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IWith summer now behind us and grey skies preparing for six months of non-stop rain, you might be thinking more seriously about video games. September and October are typically the months for the biggest releases of the year, so you can expect to spend many an afternoon hiding from the world while playing Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 or Mario Party Jamboree. If your gaming rig is looking a little tired and you want to treat yourself to a seasonal upgrade, here are some suggestions.
Television
If you have a PS5 or Xbox Series X, you’ll need a 4K TV at the very least, but also a model that supports a 120Hz refresh rate, which provides incredibly smooth picture quality for compatible games. Your TV should have at least one HDMI 2.1 port, and you’ll need an HDMI 2.1-compatible cable to connect your console.
Also a must is support for high dynamic range (HDR) lighting, a technology that produces far more detail and colour at both high and low brightness. Confusingly, there are multiple versions – HDR10 is the base version supported by both PS5 and Xbox. However, if you have Microsoft’s machine, it also offers Dolby Vision, which is essentially an enhanced version of HDR. Almost all TVs these days offer special game modes or game optimisers, which turn off non-essential image processing effects to reduce input lag and improve response time, but it’s worth checking exactly what a potential purchase offers in this regard.
Recommended: The LG C4 range
I recently tried one of these out for a month and loved it. The C4 is LG’s latest line of mid-range OLED TVs with an astonishing level of visual detail, vibrant colours and support for Dolby Vision, HDR and 120Hz refresh rates. I tried it out with a variety of titles, from Elden Ring to Helldivers 2, and they all looked wonderful. Game mode is particularly good, allowing users to adjust settings depending on the type of game they’re playing. You can even connect your PC and use it as a monitor, thanks to the 144Hz option and support for Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync technologies, which help maintain a smooth frame rate when playing demanding action games. If that’s a little too pricey, the Samsung Q80D range is a very good alternative, but the LG C4 will be hard to beat.
Monitor
If you’re gaming on PC rather than console and you’re looking to upgrade your monitor, you’ll need to think about the three Rs: refresh rate (how many frames per second the display can display, measured in Hz), resolution (the detail of the image, measured in pixels), and response time (how long it takes each pixel to respond to changes in the image, measured in milliseconds). What you need will depend on the type of games you play. If you’re into fast-paced shooters, refresh rate and response times are the most important factors; if you’re into graphically rich adventure games, resolution is the key concern. For general gaming, I’d look for a model with at least a 144Hz refresh rate, a 1440p resolution, and a response time of around 5ms.
You should also think about what type of panel your new monitor uses (VA, TN, IPS or OLED, all of which have different advantages and disadvantages; there is a good guide here) and whether it supports technologies such as HDR, Nvidia G-Sync and/or AMD FreeSync.
Recommended: This is a tough one, as I’m still using my five-year-old Acer Predator and it still works brilliantly, but I’ve also used the much newer Samsung Odyssey, LG UltraGear and Gigabyte Aorus models, and they’re all excellent. Acer, Dell and MSI all make very capable budget displays.
Headphones
What you’re looking for here is comfort and build quality, especially if you’re gaming for extended periods. I’d also recommend noise cancellation (if you’re gaming in a busy living room) and support for a virtual surround sound technology like Dolby Atmos – not only does this add to the atmosphere of a game, but it can also be useful if you play online shooters and want to hear where your enemies are coming from. If you’re chatting with friends while gaming, a good, clear microphone is also vital. You should also think about whether you want a wired or wireless headset and whether the model is compatible with your console.
Recommended: Audeze Maxwell (£319)
I’d recommend trying out a few different headsets if you can, as it’s a very personal decision. However, in terms of sound quality, it’s hard to beat these. With planar magnetic drivers (which tend to provide more clarity than standard dynamic drivers) and Dolby Atmos support, the Maxwells present an incredibly rich and immersive soundstage, with convincing positional effects. The microphone is also crystal clear. For more modest budgets, I regularly use the HyperX Cloud (£60-£120), SteelSeries Arctis 1 (£60-£80) and Razer BlackShark (£60-£160) headset ranges and they’re all very good.
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On the other hand, if you want high-end audio but don’t need a microphone, you can kill three birds with one stone and buy yourself a high-end pair of headphones that you can also use to listen to music and movies. I’ve been testing out the wonderful Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX headphones and the sound is incredible, giving games a truly expansive audio feel. They’re also much more comfortable and have better build quality than many dedicated gaming headsets – you can wear them all day long, making them perfect for those weekend-long Elden Ring marathons.
Controller
For most console gamers, the standard stock controllers are fine, but if you want a more technical controller, there are plenty of options. You’ll need to decide between wired or wireless options, and then look into customization options. High-end controllers offer interchangeable configurations, as well as additional buttons that can be defined by the user.
Recommended: Victrix Pro BFG (£160)
I was always a fan of Scuf controllers, especially for first-person shooters, but the Victrix really impressed me. Featuring a clever modular design that lets you rotate or swap your D-pad and analog sticks, the Pro BFG also has a variety of programmable back buttons (great for giving you immediate access to different weapons and abilities), several analog stick caps to try out, and three different storable profiles, so you can change your preferences depending on the game you’re playing. It feels lighter than many of its pro competitors, but it’s still well-built and the sleek, understated design is nice, too. If you’re just looking for a second joystick at a decent price, I’d go with anything from the Pro BFG. 8BitDo who make good, sturdy controllers for most platforms.
Lightning
This is an often overlooked element of the gaming experience, but good lighting is crucial to setting the mood. Here are two recommendations. Gaming accessory manufacturer Razer has its own Aether Range of lamps and light bars that offer thousands of colors, all highly configurable through the company’s Chroma software. Philips Hue range The smart lights model is a little more expensive, but provides a varied and adaptable environment for your living and gaming rooms.