When I sit back, relax and play some games at the end of a long day, I reach for my gaming headset. I have a set of speakers, but there’s nothing better for the immersion and quality of in-game audio than a great pair of headphones. Speakers can offer something excellent, too, and they have their own time to shine, but for my prime gaming hours I choose a headset.
I don’t know if I’m an audiophile but I’m into the audio side of PC gaming more than some other parts of the equation. Don’t get me wrong, I love a big screen, and I’m basically in love with my many mechanical keyboards, but something about amazing audio just sends tinglies up my spine.
Though I’ve experienced the worst of the worst in this job, too. Those gaming headsets that make your skin crawl with tinny audio, overblown bass, and inarticulate response. I’ve worn gaming headsets that genuinely gave me a headache before, so I’m pretty critical when it comes to this all-important peripheral.
So below you’ll find some of the headsets that I, and my excellent colleagues, have tested over the past year. These are the best around. The best for quality, comfort, and connection in their respective price ranges—because it’s not always about picking the best, but picking the best on a budget.
Best gaming headset 2022: the nominees
Only one of these three headsets will be crowned the champ and awarded the PC Gamer Hardware Award for the best gaming headset in 2022. Find out which on New Year’s Eve.