What Gaming Accessories Do You Actually Need? A No-Fluff Checklist by Platform

Here's the thing nobody tells you when you're setting up a new console or upgrading your PC rig: most of the accessories marketed at you are solving problems you don't have. The result is a drawer full of charging docks, cable management clips, and a headset stand that looked great on Amazon but hasn't moved in six months.

This guide is organized by platform — PS5, Xbox, PC, Switch, and VR — and for each one, it separates the stuff that genuinely changes how you play from the stuff that's nice to own someday, and the stuff you can skip entirely without missing anything.

A quick rule before we start

Ask yourself this before buying any accessory: does it fix a real friction point in how I already play? If you're not sure, you don't need it yet. Buy it when you feel the problem, not when an ad makes the problem sound plausible.

PS5

Actually need

• A second DualSense controller. One controller and a dead battery mid-session is a miserable combination. A second controller on the charger at all times is the single most practical PS5 purchase.
• A charging dock or stand. Not glamorous, but leaving controllers on the floor or charging via a cable draped across the couch gets old fast. A dual-charging stand keeps things tidy and both controllers ready.
• A PlayStation gift card or wallet credit if you buy digital games regularly. Managing your PSN balance with a physical card is often cheaper than entering a credit card directly, and it makes gifting easy.

Nice to have eventually

• A gaming headset with 3D Audio support. The PS5's Tempest 3D Audio is genuinely impressive — but only if you actually play late at night, share a space, or care about positional audio in competitive games. If you mostly play single-player games on a TV with decent speakers, it's not urgent.
• An external SSD. The PS5's internal storage fills up faster than you'd expect. An external drive is worth it once you're deleting games to make room — not before.

Skip it

• Most media remotes. If you use your PS5 as a media player, sure. But if you're a gamer first, the DualSense navigates streaming apps fine.
• Controller skins and grip tape sets. Unless your hands genuinely sweat through sessions, the DualSense grip is already solid out of the box.

Xbox (Series X/S)

Actually need

• A Play and Charge Kit or rechargeable battery pack. The Xbox controller still ships with AA batteries. This is the first thing you should fix. A rechargeable kit is a one-time purchase that pays for itself immediately.
• A second controller. Same logic as PS5. If you play couch co-op even occasionally, two controllers is the baseline.

Nice to have eventually

• A headset. Xbox has solid wireless headset options. Worth it if you play online multiplayer. Less urgent if you're a single-player gamer who plays through the TV.
• An external hard drive or SSD. Series X storage is generous, but Game Pass means you're constantly installing new titles. An expansion card or external drive becomes necessary over time, not immediately.

Skip it

• The Xbox Elite controller — until you know you want it. It's a premium product built for people who already know what they'd customize. If you've never thought about trigger stops or swappable paddles, start with a standard controller and upgrade when you feel a specific limitation.
• Controller charging stands with RGB lighting. They look great. They don't charge faster than a cable.

PC Gaming

PC is where accessory creep hits hardest, because the upgrade path never ends. Here's how to think about it clearly.

Actually need

• A gaming mouse that fits your grip. This is the single most impactful peripheral upgrade for PC gaming. A mouse that fits your hand and tracks accurately removes real friction. If you're using a $10 office mouse, this is the first thing to fix. (For a deeper look at what the specs actually mean before you buy, check out our guide on how to choose a gaming mouse.)
• A mechanical keyboard — if you type and game on the same machine. If your current keyboard is uncomfortable or mushy, a mechanical switch keyboard is worth it. If your current keyboard works fine for you, don't fix what isn't broken.
• A headset or headphones with a mic. PC gaming is heavily online. Voice communication matters. A dedicated gaming headset or a good pair of headphones with a clip-on mic covers this without overspending.

Nice to have eventually

• A desk mat. Cheap, surprisingly pleasant to use, and it protects your desk surface. Not urgent, but once you have one you won't go back.
• A monitor upgrade. If you're gaming on a TV or a basic office monitor, a dedicated gaming monitor with a higher refresh rate makes a visible difference in fast games. But it's a bigger purchase — wait until your GPU can actually push the frames to justify it.
• A capture card. Only if you're streaming or recording. If you're not, you genuinely don't need one.

Skip it (for now)

• A gaming chair before a decent monitor. Comfort matters, but if you're still gaming on a 60Hz monitor with a great chair, your priorities are backwards. Peripherals that affect what you see and hear come before furniture.
• RGB everything. RGB lighting looks great in setup photos. It doesn't affect performance. Buy it last, after the things that actually matter.

Nintendo Switch

Actually need

• A carrying case. If you ever take your Switch off the dock, a case is non-negotiable. The screen scratches easily and the Joy-Cons are not built for drops.
• A screen protector. Especially for Switch Lite owners or anyone who docks and undocks frequently — the dock itself can scratch the screen over time. A tempered glass protector is a few dollars and takes five minutes.
• A larger microSD card. Nintendo games take up real storage. The base internal storage fills up faster than you'd expect, especially if you buy digital. This is one of the first Switch purchases worth making.

Nice to have eventually

• A Pro Controller. Joy-Cons are fine for most things, but for long sessions of docked play, the Pro Controller is significantly more comfortable. Worth it once you're spending regular hours in TV mode.
• A portable charging stand or battery pack. If you travel with your Switch, battery life becomes a real concern on longer trips. A compact stand with a built-in battery or a separate power bank solves this.

Skip it

• Joy-Con grips and shells. Unless your Joy-Cons are physically damaged, third-party shells are more effort than they're worth. The Pro Controller is a better investment than modifying Joy-Cons.
• Elaborate docking station replacements. The official dock works. Third-party docks have a mixed track record with firmware updates. Stick with what Nintendo made.

VR (Meta Quest and PC VR)

VR accessory marketing is particularly aggressive, because the headset itself is expensive and buyers feel like they should protect the investment. Most of what's sold for VR headsets is optional.

Actually need

• A facial interface or foam replacement. The stock foam on most headsets absorbs sweat and degrades over time. A silicone or upgraded foam replacement is genuinely useful — especially if you share the headset or play active games.
• A controller charging dock. Quest controllers eat batteries. A charging dock with rechargeable batteries removes the single most annoying friction point in VR gaming.

Nice to have eventually

• A head strap upgrade. The default strap on many headsets puts weight on your face. An upgraded strap that redistributes weight to the back of your head makes longer sessions noticeably more comfortable. Not essential for 20-minute sessions, but worth it if you play for an hour or more at a time.
• A carrying case. If your headset lives on a shelf and never moves, you don't need a case. If you bring it to a friend's place or travel with it, a hard case is worth the investment.

Skip it

• VR mat/boundary markers. Your guardian system does this already. Physical mats are redundant for most setups.
• Lens covers and dust protectors. Useful in theory, but in practice most people don't use them consistently. Storing the headset face-down or in a case accomplishes the same thing.

The short version

Across every platform, the pattern is the same: the accessories that matter most are the ones that fix a real, recurring annoyance — dead batteries, a scratched screen, running out of storage, an uncomfortable grip. Everything else is a bonus you buy when you actually feel the need for it.

Start with the essentials. Play for a few months. Then you'll know exactly what's missing — and you won't be guessing.

Browse the full accessories catalog at GameX24 — sorted by category — to find what's actually on your list, without the guesswork.