(Pocket-lint) – What gift do you get the gamer in your life at Christmas? Buy them a game and it’s either the wrong one, they’ve already got it, they’ve completed it, or it’s just so last month.

But a well-judged gaming accessory can not only add hours of enjoyment, it can also make them better too.

So here, are our favourite picks of some of the best gaming accessories around that make perfect Xmas gifts without breaking the bank. All the gifts for gamers on this list will certainly bring hours of entertainment in the months ahead. 

Pocket-lint

Oculus Quest 2

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They might be a real gaming enthusiast, but there’s a good chance that your gift recipient hasn’t got into virtual reality (VR) yet. It’s been expensive and niche for a while. Oculus has changed the game a bit, though, with its great standalone headset, the Oculus Quest 2. This is quality VR without any wires or complex setup, and is a great way to get into VR without compromising.

• Oculus Quest 2 review: VR superstar

Pocket-lint

Sega Genesis Mini

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Mini games consoles are pretty much the rage nowadays, and the Sega Genesis Mini (or is that the Sega Mega Drive Mini?) is one of the best made yet. Sega has made a little marvel here, with a really great range of classic games to play and a price tag that is very reasonable. We can’t recommend it highly enough, in all honesty.

Nintendo

SNES Classic Mini

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Nintendo was pretty much first on the mini-console train, though, and if your target was more of a SNES gamer then you can relive those years too with the Nintendo Classic Mini Console. They’ll be able to plug it straight into their TV via a HDMI socket and play classics like Super Mario Kart, Legend of Zelda, and F-Zero. Nostalgia never looked so good.

Pocket-lint

Steelseries Arctis 1 Wireless for Xbox

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Don’t be fooled by the name – the thing that’s great about this wireless headset is that it works with every console, PC and mobile, all through one simple dongle. That makes it a perfect gift for any gamer, helping them to upgrade to immersive sound, and letting them chat in parties much more easily. Plus, it might save anyone living with them from overheard audio, too!

Corsair

Corsair Dark Core RGB SE Wired/Wireless Gaming Mouse with Qi Charging and MM1000 Qi Wireless Charging Mouse Pad

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If they’re a PC gamer this is the way to really show you care. Having a good mouse is important, and you can’t just get away with the one that came with the PC an eon ago. This Combo delivers an ultra-fast low-latency mouse that can wireless charge and store profiles for different games and settings, and the multiple buttons can be programmed any way they want with macros or simple actions making it fully customisable to personal preference. The charging mat also doubles as a charging mat for your phone while you’re playing.

Corsair

Corsair K95 Platinum

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PC gaming isn’t just about having a fast mouse, it’s about having a great keyboard too. This state-of-the-art keyboard features an aircraft-grade aluminium frame, storage to store profiles and dynamic lighting to make everything more “wow”. Oh and while you might not understand, they’ll love the 100 per cent CHERRY MX Speed RGB mechanical key switches.

Seagate

Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X/S

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There’s only one way right now to expand the internal storage of an Xbox Series X or S – this card from Seagate, which is pricey but matches all the specs of the Xbox’s own SSD.

That means it works with quick resume functions, and runs games just as quickly as the console’s own storage. It’s the perfect gift for someone who’s got a new Xbox, although it doesn’t come cheap at all. 

WD_Black

WD_Blac SN850 NVMe SSD

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It might seem a little in-depth, but trust us – this little bit of storage will blow away any gamer you give it to. If they’re a PC gamer, it’ll give them some of the fastest read/write speeds around anywhere, helping with load times and more.

The real trick may come, though, if they have a PS5. This is one of very few drives that are fast enough to potentially be used as expandable storage for Sony’s new console. It’s not confirmed yet, though, so maybe hold off if that’s your plan!

Pocket-lint

Nanoleaf Rhythm starter kit

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Nanoleaf is a fully-customisable smart lighting system featuring wall-mounted triangular lighting panels that snap together with simple connectors to create whatever shape you can imagine. The starter pack is expandable with extra panels that can be bought and combined to create bigger and bolder designs in future too. The Nanoleaf starter pack also includes the Rhythm Module though – which transforms the light panels into a dancing light show that reacts to surrounding sound. This is bound to make any gaming area stand out.

Razer

Razer Nommo Chrome speakers

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Made by gaming hardware maker Razer, these speakers deliver plenty of punch immersing gamers into the worlds they are playing. Coming with custom woven glass fibre 3-inch drivers, a wide sound field with high positional accuracy, dedicated rear-facing firing bass ports and bass control with automatic gain control technology, gamers can also choose from 16.8 million colours and pre-set lighting effects to personalize their listening experience, or take immersive gameplay up a notch with ambient lighting that reacts to your every move.

Writing by Max Freeman-Mills.