When gaming and a good set of accessories work together well, they truly take the experience to the next level. These are our favorite accessories you simply cannot miss in 2016. 

When it comes to gaming, it doesn’t matter what your platform of choice is – there are always countless accessories meant to improve your game, style, and the way you interact with your consoles or PC. Most of these accessories (let’s face it) are terrible, but a few of them have truly earned a spot as true essentials, and we simply can not imagine gaming without them – so without any further ado, here is our list of the essential gaming accessories for 2016.

Microsoft licensed Energizer 2X Charging System for Xbox One & PS4

We love the fact that our gaming can now be done mostly wirelessly, and it’s great to not have to depend on cables – although this has the downside of all of our favorite gadgets, accessories and gaming controllers having to recharge, a lot. Chances are that if you’re prone to long gaming sessions, you’ll eventually end up playing with your controller plugged in with a really short cable, and that’s what the Energizer 2X Charging System attempts to solve in its PS4 and Xbox One version. Now you can extend your game time without having to worry about battery life. This charger is currently on sale for $19.99, down from its usual price of $29.99 USD.

Steam Controller

Whether you’re a PC purist or like consoles, everyone can agree that some games are just meant to be played with a gamepad and not with mouse and keyborad. The Steam Controller is a godsend for PC gamers who are looking for a compromise, for a gamepad that’s tight enough to play Super Meat Boy or that can slide quickly for smooth FPS play. The Steam Controller was designed by the Valve team themselves, and is not finally ready to be sold and you can buy it for $49.99 USD.

Nintendo Wii Remote Plus

The Nintendo Wii U’s main controller is basically the fusion of a tablet and gamepad, but if you want to play with more than one player, you’re going to need more controllers – and that is why the Wii Remote Plus are a must. These controllers are simple enough that anyone (gamer or not) can pick them up and play, and make the couch multiplayer experience memorable for anyone. These controllers (the same ones you have from your original Wii) can be bought for just under $40 USD.

Xbox One Kinect Sensor with Dance Central Spotlight

The Xbox One’s Kinect is a completely new experience compared to what we saw in the Xbox 360’s generation. The new Kinect allows you to use voice commands your Xbox and TV, make Skype calls in HD, and play games using your body as the controller. This bundle in particular is a fantastic deal for it includes a download code for Dance Central Spotlight, one of the greatest games to play with friends in the same room. It’s currently on sale for $99.99, down from its usual $149.99 USD.

PlayStation Gold Wireless Stereo Headset

It’s just amazing how much better the PS4 is when compared to the PS3 when it comes to online functionalities and OS stability. As a true next-gen experience, now it is really worth it to invest in headsets and things to be comfortable while playing, because you will be doing it a lot. The PlayStation Gold Wireless Stereo Headset is the best compromise between price and quality, for bringing you fantastic sound quality and party chat capabilities with official support for under $80 USD, as it’s currently on sale. Don’t miss out on it!

Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter

As opposed to PlayStation, the Xbox already has a long and rich story of great online functionality that brought us fantastic experiences such as Halo, Gears of War or Call of Duty – so it’s likely you already have a good set of headphones from the previous generation. The Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter ensures you can do exactly that, and can do things like easily adjust chat audio without ever taking your hands off the controller. You can buy yours for just under $25 USD.

Logitech G502 Proteus Core Gaming Mouse

If you’re serious about gaming, you know how hard it is to find a mouse that performs just right. The Logitech G502 Proteus Core Gaming Mouse is a one device fits all solution, as you can customize its weight, surface and balance to get the best performance no matter what. It comes with 11 programmable buttons you can set up to execute any combination of buttons, or change DPI on the fly for precission sniping. Even better, it’s compatible with both Windows and Mac, so it’s the perfect companion for all your competitive gaming needs.

HyperX Cloud Gaming Headset

Speaking about competitive gaming on PC, the HyperX Cloud Gaming Headset is absolutely our favorite device for those intense sessions of Counter Strike: Global Offensive or League of Legends. They’re not only incredibly comfortable but also sound great and look just beautiful while not even being that expensive. You can purchase yours right now for $67.99, as they are on sale, and over 20% down from the usual $99.99 USD price.

Nyko Intercooler for Xbox One And PS4

Most of us had some bad experiences past generation with the Xbox 360 overheating and shutting off – forever. The new generation doesn’t seem to have such a glaring problem so far, but if you live in an area with hot weather and would rather be safe, the Nyko Intercooler for Xbox One And PS4 will give you the peace of mind you’re looking for. This is a USB powered cooler that reduces ambient air temperature by pushing hot air away from the console, and fits the console aesthetic on top. You can purchase one for about $21 USD.

Nintendo Pro Controller Black – Nintendo Wii U

The Nintendo Pro Controller is a must-have for Wii U owners who are more into action games than the more laid back or couch-play experiences of many titles such as Nintendoland or Pikmin. If you need precise controls to play something more action oriented such as Bayonetta, Super Mario 3D World or Super Smash Bros, this is the controller you’re looking for at just under $49.99 USD. You won’t believe the wicked weaves you will be able to pull off with it.

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