A good headset is key to victory in many games – particularly shooters like Counter-Strike 2, Battlefield 6 and Fortnite – where hearing a single footstep from a wayward enemy could mean the difference between a delicious chicken dinner and an ignoble defeat. That’s why we’ve gathered up our top recommendations for the best gaming headsets for the money on the market right now. For our money, the best of the best is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, but we’ve got a total of 14 choices for you to pick from.
Whether you prefer the lower cost and audio fidelity of wired headphones or the convenience of wireless headsets, we’ve got you covered. We’ve also included recommendations for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch and PC, so no matter what system you game on, you’ll be able to find at least a couple of top-tier gaming headsets to consider, each far better than your TV or monitor’s built-in speakers. We’ll also consider both open-back and closed-back headphones, as the former tend to offer a wider sound stage that’s conducive to locating enemies, while the latter minimise sound leakage to ensure you don’t bother your flatmates.
Before we get into the recommendations, it’s worth mentioning what we’ll be looking for when choosing the best gaming headsets. We want a comfortable pair of headphones you can wear for hours without discomfort, perfect for marathon gaming sessions. Sound quality is also key, so that you can hear each sound clearly and become totally immersed in the game. Naturally, you’ll need to communicate with your friends or teammates too, so a built-in mic with good noise mitigation is also important. Finally, we also would like to see support for multiple systems, so that if you own a console and a PC, or multiple consoles, you can use the same headset on both.
Best gaming headset 2025
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless – best wireless gaming headsetRazer Blackshark V2 / V2X – best wired gaming headsetCorsair HS80 Max – runner-up, best wireless gaming headsetSony Inzone H9 2 – second runner-up, best wireless gaming headsetEpos H3 Hybrid – runner-up, best wired gaming headsetLogitech G Astro A50 – best PS5 headsetRazer BlackShark V3 Pro – runner up, best PS5 headsetTurtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 – best Xbox Series X/S headsetCorsair Void Wireless V2 – best Switch 2 headsetTurtle Beach Airlite Fit – runner up, best Switch 2 headsetSteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X – best value gaming headsetAstro A10 Gen 2 – best cheap gaming headsetAudeze Maxwell – best planar magnetic headsetBeyerdynamic MX 330 Pro – best open-back gaming headsetSteelSeries Arctis GameBuds – best in-ear gaming headphones
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| SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless | Check price at Amazon UKCheck price at Amazon US |
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is the best gaming headset we’ve tested, thanks to their excellent sound quality, comfortable design and wide compatibility. This premium headset supersedes the earlier Arctis Pro Wireless and represent a significant step forward over an already-great option, with the inclusion active noise cancellation (ANC) and simultaneous 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth.