{"id":138,"date":"2022-02-21T14:54:06","date_gmt":"2022-02-21T14:54:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/engadget.vip\/?p=138"},"modified":"2022-02-21T14:54:06","modified_gmt":"2022-02-21T14:54:06","slug":"the-best-gaming-gear-for-graduates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/engadget.vip\/?p=138","title":{"rendered":"The best gaming gear for graduates"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Just because they\u2019re out of college doesn\u2019t mean that the grads in your life won\u2019t have time for gaming \u2013 it\u2019s a great way to blow off steam after a hard day at work, or after a particularly grueling job search. But now that they\u2019re older they could definitely up their accessories game a bit, so we\u2019ve rounded up some of our favorite gaming items that will upgrade their experience, and a few hot titles that will give them plenty to do this and talk about this summer.<\/p>\n

8BitDo Pro 2<\/h2>\n
<\/figcaption>8BitDo<\/figure>\n

Your grad is fully out in the adult world now, so they really deserve a pro-level controller for their gaming activities \u2014 particularly one that\u2019s flexible for all their needs, be it mobile or console gaming. 8BitDo makes a number of great solutions, but the one that we\u2019d recommend above all else is the Pro 2. This PlayStation-styled controller is super comfortable to hold, pairs easily via Bluetooth and is compatible with a wide range of devices, from Windows and macOS machines to Android devices to the Nintendo Switch. If your grad is a tinkerer, the Pro 2 will even work with the Raspberry Pi. This is truly the Swiss Army knife of game controllers.<\/p>\n

Buy 8BitDo Pro 2 at Amazon – $50<\/p>\n

Logitech G435<\/h2>\n
<\/figcaption>Engadget<\/figure>\n

A headset is a must-have if you want the best game audio, but being tethered to a computer or console is not so much fun. Neither is the selection of colors available for most headsets, unless you\u2019re a big fan of red and black all the time. Luckily, Logitech has this stylish wireless headset for around $80. The G435 connects to a computer via a Logitech Lightspeed dongle so your gamer won\u2019t have to worry about Bluetooth lag or an unreliable connection. As for looks, it comes in cheery colors like blue or lilac, and the padded ear cups and headband will keep a head cool while not mussing up their hair.<\/p>\n

Buy Logitech G435 at Amazon – $80<\/p>\n

Elgato Stream Deck Mini<\/h2>\n
<\/figcaption>Elgato<\/figure>\n

If your grad is thinking about a career in streaming, they\u2019re going to need the proper equipment to get started. It\u2019s best to start out small, and the Stream Deck Mini is a nice, affordable way to dip their toe in the water. The Deck\u2019s six buttons give budding streamers one-touch access to popular functions like lighting, audio and emotes. And it\u2019s super easy to set up \u2014 just drop and drag in the software. Becoming a famous streamer can be a lot of work, and the Stream Deck just makes it a bit easier to handle.<\/p>\n

Buy Stream Deck Mini at Amazon – $80<\/p>\n

Logitech Litra Glow<\/h2>\n
<\/figcaption>Logitech<\/figure>\n

Another key item to a successful streaming career is the lighting. After all, someone can\u2019t be an on-camera personality if you can\u2019t see them on camera. But ring lights can be expensive, unwieldy or just hard to set up. Logitech makes all those problems go away with its Litra Glow streaming light. This compact light can clip on the top of a laptop for on-the-go streaming while also providing soft all-over illumination \u2014 no telltale rings in your grad\u2019s eyes when they stream.<\/p>\n

Buy Litra Glow at Amazon – $60<\/p>\n

Timbuk2 CS03 Crossbody Sling<\/h2>\n
<\/figcaption>Timbuk2<\/figure>\n

No more classes means your grad can slim down in the backpack department. But if they\u2019re a gamer they\u2019re still going to need something with lots of pockets to store cables and cards. Gaming accessory maker SteelSeries and shoulder bag company Timbuk2 have collaborated on a pair of bags made for the gaming lifestyle, and the smaller CS03 is perfect for carrying around a Nintendo Switch, headphones and other mobile gaming accessories. This crossbody bag may remind you of a fanny pack, but it has way more pockets for cords and game cards, and a padded lining to keep delicate LCD screens safe from scratches.<\/p>\n

Buy Timbuk2 CS03 crossbody at Amazon – $80<\/p>\n

SteelSeries Rival 5 Gaming Mouse<\/h2>\n
<\/figcaption>SteelSeries<\/figure>\n

Gaming mice are great for a lot more than just gaming \u2014 they\u2019re great for school and work, so if your grad doesn\u2019t already have one, why not upgrade them to the versatile Rival 5? Its curved shape feels great in the hand and the customizable lighting isn\u2019t too flashy so it works for both home and office. Players will appreciate the array of nine programmable buttons that fit all genres of gaming, including popular titles like Fortnite<\/em> and Genshin Impact<\/em> to deeper strategy experiences like the Civilization series.<\/p>\n

Buy Rival 5 mouse at Amazon – $60<\/p>\n

Razer Huntsman Mini<\/h2>\n
<\/figcaption>Razer<\/figure>\n

Your gamer shouldn\u2019t have to settle for the keyboard that came with their laptop. They shouldn\u2019t have to settle for anything less than a premium mechanical keyboard, and you don\u2019t have to break the bank to get them one. The Huntsman Mini is a small 60 percent deck with optical switches. That\u2019s not word salad \u2013 this just means it\u2019s a smaller keyboard without a number pad or arrows, and it uses lasers under each key for a super fast response time. It\u2019s a great keyboard to have in a gaming arsenal for travel purposes, but it\u2019s good enough that gamers might make it a full-time accessory.<\/p>\n

Buy Huntsman Mini at Amazon – $120<\/p>\n

Video games<\/h2>\n

Pok\u00e9mon Arceus Legends<\/em><\/h3>\n
<\/figcaption>Nintendo<\/figure>\n

With the school year over and done with, grads have a bit of time on their hands, so why not give them a game to kick back and relax with when they\u2019re not searching for a job? Players who grew up with the Pok\u00e9mon franchise will appreciate this fresh take on the world, with action-oriented gameplay and a storyline that takes place in the distant past of the Sinnoh region from Pok\u00e9mon Diamond and Pearl<\/em>. Even if they haven\u2019t played a Pok\u00e9mon game before, Legends<\/em> can make a good entry point to the franchise that will get them ready for this fall\u2019s new generation of creatures in Scarlet and Violet<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Buy Pok\u00e9mon Arceus Legends at Amazon – $60<\/p>\n

Kirby and the Forgotten Land<\/em><\/h3>\n
<\/figcaption>Nintendo<\/figure>\n

Kirby titles have gotten a lot easier over the years, but Kirby and the Forgotten Land<\/em> is a game for the old-school gamers who like more of a challenge. This epic title has Kirby exploring a post-apocalyptic world, battling enemies and gaining new abilities. If your grad has ever wondered if Kirby could eat a car, this is the Switch game to get them. Fans are even calling it the best Kirby game since the \u201890s, so it\u2019s sure to keep your loved one busy over the summer.<\/p>\n

Buy Kirby and the Forgotten Land at Amazon – $60<\/p>\n

Elden Ring<\/em><\/h3>\n
<\/figcaption>FromSoftware<\/figure>\n

Your grad has probably been super busy this year so far, studying for finals and getting ready for graduation. So it\u2019s likely they haven\u2019t dipped their toe into the massive, immersive experience that is Elden Ring<\/em>. This epic title can be brutally difficult with a big learning curve, which makes it less for casual gamers than for those players who have a lot of time on their hands\u2026 like someone just out of school. Soon enough they\u2019ll be slammed with job offers, so give them this soon-to-be-classic while they can fully enjoy it.<\/p>\n

Buy Elden Ring at Amazon – $60<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Just because they\u2019re out of college doesn\u2019t mean that the grads in your life won\u2019t have time for gaming \u2013 it\u2019s a great way to blow off steam after a hard day at work, or after a particularly grueling job search. But now that they\u2019re older they could definitely up their accessories game a bit, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":139,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[185,104,148,143,92,91,130,115,253,65,250,249,216,167,40,87,252,96,82,251],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/engadget.vip\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/engadget.vip\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/engadget.vip\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engadget.vip\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engadget.vip\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=138"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/engadget.vip\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engadget.vip\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/139"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/engadget.vip\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=138"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engadget.vip\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=138"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engadget.vip\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=138"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}