ultimate-gaming-christmas-list-2022

MMO Games' annual Ultimate Gaming Christmas List returns for 2022!

The wind is cold, the sky is grey, and the nights dark and long. And yet not all is lost because the festive season is upon us and that means new games, consoles, accessories, and more. There's certainly a lot to choose from, so to help you decide between all of the amazing gaming gift ideas, our annual Gaming Christmas List is back with our top selection of tried and tested gifts.

We've selected these gifts based on a range of criteria: price, quality, uniqueness, fun, and style. So, whether you're searching for a present for a loved one or you're writing your own gaming Christmas list, strap into your sleighs because we've got some excellent recommendations.

The Best Console Controller -- The Nacon Revolution X

Nacon pro controllers are a product we can't help but return to again and again. While similar models are available for PS4 and PS5, we've reviewed the Revolution X Pro controller built for Xbox Series X | S, Xbox One, and PC. We've given away these controllers previously, but this is the first time we got to try out a Revolution X ourselves. We can officially confirm that we were not disappointed.

As a premium controller, the Revolution X is designed to give players an edge in performance. It achieves that not only through ergonomic design and vibration, but through the incredible amount of customisation it allows for. The Revolution X effectively allows players to design their own ideal controller through additional programmable buttons, full button mapping, a companion app, and a range of physical weights that can be swapped in and out of the handles to get that Goldilocks feel.

Our only tiny complaint is that the joysticks are a bit fragile, and one popped off during some particularly frantic Halo Infinite gameplay. Fortunately, the controller comes with replacements in a range of different sizes and shapes for even more customisation options. Nacon have also just announced two new colour-theme options: Urban and Forest.

Price: £99 ($120)

Available at: Nacon where it also qualifies for their bonus free gamedeal.

The Best Wireless Gaming Headset (Option 1) -- The Cloud Alpha Wireless

We've attempted to simplify things in this year's holiday gift guide for gamers by choosing best-in-category products, but we admit that we couldn't decide between two headsets. The second can be found at the bottom of this article.

The Cloud Alpha Wireless is an excellent continuation of HyperX's signature line of gaming headsets. There are plenty of reasons to love it: the detachable noise-cancelling mic complete with LED indicator, the dual chamber drivers, the comfortable memory-foam earcups, and the impressive spatial audio designed for the ability to pinpoint sound locations from the surrounding soundscape.

And yet none of those reasons are why we've included the Cloud Alpha Wireless on our Gaming Christmas List -- the reason is the incredible 300 hours of battery life. Yes, you read that correctly. 300 hours. That's the equivalent of 12.5 days of usage. It's a world first, and we're not quite sure how they've done it. As a gamer whose wireless headset is constantly running out of juice pre-session, it's a dream product.

Price: £189 ($232) - Although on discount at time of writing for £129 ($158)

Available at: Currys and Argos

The Best Gaming Router -- The Nighthawk Pro XR1000

Got lag? No problem.

Here's a gaming product that's often overlooked by even those gamers with setups looking like something out of the Millennium Falcon: a gaming router.

Up until a few years ago, "gaming routers" weren't even a thing, but now they've been proven to cut through congested networks, increase speed and decrease latency by prioritising gaming-related traffic. Featuring a 1.5 GHz tri-core processor, 4X capacity, DumaOS 3.0 and world-first Wi-Fi 6 capability, the NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR1000 doesn't take any prisoners.

Setup was simple enough and I instantly enjoyed its statement futuristic aesthetic which has decidedly KITT vibes (for those old enough to remember Knight Rider). Via the optimisation and allocation of upstream/downstream bandwidth, it's also a great option for game streamers.

Wired connections are still considered the fastest option for pro gamers, but they can be impractical or undesirable for a number of reasons. If that's the case for you then the XR1000 is a formidable alternative.

Price: £349.99 ($440)

Available at: Netgear

The Best Gaming Microphone -- The HyperX Procast

Whether embarking on a career as a Twitch streamer or just wanting to give your healer shtick against a world boss, sound quality matters more and more to gamers. In-built headset mics can be great, but if you want to ditch the cumbersome headwear, want to record multiple sound sources, or just want your silky-smooth tones captured in high-def, you're going to want to invest in a proper microphone.

The HyperX Procast Large Condenser Microphone is a studio quality mic thanks in no small part to its XLR connection. Non-tech savvy readers should double check the recipient has an XLR connection -- it's different (albeit better) than a standard USB connection, it requires constant circulating voltage (phantom power) to operate.

When we say the HyperX Procast is golden, we're not just being metaphorical. Its large diaphragm condenser is literally "gold-sputtered". It also comes a detachable metal pop filter and an anti-vibration shock mount.

Released just this October, the Procast is cutting edge consumer software designed for sound excellence regardless of surroundings. While other microphones may have more versatility when it comes to pickup patterns and connections, what the Procast does well, it does sensationally.

Price: £259.99 - £311.99 ($319 - $383)

Available at: HyperX and other retailers.

The Best RAM -- Kingston Fury Renegade DDR5 RGB

It's been a rough couple of years for PC gamers who like building their own rigs. Between costs of living crises and global material shortages, times have been tough. Fortunately, RAM is back on the menu. And at competitive prices, Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5 really packs a real punch.

The Fury Renegade DDR5 comes in a range of specs. We had an MMO Games team member test out the 6400MT/s, 16GB model with his self-built PC (1.5TB SSD, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660, 450 Tomahawk Max, AMD Ryzen 5 3600X 6-core processor). Here's what he said:

"I was already using 16GB RAM so my first test was to compare performance on the games I'd been playing. Gameplay and performance were smooth as butter across three games even when I had multiple running at once with maxed graphics. I also tested out demanding video editing software and there were no noticeable delays. The customisable LED light bar was a lot of fun too, the colour changes are smooth and relaxing. It's the sort of bonus that makes you really glad you bought a transparent chassis."

The Kingston FURY Renegade also comes with a lifetime warranty.

Price: £165.37-£330.76 Varies based on specs, goes up to 7200MT/s  ($200 - $405)

Available at: Kingston

The Best Gaming Keyboard -- HyperX Alloy Origins 65

In the past, when giving Christmas list ideas for gamers, we've nearly always recommended full-sized keyboards. This time, we'd like to suggest another option that at least for myself, has been the godsend I hadn't realised I needed. The Alloy Origins 65 is the new 65% form-factor keyboard from HyperX.

It improves upon the smaller Alloy Origins 60 by switching to premium keycaps and adding dedicated arrow keys. The 65% size takes a bit of getting used to; the keyboard makes efficiency savings by a heavy reliance on the Function (FN) key. However, I found that by the end of a day's typing, new habits had already formed, and I loved typing on it.

Gaming too, for that matter. I tested it out with some New World PvP and felt at no particular disadvantage in PvP combat; It still has all the smooth yet deliciously clickity clackity feel of full-sized mechanical keyboards; its "aircraft-grade" aluminium body feels very sturdy; the RGB lighting is top-class, and my cluttered desk is now less cluttered.

And what have I sacrificed? A number pad and a bunch of keys I rarely use. Purists will no doubt judge me for recommending this to hardcore gamers. And yet as a video-game journalist, you'd think that if anyone would suffer, it would be people like me. If you're a gamer on the move who can't stand the idea of a handheld console, it's a brilliant option. My advice to the haters? Don't knock it until you've tried it.

Price: £109.99 ($134)

Available at: HyperX

The Best Gaming Speakers -- Edifier MR4

There's an unspoken secret in much of gamer tech that gamer gear is very often just normal gear with some flashy gimmicks thrown in. If you want to skip those gimmicks, try a classy Edifier MR4 Studio Monitor as your speakers. It takes a hard pass on the usual "gamer look"; the Edifier MR4 skips the RGB lighting, flashing LEDS, and rad decals to provide speakers that could fit seamlessly into any sleek modern home. Instead, the MR4 is made from MDF wood designed to minimise resonance.

An impressive frequency range goes as low as 60Hz while still maintaining smooth treble at high frequencies thank to the silk dome cover and front panel. While fantastic for gaming on PC and console in more social settings, they also double up for other interests with jacks ideal for home music and content creator studios. Recording musicians will also appreciate its dual "music" and "true audio" sound modes.

We recommend doing your own research on the specs and technical functionality of the MR4, for it's both impressive and complex. What we can vouch for is a sound as pure as the materials it's made from, a very reasonable price, and a more mature gamer look that leaves the flame decals in the 90s where they belong.

Price: £119.99 ($146)

Available at: Amazon as well as other more cost-effective retailers.

The Best Wireless Gaming Headset (Option 2) -- The EPOS H3 Hybrid 2.0

The H3 Pro Hybrid 2.0 is a stunning evolution of EPOS' range of precision-focused, gimmick-free headsets. Though as the name suggests, it does have one snazzy bonus -- the ability to switch between Bluetooth and wired connections.

And the design-award winning headset isn't without some pretty darn impressive features. It has 19 hours of Bluetooth battery life, 29 hours of wired battery life, compatibility with all major gaming systems, effective (and comfortable) noise-cancelling earcups, a high-end detachable microphone that satisfyingly pops on and off via magnets, and an unfaultable sound quality designed for gaming performance.

Moreover, while the Ghost White and Sebring Black versions are pretty, the Racing Green edition is one of the most attractive looking headsets we've ever come across. It comes in muted emerald green and golds which give it a somewhat oxymoronic 'subtle superhero' look with decidedly Green Arrow vibes.

The H3Pro Hybrid 2.0 is a Currys exclusive where there are currently significant deals & discounts on a range of products worth scooping up.

Price: £209 ($254) officially, but by using discount code GAMING30 at Checkout, buyers can save 30% on any PC Gaming Accessory bringing the price to approximately £147 ($179).

Available at: Currys

The Best Gaming Mouse -- Trust GXT 981

Trust keeps the quality flowing with the GXT 981 Redex, a lightweight and affordable gaming mouse designed for heavy use. While it has nice customisable RGB lighting, aesthetically, the Trust GXT 981 doesn't attempt anything ground-breaking. Instead, it offers no-thrills quality, comfortable design and textures, and sturdy hardware built to survive rigorous gaming.

The GXT 981 Redex is just as good as its award-winning wireless variant, the GXT 980 Redex Wireless (launched in March of 2022. It is a lightweight gaming mouse featuring six customisable buttons, adjustable 10,000 DPI, and Kailh mechanical switches that supposedly last up to 80 million clicks. Coming it at just 72 grams, it's a lightweight mouse and one we enjoyed using -- the tire-track style wheel grip is a nice touch, as is the cable which stretches almost 2 metres.

Price: £29.99

Available at: Amazon and other retailers.

The Best Wildcard Gift: The Robosen K1 Interstellar Scout Pro

"Hey K1, do a backflip."

Whose dream gamer Christmas list wouldn't be complete without a robot? Well, probably quite a few of us, but that's only because we don't dare dream big enough. The K1 Scout is a futuristic marvel that will bring out the inner child in anyone.

Activated by voice command, remote control, or app, the K1 is an all-singing, all-dancing, all-double-punching machine. And look, will you eventually get bored of it? Maybe. However, the K1's purpose is not just to entertain yourself and surprise houseguests (something I've been doing at every opportunity in my two all-too-short weeks with the K1), it is primarily intended as a tool to help people learn to code.

In numbers, the K1 has 4 different programming modes, 17 servo motors, 18 microchips, and over 1700 parts. Of course, if you've got the money to spare, and you really want a showpiece, you could buy yourself one of Robosen's new fully transforming Optimus Prime robots instead. But that will set you back a cool £1000...

Price: £399.99 ($489)

Available at: Robosen and GAME

We hope you enjoyed our Ultimate Gaming Gift Guide 2022. Let us know if we forgot any ace gamer gear and be sure to tweet us your own holiday wish list!