We Pick the 35 Best Gaming Gifts of 2026 – CNET

It’s not worth it for a giftee who already owns a Switch, but for first-time buyers, the $499 Switch 2 is a no-brainer. Almost all existing Switch games play on it, and many older games play better on it than on the older model; it’s got the biggest, highest-resolution screen to date and more power, among other things. 

Read our Nintendo Switch 2 review.

The Editors’ Choice-winning Meta Quest 3S is VR pro Scott Stein’s pick for the best entry-level VR headset. Replacing the Quest 2, it’s got improved graphics over that model, and is compatible with Quest 3 games and uses the same controllers as the Quest 3. Its primary drawback compared to the Quest 3 is the lower-quality displays, which remain the same as those of the Quest 2. The Quest 3 is still a better headset, but the $350 price tag on the 3S makes it a more attractive gift option than the $600 Quest 3 and a nice choice for first-time VR players.

Read our Meta Quest 3S review.

I’ve got a hoard of gaming laptops, a powerful desktop and more, but the Steam Deck OLED is still my go-to gaming device. It’s not for everyone — really just gamers who have large libraries of games from the popular Steam store and whose games are listed as at least playable on the Steam Deck, if not on the Great on Deck list.

The newer OLED version is an improved upgrade over the older LCD model — a bigger, better screen, twice as much storage, faster Wi-Fi and longer battery life. 

But make sure that your giftee wants one, because once it’s opened, it can’t be returned.

Read our OLED Steam Deck review.

The official Xbox gaming handheld isn’t the fastest, but it’s pretty good, and it’s well designed with responsive controls and comfortable grips. Plus, its price hasn’t ballooned like similar devices, making it a good compromise as a great gift that won’t necessarily blow your budget. If your pockets are feeing especially deep, though, and you’re not in a buying rush, the upcoming X20 will have a better, OLED display and a snazzier design for $300 more.

Read our Asus ROG Xbox Ally X review

For popular exclusive games like Astro Bot, the PS5 is the way to go (although many of these games eventually make it to PCs much later on). The PS5’s big advantage is its modernized, redesigned controller, which provides better haptic feedback. The PS Plus subscription service offers a big, Netflix-like catalog of monthly games, although mostly older ones. 

The model without a DVD drive (aka the Digital Edition) costs less than the model that includes one; if your recipient wants to play older games or just likes physical copies, they can always attach a drive later.

Read our PS5 review and slim PS5 hands-on.

The smaller, cheaper Series S version of the Xbox plays all the same games as its bigger, pricier brother, the $750 Xbox Series X, but does so at 1440p resolution, which lies somewhere between traditional HD and 4K. More importantly, it’s great for downloading and playing the huge catalog of Xbox Game Pass games or for free-to-play online games like Fortnite. There’s a black model with twice the storage, the Xbox Series S 1TB, for about $50 more, but it’s not necessary unless you specifically want to gift the black one, or you know your gamer keeps having to delete games because storage is tight. If you want to give the white model, you can always spring for a plug-in drive to go with it.

Read our Xbox Series S and Series S 1TB reviews.

CNET contributor Jason Cockerham, a frequent player of this 9-inch tablet, calls it the “best Android gaming tablet you can buy” and gave it an Editors’ Choice. He appreciates its travel-friendly design, 165Hz OLED screen, fast performance and plethora of gaming features. It starts at $699, but since there’s no way to add storage, if you’re buying for someone who likes to keep a lot of games installed (guilty!), you may need to opt for the higher-capacity $799 model. If you don’t feel like spending that much, its predecessor — which he also liked very much, just not the battery life — starts at $499.

Read our RedMagic Astra 2 review

This is the controller that comes bundled with the latest Xbox consoles, so it’s pretty basic — no customization or fancy features. But if the person you’re gifting to has an Xbox and likes to play side-by-side with friends, or if they just don’t like sharing a controller (raises hand) and need a spare, it’s nice to go with a matching model (or pick another of our favorite Xbox controllers). Plus, they know it will fit in any dual charger they already have. 

According to controller reviewer Jason Cockerham, the Ultimate 2 Bluetooth is the top choice for gaming on the Switch and worth the relatively high $70 price — any of them. The buttons feel solid, it’s comfortable to hold, and there are tons of customization options. It’s got two-stage Hall Effect triggers and TMR joysticks for better durability and performance over the first generation, along with a multitude of beyond-basic controls. Since it’s Bluetooth, it can work with any device, not just the Switch.

Game controllers that snap onto your phone can be a pain — even if they attach easily, they make using your phone even briefly in portrait mode difficult — but they’re the slickest, most natural-feeling way to use a controller with your phone. The popular Backbone One is the original, but the follow-up Backbone Pro combines the company’s sophisticated software with a design that fixes the biggest issue with the One: the tiny grips that get uncomfortable after a while. It’s bigger, but I think it’s a reasonable trade-off.

Models are available for Android and USB-C iPhones. It’s really expensive for its class, though, at $170.

Read our Backbone Pro review.

Like the Backbone Pro, the approximately $130 V3 Pro snaps onto a phone and connects via USB-C and has bigger grips than you typically find on an on-phone controller for more comfortable long sessions. The V3 Pro is slightly bigger, though, to accommodate attaching to small tablets.

Read our Razer Kishi V3 Pro review.

If you’re feeling generous, this admittedly pricey wireless gaming headset is the crème de la crème, especially for gamers who need audio connectivity across multiple platforms. It has 2.4GHz wireless, three USB connections, 3.5mm line out for analog and the latest Bluetooth support — the latter has delivered the most bulletproof connection juggling across a ton of devices — up to four of which can be active at a time. The sound is great, it’s comfortable enough that I wear it for about 8 hours a day, and it comes in a stunning dark navy blue. And the pair of hot-swappable batteries means I never run out of juice.

This mid-priced headset is solid all around and extremely comfortable, but it stands out from the crowd for excellent battery life — which can be crucial for hardcore gamers so they don’t have to deal with wires.

Read our HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless review.

I used the midpriced G522 for months as my go-to headset at my PC. It’s comfortable — actually, a little loose on my head, but that’s par for my course — sounds great, delivers reasonable battery life, has excellent software and doesn’t skimp on the RGB lighting like many other wireless models.

If you’re looking to spend no more than $150, the Arctis Nova 5X is the model I’d hang on my hook. The 2.4GHz dongle works with any device that has a USB-C port, it’s got Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connection (not simultaneous, though), and it comes with a case and has decent battery life. But it stands out for the mobile app, which lets you control a lot, including equalizer presets when used on consoles and EQ on Bluetooth. There’s a Nova 5P model for PlayStation and a plain-old Nova 5 for PC, which are basically the same but without features specific to the Xbox. If you’re willing to pay a bit more — it’s about $170 — the Arctis Nova 7 is better, if only because it allows for simultaneous Bluetooth and 2.4GHz. I prefer the dual connections because they can pass through notifications from my phone as well as ringing.

Read our SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X review.

Priced as low as around $130 — some variations are more or less — the G515 is my favorite low-profile keyboard for mainstream gaming and everyday use, and it’s proven remarkably durable over time for a low-profile model. It’s very quiet, with no wobble and a soft landing, comes with either tactile or linear switches, can connect via Bluetooth and USB as well as a 2.4GHz dongle, is very responsive and wakes up fast, and has sturdy doubleshot PBT keycaps with standard stems. Plus, TKL models are smaller than full keyboards, ditching the number pad, so they take up significantly less desk space.

In addition to being a good gaming mouse, this model is noticeably narrower and shorter than Razer’s other mice, more comfortable in my smaller hands, but it has a full set of features. Plus, it can connect via Bluetooth, as well as the 2.4GHz dongle and wired, making it a good everyday mouse. It’s also a middleweight — not an ultralight, as most smaller gaming mice tend to be, but which can be a little too light for gamers who aren’t action diehards.

Another wireless TKL keyboard, the roughly $160 Vulkan 2 Mini Air is an excellent choice for gamers who like linear optical switches (there aren’t any other options) in a full-height design. It stands out for a ton of customization options for its price, and it has three Bluetooth connections (in addition to the 2.4GHz dongle), which I happen to love and miss in the Logitech G515. Reviewer Jason Cockerham didn’t like it because he types a lot, as all reviewers do, and optical switches take a lot of getting used to for that. In my experience, if the software lets you control repeat rate (which it does), that helps a lot with everyday use.

Read our Vulcan 2 Mini Air review.