The 22 best Memorial Day sales for gamers - I've scrolled every retailer for PS5, Switch, Xbox and PC deals so you don't have to

When do Memorial Day sales officially start?

Memorial Day is on Monday May 26, and that's the official go-time when this year's sales should start. That hasn't been the actual case for years.

Retailers launch their Memorial Day sales anywhere from a week to a few days before the actual holiday, and the vast majority are live already. That means the offers you see on the shelves now will largely continue through to the main event (stock willing), with a sprinkling of additional discounts arriving as we get closer to the weekend.

The game that's holding me over until DQ12

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake (Nintendo Switch) | $59.99 $39.99 at Best Buy

I'm still holding out for Dragon Quest 12 before retirement, but until then I've been diving back into Dragon Quest 3. This is the game that's been scratching that itch since I finished up with Echoes, and it's on sale across Nintendo Switch, PS5, and Xbox - all for $39.99.

Duncan's top gaming PC for cooling (and a full AMD build)

NZXT Player Three RX 7900 XTX gaming PC | $2,999 $2,499 at NZXT

Duncan reviewed the RTX 5080 version of the Player:Three, but you can grab an AMD RX 7900 build for $2,499 at NZXT's own site right now. This brand isn't without controversy, but the spec and price selections, fantastic temperature control, and clean design of this rig are obvious. Bizarre PC-rental schemes aside (and you might need to take a look at your storage speeds), this is a fantastic offer.

Read more: NZXT Player Three review

Phil's favorite 1440p gaming monitor

Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 (27-inch) | $799.99 $549.99 at Amazon

The Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 has returned to a record-low price at Amazon this week, hitting that $549.99 sweet spot that I haven't seen since the end of last month. This is only the fourth time the G6 has dropped this far down the price scale, excellent news if you're after a 1440p panel with a punch.

It's the fantastic color work that makes the OLED G6 such a sight to behold, and while we reviewed a 360Hz version (this deal is on the 240Hz model) there's still plenty of speed up for grabs. Some monitors will throw in a built-in USB-C hub for this kind of cash, though if you're already set up for connections this is still a fantastic option.

Read more: Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 review

PSA: Always remember to price check

I'm checking the prices of all the deals I find across a range of retailers today, and it's important you do the same if you spot an offer you like out in the wild. Retailers generally match each other when a discount has been set by the brand itself.

Stores do go out by themselves for savings, though, so I'd always recommend making sure you're getting the lowest price on the web before committing through checkout. It's not just raw numbers either. As I saw in the Asus ROG Falchion RX Low Profile deal just now, some stores could be adding extra incentives like free games and subscriptions to sweeten the deal.

The low-profile gaming keyboard that changed my mind (and a free copy of Doom)

Asus ROG Falchion RX Low Profile | Doom: The Dark Ages | $269.98 $169.99 at Amazon

You should be paying $199.99 for the keyboard and $69.99 for a copy of Doom: The Dark Ages, but Amazon has both together for $169.99 ahead of Memorial Day. That's a total saving of $100, which is still excellent value even if I've seen this deck at around $114 in the past.

I've never been a massive fan of low profile keyboards, and yet the Asus ROG Falchion RX Low Profile is one of the best decks I've ever tested. There's a super-soft set of Asus switches under the hood (a brand of clickers I wholeheartedly recommend trying out), making for incredibly smooth motion. Typing on this feels like stepping on fresh snow for the first time, even with those shorter caps.

Not only that, but the 65% form factor keeps your arrow keys and you've still got media controls up top (a rarity in these more compact decks).

Read more: Asus ROG Falchion RX Low Profile review

My favorite gaming mouse for MMOs

Corsair Darkstar Wireless | $149.99 $99.99 at Amazon

Yes, there's no 12-button array here. Instead, Corsair changed up the MMO mouse game with its circular selection of clickers surrounding a grippy textured surface. It takes a little getting used to, but once I re-learned where everything was I realized this is one of the most precise and flexible devices MMO players can grab.

At $99.99, we're $50 down from the usual $149.99 MSRP here. That's a record-low that's only appeared in the last few weeks. Before this, the Darkstar Wireless was only ever on sale for around $120, making for an additional $20 off the final cost.

Read more: Corsair Darkstar Wireless review

Duncan's favorite budget gaming chair

Corsair TC100 Relaxed gaming chair | $219.99 $188.99 at Amazon

The Corsair TC100 Relaxed is one of the cheapest chairs you'll find from mainstream gaming brands, but it still manages to stick a comfortable, ergonomically sound landing. I've only seen it a little cheaper in the past, dropping to $174 back in April. If you're keen on a return to record-low, it's worth keeping an eye on this one. Otherwise, this is the best price I've seen all month.

Read more: Corsair TC100 Relaxed review

See also: Do you need a gaming chair with massage features?

A luxury slimline Alienware laptop

Alienware x16 R2 RTX 4090 gaming laptop | $3,599.99 $2,699.99 at Dell

The Alienware x16 R2 is about as luxurious as previous generation rigs get, with a super skinny design and configurations spanning all the way up to the RTX 4090. That's where we're looking today, with a $900 discount on the top-end configuration bringing the price down to a slightly more manageable $2,699.99. That's still expensive, but it's actually a pretty impressive rate on a high-end chassis like this.

I had mixed opinions about the X16 when I tested it. The display isn't going to satisfy those after a particularly bold, immersive experience, but this configuration prioritizes speed with its 480Hz FHD+ panel anyway. I tested an RTX 4080 version and it came out at the middle of the pack, though that pack was mostly consisting of thicker, chunkier rigs.

Put simply, you'll get better performance from other brands, but if you want full-power without lugging a behemoth around in your backpack this is a pretty slick middle ground.

Read more: Alienware x16 R2 review

The controller that does snappy mechanical switches on a budget

EasySMX X10 PC / Nintendo Switch controller | $69.99 $29.99 at Amazon

I was hunting for a crisp set of mechanical switches under my face buttons when I came across the EasySMX X10. After reviewing it, I was sold. This is a budget-minded controller (and Prime members can score it for a record-low price right now), but it still holds up today. You've got everything you need, with a 2.4GHz connection for PC and Nintendo Switch as well as Bluetooth, additional back buttons, and super clacky buttons.

It's better for PC, yes. I have noticed over the last few months that latency issues do creep in when using the X10 over a longer distance, particularly with the Nintendo Switch. Parked up at a desk, though, I've been running everything from Avowed to Doom: The Dark Ages through this thing.

I've only ever seen the EasySMX X10 down to $39.99 in the past, so you're getting an additional $10 off this Memorial Day. It's worth noting, though, that I haven't seen that full $69.99 MSRP in a very, very long time.

Read more: EasySMX X10 review

The headset I have permanently parked next to my PS5

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless | $349.99 $243.46 at Amazon

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless has been at the top of our gaming headset list for a while now, but it just keeps fending off the competition. There's fantastic audio between these cups as well as a particularly slick hot-swappable battery system that means you never have to worry about charging. It's the simultaneous Bluetooth and 2.4GHz audio that gets me, though, there's nothing like roaming the wilds of Fallout 76 with my own personal playlist running through my phone.

The Nova Pro Wireless isn't immune from discounts, but this $243.46 price is rare nonetheless. At MSRP, this is a premium device, but considering we're just $5 away from a record-low this is an easy recommendation.

Read more: SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless review

PSA: Watch out for Walmart

I've noticed Walmart's struggling in the price comparison game today - a lot of the prices I'm checking are above MSRP. That's because Walmart operates on a marketplace model, with different vendors all selling on the site. If possible, always buy from either Walmart itself or from a verified distributor and, as ever, if a deal is truly too good to be true then it probably is.

A premium OLED gaming laptop

Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 16-inch RTX 4060 gaming laptop | $1,899.99 $1,399.99 at Best Buy

This feels like the right price for an Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 with an RTX 4060 GPU. You'll find those graphics in cheaper models, but not with this premium build quality, OLED 240Hz panel, and AMD Ryzen AI 9 375HX processor. That's one of my favorite CPUs in slimline gaming laptops right now, and with $500 off the final price you're getting it all for $1,399.99 at Best Buy.

The only thing keeping last year's G16 out of my ranking of the best gaming laptops was its high price for the performance it offered. That's what makes it such a steal during sales like Memorial Day.

Read more: Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) review

A gaming mouse made for large hands

Turtle Beach Kone II Air | $119.99 $89.99 at Amazon

The Turtle Beach Kone II Air is one of my favorite pointers, and I don't even have large hands. The wide body and chunkier design does make it a go-to for those who feel modern mice to be too skinny, but it's excellent comfort features and slick design are easy to get on board with regardless.

I've only ever seen this wireless gaming mouse $2 cheaper in the past, and only once at that. This is the best price I see day to day, but a discount that only appears every few months.

Read more: Turtle Beach Kone II Air review

My go-to Joy-Con alternative

Hori Split Pad Pro Attachment Set | $79.99 $55.99 at Amazon

The Hori Split Pad Pro is a chunkier, wider replacement for handheld Joy-Cons and this attachment set means you can use the gamepad in docked mode as well. I don't get on with the original Nintendo controllers too much; the corners hurt my palms, the thumbsticks are too small to feel precise, and the skinnier form factor gets crampy after a while. I've been using the Hori Split Pad Pro since I first reviewed it and, while I do miss rumble for some titles, I haven't looked back.

No, it's not great for travelling (I normally stick the old Joy-Con back on when I'm out and about) as the controllers themselves don't fit in most Switch cases. However, if you're after a more comfortable experience at home it's an easy recommendation from me.

Read more: Hori Split Pad Pro review

Also see: Hori Split Pad Pro vs. Compact

My favorite gaming keyboard

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 | $219.99 $197.99 at Amazon

The SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 is a delight, packing Hall effect switches that give me the feeling of far more control over just how far I'm pushing than other decks I've tried. This is the latest Apex Pro model to hit the shelves, but it's never dropped lower than this $197.99 sale price. You're saving 10% here, or $22, a smaller saving on a premium deck but one that gives us a record-low rate on the best clickers I've tested.

Read more: SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 review

Here we go!

I've got the laptop revved up and a cooling fan in place, it's time to put Chrome to work finding more of the biggest Memorial Day deals for gamers. I'll be checking through all the tech I've given high review scores to over the last few years to find the gadgets and gizmos with the biggest price cuts. So sit back and relax as I dig up some Memorial Day treasures.