1. The list in brief
2. Best overall
3. Best budget
4. Best wireless
5. Best for audiophiles
6. Best for streaming
7. How we test
8. Where to buy
9. FAQ
The best gaming headset is probably one of the most surprisingly powerful upgrades you can make to your gaming setup. The impact good game audio can have on your experience can be huge, and it’s all about immersion. Surrounding yourself with a detailed soundscape, as the developers intended, can ground you in a game world like nothing else.
The headsets on this list are chosen from the dozens the PC Gamer hardware team and myself have tested. Between us we’ve got decades of experience of the best and worst audio gear ever made. The top headsets offer the best sound for gamers at each end of the budget spectrum. Quality drivers ensure you get the best audio, and we’re against gaming headphones that overdo low frequencies, as it provides terrible bass response in most cases. The best gaming headsets offer more balance drivers that require minimal tweaking on your end, and you won’t need to spend hundreds of dollars.
The best gaming headset is the Razer Blackshark V2, a supremely affordable and great-sounding set of cans that ticks pretty much all the boxes. And if you want to ditch the cord, the best wireless gaming headset is the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless. It’s got practically the same great audio as its wired cousin and comes with a class-leading 300 hours of battery life.
Of course, if you do want to spend more, the premium options sound pretty incredible and we’ve obviously got those covered here, too.
The Quick List
Best gaming headset
The best overall
The Razer BlackShark V2 is a superb gaming headset that delivers on every front. It sounds great and has a simple, functional, and incredibly comfortable design that feels light on your head. It’s the best gaming headset you can buy.
Best budget
The best budget
The Corsair HS55 Stereo is a wired gaming headset that improves on the HS50 with better comfort and sound. It has soft earcups, a light weight and a detachable mic. It has a simple design and no extra features, but it is a great value.
Best wireless
The best wireless
The Cloud Alpha Wireless is a wireless wonder for PC gaming. It has superb sound, a clear mic, and DTS surround sound. It’s also light and comfy, with a whopping 300-hour battery life. It’s the best wireless headset we’ve tested so far.
Best for audiophiles
The best for audiophiles
With a great build and comfort these cans are ideal for long hours of gaming. They are also perfect for critical listening with a well-balanced sound profile that delivers adequate warmth and boom without muddying the sharp highs.
Best for streaming
The best for streaming
The Streamset holds the lofty goal of replacing your desktop mic streaming setup with one headset capable of delivering high quality audio from both ends. And it delivers with aplomb and a price tag that’s none to punishing.
Best Gaming Headset
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Razer)