As modern gaming setups move beyond just having the latest internal hardware or gaming consoles, the market is readjusting to increasing demand for complementary accessories that add functionality, aesthetics, and value to existing PC and console setups. It's not enough to have the best controllers, headsets, keyboards, or mice anymore. From lighting, to mouse bungees, headphones stands, just about every part of set is upgradable. And with so many options available, it can be hard to sift through it all, which is where Game Rant comes in.

One of the most in-demand features for accessory upgrades from gamers has been hardware with RGB lighting as well as excellent build quality in tow.

Game Rant's picks for the Gaming Setup Upgrade Accessories for 2023

The Cougar Bunker Mouse RGB Bungee elevates desktop wire management by combining a simple tool with dual USB ports and an excellent RGB lighting scheme that is both subtle and customizable, thanks to a dedicated hardware button. It employs a suction cup to stay in place while offering excellent cable management and additional USB connectivity or power for devices depending on your needs.

With excellent RGB lighting and a compact, portable look, and the ability to deploy it at different locations over time, this is both a mainstay on your desk and/or at LAN parties or events. It does have its limitations, however; It costs significantly more than its non-RGB competition while being limited to USB 2.0 speeds, meaning that peripherals and storage that need the extra USB 3.0 or higher speeds will run at the relatively crippled performance that the dated USB 2.0 standard supports.

Bottom line: An excellent, good-looking RGB bungee with dated USB tech and a higher price than some might be willing to pay for what is considered basic cable management.

The Razer Base Station V2 Chroma Headphone Stand is an excellent but somewhat pricey headphone stand that delivers a sleek package that allows you more RGB on your desk, 2 high-speed USB ports, and a dedicated DAC that should help deliver better audio quality to analog headsets. Highlights include extremely good-looking RGB profiles that can also be toned down or kept in sync with your existing RGB PC themes. For those of us that have more USB plug-in devices than most, the 2 extra USB headers in the stand help with easier access and easy plug-and-play solutions for both, higher-end USB-powered headsets and other peripherals you might want to plug in on your desk.

The Base Station V2 Chroma comes in 3 distinct colors: Classic Black, Mercury White, and Quartz Pink, and while it does have limitations (It doesn't work well with A/C power and must be connected to a PC to perform even basic functionality), it is still an excellent accessory that would be a mainstay for any Razer fan and most gamers and creators for the lack of a better option.

Bottom Line: The Razer Base Station V2 Chroma Headphone Stand is a premium offering that offers expansion, lighting, and utility all in a neat package, but we are not thrilled about its asking price.

The Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels are a set of 10 relatively inexpensive light panels that are bright, customizable, and easily controllable using 2 different voice assistants and Govee's own application. They are extremely well-packaged for a mid-range wall lighting RGB option, come with excellent customer support, and most importantly: they just work out of the box, unlike some other models we tested.

While some of us feel that the 20-panel limit is somewhat tame compared to what some of us might want to plug in, it is in line with what most of its competitors offer. At the same time, the Govee light panels rank higher for us simply because they had some of the easiest and most seamless setup processes we have been through. The adhesive is something that could be improved in future iterations by Govee to make it an even more refined product. If it's customizable 3D effects you desire instead, there is a higher-end model you can get that costs $50 extra, however.

Bottom Line: Excellent lighting, easy setup, and versatility when it comes to compatible devices make the Glide light panels an excellent addition to your house.

The ROCCAT Burst Pro Air Gaming Mouse is an excellent, wired version of the outstanding Burst Pro from the same company. Featuring a 19,000 DPI Laser, extremely fast optical switches, and type C charging in tow, the Burst Pro Air aims to cover all grounds when it comes to offering you a mouse that looks good, feels, and works great while being up-to-date in the specs department.

It sometimes does however feel a bit flimsier than more premium mice and seems to have serious battery issues for people expecting a long-lasting wireless mouse, even as it weighs a tad more than most of its competition.

Bottom line: An excellent gaming mouse in wireless flavor that prioritizes looks and user experience but seriously gimps on the battery life.

The Epomaker Skyloong SK61 is a 60% mechanical keyboard that delivers an excellent wireless experience while costing lower than some membrane competitors from more-established brands. It uses high-quality PBT keycaps, is weather resistant, and throws excellent hot-swappable switches into the mix that allow users to customize their keyboard or interchange switches as they see fit. At an excellent price point, the Skyloong SK61 is a no-brainer for most users looking for a budget-centric upgrade for their existing keyboard or mouse.

It can do however with a redo of its software end including locations of where to download it and instructions on how to use it; The software, while it is in English, does somewhat put a damper on the product offerings for the Skyloong SK61. Likewise, a detailed manual would also help some less tech-savvy users to feel more at ease with what is a quality product overall.

Bottom line: Inexpensive, quality, weather-resistant mechanical keyboard that could do with better documentation and bundled software.

The Corsair MM700 RGB Extended Cloth Gaming Mouse Pad is an excellent gaming mousepad that offers a somewhat subtle RGB effect on the side across 3 zones and excellent woven cloth on the top with slip-resistant rubber at the bottom. It comes with 2 USB 2.0 ports located conveniently on the mouse pad where the USB cable meets the RGB controller. With iCUE support out of the box and excellent build quality, the MM700 is a solid mousepad that covers both your mouse and keyboard with room to spare.

The MM700 might be crippled by its price however thanks to the high $60 price tag coupled with USB 2.0 ports that make its USB hub great for connecting low-power or low bandwidth devices but rendering it useless for any data-centric use cases; People with portable hard drives or flash drives are probably better off getting secondary USB hub to avoid long wait times.

Bottom line: Excellent, pricey premium gaming mousepad that does what it advertises with offering excellent RGB control in tow.

How to Choose PC Accessories

A gaming space can only hold so many things, especially if players want to keep those things close at hand. What kinds of accessories do PC gamers need? Well, that depends on the individual. Computer accessories typically fall into one of only a few categories:

• Wire management - Products that help keep wires and cables tidy or out of sight completely.
• Lighting - Lamps, RGB light strips, and even wall panels can set the mood in a gaming room.
• Keyboard and mouse - Most players have very specific preferences regarding the performance specs and design style.
• Available space - Players with compact desks will have fewer options than those with large desks, on average.
• Audio - Some players prefer headsets to speakers, while many gamers would rather have both options.
• Monitors - Dual-monitor and even triple-monitor PC setups offer convenience and better game immersion than single monitors.
• Comfort - From wrist rests to ergonomic chairs, being comfortable is an absolute must in any gaming room.

Each gamer is going to place more or less value into these categories when picking out a new PC accessory. Players who are building a new gaming space or revamping an existing game room should think about which of these categories means the most to them, and then focus on those aspects. It's also helpful to consider trying to match a certain theme or color scheme before redecorating. Thinking carefully about which accessories to add to a gaming space will ultimately result in a gaming space anyone could be proud of.

FAQ:

Q: Does RGB lighting have any effect on gaming performance?

A: RGB lighting is purely aesthetic and does not make any difference when it comes to performance for an end user. However, having a plethora of RGB software on a PC can result in performance degradation. At the same time, using wireless, rechargeable hardware can result in low battery life when RGB lighting is used extensively as a larger portion of the existing battery capacity is spent (literally) keeping the lights on.

Q: What is the best gaming brand for accessories?

A: There is no single gaming brand for accessories that can claim to be the best for all accessories; PC gaming hardware brands such as Logitech, ASUS, Razer, and SecretLabs tend to rule the roost for some specific niches, but as the market continues to evolve extensively, so do the number of quality options available to end-users. The best gaming brand for you would be the one you resonate with and which understands your needs and accommodates them accordingly. Finding it will require research or testing multiple products to discover the right fit for you.

FAQ

Q: Does RGB lighting have any effect on gaming performance?

RGB lighting is purely aesthetic and does not make any difference when it comes to performance for an end user. However, having a plethora of RGB software on a PC can result in performance degradation. At the same time, using wireless, rechargeable hardware can result in low battery life when RGB lighting is used extensively as a larger portion of the existing battery capacity is spent (literally) keeping the lights on.

Q: What is the best gaming brand for accessories?

There is no single gaming brand for accessories that can claim to be the best for all accessories; PC gaming hardware brands such as Logitech, ASUS, Razer, and SecretLabs tend to rule the roost for some specific niches, but as the market continues to evolve extensively, so do the number of quality options available to end-users. The best gaming brand for you would be the one you resonate with and which understands your needs and accommodates them accordingly. Finding it will require research or testing multiple products to discover the right fit for you.