Best gaming setup 2026: quick picks

Short on time? These are our standout gaming setups for 2026:

• Best overall: PS5 Pro — the strongest exclusives and best haptics for living-room gaming.
• Best value: Xbox Series X — slightly more powerful, plus Game Pass for a huge library.
• Best for PC players: Gaming PC with RTX 5070, 32 GB RAM and a high-refresh monitor — flexible and the most powerful per spec.
• Best handheld: Nintendo Switch 2 — unique for Mario, Zelda and Pokémon, on the go or on the TV.
• Best budget: Steam Deck or Asus ROG Ally — PC games on the couch without a full rig.

Last updated: May 2026. Listed prices are indicative — check the live lowest price on each product page.

Choosing the best gaming setup in 2026

Gaming in 2026 is split across three main platforms: PlayStation (PS5 and PS5 Pro), Xbox (Series X|S) and PC gaming. Alongside those sit the Nintendo Switch and the upcoming Switch 2 for anyone who wants to combine handheld with the living room. Your choice of platform determines almost everything — which games you play, how much you invest and how long the system lasts.

Beyond the platform, your monitor or TV, headset, keyboard and mouse (for PC) or controller (for console) weigh heavily on your experience. A 500-euro console paired with a 200-euro TV gives a noticeably worse experience than the same console on a good 4K TV with 120 Hz. Browse our full gaming range for current prices.

Which gaming setup suits you?

Three scenarios cover most gamers:

The casual console gamer: a PS5 or Xbox Series X with a 55-65 inch 4K TV (HDMI 2.1 for 120 Hz), a good controller and a solid headset. Total budget 900 to 1,500 euros. Plug-and-play, no maintenance, all the big games work.

The competitive or PC gamer: a gaming PC with an RTX 4070 or 5070, 32 GB of RAM and an NVMe SSD, plus a 144-240 Hz monitor, a mechanical keyboard and a gaming mouse. For competitive shooters, 240+ Hz makes a clear difference. Budget 1,800 to 3,500 euros.

The Nintendo and handheld gamer: a Nintendo Switch 2 for Mario, Zelda, Pokémon and handheld mode. Optionally add a Steam Deck or Asus ROG Ally for PC games on the couch. Budget 350 to 900 euros.

What you need to know before you buy

The platform is chosen based on which exclusive games you want to play, plus your circle of friends. Spider-Man and God of War are PlayStation only; Halo and Forza are Xbox only; Mario and Zelda are Nintendo only. For pure performance and mods, the PC is unbeatable.

The display or TV is the second anchor point. For consoles, a 4K TV with HDMI 2.1, 120 Hz and low input lag is essential. LG OLED and Samsung QLED are popular. For PC gaming, a 1440p or 4K monitor with 144-240 Hz and a 1 ms response time is standard. Asus, LG and Samsung make good gaming monitors.

The graphics card is the heart of a gaming PC. An RTX 4060 for 1080p high settings, an RTX 4070 for 1440p, an RTX 4080 or higher for 4K. The RTX 5000 series is for those who want the latest. Second-hand cards are a good way to save money, provided they have no mining history.

A headset with a microphone is practically indispensable for multiplayer. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro, HyperX Cloud III and Razer BlackShark V2 Pro are popular choices. Wireless models add extra comfort.

Peripherals for PC gaming: a mechanical keyboard (Cherry MX or Razer switches), a gaming mouse with a DPI toggle (Logitech G Pro X Superlight, Razer DeathAdder V3) and a large mouse pad. For sim racing, a wheel such as the Logitech G Pro Racing or Fanatec.

Top picks by segment

In the gaming category on Productvraag you can compare consoles, accessories and peripherals. Reliable favourites are the PS5 Pro for PlayStation fans, the Xbox Series X for Game Pass users, the Nintendo Switch 2 for Nintendo exclusives, and gaming PCs with an RTX 5070 for the PC master race.

For monitors: the LG UltraGear 27GP850 or Samsung Odyssey G7 for 1440p 165 Hz, the LG OLED 42 C4 as a gaming-TV alternative. For headsets: the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless for those who want premium, the HyperX Cloud III for entry level.

Frequently asked questions

Which gaming console should I choose in 2026? The PS5 has the strongest exclusives (God of War, Spider-Man) and the best haptic feedback. The Xbox Series X is slightly more powerful and has Game Pass. The Nintendo Switch 2 is unique for handheld play and Mario/Zelda. Many gamers choose based on exclusives, not raw specs.

Console or gaming PC — which is better? Console: a fixed budget of 500 to 700 euros for 5-6 years of gaming, simple, all games guaranteed to work. PC: flexible, more powerful per piece of hardware, modding, but you pay 1,500 euros and up and handle upgrades yourself. The PC wins for competitive shooters, simulators and streaming/editing.

How many Hz should my gaming monitor have? 60 Hz is a thing of the past for gaming. 144 Hz is now standard and clearly smoother. 240 Hz or 360 Hz is for competitive shooters where reaction time counts. Combine it with a 1 ms response time, IPS for colour or TN for the absolute fastest latency.

What is an average budget for a gaming setup? Console + TV + headset: 900 to 1,400 euros. Entry-level gaming PC + 144 Hz monitor: 1,300 to 1,800 euros. Mid-range PC for 4K/120: 2,000 to 3,000 euros. High-end with an RTX 5080+: 3,500 to 5,500 euros. A good chair, desk and acoustic treatment can add 500 to 1,500 euros.

Which peripherals are essential for PC gaming? A mechanical keyboard (Cherry MX or Razer switches), a gaming mouse with a DPI toggle (Logitech G Pro, Razer DeathAdder), a headset with a microphone (HyperX, SteelSeries Arctis) and a mouse pad. For competitive play: a 144+ Hz monitor with a 1 ms response time. For sim racing: a wheel such as the Logitech G Pro or Fanatec.