As the video game industry continues to grow, more and more people are gaming online via PS4, PC, Xbox, and the Switch. But, not all online gaming setups are created equal. For the best multiplayer experience with seamless teamwork, exciting competition, and plenty of fun, you're going to want a gaming headset. Of course, supporting comfortable, immersive audio and facilitating convenient voice chat requires a bit more than any old pair of throw-in earbuds. To get the most out of online multiplayer gaming, buyers should invest in a reliable over-ear headset model with a microphone.
Being a former game designer, I can remember getting to use my first decent gaming headset way back when working on the multiplayer for "Transformers: War for Cybertron." At the time, it was five versus five, but with both teams donning Turtle Beach Headsets (as opposed to just yelling at each other across the room), the added ability to coordinate and dominate was a true eye-opener.
Since then, gaming headsets have come a long way. These days, we are no longer forced to use proprietary bundled mono headsets. Instead, 3.5mm ports with stereo and microphone support abound. This means that everyone can plug in, hear better, communicate better, and be more comfortable — all while hopefully alleviating noise pollution for everyone else in your home or office.
With a platform in mind, a purpose-built gaming headset is one of the smartest upgrades you can make. It's one area in gaming where big players, like Sony and Microsoft, are content to let an array of headset-focused companies provide their own solutions, and that means lots and lots of options.
As an ex-developer, current gamer, and known headset guy, I've put together the following guide to meet today's gaming needs and beyond. We've got wired and wireless headset solutions with a range of budgets in mind, as well as specific platform demands (cough, Xbox One) accounted for. We've selected our picks based on a number of important factors, including compatibility, comfort, durability, performance, and usability. A headset that lags in any of these key areas is not worth having, though durability tends to be the X factor.
Through hands-on testing and research, our picks represent the best gaming headsets you can find right now. Save for one model, I personally own and currently use every headset on this list. You might say that this list includes the gaming headsets that I would not want to live without, or would not hesitate to re-acquire if the need arises.
Here are the best gaming headsets you can buy:Updated on 04/23/2020 by Brian Hoss: Completely revised the guide for 2020 with new buying advice, as well as updated formatting and pricing. Added Astro Gaming A20, SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless, and Sennheiser Game One.
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