Gifts for PC Gamers

PC gamers have usually spent years tuning their setup, and they have opinions about every piece of it. Your best bet is not a new graphics card but the parts around it: the mouse, the desk, the light, the storage they keep running out of. These picks are proven models from brands that have been making them for years.

Under $25 5 ideas

  1. Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture

    The story of John Carmack, John Romero and the making of Doom and Quake. Anyone who grew up on LAN parties will read it in two sittings.

    David KushnerBookStocking stuffer

    See it on Amazon

  2. Blood, Sweat, and Pixels: The Triumphant, Turbulent Stories Behind How Video Games Are Made

    Ten chapters, ten games, each one a near-disaster that shipped anyway. It explains why their favorite game was delayed twice better than any forum thread.

    Jason SchreierBook

    See it on Amazon

  3. Razer DeathAdder Essential Wired Gaming Mouse

    The DeathAdder shape has been around for well over a decade because it fits most right hands. A sensible spare for travel or for the friend who still games on a laptop trackpad.

    RazerStocking stuffer

    See it on Amazon

  4. Falcon Dust-Off Compressed Gas Duster

    Dust is what slowly cooks a gaming PC. A couple of cans gets the fans and filters clean, and almost nobody remembers to buy them for themselves.

    FalconStocking stufferGets used up

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  5. OXO Good Grips Electronics Cleaning Brush

    A soft brush on one end and a silicone wiper on the other, sized for the gaps between keycaps. Small, cheap and used weekly.

    OXOStocking stuffer

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Under $50 5 ideas

  1. Logitech G305 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse

    Wireless with no noticeable lag, and it runs for months on one AA battery. The easiest way to get rid of a cable dragging across the mouse pad.

    Logitech G

    See it on Amazon

  2. Logitech G502 HERO High Performance Wired Gaming Mouse

    A heavier, button-covered mouse with adjustable weights. Good for MMO and strategy players who want macros under their thumb rather than a featherweight shooter mouse.

    Logitech G

    See it on Amazon

  3. SteelSeries QcK Heavy XXL Gaming Mouse Pad

    A thick cloth pad big enough to sit under the keyboard and mouse together. It stops the keyboard sliding and gives low-sensitivity players room to swing.

    SteelSeries

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  4. Blue Snowball iCE USB Microphone

    Plug-and-play USB mic that makes them sound like a person instead of a headset on Discord. A big step up from a gaming-headset boom mic without a mixer or cables.

    Logitech for Creators

    See it on Amazon

  5. VIVO Single Monitor Desk Mount (STAND-V001)

    Lifts the monitor off the desk and lets them set the height properly. Frees up a surprising amount of space for a bigger mouse pad or a drink. Check the monitor has VESA holes first.

    VIVO

    See it on Amazon

Under $100 5 ideas

  1. Logitech C920x HD Pro Webcam

    The webcam half of all streamers started on. Clear 1080p, a decent built-in mic, and it clips to any monitor.

    Logitech

    See it on Amazon

  2. Keychron K2 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard

    A compact 75 percent mechanical keyboard that works wired or over Bluetooth. Leaves more room for the mouse than a full-size board and feels much better than a laptop or office keyboard.

    Keychron

    See it on Amazon

  3. HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset

    Comfortable for long sessions, with memory-foam ear cups and a detachable mic. It has sold for years because it sounds good and survives being thrown on the desk.

    HyperX

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  4. Xbox Wireless Controller

    Windows treats it as the default controller, so it works in nearly every PC game without setup. Racing, soulslike and couch co-op games are all better with one.

    Microsoft

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  5. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 3 Month Membership

    A rotating library of hundreds of PC and Xbox games, including new Microsoft releases on day one. A digital code, so it works on Christmas morning even if you shop on Christmas Eve.

    MicrosoftArrives by emailAn experience

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$100 and up 3 ideas

  1. Elgato Stream Deck MK.2

    Fifteen programmable LCD keys for muting the mic, switching scenes, launching games or running macros. Streamers use it constantly, and non-streamers end up finding a dozen jobs for it.

    Elgato

    See it on Amazon

  2. Samsung 990 PRO 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD

    A fast, reliable drive that will hold another dozen modern games. Check that their motherboard has a free M.2 slot before you buy.

    Samsung

    See it on Amazon

  3. BenQ ScreenBar LED Monitor Light

    Sits on top of the monitor and lights the desk without throwing glare on the screen. Late-night players get to see the keyboard without turning on the room light.

    BenQ

    See it on Amazon