snazzy LEDs, cancels out noise, and sports a microphone so you can yell at your fellow gamers.

Amazon

It has over 10,000 five-star reviews!

Promising review: "Fantastic sound quality. Terrific value. Perfect for gaming. Super easy setup and you can clip the cord so it moves with you. Plug-n-play into the Xbox One controller and voila! Highly recommended this headset!" —HotInTexas

Get it from Amazon for $48.95.

4. A Nintendo-branded SanDisk memory card so you can download aaalll the indie games you want without worrying about running out of room on your console.

amazon.com

This memory card is easy to install (just put it in the SD port) and helps adds some extra storage to your Switch. If you plan on downloading games, you'll definitely need a memory card. This is one of the most commonly recommended options because it's fast and — hello — very adorable.

Promising review: "After I heard that there were some products that caused the Switch to malfunction or even burn out the SD port, I took tedious care in selecting the best product for what I needed. This SD card came in clutch, it's got a Nintendo switch logo, is fully endorsed, and was a lot cheaper than others. My Switch is functioning like a dream. If you already made an investment in a Switch, go the extra mile and purchase the extra memory for it, you're going to need it." —Blaze_Piffington

Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in three sizes).

5. A TCL Roku TV that makes it super easy to switch between various streaming networks or gaming consoles. Life is sooo much easier when your TV is genius.

amazon.com

I have and love this TV! Back in the Dark Ages, I used to have to turn on my Switch and then hit the input button on the side of my old TV until I hit the right HDMI port. Now I just turn the Switch on and the TV immediately knows to switch over. You can name each of the devices you connect to the TV and select one using the included Roku remote. It's very, very convenient to have everything all rolled up in one. The picture is crystal clear, the sound is good, and I set the whole thing up in mere minutes.

Get it from Amazon for $229.99+ (available in five sizes).

6. A double PS4 controller charger so your wireless controllers are always juiced up AND easy to find. No more spending half an hour looking for a controller only for it to be completely dead.

amazon.com

Promising review: "Why did I wait so long to get one of these? This dual charger holds our PS4 controllers solidly and displays them in a way that invites me to play God of War and Spider-Man. It also really helps tidy up the look of our entertainment center. Five stars for high quality form and function." —Joseph

Get it from Amazon for $19.99.

7. A microfiber screen cleaner that's also a tiny work of art to use when your screen is so smudgy, it's beginning to look like a van Gogh.

Amazon

Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in 24 designs).

8. A sleek power bank so you can keep your phone kicking, no matter how many hours of Grim Fandango you've played.

Amazon

The 10000mAh charger can deliver almost three-and-a-half iPhone 8 charges or two-and-a-half Galaxy S8 charges.

Promising review: "If you're looking for peace of mind every time you leave the house, this power bank doesn't disappoint. It's the size of a credit card and only a hair heavier than my iPhone 6, making it extremely portable without being bulky and heavy. There's a power button you press that shows how much power is left via four blue LEDs (when it's dead, only one LED will flash). You can only charge one device with this power bank, but I'm always impressed by how quickly this charges my iPhone 6 (from 10% to near full takes approximately one hour)." —Patrick

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in three colors).

9. Or a power bank that looks like a Tamagotchi or a sloth, in case you want something cuter.

American Eagle, Urban Outfitters

Get the Tamagotchi one from American Eagle for $24.95 or the sloth one from Urban Outfitters for $9.95.

10. A USB charging station with hooks that attaches to the bottom of your desk so all your stuff can be charged and organized.

amazon.com

Promising review: "Let me tell you I love this little thing. It looks good, it was easy to install, everything functions as advertised. I like that it has the audio jack in it. I put this under my computer desk on the side and it make it so I can plug in headphones but keep the cord out of the way while I work. I didn't even have issues and the maker reached out to make sure it worked for me. The only thing that could make this better is more ports." —Eric

Get it from Amazon for $28.99 (available in two styles).

11. A subscription to Retro Game Treasure — a service that mails you three to five older video games so you can easily expand your collection of nostalgic titles.

Cratejoy

You can select consoles and preferences to help better tailor your boxes.

Promising review: "Just want to give out a great BIG shout out to Retro Game Treasure for how great this experience was for me, and the great stuff I have received!!! Thanks to all peeps involved and please keep up the great work! I definitely will be telling all my game collecting friends!!" —Harry

Get it from Cratejoy for $29.99/month.

12. A gamepad controller for your iPhone so playing app games can be way easier. Oh, and it charges your phone while you play so you don't have to worry about Call of Duty sucking up all your battery.

Amazon

Promising review: "My 18-year-old old son said this is hands down the best gift ever! Great for road trips, waiting rooms, vacations, etc. Being able to play games like if he was at home on the Xbox. He loves kicking the butts of everyone having to only use their phone buttons to play. Really great quality too." —Chistine

Get it from Amazon for $49.99.

13. Silicone paw print joystick caps to keep your thumbs happy during extended playing. Also they're so undeniably cute, how could you not want 'em?

Amazon

Get two pairs from Amazon for $10.99.

14. A projector for people who care less about resolution and more about BIG BIG BIG! Imagine how glorious Sonic's face will look on the big screen.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I'm pretty damn pleased with this projector. We received this five days ago and have already used it three times. I was surprised by how small it is: It's only the size of a thick book (think Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) but much lighter. Setup was incredibly easy and it comes with almost any cord you'd need. We've used it with our Roku (HDMI) and DVD player (AV — we're old school) with no issues. The brightness level is great and you don't have to wait until it's completely dark if you don't want to. It's also very easy to adjust the focus and tilt." —tmonts

Get it from Amazon for $99.99.

15. A Snorlax Nintendo Switch pouch that'll keep your console and games safe and protected, no matter how bumpy Route 12 gets.

Amazon

I have and love this case! It's super cute and feels well made. It comes with four slots for your game cartridges. The flap has magnet snaps so everything can stay in place.

Get it from Amazon for $19.99.

16. A headphone holder mount that'll keep your headset out of the way when it's not on your head.

Amazon

Get it from Amazon for $14.99.

17. A mousepad made especially for gaming so your mouse can glide across your desk with speed and grace of Tracer in Overwatch.

Amazon

Promising review: "This mousepad is not only a great, affordable option for gaming, but for everyday use as well. If you have enough space on your desk, this is the perfect sized mousepad as it provides no movement and a huge amount of area for you to use your mouse. The surface of the pad is very smooth and I appreciate that the logo isn't flashy and in your face. My mouse glides across the surface with ease, but it still has enough friction to comfortably control it. The rubber base is exceptional and has provided me a movement free experience." —Levon

Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in eight styles and five sizes).

18. A rocking gaming chair with built-in speakers so you can really recline while getting into your latest game. You can also just rock back and forth while saying thoughtfully "back in MY day, we had to blow into our cartridges to make them work."

Amazon

Promising review: "Very nice chair, seems solid and well-built. The four speakers might be overkill, but sound pretty good (I'm an audiophile and picky about sound). The pleather is soft to the touch and should be durable over time. All in all a nice addition to my son's room as we remodel it from a little kid's environment to more of a grown-up room." —Darren A. Thorneycroft

Get it from Amazon for $199.99.

19. Or a splurge-worthy gaming chair that'll make an already great activity (sitting) even better. It reclines, has a head pillow and extra lumbar support, and is made of high-quality carbon fiber leather.

Amazon, amazon.com

Here is what my co-worker Heather Braga has to say about this chair: "My husband spends HOURS (seriously) each night after work playing video games. He was forever complaining about back pain and found himself sitting with terrible posture. Since getting this chair he (unfortunately for me) feels like he could actually sleep at his computer desk. He is forever talking about how comfortable it is and how much more his back feels supported since switching from his old chair. This chair is pricey but if you're someone who spends a lot of time sitting at a desk it's definitely worth it."

Get it from Amazon for $249.99 (available in seven styles).

20. An intense gaming desk with room for seriously all your stuff. I'm talking monitor stand, game and controller organizer, headphone hook, cord manager, charging station, and even a cup holder.

amazon.com, Amazon

Promising review: "Been using this computer desk for two years and it is still sturdy. I don't use all of the stands due to installing a dual monitor stand on it. Other than that, the quality is amazing and worth the price!" —Brian Moran

Get it from Amazon for $94.99.

21. A Netgear Nighthawk S8000 ethernet switch that efficiently manages multiple connections. Reviewers say it's a solid router because it offers a great gaming and streaming experience.

Amazon

Promising review: "Actually does what it says it will. So few consumer devices actually meet the specs and speeds. Most devices say Gigabyte Ethernet or 10 Gig Ethernet, but when you run them they top out at 200 MBs. I edit video, and it is not uncommon to move a terabyte or two at a time between machines. This consumer switch moves the data four times faster than my professional Cisco switch that cost twice as much. Every speed test shows it running within 10% of ratings even on the 10 gig ports." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $97.94.

22. Fingerless compression gloves to give your cramping paws some relief. Mashing the A button to get through dialog faster does come at a price.

amazon.com

Promising review: "After breaking my wrist years ago, I've had trouble with small tasks like typing, playing games, etc. because my wrist would swell up, and the pain causes a lot of fumbling. Most braces are too bulky and the immobilization of them didn't do me any favors. I was looking for something versatile enough to use for typing and gaming, that still alleviates discomfort. I was pleasantly surprised how well this seemed to work!" —Misha

Get them from Amazon for $20.97+ (available in sizes S–XL).

23. A splurge-worthy gaming keyboard with a customizable rainbow backlight and OmniPoint Adjustable Switches that'll make gaming as aesthetically pleasing as a trip on Rainbow Road.

Amazon

Promising review: "Adjusting the actuation is great! I can feel the difference in games with their super fast actuation. Typing is just the reverse though, I have a lot of typos with the super fast actuation. Which isn't a problem at all, because you can switch profiles on the fly and have one of the best typing experiences imaginable with super deep 3.6 mm actuation point. It's like having multiple keyboards at once, and being able to change them effortlessly to suit the task at hand." —Egor

Get it from Amazon for $195.

24. An HDMI splitter to help you avoid the annoying cable fumble when switching between your PS4 and Xbox.

amazon.com

With a single click, you can cycle through two different devices without having to unplug ANYTHING.

Promising review: "I purchased this splitter for use with my television and a PlayStation Vita TV console and Nintendo Wii U console. I ran out of ports, so a splitter seemed to be the perfect solution, much better than unplugging devices every time I needed to switch. This product is simple to use: plug the two sources into one side and the output location in the other, and you're done! It can also be used to split one device to two locations, like displaying a video game or television show on two different monitors. There is a small button you press in the center of the splitter to switch between the output selections. The video quality was good on the display even though it is going through the splitter. Overall, I highly recommend this product to anyone who runs out of HDMI ports on their television. I didn't find any flaws with the product. 5/5 stars." —Zero Ehxe

Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

25. A mini tower with 10 outlets that'll act as a battery backup in case the unthinkable happens and the power goes out. Your Minecraft masterpiece is safe!

Amazon

Promising review: "I am the proud owner of three of these (so far). They're quiet when on AC power. They have great customization. I've muted the beeps and warnings so if the power kicks off, they just take over without distracting me further. I LOVE the two front USB plugs. I charge devices from them all the time. The LED screen is off by default until you press a button, so other than the dimly lit power button on the front, there's no distracting lights or sounds under normal use on AC power. So, how well do they work? Well, I've owned a lot of UPSes. These are by far much quieter than any I've purchased from APC. They have a true sine wave output (which is amazing!), and the 1500VA is perfect for most electronics. The front screen will tell you how much of a load you have plugged in and even an estimate for how long the unit should run given that load if you lost power. So, no surprises!" —Ramze

Get it from Amazon for $129.95+ (available in four styles).

26. A microphone to help you get your Twitch career off the ground. You're not going to achieve internet fame if your audio is crummy.

amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: "Love, love, love it!!! I purchased this microphone when I upgraded from a laptop to a desktop gaming console (which did not have a built in microphone like my laptop did). I needed this microphone for gaming and video editing purposes. My main concern from other reviews was that I would not have a crystal clear voice unless I was very close to the microphone. This is NOT true. I sit comfortably in my chair, a good 2 feet away from the mic and people online say my voice sounds crystal clear!!! I even tested playing music in the background while talking and my friend could not hear any background noise! Amazing!" —Brandon

Get it from Amazon for $41.99 (available in black and white).

27. A 24-inch 144Hz PC gaming monitor that'll make your Doom Eternal gameplay look so smooth and clear, you'll be able to see every minuscule, grotesque detail on those demons.

Amazon

Promising review: "I picked this monitor out because I'd heard of the brand through watching eSports and I wanted to support a company that supported one of my interests. I expected to get a 'normal monitor' experience and pay a slightly higher price for quality build. I was very wrong, the difference between gaming on this monitor and a regular one is night and day. Games feel entirely more 'tactile' and real time. I am better able to place shots, see what's going on, and I feel like I have better control over my character. It is bright and crisp, colors are vivid, and the action is unlike anything I've played on before. If you are any kind of gamer or power-user on your PC I cannot recommend this monitor enough. I will never again think of displays as just interchangeable peripherals; even with a very high end gaming PC, you are not having the full experience unless you have a monitor that is comparable with this one." —Spybreak

Get it from Amazon for $199+ (also available in 27-inches).

Me on hour 200 of Animal Crossing:

Nickelodeon

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Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.