In our search for the best gaming chairs, we prioritized aspects such as comfort, adaptability, and durability. We measured how easy it was to adjust your gaming chair while you were playing, and we sat in the chairs for extended periods of time to see if you could game for hours on end.
After hours of testing (and significantly upgrading my Skyrim save), we’ve identified our champion: the DXRacer Formula Series for $350. It’s a little pricey, but it provides pressure-relieving support for long gaming sessions with a design that keeps the back of the head and upper back cool.
To that end, if you’ve been using the same old desk chair for your gaming sessions, we can’t emphasize enough how important it is that you take a close look at our top three best gaming chairs recommendations. And, yes, these chairs have been specifically created with gamers in mind. Continue reading to find out more, and good luck! Please keep in mind that the best office chairs also make an adequate, if not excellent, gaming chair.
Comparison Table of the Best Gaming Chairs
1. DXRacer Formula Series DOH/FH08/NO Newedge Edition
If you recognise the name “DXRacer,” you’re probably a fan of certain e-sport competitions. That’s right, this game chair designer is a frequent sponsor of e-sport teams like compLexity, Dignitas, and Fnatic, and you may have seen some of his equipment in action in major tournaments. Suffice it to say, they know what they’re doing, and if you prefer a gaming chair designed from the ground up for truly serious gamers, this is it.
2 . Vertagear Racing Series S-Line SL4000
End of tale. Vertagear makes excellent gaming seats. This substantial SL4000 version includes plenty of serious high-density foam cushioning for optimal comfort, a huge neck/headrest pillow, and a sleek design available in a variety of color patterns. This racing chair’s headrest and armrests can be adjusted in four different directions to get the ideal position, and the tilting feature has adjustable resistance so you can determine how much you “rock” while playing. There’s a lot of comforts here for long PC and console gaming sessions.
3. Cougar Explore S
If you’re on a tighter budget but want to kick back in style like the best of them, then the Cougar Explore S gaming chair will be right up your alley. At just $270, it’s still coming with a lot of the features you’ll find on more expensive gaming chairs, and it even has a design that can keep up with the competition.
The Cougar Explore S offers up a quilted-style PVC leather finish on top of steel frame that can support up to 264.55 pounds. The chair is filled with high-density foam to support you, and it even includes some extra padding in the form of an adjustable lumbar pillow and a neck pillow. When you’re gaming, you can sit upright and dial the 3D armrests in where you need them. When you want to relax, you can lean back into a deep recline. If you find that sweet spot in the recline, you can even lock it into place.
4. OFM Essentials Racing Chair ESS-3085
The OFM Essential Racing Chair can benefit you whether you’re gaming on a budget or just want to keep things simple. This seat’s features aren’t overly extensive, keeping it simple to keep the price reasonable. In fact, you can sometimes find this chair for as cheap as $75.
The OFM Essentials Racing Chair undoubtedly matches the style of other racing chairs, particularly with the form of its backrest. However, it eliminates one of the most problematic aspects of racing chairs: the bucket seat. You can move your legs around more freely while sitting without the small wings on the side of the chair. The seat also includes simple armrests that, while not 4D adjustable, can flip up and out of the way when not in use or when you wish to slide your chair under your desk.
5. Cougar Argo
The Cougar Argo is a gaming chair that focuses on providing good ergonomics for long-term comfort while gaming rather than how well it can resemble the cockpit of a racecar. This gaming chair has a solid metal base and mesh that is both tough and breathable to keep you cool while gaming. How durable is that mesh? The seat can support up to 330 pounds.
The Cougar Argo has 3D adjustable armrests to assist you in dialling in the right heights for an ergonomic desk setting. The seat itself may move forward and backward, giving adequate support without putting strain on the back of your lower legs. There are also padded lumbar and head supports, as well as a 130-degree recline, to allow you to unwind between matches. And, while it may not have as strong a gaming look as some other seats, it does come in an eye-catching combination of black and fiery orange.
6. Razer Iskur
The Razer Iskur is a racing-style gaming chair that will give you that slick pro gamer look. This gaming chair will accommodate a wide range of gamers, since it is built for customers ranging in height from 5.6 feet to 6.2 feet and can hold up to 299 pounds.
Once you’ve settled into the Razer Iskur, you’ll appreciate the comfort provided not only by the high-density moulded foam used throughout the chair’s construction, but also by a sculpted lumbar cushion, which can provide your back with a bit more support than the standard pillows found on racing-style chairs. The seat is coated in a beautiful looking PVC leather, and Razer has even added snake-like scales to some of it. There are also 4D adjustable armrests that you can set to your desire. The only thing that feels like it’s lacking is RGB lighting, which is only because Razer includes it so frequently.
7. noblechairs Icon
If you want a luxury gaming chair, you can also choose premium materials. The noblechairs Icon is a fashionable gaming chair, but instead of the normal PU leather, noblechairs offers a model with genuine leather. A healthy dosage of cool foam is put within the chair to provide you with a soft, comfy seat for long gaming sessions. The chair’s understated style will allow it to fit in just as well in a professional atmosphere as it will in a gaming one.
The seat offers a roughly 4-inch height adjustment range, providing you plenty of freedom to choose a comfortable working position. The 4D armrests will make finding an ergonomic position much easier. When you want to relax, the chair can recline to 135 degrees, and the base has some rocking motion as well. The Icon has a lumbar cushion and neck pillow for people who prefer a little extra support, even though the design does not require them.
8. Corsair TC60
PU leather may appear sleek and be easy to maintain, but it doesn’t necessarily feel pleasant when it comes into contact with your skin. So, whether you’re gaming in shorts, tank tops, or the occasional birthday suit, you’ll be considerably more comfortable in a fabric gaming chair, which the Corsair TC60 provides.
At $270, it’s on the lower end of the gaming chair price range, but it’s a strong throne. The Corsair TC60 has a large seat with a good height range. The chair and piston will also support up to 264.5 pounds, so larger gamers won’t be put off by it. You can recline and rest in the chair, and it even has a coordinated tilt so your buttocks don’t fall out when you lean all the way back. You’ll also receive some added ergonomic benefits from the 3D adjustable armrests and built-in lumbar support.
9. DXRacer Air Series
Mesh chairs are excellent for keeping you cool because they are completely breathable. They’re popular in offices, but there’s no reason you can’t enjoy the same level of comfort when gaming. When DXRacer opted to include a mesh back and seat in the Air Series, it must have had the similar thinking.
It’s composed of a highly robust material, so the netting will withstand everyday wear and tear. Suspension springs are used in this chair to simulate the bouncy feeling of sitting in a foam chair. Furthermore, the Air Series promotes optimum sitting posture with built-in lumbar support and a memory foam headrest.
10. Respawn 205
Respawn does not want you to overheat when gaming, therefore its Respawn 205 gaming chair has a mesh backrest for increased airflow. However, mesh does not imply a lack of toughness, since this chair is built on a steel frame and can support up to 275 pounds. For comfort, the frame is encased in moulded foam. You’ll also get a broad seat with a good range of height adjustment, making this a good choice for both tall and short players.
Aside from height, the Respawn 205 gaming chair has other basic adjustments. For starters, you may adjust the armrests to better position your arms for ergonomic keyboard and mouse use. It can also recline back to 130 degrees and has three locking positions. Cushions with attached lumbar and neck pillows allow you to put the cushion exactly where you need it. All of this in a package that costs less than $200 is a really good deal.
What Should You Look for in a Gaming Chair?
There are numerous reasons to invest in a gaming chair, but the most important of all is comfort. Gaming may be a sedentary lifestyle, with people moving nothing but their thumbs and forearms for hours at a time. Sitting on a bumpy chair for a few minutes is already painful, and if you stay there for a long gaming session, you’ll be in a world of hurt.
Gaming chairs support your back, neck, and arm postures in ways that non-gaming chairs do not. This is partly due to gaming seats’ higher backs, which support your back and shoulders better than a short office chair. At the same time, with neck and lumbar pillows, the best gaming chairs should prevent you from slumping over and falling into other unhealthy postures.
With the tall back and support pillows, you should almost feel compelled to sit up straight. The best gaming chairs should be tough and uncomfortable to sit in. That may seem odd given that chairs are designed to be comfortable, but it will help you avoid a lifetime of lower back discomfort and other gaming-related health concerns such as repetitive strain injury.