The best gaming chairs don't just allow you to sit comfortably for long gaming sessions, they're the perfect partner to your desk. It might seem silly that so much attention to detail goes into these seats today, but there's so much to think about. Armrests can have a big impact on controlling a mouse and keyboard, for example. Lumbar support can help or hurt your back, and the choice of materials can determine if you'll need to spend more money on a replacement sooner than you hoped.
Of course, one of the fun things about the best gaming chairs is that their designs can be a bit more personal and flashy compared to their often muted office counterparts. You can even get some very distinct-looking items in the realms of the best console gaming chairs. That said, we've rounded up some of our top desk gaming chair picks below. We've tried our best to cater to a wide range of budgets - not everyone has over a grand to splash out on a new chair, after all.
We're always updating this list with new options - especially since there are always more and more gaming chairs emerging on the digital shelves. We've got some exciting seats coming in to test soon, including Fractal Design's first attempt at one. We're also eager to know more about RotoVR's fancy chair that automatically swivels with your head movements. We're also about to take on something from GTOmega, which we're keen to try out as well.
The Quick List
Best overall
The Boulies Ninja Pro is easily the best gaming chair we've tested. It's insanely comfortable and undercuts the cost of the competition.
Best value
The Corsair TC10 Relaxed is perfect for folks who want comfort as well as all the posture bells and whistles gaming chairs are known for.
Best SecretLab
Secretlab's 2022 Titan Evo has class-leading materials, 4-way lumbar support, and a myriad of design options making it our top pick.
Best lumbar support
The Iskur X is a staple. The new Iskur V2 is even better, bringing in adjustable integrated lumbar support to an already comfortable chair.
Best budget
Homall's Racer has the iconic look and features you want from a gaming chair, but it's a wallet-friendly option for the budget buyer. After all that, you're still getting all the support you could ask for.
Best mesh
The Mavix M7 delivers serious comfort and some luxury features - including a heated-massage backrest if you're willing to pay for it.
Best premium
This is the Rolls Royce of gaming chairs with a 12-year warranty and great build quality. If it wasn't so expensive I'd live in one.
Best ergonomics
Offering a more affordable route into Herman Miller's gaming chairs, the Vantum is an excellent mesh alternative to the brand's full-fat Embody.
Best low-profile
A lot of the time you need to double a gaming chair up as a professional-seeming office chair. The Noblechairs Hero offers a slick black aesthetic that keeps things subtle.
The best gaming chair overall
Bear with me on this, but imagine the best hugger you know. It could be your mum, your cousin, a friend - whoever. Just hold the feeling of support and comfort that a hug from that person gives you in your mind. Now imagine that hug transformed - into a gaming chair. That is what sitting in a Boulies Ninja Pro feels like.
✅ You want the best features for less money. This costs less than a lot of other premium brands.
✅ You want comfort first and foremost.
✅ You like to cross your legs. This seat has lots of width to make use of.
❌ You prefer a firmer seat.
❌ You like having more color choices
Design: In terms of its general shape, the Boulies Ninja Pro is fairly recognizable as a gaming seat. It has that classic wrapped racing chair backrest that's designed to keep your posture dignified but comfortable for long periods of time. The Ninja Pro uses a combination of Ultraflex PU leather and velvety-soft suede material, and in the box you get two of the softest support cushions I've ever come across. This perforated leather combined with a nice suede material helps to control temperatures, and the standard 4D armrests and adjustability are welcome design choices too.
Features: As mentioned, this chair ha all the bells and whistles you'd want in a premium gaming chair package. 4D arm rests, blissful lumbar support that isn't exactly memory foam, but definitely moulds to your sitting position and makes it feel supported. The seat itself is nice and wide, so will support lots of body types, and the cushion has run off at the end so that your thighs don't lose circulation from being jammed against the edge. There's all the adjustability you could want here as well, and even if I won't spend much time discussing them, that's because they feel like features this seat smugly includes without gloating about. It's simply all here, and it's stupidly comfortable.
Performance: I can't express enough how important the plush cushioning is to this chair. It provides all the support you could want in the lumbar and neck departments, but it's so soft that it feels like you're being embraced in such a healthy way. I usually don't like neck cushions in gaming chairs, but this one I wouldn't dream of throwing aside.
The Ninja Pro's PU leather and velvety cushions make it feel like a million dollars to sit in, its supportiveness and comfort work in perfect harmony, and it has all the size and adjustability you could ever need. It may lack a wider selection of design options, which is a bit of a shame, but I for one think the choices you can select are classy as hell and would look great in any RGB-draped gaming setup. In terms of price, it isn't as much as the high-end competition, yet, it offers the same features and more comfort.
This is the best gaming chair available at the moment.
The best value gaming chair
The Corsair TC100 Relaxed is our favorite value option in the gaming chair world. It punches above its pricing division by packing loads of features in, providing easy comfort, and all the while remaining cheaper than a lot of the competition.
✅ You're on a tighter budget. This is a slightly cheaper option than a lot of other big brands.
✅ You like to lean on the armrests of a chair. This has some of the nicest armrests I've come across in a gaming chair.
✅ You don't mind having a more muted color. This one's only available in grey or black.
❌ You have more money to spare.
❌ You want a plush neck cushion.
❌ You have a larger frame - the edges of the backrest can sometimes feel like they're poking into your ribs.
Design: The Corsair TC100 Relaxed seeks to create a blend of supportive, posture-correcting gaming chairs and the plush comfort found in a lot of office chairs. The methodology here is to use a wider seat with softer contact points while staying true to that iconic racer-style build that can support the body for hours on end. In a lot of ways, this bucks the trend of the gaming chair market, offering some excellent comfort and top-of-the-range features at a much lower price than the competition.
Features: Annoyingly, there aren't better personalization options in terms of color. The TC100 Relaxed only comes in either a Plush Leatherette material or a Soft Fabric that feels similar to upholstery found on a couch, but only comes in two colours, grey, and black. The other flaw of note is that the casters feel a bit rigid no matter what surface you're atop. That said, the quality of the seat you get here for the price is excellent, and its soft cushioning rivals any console gaming chair geared at pure comfort. Adjustability is here in spades, and the armrests benefit from that too.
Performance: The TC100 is proof that you can absolutely get a top-drawer gaming chair from a well-known brand for less than $300. If you like the look of the Secretlab options on this list and want a lot of the same features, but can't afford their lofty prices - don't miss this cracker from Corsair. Assembly could have been easier, and the head cushion is a little too full for me, but the padding on the seat and the back make up for them. Moreover, the armrests feel nice and soft to lean on, and never create a feeling of discomfort.
For most people sitting at a desk or in a gaming room, you won't need more than this.
The best secretlab gaming chair
As the improved version of the 2020 model, the Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 is an impeccable gaming chair. It's stylish, sturdy, and oh-so-comfortable, with a few nifty features to make it worth the money.
✅ You're tall as a mountain or need a booster seat. There are generous size offerings to suit everyone.
✅ You crave only the highest quality. This is easily one of the most luxurious brands on the market.
✅ You want a nice simple assembly.
❌ You're looking to save cash. Secretlab chairs don't come cheap.
❌ You already own a 2020 model. There are improvements to be had here, but it probably isn't worth the double investment.
❌ You care about sticking out from the crowd. There's nothing wrong with popular, but if you want something a little bit more "you", maybe check out another brand.
Design: Its premium-grade materials and impressive build quality leave very little to be desired as far as gaming chairs go. And Secretlab hasn't gone over the top with the design either, skirting the line with a nicely refined racer style that's easier to vacuum than previous designs. And now with a rehashed built-in lumbar support system, the Titan Evo 2022 works for more body shapes.
Not only that but in true Secretlab fashion, there are so many colorways and officially licensed designs to choose from - this cosmetic selection simply has no rival in the market.
Features: Aside from acing the basics you expect from any top gaming chair - like 4D armrests, and an adjustable lumbar - the Titan Evo 2022 goes the extra mile. The pièce de résistance? Practical application of magnets as an alternative to the usual fiddly headrest straps. It means you can adjust easily depending on your height, and there are even a few different sizes in case the regular doesn't cut it. While the smallest model caters to 4"11' – 5"6' short kings, the XL model tops out at 5"11' – 6"9' meaning there's a lot of leeway for different frames. The regular version sits right in between, and each model shares the same awesome feature set.
Performance: Still in regular use around the GamesRadar+ offices today, there's much to say for the Titan Evo 2022's durability, not least its comfort, since everyone's always fighting over who gets to sit in it. The Softweave version we tested is plush and breathable, and the easy instructions and annotated stickers mean the chair's not as awkward to put together as previous designs, either. The newly designed built-in lumbar support is much improved over the old Titan series, too. It's more flexible and doesn't feel like it's trying to kick you out of the chair. A second dial lets you move it up and down, too, though it can take a while to adjust it to that sweet spot.
The best lumbar support
Following on from the Razer Iskur X comes an updated gaming chair from Razer which puts supporting your spine front and centre. The Iskur V2 has integrated lumbar support that adjusts to you and your sitting position, making it the best option for anyone who struggles with lower back aches and pains.
✅ You're looking for impeccable style. Razer's signature black and green stitching stands out from the crowd.
✅ You have a bad back or struggle with your posture. This chair is plenty comfortable but will support you into better back health.
✅ You want the latest and greatest from Razer. There are older models of this chair which might be worth knowing about if not.
❌ You prefer cushioning to integrated support.
❌ You want more colorways to choose from.
❌ You'd prefer a mesh chair - Razer has one of those now.
Design: In a lineup scenario, it might be tricky to pick out the new Iskur V2. On the whole, it looks very similar to the Iskur and Iskur X, with only a few feature disparities truly separating them. Luckily, if you don't like the green trim that's befitting one of Razer's products, the V2 is also available in all black.
Features: The V2 builds upon the excellent chair that the Iskur X is. Besides a magnetic head cushion which is swapped out for a strapped one, the V2 carries over all of the main features you'll know but improves a number of them. There are now 4D armrests, plenty of adjusting options for tilt, 152° recline, and a more advanced EPU-grade synthetic leather upholstery. Of course, the biggest selling point here has to be the adjustable lumbar support, which has adjustable depth and height but responds to your body's position at any reshuffle.
Performance: Our tabletop and merch editor found that the lumbar support in this chair cured a lot of his aches and pains, and said the lumbar support was a "godsend". In all honesty, this is everything a gaming chair really should set out to be. It's comfortable enough to sit in for lengthy sessions but also has the build quality and design to aid your well-being. Ergonomics and comfort need to match one another, and the Iskur V2 does an excellent job there. At the end of the day, if we're complaining about a headrest not being magnetic, you know a chair must be pretty good.
The best budget gaming chair
The Homall S-Racer achieves the rare feat of being an extremely affordable gaming chair that doesn't look like it'll give you a dead rear end after five minutes. It may not be the most versatile or stable, and it may not have the fanciest features, but when it's often found discounted to less than $100, who's complaining?
✅ You need comfort on the cheap.
✅ You enjoy the racer aesthetic.
✅ You want a footrest.
❌ You have more than $100 to spare - there are definitely better options out there.
❌ You need adjustable armrests.
❌ You love using the rockback feature.
Design: One of the more gaudy gaming chairs out there, it leans into the you'll-go-faster-with-more-racing-stripes approach. As its namesake would suggest, it has that signature racer cut a lot of gaming chairs do, it's just maybe not as streamlined as high-end options. So no, it might not be the most stylish, but hey, it can often be found with a footrest, and I don't see Secretlab options with one of those?
Features: At less than $100 most of the time, there aren't as many features as you'd expect to find from a premium gaming chair. The Homall S-Racer doesn't come with adjustable armrests, nor does it benefit from built-in lumbar support, but it's a comfortable, durable chair for the cash. Homall has included a head cushion and lumbar support pillow, both with easily adjustable straps. And of course, there's a 180° recline feature, as well as a rockback. The 1.8mm steel frame and high-density foam covered in synthetic leather means it should last through many play sessions to come, however.
Performance: For a cheap gaming chair, the Homall Racer is an impressive entry to the market. It's not the easiest to put together, with badly worded instructions, but once everything's in place it's a joy to sit in. The bucket seat is also broad enough that it ensures you're suitably secure without the feeling of being hemmed in, or pinched in the sides. The rockback knob is a little difficult to use and causes some worry over the chair's stability when loose, but overall the chair is stable. And while the unpadded, non-adjustable armrests do tend to dampen the experience, it's still a great gaming chair for the money.
The best mesh gaming chair
In 2022, we reviewed the Mavix M9 - the brand's flagship gaming chair. While it was certainly comfortable, and enjoyed a place on this list for a long while, it ultimately lost its place as cheaper competitors offered similar features for less cash. Now, however, as more brands throw out attempts at mesh chairs, the slightly more affordable M7 sees itself onto our buying guide thanks to its adjustability and super performance.
✅ You're looking for something low-profile. Mavix offers great features but not an overt gaming chair look, which is great if you need something that looks professional too.
✅ You want a chair with a heated backrest. It may cost you more, but you can get a backrest that gives you a heated massage.
✅ You don't care about backrest cushioning. Mesh chairs don't offer plush back cushioning, but they do offer you a cooling mesh material that's breathable.
❌ You'd rather have more cushioning for your money
❌ You want to personalize more
❌ You'd rather have a better-known brand
Design: The Mavix M7 is available in three colors. There's an all-black version, a Black and Red model, and a Black and White version. As an added bonus, you can also choose to customize the color of the castor wheels of your chair, so if you want to make a classy all-black chair pop with personality, that could be an option.
Those wheels, come to mention it, are a single, solid piece of rubber, which is great if you're used to cheaper dual-track plastics since they allow you to move smoothly on different surfaces. Annoyingly, Mavix doesn't do much in the way of offering assembly instructions, since there's no booklet that comes in the box.
One of the best parts about the Mavix M7's design, however, is that nearly everything is adjustable, and even though it can take a while to work out what each lever does, it's great to see a chair offer so much support across different body types and sitting styles.
Features: If you're willing to pay a little extra, you can opt for an Elemax backrest that gives you heat as well as massage features. We're sure this will be an alluring feature, and although we loved it, it does hike up the price of a Mavix chair usually. That said, keep your eye out for events on the Mavix store where they offer Elemax for no extra cost.
Elsewhere, the M7 features 4D or 360-degree rotational armrests, as well as lumbar and head support that clicks into place when you sit down so it supports whatever position you find comfortable.
Performance: In our review, our news editor Ali said "this is a very, very good chair. Comfortable, easy to adjust, and with features I didn't even know I wanted before I sat in it for the first time, the Mavix M7 puts you at the heart of every adjustment it lets you make (or even makes for you). I'd struggle to go back to anything less accomplished than this in the future."
In particular, we liked the adjusting lumbar support and cooling mesh material. While its optional heated massage backrest costs more, we did find it was worth a bit of extra investment. In fact, one of the only things we weren't so keen on was the price tag - however, when you compare it to the likes of Herman Miller and other high-end chairs that try to do similar things, this is a clear winner.
When it comes to mesh gaming chairs, it doesn't get much better than the Asus ROG Destrier Ergo Gaming chair. Part of the new wave of "ergo" gaming chairs that put posture support at the very forefront of their design for an admittedly steep price, the Destrier is actually one of the more affordable options out there. That said, it's still pushing a grand.
✅ You have back or posture worries. The ROG Destrier Ergo chair has excellent ergonomics and adjustability.
✅ You like faff-free adjustability. The headrest and armrests click into your every sitting position with ease.
✅ You want something breathable. Mesh material does help to control temperatures in longer sessions.
❌ You're planning to assemble it solo and you haven't been to the gym in a while. Assembling this solo was knackering.
❌ You want more cushioning than mesh provides.
❌ You can afford to splash out on Herman Miller.
Design: There's no disputing that what Asus has done here is make one of the best gaming chairs on the market. The supportive points of this seat cradle you like a babe in a manger, and the headrest's clicky adjustability make it perfect for a wide variety of postures and body shapes. The armrests click and slide into place (sometimes too easily), and this faff-free adjustment is an excellent design choice. The adjustability on offer here in general is incredible and ensures that the chair's ergonomic design isn't just one size fits all. Weirdly though, handle-levers are swapped out for straps that hang out from the chair's bottom. These take some getting used to, but they do work.
Features: That said, this isn't the perfect gaming throne. $899/£899 is a lot to pay for a chair that takes such a minimalist approach to its cushioning. While the frame is a strong aluminium, the backrest and seat are a few simple layers of mesh material. It's breathable, but for the money I'd like to see a little more padding. That thick frame makes it very heavy and often unruly - especially during assembly. Luckily, the large caster wheels make it nice and easy to manoeuvre on a carpet. Weirdly, there's a plastic Acoustic Guard that flanks the headrest. While certainly an interesting feature, it's functionally pointless and doesn't seem to impact sound at all from what I could tell in testing.
Performance: If you have the budget for a premium ergo chair, and back or posture worries, Asus has made a super option to rival the likes of Herman Miller. It isn't perfect, and I think there's a real argument to be made for these types of chairs price gouging compared to their production costs. If you don't mind that, and you're looking for the most breathable mesh gaming chair you can get without compromising on comfort and features - the Asus ROG Destrier Ergo chair is your stop on this list.
The best premium gaming chair
The Herman Miller x Logitech Embody gaming chair absolutely proves that premium ergonomic design is worth investing in for you and your posture. It's the best premium gaming chair we've tested.
Put it this way, it's not often something of this price remains so popular for so long.
✅ You have a tonne of cash to spare - these really don't come cheap.
✅ You're looking to correct your posture or you have back problems.
✅ You don't like the racing-seat shape found in other gaming chairs.
❌ You feel headrests are a necessity.
❌ You want a simple gaming chair - this is arguably a lot more.
❌ You can get the ergonomics you want for cheaper.
Design: The Herman Miller X Logitech Embody has a distinctive look. There are some stylish flourishes adorning the chair like its Logitech-blue accenting, a tag, and a motif on the back. Aesthetically though, that's really it. The material is breathable and soft, which is an enhancement over less premium options. Overall, the luxury materials and minimalist color choices make for a really smart look.
Features: The Logitech Embody has all the pedigree and sublime DNA you could ask for, heaps of posture and comfort augmentations, and a price to match. While the armrests are not 4D as they are on many other gaming chairs, they're simple - perhaps too simple - with just up and down, in and out adjustability. Elsewhere, there's much more versatility. There are handles you can use to change the seat's depth - essentially rolling out extra chair from out of the either - which is just such clever design work. It has a slightly wider footprint than many gaming chairs, so that's something to be aware of if you decide to invest, though it adds greater stability, weight distribution, and balance.
Performance: The fact there's zero assembly required with the Embody means the chair's success doesn't rely on your ability to fasten bits of it together. As well, all the clever levers and knobs are intuitive and easy to use, though the seat-depth setting did admittedly take some getting used to for our reviewer. This is a short chair with no dedicated headrest, but even without one, it has ergonomics at the forefront of its design. The armrests are comfy, and our reviewer claimed that it definitely helped him regain some back strength through better posture. Overall it's one of the comfiest seats we've ever had the pleasure of testing.
The best ergonomic gaming chair
The Herman Miller X Logitech G Vantum has some solid ergonomics, good support, and posture-improving elements. It may not live up to the Embody's extremely high standards, but it's still a fantastic chair. It's seen a refresh recently and is even available in updated colorways, with an upgraded headrest.
✅ You can't afford the Embody, but have enough cash for a premium chair.
✅ You need a headrest - this might be a better option for you than the more expensive Herman Miller chair.
✅ You're in need of great ergonomics.
❌ You tend to lean on armrests a lot.
❌ You want a traditional gaming chair - we wouldn't call this gaming-specific.
❌ You have a larger frame. The Embody will cater to you more.
Design: Coming in a few colorways, the Vantum is a mesh-designed bad boy that has a much more subtle aesthetic than its brethren. It's also a bit 'smaller' in every way, aside from its height. The materials do feel 'cheaper' than the Embody - that is to say, not necessarily budget or flimsy, but not as premium across the board. In fairness, it's a less expensive product, so that makes sense.
Features: The Vantum does promote a different kind of comfort and ergonomic design. Mainly it just shunts you forward a bit more than the Embody, but generally, it promotes a good upright sitting position. You've got the usual controls too: height adjustment, tilt, tilt tension, and the seat depth lever. You can alter the lumbar support with the handles, which push the support into your back, or pull it away. There's a lot of versatility in the chair's movement, with the headrest even allowing for forward tilt if you'd like it. Folks miffed at the Embody for not having a dedicated headrest will be happy though, since it has a very supportive one here.
Performance: The Vantum does require a bit of construction - albeit barely any - but it's not too difficult to put together and it does inspire confidence that there are no weak spots that you may have created for yourself. While the wheelbase is solid and sturdy, it's also smaller; it's not as wide as the Embody's which actually makes moving it around a bit easier. Importantly, aside from smashing ergonomics, the seat is well-cushioned and comfy. While the lumbar support is a little bit localized, and the armrests adjust a little too easily, it's also a darn sight cheaper than its sister chair.
The best low profile gaming chair
One of the largest gaming chairs around, the Noblechairs Hero is solid and sensible, with great ergonomics and some interesting designs to pick from.
✅ You're after refined aesthetics. This fits in with gaming chairs and more muted office chairs.
✅ You want a good firm seat - the larger form factor of this makes it nice and stable.
✅ You need versatile ergonomics.
❌ You're working with little space - this seat is on the larger side.
❌ You want to slouch about in a more plush seat.
❌ You've got little legs.
Design: The Hero is understated and simple, meaning that the chair looks perfectly in keeping with a modern office or - at a push - a living room. That's not to say there aren't some swish designs, such as the Doom version with demonic runes, to boot. Runes or none, this is an imposing chair, that can fit in among gaming-centric thrones as well as more professional offices.
Features: The Noblechairs Hero has a great deal going for it in terms of features. The 4D armrests give it fantastic versatility since they can be adjusted upwards, back, and forward, and can be angled inwards from the straight-facing position. The 180° recline and adjustable rockback also add to that versatility, though these are to be expected for the price. The most impressive feature is by far the built-in lumbar support, which slides up and down via a dial on the side. It's super simple to get right and provides great posture aid.
Performance: When it comes to setting up, the instructions are very clear, and actually building the chair is simple enough, aside from some slight awkwardness in finding the right angle to get the bolts in place. The chair itself is long in the leg, so shorter people may struggle to touch the ground in laid-back mode. Aside from a few minor issues such as the buttons not being flush and the plastic trim pieces not quite matching the rest of the chair's standards, it's all over delightfully versatile and comfortable gaming chair, if a little firm. And boy is this thing sturdy.
Non-desk chairs
Supporting the launch of Logitech’s Premier G Pro racing wheel, the PlaySeat Trophy Logitech G builds off the 2022 Playseat Trophy, with a couple of logi-centric tweaks. If it's a cockpit you're building for your gaming setup, it doesn't get much better than this.
✅ You take your racing sims seriously.
✅ You're okay with this being a mainstay in your home.
✅ You need lots of adjustability.
❌ You don't have a lot of space - this thing has a sizeable footprint.
❌ You're trying to save money.
❌ You want something you can store in a cupboard with ease.
Design: Rather than the matte black outfit of the previous model, the powder-coated finish of the high carbon steel frame is glossy grey, and there are accents of electric G blue, and Logitech logos too. The flowing lines of the Trophy’s tubular frame feel high-end and modern. There's rounded corners aplenty softening what would otherwise be a dominating cockpit.
Features: The Trophy Logitech G Edition is a freestanding, full-size racing cockpit with a uniquely integrated racing hammock seat, wheeldeck, and pedal tray. It even comes with a pair of white cotton gloves - snazzy. It's important to note that this thing is going to need plenty of room; at 1m wide and 1.5m long it takes up a surprising amount of floor space. The pedal tray is adjusted with bright blue thumbscrews, which would have been appreciated elsewhere during the assembly process. The seat and wheeldeck angle adjust, too, though there's no up, down, in, or out translation. The wheeldeck can be installed either way around to extend reach, though.
Performance: Considering the complexity, the Trophy Logitech G Edition comes in a compact package with just eleven pieces that needed slotting together. Construction was a simple task, and took only half an hour to put together. Once there, it can withstand the stresses of direct drive wheels, with every joint secured with multiple Allen bolts - sometimes six - which, while a little overkill is a sign of quality. This thing is cleverly designed, well built, and has a rock solid frame. It's mighty comfortable, mighty large, but unfortunately a sizeable investment.
While we'd heartily recommend the chairs above, we have to admit their prices are pretty steep. For a look at the cheaper end of the scale, check out our roundup of the latest gaming chair deals. They aren't always models we've tested for ourselves, but we've picked out ones that have strong user-review scores from a larger number of buyers.
If your tastes are so inclined, we've even rounded up a list of the best pink gaming chairs on the market. Alternatively, if you're not looking for a chair that's designed to sit at a desk, you could go with one of the best console gaming chairs.
Best gaming chairs - Frequently asked questions
What are the best gaming chair brands?
Gaming chairs have come a long way in recent years, with more brands pitching their own seats than ever. That means there's more competition out there these days, with some pretty high price tags sometimes accompanying brand new features and designs. The best gaming chair brands, from what we've seen in our testing, are SecretLab, Noblechairs, Andaseat, and Corsair, with brands like Respawn, Brazen, and AKRacing offering some of the best gaming chairs on a budget.
What is better than gaming chairs?
This will really come down to you and your setup. If you play games through a console and a TV, it's likely that a really comfortable couch will be the seat of choice for you. If you use a projector in a more open-plan room, maybe a beanbag or a foldable gaming chair will be what you need. In our opinion though, most "office" style gaming chairs are more versatile than people think.
Are gaming chairs better than office chairs?
Gaming chairs are typically considerably more expensive than their office equivalents but bring with that added cost a suite of features lesser seen in more traditional furniture. The most pressing difference is the emphasis on ergonomics with many gaming chairs being sculpted in such a way to accommodate for long play and work sessions. This is achieved through thicker padding on the seat (usually made out of high-density foam) as well as much taller backrests leading to greater levels of support over longer periods of time.
Does a gaming chair actually make you better?
Like RGB lighting, we sadly can't say that one of the best gaming chairs will make you better at your favorite games. However, a decent chair will have a whole array of benefits that will definitely make your posture and health better.
Gaming chairs are purpose built to support for back, neck, and shoulders in a way that some office chairs just can't live up to. Many gaming chairs feature high backrests which curve naturally to align with your spine resulting in far better sitting posture, which can reduce lumbar pain and other aches. Due to these higher backrests, the user is propped up straighter, reducing slouching and lazy posture which can occur in other chairs.
How we test gaming chairs
Why you can trust GamesRadar+ Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.
With what seems like more options than ever on the market from both up and coming as well as established brands, our testing helps to separate the best from the rest. When we review gaming chairs, we take into account the build quality, as well as the time, spend assembling the units as potential buyers would. Most critically of all, is the value for money proposition, as we wouldn't recommend a gaming chair that we would not buy for ourselves.
We spend a lot of time testing gaming chairs both at work and in our downtime, too. While first impressions are of course important, a chair that feels comfortable initially may not provide as much support as it did at the start. This is why we take our time with our chair coverage in order to provide an encompassing, accurate, and well-rounded account of what it's like to use the chairs every day.
You can find out more about how we test gaming chairs in our full hardware policy.
We've also rounded up the best gaming chairs for PS5, PS4, and Xbox. However, if you're looking to refresh your full setup we'd recommend checking out the best gaming PCs and the best gaming monitor models around.
