As gamers, we’re used to putting serious time into our favorite games. That translates to stretches of times seated, and spending all that time in a less-than-ideal chair can be more than just a little uncomfortable. The last thing you want to feel at the end of a long gaming session is pain in your legs, back, neck, and shoulders. That’s why a solid gaming chair, or even a good office chair, can go a long way to improving your gaming setup.A gaming chair can add a bit of flair to your battle station, but it should also do enough to address your comfort and provide proper ergonomics. You should be able to get the right height for your legs, have support for your lumbar, and be able to support your arms at the height of your mouse and keyboard. If you play with a PC gaming controller, you can forget some of these considerations, but you’re still going to want to have support and comfort for the long haul. So, before you upgrade your graphics card or try getting a flash RGB case, consider giving an upgrade to your seat.TL;DR These are the Best Gaming Chairs:
1. Secretlab Titan 2020 Series
Best Gaming Chair
Seat Height: 18.7-22.4″ Seat Width: 20.5″ Seat Depth: 19.7″ Backrest Length: 33″ Backrest Width: 21.7″ Tilt: 85-165° Ergonomics: adjustable armrests, lumbar support, neck pillow Max Load: 290 lbs
The Secretlab Titan 2020 Series (read our review) is the latest and greatest gaming chair that’s come to market recently. Secretlab is one of the few brands that makes only gaming chairs and for its latest creation, it has perfected its armrests to be even more durable and easier to adjust in four directions than ever before. At the same time, this new gaming chair also introduces a cooling gel-lined memory foam neck pillow that helps keep you cool.The Titan is the company’s largest chair, allowing it to easily support tall and large gamers or anyone who just wants a bigger seat to spread out on. In terms of comfort, Secretlab’s cold cured foam is among the plushiest materials I’ve ever sat on. Secretlab is also one of the very few company’s to make a gaming chair with a SoftWeave Fabric, which makes it feel soft to the touch. If you prefer leather, the company’s Prime 2.0 PU Leather feels fantastic and stands up to scuffs better than other brands. The Secretlab Titan also has integrated lumbar back support rather than a pillow, which users can adjust by cranking a knob on the side of the chair.
2. GTRacing Pro Series Gaming Chair
Best Budget Gaming Chair
Seat Height: 17-20″ Seat Width: 16″ Seat Depth: 22.8″ Backrest Length: 32.5″ Backrest Width: 21.5″ Tilt: 90-170° Ergonomics: adjustable armrests, lumbar pillow, neck pillow Max Load: 330 lbs
The coolest gaming chairs can come with some gnarly prices, but affordable options like the GTRacing Gaming Chair can let you live the gamer’s dream while saving money at the same time. Despite costing only $130, the GTRacing Gaming Chair looks the part of any other high-end racing-style seat.Beyond looks, the cushions are soft while the pads offer firm support, so you’ll feel comfortable in this budget gaming throne. It even has full ergonomic adjustability between the armrests, head pillow, and lumbar support.
3. OFM Essentials Racing Chair ESS-3085
Best Ultra Cheap Gaming Chair
Seat Height: 17-20.75″ Seat Width: 20″ Seat Depth: 19″ Backrest Length: 29.5″ Backrest Width: 19.75″ Tilt: 85-165° Ergonomics: flip up armrests, lumbar pillow, neck pillow Max Load: 275 lbs
If you absolutely have to stay under a $100 budget for your gaming chair, the $75 OFM Essentials Gaming Chair should do nicely. it might look more like a regular office chair, but it definitely has the flair of a gaming throne with its sculpted racing lines and dual-tone colors.The OFM Essentials’ contoured padding offers plenty of plush and breathable comfort. In terms of ergonomics and customizability, users have a pair of flip-up armrests and a recline function.
4. noblechairs ICON
Best High-End Gaming Chair
Seat Height: 18-22″ Seat Width: 20.3″ Seat Depth: 19.3″ Backrest Length: 33.9″ Backrest Width: 20.5″ Tilt: 90-135° Ergonomics: adjustable armrests, lumbar pillow, neck pillow Max Load: 330 lbs
Gaming chairs can look a little samey these days given that they all follow the same basic flared headrest and bucket seat design. The Noblechairs Icon elevates the usual formula with a distinctly more sophisticated look and real leather.Whereas most gaming chairs are made with artificial PU leather, the Noblechairs Icon is made with premium Napa leather that’s known for its softness. Then noblechair took the Napa leather’s inherent softness to the next step by treating it while also adding dyes to make it more light-resistant, so it won’t fade even in the brightest sunlit rooms. Add the chair’s tall back and this is the closest thing to an executive chair made for gaming.
5. Vertagear Racing Series SL4000
Best Racing-Style Gaming Chair
Seat Height: 18-21.5″ Seat Width: 14.6″ Seat Depth: 17.5″ Backrest Length: 30.75″ Backrest Width: 20.7″ Tilt: 90-140° Ergonomics: adjustable armrests, lumbar pillow, neck pillow Max Load: 330 lbs
YouTube stars, Twitch streamers, and eSports athletes all seem to be rocking the racing-style gaming chairs these days. While there’s a crazy amount of racing chairs available because of their high visibility, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better option than the Vertagear SL4000.While the cushioning is a bit firmer than that found on other chairs of its ilk, we prefer a chair with more of a solid cushion as opposed to being mushy. Assembling this beast will probably require the help of a friend, but you’re going to look great afterward in any of the nine color options.
6. Secretlab Omega 2020 Series
Best Leather Gaming Chair
Seat Height: 18.1-21.9″ Seat Width: 14″ Seat Depth: 19.3″ Backrest Length: 31.5″ Backrest Width: 21″ Tilt: 85-165° Ergonomics: adjustable armrests, lumbar pillow, neck pillow Max Load: 240 lbs
You don’t so much sit on the Secretlab’s Omega 2020 Series chairs as you become one with it. Between the velour head pillow and a memory foam lumbar support cushion, every part of this gaming chair is designed to mold itself around you, providing you with the best comfort possible.That said, this isn’t a beanbag, you get the ergonomic support you deserve from a premium gaming chairs such as this. Comfort and durability also take center stage hereclosely followed by style. The Secretlab Omega is also adjustable in ways your back and shoulders will thank you for.
7. Corsair T3 Rush
Best Fabric Gaming Chair
Seat Height: 17.5-21″ Seat Width: 22″ Seat Depth: 22.8″ Backrest Length: 33.46 Backrest Width: 21.26″ Tilt: 90-180° Ergonomics: 4D armrests, lumbar pillow, neck pillow Max Load: 264 lbs
Leather gaming chairs are a dime a dozen, but those upholstered with fabric are much rarer. To our knowledge, there are exactly two manufacturers that make fabric gaming chairs: Secretlab and Corsair. While the former offers gaming chairs closer to $400, the Corsair T3 Rush goes for less than $300 making it the better, more affordable pick.The Corsair T3 Rush also has a generously large seat and backrest to support most users as long as they weigh under 270 pounds. You also get a full suite of ergonomic adjustment with 4D armrests as well as a neck and lumbar pillow.
8. Vertagear Triigger 350 SE
Best Mesh Gaming Chair
Seat Height: 19.5-23″ Seat Width: 18.5-19.7″ Seat Depth: 20″ Backrest Length: n/a Backrest Width: 19.5″ Tilt: 90-123° Ergonomics: 4D armrests, lumbar support, neck rest Max Load: 275 lbs
Mesh chairs are great for keeping you cool since the whole thing is breathable. They’re popular in offices but there’s no reason you can’t have the same comfort while you game. Vertagear must have been thinking the same thing when it came up with the Triigger 350 SE, a gaming chair that features both a mesh back and seat.It’s made out of Reinforced DuPont TPEE Mesh if you’re worried that this chair’s netting material won’t stand up to everyday wear and tear. And everywhere else that isn’t made of mesh, you get the soft feel of calfskin leather. Of course a gaming chair this nice is going to cost and it’s pretty expensive at $1,000 for the special red edition. Going with the plain black version of the Vertagear Triigger 350 SE brings down the price to $800.
9. Respawn 200
Best Budget Mesh Gaming Chair
Seat Height: 18.75-22.25″ Seat Width: 17.5″ Seat Depth: 20″ Backrest Length: n/a Backrest Width: n/a Tilt: 90-130° Ergonomics: 2D armrests, lumbar support, neck pillow Max Load: 275 lbs
While most racing chairs are made of leather, the Respawn 200 is one of the few to integrate mesh to help keep your back cool. While resting on netting might sound strange, the mesh here is perfectly supportable and a bit like lying in a hammock.This ergonomic gaming chair also includes adjustable lumbar support that you can move up and down, as well as pitch it at an angle to conform with your body shape. Best of all, it’s priced reasonably at under $200, which makes it more affordable than most gaming chairs and on par with other mesh-backed office chairs.
10. Cougar Ranger
Best Gaming Arm Chair
Seat Height: 15.8″ Seat Width: 18.9″ Seat Depth: 23.6″ Backrest Length: 24″ Backrest Width: 18.5 Ergonomics: lumbar pillow, neck pillow Max Load: 350 lbs
Our ultimate dream is to have a racing style gaming sofa and while we’re not there yet, at least Cougar has given us a racing-style armchair. The Cougar Ranger is a reclining armchair engineered for gaming. It features padded lumbar and neck support, while the padding of the actual chair is a little stiffer than you would find in a lazy boy.In its standard configuration, the Cougar Ranger basically has you sit up at attention. Of course, like a recliner, you can lie back in this chair as well and it’ll tip all the way back to 160-degrees for when you can just relax and watch live streams or Esports matches.
11. Big Joe Dorm Chair
The Bean Bag Option
Big, expensive gaming chairs aren’t for everyone, especially if you live in a smaller space. For anyone currently grinding through games in front of a TV in a modest pad, the Big Joe Dorm Chair is made just for you. It’s filled with dense beans that conform to your shape, has handy pockets for your controllers, and is available in a variety of colors to match your room’s aesthetic. Also, while this chair is affordable, it’s not junk, and sports quality double-stitched seams. It even has a handle on the top so you can easily drag it from room to room. Sit down, relax, and save your money for what you really want to spend it on: more games.12. Respawn 900 Gaming Recliner
This Gaming Chair Recliner is a Dream Come True
Seat Height: 15.75″ Seat Width: 18.9″ Seat Depth: n/a Backrest Length: n/a Backrest Width: n/a Tilt: 90-135° Ergonomics: neck pillow Max Load: 275 lbs
We’ve just taken a look at a gaming chair rocker and big armchair, but what if you were to combine those two things into one? A gaming recliner, which is just what the Respawn 900 (read our review) is. Dreams do come true folks.Unlike gaming chairs, you’re not really meant to pull up to your computer desk with the Respawn 900. Instead, it’s meant for more sedentary life in your living room, letting you kick back as you play your Xbox One X or PS4 Proor a gaming PC you have hooked up to a TV. It even has two cup holders and pockets for snacks so you really won’t need to get up for a while once you get comfortable.
13. Modway Articulate Mesh Office Chair
The Best Office Chair for Gaming
Size: 26.5″ x 26″ x 37-41.5″ Backrest Length: 22″ Max Load: 331 lbs
Sometimes you just want a basic, comfortable office chair without any bling or a luxury price tag, and that’s what you get with this humble model from Modway. It sports a mesh back for breathability, height adjustable back, and armrests, and it’s available in an array of colors too including blue, red, and a lime green that looks suspiciously like it was made by Nvidia.14. Secretlab Titan XL 2020 Series
Best Big and Tall Gaming Chair
Seat Height: 19.1-22.8″ Seat Width: 22.6″ (Including sides) Seat Depth: 19.9″ Backrest Length: 33.5″ Backrest Width: 22″ Tilt: 85-165° Ergonomics: adjustable armrests, lumbar support, memory foam pillow with cooling gel Max Load: 390 lbs
We already liked the Secretlab Titan enough for it to be our favorite gaming chair and it seems just right that the XL-version of the very same chair is our top pick for the best big and tall gaming chair. The Secretlab Titan offers all the same plush comfort and softness as its smaller compatriot, but it’s built on an even sturdier frame that allows it to hold up to 390 pounds of weight.Everything about this chair has been biggie-sized with an enlarged seat and taller backrest. The Secretlab Titan XL offers a variety of upholstery options, but we like the SoftWeave Fabric since it adds just that extra bit of softness along with better breathability.
15. Homall High-Back Racing Chair
Best Budget Big and Tall Gaming Chair
Seat Height: n/a” Seat Width: 14.5″ Seat Depth: 20.5″ Backrest Length: 30.5″ Backrest Width: 22.5″ Tilt: 90-150° Ergonomics: adjustable armrests, lumbar pillow, neck pillow Max Load: 300 lbs
Big and tall gamers can stay on budget just as easily thanks to options like the Homall High-Back Racing Chair. This plus-sized gaming throne only costs $90 and yet it’s designed to support up to 300 pounds. This gaming chair also has a tall backrest measuring 30.5-inches that should accommodate most users.Homall had to make two small sacrifices to meet costs. Unfortunately, the chair’s seat is fairly narrow at only 14.5-inches and it sits low to the ground. Still, though it’s hard to argue that this gaming chair doesn’t come at a bargain.
What’s Next For Gaming Chairs
The majority of the gaming chairs in the world all might look the same right now, but 2020 is poised to be a banner year for this growing category.
At CES 2020 we got an early look at DX Racer’s upcoming mesh gaming chair, which looks to be far more robust than the Respawn 200 or even Vertagear’s Trigger series of gaming chairs.
Meanwhile, Thermaltake is looking to make gaming chairs more mature with its upcoming CyberChair E500. With a classic chrome and black paint scheme, this gaming chair looks more like an office chair. It’ll also feature a mesh seat and mesh back for optimal breathability, and there seems to be a strong emphasis on lumbar support.
What to Look For in a Gaming Chair
There are plenty of reasons to invest in a chair dedicated to gaming, but the biggest one of all comes down to comfort. Gaming can be an incredibly sedentary lifestyle, not moving anything but their thumbs and forearms for hours at a time. Sitting on a lumpy chair for a few minutes is already uncomfortable and if you stay there for a long gaming session, you’re going to be in a world of hurt.Chairs designed with gaming in mind help support your back, neck, and arm positions in ways non-gaming chairs don’t. This is largely thanks to the tall backs found on gaming chairs, which end up supporting your back and shoulders better than a short office chair. At the same time, the best gaming chairs should stop you from slumping over and falling into other bad postures with neck and lumbar pillows.
Between the tall back and support pillows, you should almost feel like you’re being forced to sit up straight. The best gaming chairs should feel almost a little challenging and uncomfortable to sit in. That might sound counterintuitive to how chairs are supposed to be just comfortable, but it’ll help save you from a lifetime of lower back pain and developing other gaming-related health complications like repetitive strain injury.
That doesn’t mean you have to spend a ton on a higher-end chair to reap the comfortable rewards. But it makes a noticeable difference. Ultimately, it all comes down to how comfortable you want to be while you’re playing games.
There are other benefits to a gaming chair outside of comfort and a sturdy build. Pretty much all dedicated gaming chairs, from the cheapest ones on Amazon to the highest-end pro-gaming thrones, look awesome. Seriously, they’re called racing chairs because they look like the chairs you find in a high-speed touring car. Factor in the loud colors, aggressive angles, and eye-catching shape and there’s no question as to your chair’s intended purpose.
If you already have a high-end PC with a top-end graphics card or a dedicated PC gaming desk with a crazy 144Hz gaming monitor on top, do you really want to sit in a folding chair you picked up at Goodwill?
Since the majority of gamers play on console, a gaming chair might not suit your needs. But a chair for gaming is still a good investment. Whether it’s a beanbag chair like the Big Joe Dorm Chair or something wild like the X Rocker Pro Series Pedestal 2.1, console gaming still requires a level of comfort. Well, at least until things get heated and you have to lean in.
No matter which type of gaming chair you choose one thing you’ll definitely want is good, adjustable ergonomics. When I say that I mean a chair with customizable lumbar support, adjustable armrests, levers to tilt and height, and a movable headrest. For the most part, all the gaming chairs on this list include at least one to all the points of adjustability I just mentioned and you’ll want to take advantage of them.
Kevin Lee is IGN’s Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam
