The best gaming gear to give

You need the right hardware to play the best games. Here are our top picks for the holiday season.

The latest PS3 slims down to its smallest size ever while retaining everything we like -- and a few things we don't -- about the PlayStation 3 gaming console. First available bundled with Uncharted 3 or Assassin's Creed III, look for Sony to sell the slimmed-down console alone down the road. ($270, available now)

While we've yet to fully review the Wii U, we've had enough hands-on time to know that this console's potential has been under-emphasized. From unique dual-screen games to what seems like the best universal remote on paper, the Wii U will be this holiday season's most interesting product. ($350, November 18)

For those who've yet to jump into what the Xbox 360 has to offer, the Kinect bundle might be the best way to go. ($300, available now)

The supersize Nintendo 3DS XL is a solid portable gaming device and is mostly everything the original 3DS should have been. ($200, available now)

The Vita had a fantastic launch with a handful of games available on the first day. While it's been a while since then, we're finally starting to see a few must-have titles pop up. ($250, available now)

Easily the most popular motion-controlled gaming interface currently on the market, Kinect uses no controllers whatsoever and puts you in total control. While it may not have resonated well with core gamers, Kinect has been a hit with dance games like the Dance Central series. ($100, available now)

Yes, we know. The Wii is most certainly on its way out. But that doesn't mean it's lost all of the great games. If upgrading to the Wii U is not on the table, this Wii bundle may be the way to go, not to mention it can be had for half the price of the entry-level Wii U. ($150, available now)

The Astro A50 is hands down one of the best wireless gaming headsets on the market today. While we wish it supported multiple consoles at once, the A50 system will have you fragging away with surround sound in no time. ($300, available now)

The XP400s are another pair of wireless gaming headphones that deliver fantastic surround sound and work with either the Xbox 360 or the PlayStation 3. The best part? They're the only headset that can allow for wireless Xbox 360 chat. (around $200, available now)