15 Non-Essential Gaming Accessories That Actually Improve Your Gaming Experience

PocketEpiphany Published 03/05/2021 in ftw

Gaming is big business. And there are countless gaming accessories that claim they will take your experience to the next level.

But what about non-gaming accessories? There are plenty of things that weren’t designed for gamers but make gaming much, much better. Here are a few of our faves.

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1.
2.
A Good Book (No, Really)

You can’t beat the classics. And one of my absolute favorite “accessories” for gaming is a good book by my side.

That’s because much of my gaming time is spent waiting to load multiplayer matches (which is particularly bad if I want to play a DPS character on Overwatch). Sure, you could kill time just playing around on your phone, but a little doomscrolling goes a long way.

With a book (preferably some light reading), you can knock out entire chapters while they load. This strategy is particularly great if you’ve ever lamented not having enough time to read. And if you want to read without the physical book in front of you, don’t forget about all those audiobooks on Spotify and Youtube!
3.
Discord Account

I’ll be the first to admit: as an Old, it took me a while to warm up to the Discord app. But it ended up making a major difference in the way I play games.

First off, it makes it easy for you to create servers for you and your gaming buddies and communicate with both text and talk features. But you can also seek out specific servers filled with people of similar interests, which is a great way to jump into a new game or new hobby.
4.
Long Ethernet Cable

Pretty much every modern gaming device is designed to receive a wireless internet connection. But if at all possible, we recommend you invest in a long ethernet cable and connect your PC and consoles directly to the internet.

The difference in speed will be immediately noticeable, and you won’t have to wait as long for those big game updates to finish downloading. And a direct internet connection will also make it easier to stream higher-quality content or even broadcast your own gaming streams.
5.
Smartwatch

Spend a lot of time sitting down and gaming? Then we highly recommend that you snag yourself a smartwatch or a FitBit.

These devices will give you some exercise goals to shoot for while turning the entire process into a game, complete with achievements for regular progress. And even if you aren’t trying to lose weight, hourly reminders to get up and stretch your legs help make sure you don’t wake up feeling sore and miserable in the morning.
6.
Charging Station

Do you own many different game systems? After a while, all of the special chargers and charging stations for each set of controllers becomes more trouble than it’s worth.

That’s why we recommend one big charging station that can accommodate your controllers and other electronic devices. This station keeps things classy and organized while making sure your phone, tablet, and favorite gaming controllers are always charged up.
7.
A Good Pair of Headphones

It’s tempting to turn your gaming area into a home theater, complete with a thumping sound system. But you won’t be able to enjoy the noise late into the night if you live with family members or live in an apartment.

At that point, you are better off investing in a good pair of headphones. Bluetooth headphones (preferably over the ear) can let you enjoy great sound along with great freedom of movement. And not waking your wife or roommates up with loud gaming is an easy way you can keep the peace within your home.
8.
Monitor Mount https://www.displays2go.com/P-34095/Dual-Arm-Monitor-Mount-Tilting-Swiveling-Rotating-Bracket It’s easy to dismiss monitor mounts if you don’t have either a huge monitor or multiple monitors. But the truth is, every PC gamer should have a monitor mount to help them adjust monitor placement. Why is this important? Much of the pain of sitting at a desk for long periods comes from the strain of looking up at a monitor and hurting your neck. Between an adjustable monitor and an adjustable chair, you’ll be able to make those hours in front of the PC highly comfortable.
9.
Insulated Water Bottle

Phrases like “gamer fuel” are extremely cringeworthy. But the truth is that way too many gamers alternate between sucking down too much soda and dealing with extreme dehydration.

A simple insulated water bottle is the cure to your woes. You’ll always have a large supply of water on hand, and it will stay cold the entire time you are playing. And the water will keep soda temptation at bay while regular hydration will improve your overall health.
10.
Spotify Account

Much of gaming involves a grind of some kind or another. This might involve leveling up in your favorite RPG, completing your daily or weekly challenges, or just hunting down that next achievement.

While the grind can be fulfilling, listening to the same music and sound effects over and over is really mind-numbing. You can counter this by tuning in to some streamable music (I prefer Spotify myself). Just lower the master volume on your game and start listening to your favorite albums, playlist, podcasts, and audiobooks while you grind on the game.
11.
Fan

It’s easy to laugh, but gaming can easily make you work up a sweat. From sweaty palms to beads of sweat on your forehead, the whole experience is completely unpleasant. And playing in a VR helmet takes that sweat factor to another level.

You can fix all of this, though, with a simple fan (ideally one with fabric blades). You can position this on the desk or side table to keep you cool and keep the sweat away. And the fabric blades make it safe for your pets, children, or even your fingers if you just get bored waiting for the next round to launch.
12.
Sit-Up Pillow

Where do you like to game? Most people either sit in a chair while PC gaming or in a sofa or recliner while console gaming. But thanks to everything from the Nintendo Switch to the Steam Controller, playing games in bed is more viable than ever before.

Of course, trying to play while laying down is neither comfortable nor convenient. But a comfortable sit-up pillow makes this kind of gaming easier than ever. And you can seamlessly transition from gaming in bed to watching your favorite movies and TV shows.
13.
Sit-Up Pillow

Where do you like to game? Most people either sit in a chair while PC gaming or in a sofa or recliner while console gaming. But thanks to everything from the Nintendo Switch to the Steam Controller, playing games in bed is more viable than ever before.

Of course, trying to play while laying down is neither comfortable nor convenient. But a comfortable sit-up pillow makes this kind of gaming easier than ever. And you can seamlessly transition from gaming in bed to watching your favorite movies and TV shows.
14.
Ergonomic Chair

It’s an open secret that most “gaming chairs” are a rip-off. You are mostly paying for a license and a label. But if you can find a good ergonomic chair, that is worth its weight in gold!

A proper ergonomic chair features things like lumbar support and can help keep your knees and legs in a comfortable position. This makes a major difference if you are sitting in that chair for long periods of time.

Good chairs are good investments for gamers. And if you also sit in that chair to work from home, then you can enjoy being more comfortable for most of your waking hours!
15.
Smartphone Stand

Most gamers are natural-born multitaskers. And if you can pay attention to two things at once, then chances are that you like to watch Youtube or Twitch videos while you’re grinding on a game.

However, it’s tough to pay attention to the video when you just have the phone flat on a desk or side table. By getting a small smartphone stand, you can prop the phone up and enjoy gaming and watching in peace. The fact that you won’t have to strain your neck anymore to watch the videos is just a nice “extra.”
16.
Larger Mousepad

Look down. Do you have a standard size mousepad? If the answer is “yes,” then you need a larger one.

Generally speaking, a larger mousepad makes computer gaming a lot easier. And it will also make gaming easier on your body. With a big mousepad, you can move the pad from your shoulder and elbow rather than your wrist. Ultimately, this gives you more control over the mouse while putting less strain on your body.
17.
Blue Light Glasses

Although some companies have finally started marketing them towards gamers, blue light glasses have been around for a while. They are designed to block certain kinds of light without impeding your vision.

If you game for long periods of time, rocking these glasses can help you play longer without straining your eyes. And these glasses can also help you get a better night’s sleep, which is especially important if you go from staring at a monitor all day to playing games all night.

1.
2.
A Good Book (No, Really)

You can’t beat the classics. And one of my absolute favorite “accessories” for gaming is a good book by my side.

That’s because much of my gaming time is spent waiting to load multiplayer matches (which is particularly bad if I want to play a DPS character on Overwatch). Sure, you could kill time just playing around on your phone, but a little doomscrolling goes a long way.

With a book (preferably some light reading), you can knock out entire chapters while they load. This strategy is particularly great if you’ve ever lamented not having enough time to read. And if you want to read without the physical book in front of you, don’t forget about all those audiobooks on Spotify and Youtube!
3.
Discord Account

I’ll be the first to admit: as an Old, it took me a while to warm up to the Discord app. But it ended up making a major difference in the way I play games.

First off, it makes it easy for you to create servers for you and your gaming buddies and communicate with both text and talk features. But you can also seek out specific servers filled with people of similar interests, which is a great way to jump into a new game or new hobby.
4.
Long Ethernet Cable

Pretty much every modern gaming device is designed to receive a wireless internet connection. But if at all possible, we recommend you invest in a long ethernet cable and connect your PC and consoles directly to the internet.

The difference in speed will be immediately noticeable, and you won’t have to wait as long for those big game updates to finish downloading. And a direct internet connection will also make it easier to stream higher-quality content or even broadcast your own gaming streams.
5.
Smartwatch

Spend a lot of time sitting down and gaming? Then we highly recommend that you snag yourself a smartwatch or a FitBit.

These devices will give you some exercise goals to shoot for while turning the entire process into a game, complete with achievements for regular progress. And even if you aren’t trying to lose weight, hourly reminders to get up and stretch your legs help make sure you don’t wake up feeling sore and miserable in the morning.
6.
Charging Station

Do you own many different game systems? After a while, all of the special chargers and charging stations for each set of controllers becomes more trouble than it’s worth.

That’s why we recommend one big charging station that can accommodate your controllers and other electronic devices. This station keeps things classy and organized while making sure your phone, tablet, and favorite gaming controllers are always charged up.
7.
A Good Pair of Headphones

It’s tempting to turn your gaming area into a home theater, complete with a thumping sound system. But you won’t be able to enjoy the noise late into the night if you live with family members or live in an apartment.

At that point, you are better off investing in a good pair of headphones. Bluetooth headphones (preferably over the ear) can let you enjoy great sound along with great freedom of movement. And not waking your wife or roommates up with loud gaming is an easy way you can keep the peace within your home.
8.
Monitor Mount https://www.displays2go.com/P-34095/Dual-Arm-Monitor-Mount-Tilting-Swiveling-Rotating-Bracket It’s easy to dismiss monitor mounts if you don’t have either a huge monitor or multiple monitors. But the truth is, every PC gamer should have a monitor mount to help them adjust monitor placement. Why is this important? Much of the pain of sitting at a desk for long periods comes from the strain of looking up at a monitor and hurting your neck. Between an adjustable monitor and an adjustable chair, you’ll be able to make those hours in front of the PC highly comfortable.
9.
Insulated Water Bottle

Phrases like “gamer fuel” are extremely cringeworthy. But the truth is that way too many gamers alternate between sucking down too much soda and dealing with extreme dehydration.

A simple insulated water bottle is the cure to your woes. You’ll always have a large supply of water on hand, and it will stay cold the entire time you are playing. And the water will keep soda temptation at bay while regular hydration will improve your overall health.
10.
Spotify Account

Much of gaming involves a grind of some kind or another. This might involve leveling up in your favorite RPG, completing your daily or weekly challenges, or just hunting down that next achievement.

While the grind can be fulfilling, listening to the same music and sound effects over and over is really mind-numbing. You can counter this by tuning in to some streamable music (I prefer Spotify myself). Just lower the master volume on your game and start listening to your favorite albums, playlist, podcasts, and audiobooks while you grind on the game.
11.
Fan

It’s easy to laugh, but gaming can easily make you work up a sweat. From sweaty palms to beads of sweat on your forehead, the whole experience is completely unpleasant. And playing in a VR helmet takes that sweat factor to another level.

You can fix all of this, though, with a simple fan (ideally one with fabric blades). You can position this on the desk or side table to keep you cool and keep the sweat away. And the fabric blades make it safe for your pets, children, or even your fingers if you just get bored waiting for the next round to launch.
12.
Sit-Up Pillow

Where do you like to game? Most people either sit in a chair while PC gaming or in a sofa or recliner while console gaming. But thanks to everything from the Nintendo Switch to the Steam Controller, playing games in bed is more viable than ever before.

Of course, trying to play while laying down is neither comfortable nor convenient. But a comfortable sit-up pillow makes this kind of gaming easier than ever. And you can seamlessly transition from gaming in bed to watching your favorite movies and TV shows.
13.
Sit-Up Pillow

Where do you like to game? Most people either sit in a chair while PC gaming or in a sofa or recliner while console gaming. But thanks to everything from the Nintendo Switch to the Steam Controller, playing games in bed is more viable than ever before.

Of course, trying to play while laying down is neither comfortable nor convenient. But a comfortable sit-up pillow makes this kind of gaming easier than ever. And you can seamlessly transition from gaming in bed to watching your favorite movies and TV shows.
14.
Ergonomic Chair

It’s an open secret that most “gaming chairs” are a rip-off. You are mostly paying for a license and a label. But if you can find a good ergonomic chair, that is worth its weight in gold!

A proper ergonomic chair features things like lumbar support and can help keep your knees and legs in a comfortable position. This makes a major difference if you are sitting in that chair for long periods of time.

Good chairs are good investments for gamers. And if you also sit in that chair to work from home, then you can enjoy being more comfortable for most of your waking hours!
15.
Smartphone Stand

Most gamers are natural-born multitaskers. And if you can pay attention to two things at once, then chances are that you like to watch Youtube or Twitch videos while you’re grinding on a game.

However, it’s tough to pay attention to the video when you just have the phone flat on a desk or side table. By getting a small smartphone stand, you can prop the phone up and enjoy gaming and watching in peace. The fact that you won’t have to strain your neck anymore to watch the videos is just a nice “extra.”
16.
Larger Mousepad

Look down. Do you have a standard size mousepad? If the answer is “yes,” then you need a larger one.

Generally speaking, a larger mousepad makes computer gaming a lot easier. And it will also make gaming easier on your body. With a big mousepad, you can move the pad from your shoulder and elbow rather than your wrist. Ultimately, this gives you more control over the mouse while putting less strain on your body.
17.
Blue Light Glasses

Although some companies have finally started marketing them towards gamers, blue light glasses have been around for a while. They are designed to block certain kinds of light without impeding your vision.

If you game for long periods of time, rocking these glasses can help you play longer without straining your eyes. And these glasses can also help you get a better night’s sleep, which is especially important if you go from staring at a monitor all day to playing games all night.