Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Don't miss these
A medieval scribe focuses on her work as three cats, one being spectral, sit nearby
Simulation Games Kingdom Come Deliverance-inspired cozy game launches to great reviews: "Hans capon mentioned therefore GOTY"
Portal 2
Games I've been with my partner for 8 years, and these are our favorite couples games that I'd recommend for your next date night
Peak screenshot showing players climbing an icy cliff
Co-op Games The 25 best co-op games you can play in 2026
Asus ROG Flow Z13 running Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on battery power
Mobile Gaming The best gaming tablets in 2026
Upcoming indie games for 2026 showing images from Mixtape, Toem 2, Find your Words, and Grave Seasons
Games Upcoming indie games for 2026 and beyond
LG UltraGear Dual Resolution monitor on desk next to plant, Bigfoot Squishville, and Club Penguin plush with Overwatch 2 gameplay on screen.
Peripherals What should gamers look for in a VPN?
PS5 Pro and PS5 original console on a wooden table
Peripherals Console gaming on a VPN: what works on PS5/Xbox Series X
KOORUI GN02 monitor with Overwatch 2 main menu on screen
Peripherals Can a VPN let you play region-locked games?
Tiny Bookshop screenshot showing the small mobile bookshop decorated with lights and plants set up on the beach as a customer walks inside. A dog can be seen sitting on a couch outside of it
Games The 20 best Switch indie games you should play in 2026
LG OLED G4 TV with Overwatch 2 on screen and Pharah selected
TVs & Monitors The best gaming TV 2026: my top high-spec living room screens
Super Smash Bros Ultimate
Puzzle Games Best local multiplayer Switch games to play in 2026
Image of the Nintendo Switch OLED on a table with a headset and gaming earbuds siting around it, taken by writer Rosalie Newcombe.
Nintendo Switch The best Nintendo Switch accessories 2026: all the top gadgets for your consoles
Acer Predator Orion X review  of the PC next to another ITX chassis
Desktop PCs The best gaming PC 2026: Find your perfect pre-built powerhouse
Best games like Stardew Valley: a screenshot of a Stardew Valley farm during spring.
Simulation Games 10 Games like Stardew Valley that'll keep you working on the farm until the cows come home
Games like Skyrim: Gerlat giving a thumbs up during the Witcher 3 Wild Hunt.
RPGs The best games like Skyrim to play in 2026
  1. Games
Advertisement Feature

Use smart tech to get your cosy gaming setup just right this winter

Features
By Sponsored

Stave off the darkness while optimising your online play experience to stay connected with friends

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

EE
(Image credit: Future)

It’s important to create a cosy gaming cocoon to help combat those darker evenings in winter, as the days get shorter and the cold starts to draw in. We caught up with video games journalist and filmmaker Alysia Judge to find out how smart tech can be used to achieve this, as well as picking up some tips on staying connected with friends.

We tend to have more time available for gaming during the winter months when it's nicer to stay indoors, so you want to be able to escape the cold outside by wrapping up warm and getting absorbed into some snug experiences. Cosy games such as Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing are perfect for this, as you can immerse yourself in another world or get lost in story-driven games that can be played in many different ways.

If you're staying in contact with friends during the winter months by playing together online or streaming gameplay, then a reliable internet connection is a vital part of your setup

It's crucial to get the vibe right, so as well as using the escapism provided by games with a deep narrative or immersive world to explore, there are also ways to turn your entertainment setup into a cosy gaming cocoon with some smart tech. In addition to a soft blanket and a selection of your favourite snacks, you can set the atmosphere by changing the colour of the lighting to a warm glow with the help of some smart bulbs. These can be controlled straight from your phone, or if you add in a smart speaker as well then you can go completely hands-free with voice activation.

EE

(Image credit: Future)

If you're staying in contact with friends during the winter months by playing together online or streaming gameplay, then a reliable internet connection is a vital part of your setup. The EE Wifi 7 router is perfect for maintaining a stable connection online, so you can avoid lag ruining your good times in whatever virtual world you choose to meet up in. You'll want to be able to chat to your friends while you make new stories together, so if you need a gaming headset or any other kit then visit the EE Game Store for a wide selection of accessories.

With the right environment you can get away from the grey and miserable weather outside by curling up on the sofa and dimming the lights, whether you're playing the latest PlayStation 5 release on the big screen or a handheld adventure on the Nintendo Switch. Find your perfect escape this winter, through a cosy gaming setup enhanced by smart tech.

EE Game Store

(Image credit: Future)
Sponsored
Sponsored
Social Links Navigation
GamesRadar+ Sponsored Content
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Musashi examines the oni gauntlet with a confused expression in Onimusha: Way of the Sword
    1
    Capcom knows it's on a roll, threatens another banger after Resident Evil Requiem, Monster Hunter Stories 3, and Pragmata: "We're not done with 2026 yet"
  2. 2
    Ghost of Yotei star says Sucker Punch is "bold" to "leave behind safety and comfort" to tell new stories with fresh characters, but the actor doesn't know "what might come next"
  3. 3
    Maybe some N64 games are better left forgotten, but don't tell that to the reconstituted Star Fox studio seemingly teasing a Buck Bumble revival
  4. 4
    Blizzard lawsuit kills huge private World of Warcraft server as a cease and desist ends another
  5. 5
    Meet the dev who quit Rockstar Games during GTA 6 fever to make his own game, a single-player MMO-like where you tank for NPCs

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...