Gear
The Video Game's Literate Recommended Gear for Gaming
Computer
- Desktop
Peripherals
- Controllers
- Headphones
In this page, you can find an index of all The Video Game Literate's recommended gear for gaming. This includes all types of hardware that a gamer may need. This page exists as a resource page so you may easily find the type of hardware and gear you are looking for. There is a complete list of all The Video Game Literate's recommended gear for gaming, and after the list you will also find some explanations about hardware replacement and several hints.
The Video Game's Literate Gear Guide for Video Games
Some types of hardware and gear are more important depending on which types of video games you plan on playing. For example, many video games can be completely played using keyboard and mouse, while other video games may have a gameplay more suitable for controllers. Below you can find some examples of some well-known video games and how they relate to certain recommended types of gear.
Specific Gear Is Not Always Necessary
Before diving into the gear most suited for each video game genre, it is important that you bear in mind that, with more recent video games, there is an increased effort for accessibility, in the sense that video games released during the late 2010s and early 2020s will, most often than not, allow the player to choose if the player wants to play the game with keyboard and mouse or controller. For this reason, for many recent video games, you will often not need a specific gear to play the game. At the same time, for some specific video game genres, some types of gear will be recommended, if possible, such as controller or joystick for fighting games and driving wheel for racing games. However, even in these cases, this gear is also often optional, and not necessary to enjoy many video games of these genres.
If you plan on mostly playing a specific video game genre, you can read below the recommended type gear for that genre.
The Video Game Literate's trusty Logitech M105 mouse. I have played many of the video games mentioned in this article with this mouse and a keyboard.
RPG Video Games
Examples: Deus Ex, Diablo, Divinity, Dragon Age, Dragon Quest, Fallout, Final Fantasy, Gothic, Mass Effect, Megami Tensei, Phantasy Star, Star Ocean, The Elder Scrolls, The Legend of Heroes The Witcher, Torchlight.
Many RPG video games can be played with mouse and keyboard, such as Diablo, Divinity, Dragon Age, Fallout, Gothic, Mass Effect, The Elder Scrolls, The Witcher, Torchlight. However, there are also many RPG video games which provide a more intuitive experience if played with a controller, such as Final Fantasy, Megami Tensei, Phantasy Star, Star Ocean, The Legend of Heroes.
Many RPG video games feature impressive atmospheres, increasing the immersion of the player. Some of these elements are, for example, nature sounds. For this reason, for many video games, it is suggested to play these video games with a sound system. Some examples of RPG video games with these atmospheric elements are The Elder Scrolls and The Witcher. Having a sound system is not necessary to play these video games, it is a complement.
Recommended Gear
- Controller
- Mouse
- Sound System
Mass Effect (2007), a sci-fi RPG video game, can be played with keyboard and mouse. Mass Effect (2007) was developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts for PC and PlayStation 3 and published by Microsoft Game Studios for Xbox 360.
Strategy Video Games
Examples: Age of Empires, Age of Mythology, Age of Wonders, Command & Conquer, Company of Heroes, Crusader Kings, Empire Earth, Europa Universalis, Kingdom, Rise of Nations, Sid Meier's Civilization, SpellForce, StarCraft, Stronghold, Total War, Warcraft, XCOM.
Most strategy video games on PC can be completely played with keyboard and mouse, not requiring a controller to be played, including many classic traditional franchises of strategy video games such as Age of Empires, Command & Conquer, Sid Meier's Civilization, StarCraft, Total War, Warcraft, XCOM.
Recommended Gear
- Mouse
Open World Video Games
Examples: Assassin's Creed, Batman: Arkham, Dead Rising, Driver, Dying Light, Far Cry, Grand Theft Auto, Just Cause, Marvel's Spider-Man, Outcast, Prototype, Saints Row, Shenmue, Sleeping Dogs, State of Decay, Watch Dogs, Way of the Samurai, Yakuza.
Unlike other genres of video games, open world video games vary very much regarding the recommended gear for playing. In general, most open world video games can be very adequately played with either keyboard and mouse or controller. Some classic open world video game franchises can be completely played and enjoyed with keyboard and mouse, such as Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, Grand Theft Auto, Prototype. There are other franchises, which while can still be played with keyboard and mouse, may present a more intuitive experience if played with a controller, such as Batman: Arkham, Marvel's Spider-Man, Way of the Samurai, Yakuza.
Due to the landscapes and variety of locations of open world video games, these games also often feature diverse atmospheric sound effects, including sounds of nature, wind, vehicles, NPCs, among other elements. For this reason, for increased immersion, it is recommended to play these video games with a sound system, if possible. However, a sound system is not necessary to play these video games, it is a complement.
Recommended Gear
- Controller
- Mouse
- Sound System
Assassin's Creed (2007), an open world video game, can be played with keyboard and mouse. Assassin's Creed (2007) was developed by Ubisoft Monreal and published by Ubisoft.
Immersive Sandbox Simulation Video Games
Examples: Kenshi, Mount & Blade, S.T.A.L.K.E.R., Sea Dogs, X.
Most immersive sandbox simulation video games can be completely played with keyboard and mouse. Some immersive sandbox simulation video games that can be played with keyboard and mouse are Kenshi, Mount & Blade, S.T.A.L.K.E.R., Sea Dogs and X.
Some immersive sandbox simulation can be quite atmospheric, such as S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and X. For these video games, it is suggested to wear headphones or to use a sound system, if possible, to enhance the immersion of the gameplay. However, this is not necessary to play these video games, this is a complement.
Recommended Gear
- Headphones
- Mouse
- Sound System
Horror Video Games
Examples: Alan Wake, Alien: Isolation, Alone in the Dark, Amnesia, Dead Space, Five Nights at Freddy's, Metro, Outlast, Pathologic, Penumbra, Resident Evil, Silent Hill.
Similarly to the open world genre of video games, the horror genre presents a very varied experience in regards to the recommended gear for playing. Many first-person horror video games can be completely played with keyboard and mouse, such as Alien: Isolation, Amnesia, Metro, Outlast, Penumbra. There are other horror video game franchises, however, which while may be played with keyboard and mouse, may present a more intuitive experience if played with a controller, such as Resident Evil, Silent Hill.
When playing a horror video game with a mouse, you may consider using a mouse which does not glow. If you plan on playing horror video games with the room lights turned off, also choosing a mouse which does not glow may enhance your immersion in the horror video game. In my recommended mouses for gaming, which you can find on the index in the beginning of this page, I recommended a mouse which does not glow.
In regards to atmosphere, it is recommended to play horror video games with either headphones or a sound system, if possible, to increase the immersion of the gameplay experience. Many horror video games themselves suggest players to wear headphones. While headphones or a sound system are not necessary to play horror video games, they may enhance the overall atmosphere.
Recommended Gear
- Controller
- Headphones
- Mouse
- Sound System
Fighting Video Games
Examples: BlazBlue, Fatal Fury, Guilty Gear, Marvel vs. Capcom, Mortal Kombat, Samurai Shodown, SoulCalibur, Street Fighter, Tekken, The King of Fighters.
Many fighting video games, especially traditional 2D fighting video games, can be played with a keyboard. However, in the specific case of fighting video games, I recommend, if possible, to use either a controller or a joystick to play these video games.
Recommended Gear
- Controller
- Joystick.