26 Things For Gamers Who Share A Living Space

Get ready to level-up your roommate game with the addition of over-the-ear headphones, a keyboard cleaner, a slim gaming desk, and more.

1. A remote organizer to keep your various "channel changers" in check so your roomie doesn't curse your gaming habits under their breath while searching for it in a hurry to change the input setting before the latest episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians begins.

amazon.com

You're only human if you don't know where your TV remotes are... ever. This contraption is perfect for storing remotes, house phones (if ya' have one), and even your cell phone if you want to really focus on what you're watching.

Promising review: "This remote control holder is the best I’ve ever owned. Not only is it elegant and attractive, it is nice and lightweight and has room for at least five remote controls, however depending on the thinness of the controllers, you could probably fit more in there. Since it basically just sits on a side table, I believe it’s made of quality material, and will last a very long time. It matched my decor perfectly, and looks exactly as pictured." —Nicole Cook

Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in two colors).

2. A mini tower with 10 outlets that'll act as a battery backup so you don't blow a fuse with your over-the-top gaming desktop computer. Your partner will *not* be pleased if they have to air dry their hair...again.

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 UPS units. 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 $135.95+ (available in four styles).

3. A sofa arm table that'll ensure both you and your roomie always have somewhere to put down your beverage when playing Xbox on the TV.

Amazon

Promising review: "I love this!!! It is extremely sturdy, and I can use it to place my drink on it with confidence that it won't fall! It's the perfect solution to not having enough space for an end table!!!" —Michelle B

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in three styles).

4. A gaming headset, so you can tune out your loving significant other (and so they don't have to hear all of your gaming pals) and focus solely on the task at hand — becoming a Fortnite champion.

Amazon

Promising review: "I’ve been using this headset for about a week now and it’s been truly amazing. The microphone quality is awesome for when I’m in a party with friends and the sound is very crisp and clear. The only thing I don’t like is how little padding there is on the headband. But other than that it is a truly great headset!" —Levi Merz

Get them from Amazon for $59.95.

5. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe you can play with your roommate so they won't feel left out or be constantly subjected to watching you play single-player games 24/7.

Nintendo

Promising review: "Do you have healthy relationships with your friends, family, and/or roommates? Do you want to ruin those relationships? Then this is the game for you! The number one most effective game for destroying civility is back and better than ever! Revel in triumph as you blast past those skilled gamers with your contemptuous bullet bill or blue shell items. Scream in unrequited rage as your perfect race is ruined by an errant green shell. Destroy lifelong relationships and burn bridges in under two minutes with the most entertaining and chaotic racing series devised by evil geniuses!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $49.94.

6. Or Super Mario 3D All Stars, which includes three games for the price of one and will leave your roomie feeling nostalgic and more open to playing alongside you even if they haven't picked up a controller since the 90s.

Amazon

You won't need to do much convincing to get your roomie to play with you when you let them know you've acquired classic games like Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy. If you're anything like me and my friends, you and your pals will remember adventuring alongside Mario in these games from the past. My personal fave is Super Mario Galaxy (I loved my Nintendo Wii) but my husband is adamant we start with Sunshine. There's something for everyone in this set!

Pre-order it from Amazon for $59.99.

7. A microphone that'll provide crystal clear audio if you're a gamer who moonlights as a YouTuber, streaming your gameplay for all to see. This one will pick up your audio easily — no need to shout while your partner is *trying* to sleep.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I bought this microphone strictly to use for talking to friends in things like Discord and Skype while playing games, as the price looked very good for something that other reviewers stated was a good quality microphone. It was extremely simple plug-and-play upon receiving it, and I have been told by multiple people on the listening end that it my voice sounds much clearer and better than the others that use headsets or the like. Some even asked what brand it was so they could look in to getting their own, even though they already had $70 headsets. So the quality is extremely good for the price if you are using it casually or for hobbies." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $45.99.

8. A 4-foot arcade machine you and your roomie can play together *and* brag about to your pals who can only dream about their partner letting them keep this in the house.

Amazon, amazon.com

I have one of these in my apartment and it's been SO fun to play with — especially now that we're spending more time at home than ever. My husband and I love challenging each other and feeling like we're in an old school arcade. It's a great size for an at-home arcade machine, not too big or too small.

Promising review: "I always was terrible at this game, but my friends loved it. I saw the sale and bought it immediately. Assembly was a breeze, plugged it in, and works just fine. Solid sound, no glitches, no issues whatsoever. Even perfecting my moves. I'm not a professional gamer or anything, so I have no problem with the joysticks or buttons, but I can see how some may. My kids love it. For the price, and excitement, well worth it. Thanks Arcade1Up!" —Mo

Get it from Amazon for $299.90+ (available in five styles).

9. A set of "Palmeez" to help you get a better grip on your Nintendo Switch Joycons so your roomie won't have to cower in fear that you'll accidentally toss one into your shared TV the next time you play a hardcore fitness game.

InnovationThreeD /Etsy

These special grips are designed to help gamers' Joycons fit more comfortably in their hands. I use my husband's Switch to play Nintendo Fitness Boxing and he is forever reminding me not to destroy our TV while throwing punches directly at it. NOT SURE WHAT HE'S SO CONCERNED ABOUT???

Get it from InnovationThreeD on Etsy for $20.

10. Sonic the Hedgehog-themed Monopoly that'll give you a reason to step away from your screens for a bit and make your partner happy while you bond over a classic board game.

Amazon

As much as you love video games, it's important to still get some one-on-one time in with your roomie or partner! With this version of Monopoly you can get your gaming fix in while also taking a screen break. Win-win.

Promising review: "I bought this as a Christmas gift for my grandson. He was thrilled. I am not one to play video games but my daughter and son-in-law helped explain some things to me. We have played it quite a few times already. It is fun, easy to learn, and isn’t a long game (unlike the original Monopoly )." —ERBS

Get it from Amazon for $15.99.

11. Or a deck of Fallout playing cards to keep you and your housemate company while you both attempt to survive in the aftermath of a virtual nuclear war ... or, like, when you decide to take a break from the sometimes dark storylines of games to play a wholesome round of "Go Fish" together instead.

Amazon

Promising review: "These are so cool! I thought they were just regular cards with a Fallout theme but each card is actually a different 'perk' from Fallout 4. My husband LOVED it." —Amazon Customer

Get them from Amazon for $11.99.

12. A slim gaming desk so you and your partner won't have to fight for time at a shared desk — and it'll give you your own space to store all of your PC gaming essentials.

Target

Promising review: "Excellent desk for small spaces, especially on a budget! We did not buy this for gaming, but just for general computer/organizing and it worked out great! My nephew (who is into gaming) is also purchasing this after seeing ours. Would recommend!" —ChicagoJD

Get it from Target for $249.99.

13. Or a headset hook you can attach to any desk, in case you and your partner share one and they're tired of having to work around your gaming accessories.

Amazon

Promising review: "So my husband and I are gamers and we needed a better solution to our headphones to keep them from breaking, this was our answer. Not only will it hold our headphones it will also hold an Xbox One controller which is even more perfect. It's very sturdy and feels very well made its grip is strong and can accommodate multiple different tables. The bottom hook also turns around so you can hide it under the tables when it's not in use! This also held my purse which is probably around 10 lbs .. I'll probably end up ordering more in the near future for gifts and myself!! Highly recommend." —Amber

Get it from Amazon for $11.04.

14. A backlighting kit, perfect for anyone whose gaming screen is in your shared bedroom so your partner can turn off the overhead lights and get some shut-eye while you play 'til your heart's content.

Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: "Do you want to add lights to your monitor, television, or just around a display? Then this is the product for you! Multiple sizes, easy to use, and perfect to add that extra something to whatever it is your working on! Purchased mine for behind my computer monitor and the amount of light is perfect when playing games or using my computer at night as the red setting helps keep me from having a bright light going on. Also great to add when watching videos or movies as you can color match the screen to add a new layer to your experience. For the price and quality, you can't beat it!" —Timothy S. Smith

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in four sizes).

15. A quiet, wired gaming keyboard from HyperX so your roomie won't have to listen to your tap, tap, tapping at all hours.

amazon.com

Promising review: "This is the quietest keyboard I’ve ever encountered and I love it. I have a sensitivity to noise like no other, and my husband is a PC gamer. After three and a half years of maddening clicks, arguments, and a lot of frustration, we tested several 'silent' gaming keyboards and this was by far the best of the bunch. This keyboard was worth every penny and I’d buy it again in a heartbeat." —Lauren V

Get it from Amazon for $49.99.

16. And a similarly quiet mouse because nothing will irritate your roommate more than your incessant clicking (believe me, I speak from experience).

corsair / Via instagram.com

My husband uses a Corsair mouse (thankfully) so if I want to watch TV in our tiny apartment while he plays video games on his PC I'm not subjected to annoying clicking sounds. This Dark Core Pro SE mouse can also be charged on any wireless charger — pretty cool!

Promising review: "Amazing! Amazing! This mouse is so good. I love the feel of it and the texture of the buttons. I love that it's Bluetooth and USB. It has so many options and the additional side pieces. are great The RGB is super cool too and it's USB-C like — it's just such a good mouse and for the price. WOW!" —MarquiseCx

Get it from Best Buy for $89.99.

17. A USB-C cable to charge your Nintendo Switch and prevent you from having to take over the TV when you want to play Animal Crossing but your device is dead.

Amazon

For those of you who have a Nintendo Switch, I'm sure you've faced the difficult choice between letting it charge so you can play it anywhere in the house or crossing your fingers that your roommate isn't using the TV so you can play while it charges in the dock. Well, if you invest in a USB-C cable you can plug it into any other USB port and use it to charge your Switch! Problems for all — solved.

Promising review: "First of all, the quality of this product has me absolutely shocked. The cable is braided, which eliminates the worry of them breaking as easily as my Apple chargers do. They also have leather straps that keep them organized and compact to travel with. I use these chargers for my Nintendo Switch (one in my travel case for when I go out, the other for charging at home) It always bugged me that I would have to put my Switch into its dock in order to charge it, because sometimes I like to use it in other parts of my home. Now with these two affordable chargers I am able to plug and play wherever I am. It is also amazing that it is USB (unlike the power adapter that is included with the Switch) because I have multiple USB hubs set up all over my home. It make everything easier and relieved the stress of worrying about whether or not it will fit in my outlet. This is a must buy in my opinion if you own a Nintendo Switch." —Dr. Nemo

Get a set of two from Amazon for $10.99.

18. A robot vacuum that'll leave your entire home fresh 'n' clean with you having to hit pause *or* your roomie having to lift a finger — a gesture you'll both appreciate.

Amazon

My entire family has jumped on the robot vacuum bandwagon since spending so much more time at home during quarantine — my sister has this cute lil' white one. It cleans the house with ease and now she and her boyfriend no longer need to have a debate over whose turn it is to vacuum. Win-win!

Promising review: "I really liked this vacuum. It looks good, it's quiet, it moves with amazing grace and agility. It literally slows down just prior to bumping against furniture, walls etc, very gentle. This unit cleaned really well, battery life was incredible and the software with no go lines and zones were amazing. Loved watching where it was in the process as it cleaned. Also enjoyed its verbal announcements such as telling me when it was returning to the base. This unit is attractive with a nice quality look and feel. The filters are washable, this was a really nice benefit." —Qiangong

Get it from Amazon for $219.99.

19. Over-the-ear headphones from a small business you might want to buy two of — one for you and one for your roomie that'll help you keep the peace in your home.

weareeven / Via instagram.com

These aren't your average headphones! They come with a technology that tests your hearing and adjusts the headphones to create the perfect, customized listening experience. You can relax and unwind before bed without the growing concern you're damaging your hearing by listening to music constantly. I've tested these myself and can confirm they're *magical.* I also let my mother-in-law borrow them to tune out the endless fireworks that go off all July.

Get them from Even or Amazon for $49.99.

20. Video game-inspired coasters, in case one of the constant arguments you and your partner have are typically about the fact you continue to leave your mugs and water glasses directly on the coffee table when you're the middle of an intense game.

LetsEngraveIt / Etsy

Get a set of six from LetsEngraveIt on Etsy for $22.

21. A 1,000-piece video game-themed puzzle that'll be a fun activity for you and your roomie to tackle together — especially this winter!

Amazon

Get it from Amazon for $17.50.

22. Keyboard cleaning putty, a must-have if you and your S.O. share a desktop and you have tendencies to snack on cookies or chips while gaming with your friends. No one wants to discover crumbs in their keys while online shopping, buddy.

amazon.com

This stuff has over 6K five-star reviews!

Promising review: "I was skeptical at first. Was afraid my keyboard would be all gummed up with yellow slime! The opposite, it cleaned it as good as new. Got all those dog hairs between the keys! No smell lingering on keyboard or my hands. No sign I even used it except a clean keyboard. Kind of fun to play with. Squeeze it between your fingers! LOL My next task for it will be those dust return air vents on our heating system and use it on my dusty window blinds. This stuff works and I highly recommend!" —ZZZZZZ

Get it from Amazon for $7.99.

23. Ultimate Video Game Trivia set to put you and your friend's knowledge of video games to the test and determine once and for all who is a novice and who is a noob.

BoxLunch

There are 300 tricky questions for you and your companions to the test. Reminder: don't hate on your roomie if they're less knowledgable than you!

Get it from BoxLunch for $9.03.

24. A highly rated router that'll ensure your roommate isn't stuck with slow internet while you're streaming your game of Call of Duty on Twitch.

Best Buy

This lil' gadget has over 8K five-star reviews on Best Buy!

Promising review: "This router is by far the best I've ever owned. Between my roommate and me, we connect up to five items and one of those is a desktop used for gaming and I'm still getting 85 mbps on a laptop. Definitely recommend this router." —Cincotta84

Get it from Best Buy for $159.99.

25. A Kingdom Hearts Talisman board game for you and your best friend/roommate who have been playing the video game version together since it came out in 2002.

Amazon

Game night is about to get a whooooole lot more magical.

Promising review: "Such a great game! I have never played Talisman before and so I thought this might be really complicated to learn to play. While there are a lot of elements to gameplay, I found that the instructions make it relatively easy to start to get the hang of it! Once you start playing, it all starts to make sense. It is so much fun to play and the board is beautiful! It also shipped quickly which I appreciated. All pieces came and were not broken! It is a bit of an investment, but absolutely worth it! It is very fun!" —Faith

Get it from Amazon for $60.89.

26. And a draft stopper you can shove under the door to somewhat soundproof it to try and ensure your roommate will *finally* have some peace and quiet while you can't help but scream at fellow competitors (or your friend who just gave up a win. Get it together, Sam).

ScandaloAlSole / Etsy

It'll also keep the cold out — an added bonus.

Get it from ScandaloAlSole on Etsy for $19.99+ (available in 20 lengths and five styles).

OK, sorry for bothering you while you're approaching the boss level. Carry on.

Nickelodeon

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.