Whether you are a competitive gamer or just enjoy playing casual games, the gaming experience depends on your immersion. However, to take the experience to the next level, you will need to get the best peripherals out there. High-quality peripherals offer a perfect blend of functionality, ergonomics, and performance — and they are not necessarily expensive.

What Actually Matters In Gaming

A high-end GPU is the single most important aspect of a gaming PC; everything else comes after that. While you can get by with light-weight games on integrated graphics, you need a dedicated graphics card for resource-intensive games and programs. Most popular modern games demand the latter.

In some cases, you may need to optimize your PC for gaming by getting an antivirus for gamers to destroy any malicious programs slowing down your system or to get rid of any spyware. Some tweaks in Windows settings, such as enabling game mode and updating to the latest drivers, should help run games smoothly.

The rest is up to your skills and peripherals, which enable you to feel every single moment in a video game. Here is a list of essentials for the best gaming experience possible.

High Refresh Rate Monitor

Are you tired of missing your shots? It is not always your skills, a bad monitor can hold you back from performing well in competitive settings. Consider buying a high refresh rate gaming monitor, preferably with IPS or an OLED panel. Other options include TN and VA panels. IPS and OLED displays have the fastest response times of any panel type and are the ideal choice for most needs.

A high refresh rate monitor will ensure you get smoother motion and let you track enemy movements with greater accuracy and precision. Whereas, the resolution size will impact the picture clarity. A monitor that boasts a refresh rate of 120 Hz or higher is ideal for competitive FPS games like Call of Duty, Overwatch 2, Counter Strike 2, and Valorant. If you have an incredibly powerful GPU and don’t mind spending more, opt for 360 Hz displays.

Gaming Mouse

A great gaming mouse is comfortable to use, offers precise handling of reticles, and lets you customize buttons to your preference. A mouse with bad sensors will mess up your aim in several ways, and the only way to fix this problem is by getting a move that enables pixel-perfect precision. Most manufacturers now ship their mice equipped with flawless sensors, but a few faulty products may slip through the cracks, which is why you should always run your own tests after buying a mouse. If you are unlucky, just replace it with a different one.

Features such as cable and wireless are totally optional, but a wired connection offers slightly better gaming performance. Although most wireless mice these days have gotten closer to their wired counterparts and offer similar results.

Ergonomic Desk

Ergonomic design is what makes for a great gaming desk, but there are other factors that you need to look for. Space, adjustable height, and durability are three main qualities to consider. A spacious gaming desk will let you fit all your gaming equipment while leaving you ample space for mouse movements.

Adjustable height is good, but it needs to come with a solid build, whereas the durability will depend on the wood used. There are desks made with metal and carbon fiber, but wood is always the preferred choice for most use cases.

Gaming Chair

A gaming chair also needs to follow ergonomic design philosophy to keep your body comfortable during those long gaming sessions. Armrest, backrest, and lumbar support are the key features in any gaming chair; if it compromises in any of these aspects, it’s not good for you.

The rest of the design is subjective and the choice depends on your own height, gaming setup, and other preferences. Almost every gaming chair has a flashy gamer aesthetic, but only a few are healthy for your posture.    

Headset & Mechanical Keyboard

Headsets with surround sound features let you hear the sound from every direction clearly and are crucial for immersion. This is marketed with terms such as Dolby Atmos, so always look for that branding. And no list of gaming peripherals would ever be complete without the mention of a mechanical keyboard, which is known for its durability and responsiveness.

That wraps up our list of peripherals that elevate the gaming experience by offering immersion and a competitive edge over other players.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Hz do I need for gaming?

For casual games and a few single-player titles, a 60 Hz display is sufficient. But if you are a competitive gamer, you need a monitor with a 120 Hz or more refresh rate.

Is 240 Hz overkill?

240 Hz is not an overkill for gaming unless you are playing on a console like PS5 or Xbox Series X/S.

What panel type is best for gaming?

IPS panel type is overall the best for all gaming needs. VA panels have better color contrast but are slower than IPS panels. OLED displays, on the other hand, offer the best of both worlds; not only are they faster than the fastest IPS panels, but they also have an infinite contrast ratio.