So you just bought yourself a PlayStation 4, or maybe you gave it as a gift to someone else. Either way, the shopping doesn’t end there. Now you need to think about what are the best games to buy. You also need to figure out what accessories you want to buy as well.
Regardless of what PlayStation 4 console or bundle you purchased you will have what you need to get started. That being said, there are still going to be some must-have accessories that most gamers will want to have, but which ones are best for you?
Our following list of top accessories for PlayStation 4 consoles should help you navigate these waters if you are a new PS4 owner, or if you want to buy a gift for someone with a PlayStation 4.
Table of Contents
#1 PlayStation 4 Controller(s)
Getting a second controller is very high on most people’s list of most wanted accessories. If you like to play any 2 player games getting an extra controller is a must.
Plus, if you are an avid gamer having an extra controller means that the fun doesn’t need to stop when the battery is dead in your controller. You can simply use your second controller while the first one is charging.
Our recommendation is to get a PS4 DualShock 4 Wireless Controller. That way you are sure as to the quality of the controller you are buying. We are not saying that all of the other controllers for the PS4 are terrible, but not all of them measure up in terms of quality and performance. So if you want to play it safe you might want to stick to the PS4 DualShock 4 Wireless Controller like we do.
Getting PS4 DualShock 4 Wireless Controller doesn’t mean that it has to look boring. You can see a ton of cool colors and designs for the DualShock 4 controllers here.
#2 PlayStation Plus Membership
Some people will say that the PlayStation Plus Membership isn’t really an accessory because it is a subscription service. On the other hand, the argument could be made that the PlayStation Plus Membership is the most important accessory for your PlayStation 4. Either way, you really want to think about getting the PlayStation Plus Membership.
For those who are not familiar with it the PlayStation Plus Membership it is a subscription service that allows you to play multiplayer games online, gives you access to free games, and gets you exclusive deals and discounts.
The main reason the vast majority of people buy a PlayStation Plus Membership is for online gaming. It should also be noted that you can only play some games online and if you want to take advantage of multiplayer games (including playing with friends online) a PlayStation Plus Membership will be required.
PlayStation Plus Memberships are sold in 3 different time durations with the longer durations offering the best value:
#3 Headset
With all of the online gaming that occurs these days, a headset is another must-have accessory for anyone who likes to play PS4 games online with their friends. A headset allows you to communicate with your friends while you play online.
There is a huge variety of headsets out there. You could spend less than $20 or close to $400 depending on how fancy you want to get and how much money you have to spend.
The most expensive headsets will have Dolby Headphone 7.1 Surround Sound. Does it sound cool? Yes. Is it required for you to play a game effectively? No.
In our minds comfort is king. So our main suggestion would be to get a comfortable headset. You will be wearing your headset for long periods of time. If your headset isn’t comfortable it doesn’t matter how great it sounds or how great the microphone is because you won’t be wearing it.
Here are some headsets for the PS4 at some different price points:
#4 Charger for PlayStation 4 Controllers
One of the facts of life about wireless controllers for game consoles is that they will need to be charged. There are a couple of ways to do this. One way would be to run a cable from your console to your controller, but this can feel like a cluttered mess sometimes. The other option is to get a nice charging station where you can both store and charge your controllers when you are not using them.
The advantage of having a charging station is that they can be put in a nice out-of-the-way place and they help you avoid having a mess of cables in front of your console.
The other great thing about a charging station is that they are one of the most affordable accessories for your PlayStation 4 with most models priced at less than $20.
You can browse chargers for the PlayStation 4 controllers here.
#5 Stand
One problem a lot of us have with video game systems is space. We need to find a place to put them that doesn’t take up too much space. That is where stands come in. Buying a stand is a great solution. Getting a stand for your PlayStation will allow you to store it vertically.
In addition to saving space some stands offer other valuable benefits:
Cooling Your Game Console
Modern-day video game consoles have a lot of computing power and current games take full advantage of that power. The result of this is game consoles can run hot. If it gets to be too much this heat can cause problems for your console. This means that at the very least you want to make sure that you have your console in a well ventilated space to prevent overheating, which has happened for some people. However, getting a stand with a built in cooling fan might be an even better way to go. Some stands don’t have cooling fans, but for just a few dollars more you can get this valuable feature built into your stand.
Charge Controllers
Some stands will also have a dock where you can store/put your controllers to be charged. The stands that have the built in dock/charger for your controllers are usually designed for the PS4 DualShock 4 Wireless Controllers, which is another reason why you might want to stick with the DualShock controllers if you buy extra controllers for your PlayStation 4.
When you buy a stand (with or without a cooler) make sure you get one for your particular type of PS4, because the dimensions of the different PS4 models are not all the same. So make sure you get the model that fits the type of PS4 you own. There is the standard PlayStation 4, there is the PS4 Slim, and the PS4 Pro.
You can browse through vertical stands for PlayStation 4 here.
#6 Thumb Grips
Starting with thumb grips we are beginning to get away from the must-have accessories. Most people like the standard thumb grips on the PlayStation 4 DualShock 4 Wireless Controllers just fine. However, some people really like the feel of different thumb grips reporting that things like increased surface area, increased height, and better grip help their gameplay.
Plus, if you want to customize the look of your controller(s) getting new thumb grips for your PS4 controller is a fun place to start. They come in different colors, styles, and themes with some of them even glowing in the dark.
The good news about thumb grips is that most of them are priced below $20 with many even below $10. You can browse through thumb grips here.
#7 Cases & Game Storage
Most people buy their game console, set it up, and leave it be – never taking it with them from place to place to place. However, if you plan on taking your PlayStation 4 with you on a frequent basis you probably want to invest in a case to carry it in. Not only will a case help protect your PS4, but it will help you keep everything organized so you don’t lose things.
As far as game storage goes you probably won’t worry about that until you get several games and even then you might have a shelf picked out where you can store your games. However, if you do want a special place to store your games there are some different options out there. There are some stand alone units that are designed to specifically store your games. There are also some vertical stands for your console that have some video game storage built-in.
However, before you run out and buy something to store your video games in you should think about how you are going to buy the games. Specifically, do you plan on buying the actual physical copy of each game or do you plan on buying digital copies? There isn’t a right or wrong way to go on this issue. It is a matter of personal preference. So you might like to read our article on Physical Video Game Copies vs. Digital Copies – Which is Better?
There are a lot of great cases and game storage options on Amazon that you can view here.
#8 Faceplates, Protectors & Skins
Similar to thumb grips, faceplates, protectors, and skins are another great way to personalize your PS4 while protecting it at the same time.
These items typically aren’t on most people’s list of must-have accessories. So don’t spend your money on these items unless you have taken care of the items higher up on this list.
However, if you want to personalize and/or protect your PlayStation 4 there are some really cool options out there and most of them are pretty affordable. You can get custom colors, as well as logos of your favorite sports teams or themes from your favorite game.
You can browse through a multitude of fun options here.
Conclusion
Even though you will get what you need to get started when you purchase a PlayStation 4 console you will still probably want to make a few additional purchases. Hopefully our list helped you figure out which of the top accessories are the best ones for you.
