(Image credit: Future)

Gaming microphones have come on in leaps and bounds over the past few years, putting great vocal capture in the hands of anyone with a USB connection and a small slab of cash to spend. However, 2025 has seen the rise of several reasonably-priced contenders that can swim remarkably close to the pricier players for minimal expense, and that's the sort of development I can really get behind.

If you're looking for the cheapest of the cheap, look no further than the Amazon Basics USB Condenser Microphone. It might be a frill-less option with no included software, but it's incredibly difficult to argue with the sound quality it's capable of capturing for less than $30.

Still, if you don't mind spending a bit more cash for a whole lot of features, there's the NZXT Capsule Elite to consider. It's a remarkably good microphone wrapped up in a retro-themed chassis, and comes complete with a software suite full of bells and whistles, including noise cancelling.

And last, but far from least, there's the HyperX SoloCast 2. This $60 microphone has a clever trick up its sleeve in the form of a breech-like stand design, which means its just as at home on your desk as it is on a boom arm. It's also got noise cancelling software, a sleek design, and the sort of price point that makes it a tempting offer, even with the little Amazon mic being so cheap.

Best gaming microphone 2025: the nominees

Yep, that's a bountiful selection of microphones alright. We'll be picking the eventual winner out of these three sonic stunners on New Year's Eve, so make sure you join us then for the final result. I haven't tested any of them for champagne-popping resistance yet, but I'm sure we'll find out how they perform on the night.

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Andy built his first gaming PC at the tender age of 12, when IDE cables were a thing and high resolution wasn't—and he hasn't stopped since. Now working as a hardware writer for PC Gamer, Andy spends his time jumping around the world attending product launches and trade shows, all the while reviewing every bit of PC gaming hardware he can get his hands on. You name it, if it's interesting hardware he'll write words about it, with opinions and everything.

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