Video game accessories can make a gaming session even more fun. (Photo: Amazon)
It's that time of year again, when you receive Christmas gift suggestions from all of your gamer kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews. If you don't understand what some of the items on their lists are, don't worry. We've got you covered. This is a roundup of the best video game accessories to help you nail the perfect stocking stuffer or gift.
Some of these are just useful things to have around, like controller charging docks or a carrying case, while others are great decorations for the bedroom. They all have one thing in common, though: they're all great gifts.
This carrying case is both strong and nondescript. It doesn't scream that there's a Switch inside, which will make it less attractive to thieves, but it contains plenty of storage for both the console itself as well as a charging case, headphones, as many as 20 games, and a spare set of controllers. If your kids like to take their Switch with them on the go, this is a great solution for protecting an expensive investment.
One customer says it fits everything they need. "Really good value and allows me to travel with everything I need for my Switch on the go. Perfect for getting through security quickly at the airport. Easy to organize whatever I bring with me. The extra Velcro straps are nice, too."
It doesn't matter whether someone downloads games or plays off a cartridge — either way, the Switch doesn't have a ton of storage space. After loading in a few video games, it will run out of memory and a card will be needed. This SanDisk 256GB memory card is officially licensed for the Switch, which means it's not only fast enough (a risk when buying memory cards), but it has enough space for dozens of games on it.
"It’s exactly what I wanted, Was easy install, no damage. Was able to store two games that were taking a lot of storage space on my game and still have room on the Sim card for many more downloads. Highly recommend it," raved one customer.
Any device that will be used frequently needs a screen protector, but the Switch especially does. Thanks to its ability to fit into the dock and be played on a TV, there's an increased risk of the screen being damaged as it goes into and out of the mount. This inexpensive 3-pack of screen protectors are not only easy to apply, but will make it simple to keep the Switch safe.
One user said, "Installing a screen protector can be a maddening exercise in trying to prevent dust particles from causing bubbles, but this kit includes everything you need for an easy and mostly trouble-free installation. The end result was perfect and the quality of the screen protector seems very good."
Ring Fit Adventure is a unique game. It includes a resistance band that the Nintendo Switch controllers slot into. Players have to squat, jog in place and perform a variety of other activities to make their way through the game and overcome its challenges. The difficulty can be turned down to almost nothing for younger children or those that are physically impaired, but it's a good way to keep kids active during the long winter months when they can't go outside.
"This is a great game; also seems to be a good workout. If my daughter would actually let me use it. She is hogging the game. I have to wait till she goes back to school, so I don't have to stop in the middle of my workout and give her a turn," one parent attested. "The game actually makes you have to do your best with posture, or your attacks don't have that much power and you'll lose life, especially when you have to guard from attacks. I would say have your own separate account so the kids don't mess up your calibrations. Wish they made this a two-player game so I could exercise with my daughter."
Kids go through batteries faster than anything else, and they'll snag the last few batteries in the pack for a controller. No longer! This rechargeable pack is designed specifically for the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X, so it will only work with those controllers. Since there are two, one can always be in reserve so there's no downtime in play.
"My son confirmed that he has been using the battery for about two weeks and the battery still works, it doesn't need to charge it yet," said one happy parent. "This is the best purchase I have made for my children's Xbox controller. Because before, I spent a lot of money on batteries that didn't last a week."
PowerA is a well-known, third-party company that makes quality controllers on a budget. Considering the average Xbox controller is more than $60, a $26 option is a steal. It's also wired, so it won't run out of power. Best of all, it has a nice look that sets it apart from other controllers, with a color scheme you won't see elsewhere. It can also be used on PC!
"I use this for Forza Horizon 5, CODs, NBA2K23, PGA2K23, etc. And I have had no issues. The trigger pressure and feel is slightly different from the original. The rumble is stronger and makes Forza more enjoyable, if that's possible. I do not attach any headsets to it, so I can't speak to the sound quality. Overall, I've enjoyed using it and it have no complaints," one gamer said.
The Turtle Beach Recon 50 comes packed with 40mm speakers that produce crystal clear sound, and the wired connection means you don't have to worry about it dying midway through a game. It's inexpensive enough to make a great gift for kids, but high-quality enough that no one will complain about the crispness of their audio.
One customer calls them "simply amazing," adding, "I brought these in July 2021. They have been so amazing. Zero issues with them to the day. I’ve dropped these hundreds of times. I’ve moved places and still top-tier sound, and the mic is amazing. By far the best headphones I’ve ever brought that were this good of a price."
Do your kids like to play competitive games like Call of Duty or Apex Legends? Any shooter on consoles needs precision control, and these KontrolFreek caps make it a lot easier to do that. They extend the controller sticks just enough to get a slightly better edge in games. Trust us: Anyone who plays to win will appreciate these.
"Never went back to Xbox controller sticks again after getting these. These KontrolFreeks definitely made me 10 times better in games and make you feel much faster and smoother. You do need to get used to them, and as soon as you do, you will never want to go back," said one gamer.
This is a nifty little controller stand that makes it possible to charge two PlayStation 5 controllers at a time. There are LED lights on the front that will let you know the status of the battery at a glance. It's a great accessory to go alongside a PlayStation 5, and it'll make it easy for your kids to have always a controller ready to go when it's game time.
"This charging stand for my PS5 controller works perfectly," said one gamer. "The indicators on the front show which slot is being charged and changes color to red when charging and back to blue when done. Putting it on the charging base is easy. Just line it up and set it down."
This is a great addition to a game room or a bedroom for any PlayStation fan. It's the classic logo everyone knows and loves, but it lights up. It's a perfect little nightlight for younger players, or just a cool, eye-catching piece for older kids.
"Looks great! An added bonus is if it's connected to your smart TV via the included usb connector, it will turn off after your television is turned off," said one buyer.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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We’ve got your holiday shopping list covered with fantastic gift ideas for everyone on your list. You’ll find expert picks on the best tech gifts on Engadget, the best gift ideas for car lovers at Autoblog, gifts for the young (and young at heart) at In the Know, and picks for just about everyone else on your list (moms, dads, teens, nurses, you name it!) in Yahoo’s holiday gift ideas section. On AOL, you'll find for gift ideas for seniors shopping for moms, dads, teens and toddlers.
