Office chairs are great for work, but they aren’t designed for long video game sessions. The best gaming chairs I’ve tested deliver the comfort you need to save kingdoms, slay monsters, and solve puzzles.
Whether you play PC games on a monitor or console games on a TV, you should invest in a dedicated gaming chair if you want an optimal seating arrangement. They’re comfortable, sturdy, and designed with gamers in mind. I’ve assembled and sat in dozens of gaming chairs since 2013, and I thoroughly test each one for firsthand insight into construction and comfort. Currently, the Secretlab Titan EVO is my favorite high-end chair, while the AndaSeat Novis is the best budget-friendly alternative. But these aren’t the only gaming chairs worth sitting in, so read on for all of the best models I’ve tested.Why We Picked It
Even at four years old, Secretlab’s 2022 Titan Evo stands as one of the best all-around gaming chairs. It’s simply excellent, with rock-solid build quality, dense-but-giving foam, and a variety of size and material options, including high-quality leatherette and sturdy fabric. Most notable is a two-knob internal lumbar support that lets you adjust the chair’s height and firmness to hit your lower back just right.Who It’s For
The Titan Evo is a bit pricey, but you get one of the nicest conventional gaming chairs for the price. It’s also available in three different sizes and a choice of faux leather, fabric, or microsuede (or a version from this year with an even sturdier leatherette called NanoGen that features a few design upgrades the other options don’t). Plus, there are many different styles, including ones for esports teams, DC superheroes, and League of Legends characters.Why We Picked It
The Herman Miller X Logitech G Vantum is pricey compared with most gaming chairs, but it’s downright cheap for a Herman Miller product. The premium seat incorporates adaptive plates that shift to support your lumbar and upper-back areas, and feels supremely comfortable because of it. Add a 12-year warranty, and this is a four-digit gaming chair that’s worth your time.Who It’s For
This is for gamers who spend most of their time at their desks and can afford the best possible support. The Vantum is expensive, but its engineering and overall feel justify the price.Why We Picked It
Most low-cost gaming chairs feel cheap, which is why the AndaSeat Novis stands out from the budget-friendly pack. It’s a well-made chair with dense foam padding and either leatherette or fabric material options for less than $300. It also has a better-than-average three-year warranty that you can extend to five years by simply sharing a photo of your chair on social media.Who It’s For
If you prioritize price over features, the AndaSeat Novis is a workhorse gaming chair. Do note that it lacks a tilt function; the back reclines with a lever pull, but you can’t rock like you can with more expensive seats.Why We Picked It
Herman Miller has its own gaming chair, and it’s the second most expensive one on the list. The Herman Miller X Logitech G Embody, a collaboration with Logitech, costs a hefty $2,000.
So, what do you get for dropping that kind of cash? An incredibly ergonomic chair with multiple adjustments that go beyond the usual height and tilt tweaks. The chair back conforms to the shape of your spine, going significantly further in fitting your back than the knobs, cushions, and bumpy springy sections on other chairs.Who It’s For
People with deep pockets who don’t mind spending big dough for top-notch comfort.Why We Picked It
The Playseat Puma isn’t meant for desk use; it’s designed for gaming in front of your TV. The seat might look a little goofy, but it’s quite comfortable to sit on. Even better, you can gently rock back if you want to further stretch out while playing. It also has useful pockets for stashing your various gamepads and remotes.Who It’s For
If your couch is just a bit too far away from your TV for comfortable gaming, or you just want a more solid seat rather than big, wide cushions, this is the chair for you. It’s sturdy enough to support larger bodies, feels comfortable whether you want to lean back or bend forward, and is small enough to easily tuck away whenever you don’t want your living room to reek of “gamer.”Why We Picked It
The Fractal Design Refine is a minimalist gaming chair that punches well above its price range. It features incredibly clever design elements and is very comfortable, partly thanks to an adjustable lumbar support. It lacks the extensive and obsessive ergonomic engineering of Herman Miller’s chairs, but it costs half as much.Who It’s For
This is one of the best chairs for a Herman Miller-like design without the hefty price. However, the mesh version’s upholstery feels a bit plasticky. Why We Picked It
Razer takes a swing at Herman Miller’s gaming chairs with the Fujin Pro, and it largely succeeds. It’s sturdy and comfortable, with sophisticated design elements and lumbar support, along with an aluminum alloy frame. It’s a great chair on its own, but Razer’s 1-year-for-mesh, 5-years-for-everything-else warranty lags far behind Herman Miller’s 12-years-for-everything coverage.Who It’s For
This is an excellent pick for anyone looking for an especially comfortable mesh gaming chair that’s a bit more solid than nylon-frame chairs—and is willing to pay Herman Miller-like prices. Why We Picked It
The Anthros is one of the most expensive chairs on this list, for ergonomics-obsessed reasons. It’s designed to reduce back pain by focusing on improving your posture. It uses pelvic support instead of lumbar support to keep your hips stationary and your upper back properly positioned above them. It’s unique, surprisingly comfortable, and can potentially have positive long-term effects.Who It’s For
If you already have good posture, the Anthros Chair might feel stifling compared with Herman Miller’s choices. If you suffer from back pain, though, the Anthros might help alleviate it.Why We Picked It
The Secretlab Titan Evo NanoGen Edition is a slightly upgraded version of the Titan Evo, but with a much higher price. It has a softer seat, nicer armrests, and smoother and more resilient NanoGen faux leather upholstery. Still, those benefits don’t necessarily justify spending an extra $250 over the Titan Evo—unless you have a cat! The chair withstood the attention of my Russian Blue while suffering two almost unnoticeable welts (other leatherette chairs would have been completely shredded). Who It’s For
If you own a pet and want a supple, faux leather chair, the Titan Evo NanoGen Edition is the only one I’ve tested that endured claws. It is expensive, though, and the more affordable Titan Evo versions are still top-tier gaming chairs. If you don’t need leatherette, consider the SoftWeave fabric upholstery model.Gaming Chairs vs. Office Chairs
At first glance, gaming chairs don’t look all that different from office chairs. They’re typically pretty large, with backrests that extend high enough to support your head and generous armrests. There are also less conventional gaming chairs that trade standard foam-and-upholstery construction for more ergonomically complex designs; they typically cost a bit more money.
Whereas most office chairs focus on dark colors and earth tones, and have more traditional seat designs, gaming chairs typically come in a variety of colors. Even if the chair is mostly black, it will likely have many eye-catching accents. Some gaming chairs are branded with superheroes, esports teams, movies, or shows. Their seats resemble racing chairs used in simulators, so you’ll see many more bucket seats than frumpy armchair designs.
Additionally, the best gaming chairs are more adjustable than office chairs. The models we’ve tested have the standard options, such as height and tilt, similar to those found in office chairs. However, many models go a step further with adjustable armrests that can be pivoted, slid, and moved up and down. Sadly, we’ve yet to find any with cupholders.
Although office chairs generally offer a full-chair tilt, gaming chairs let you lean back while keeping the seat flat with the pull of a lever. Most gaming chairs we’ve tested have reclining functions that let you sit back comfortably and stare at your TV as easily as you can lean forward and watch your computer monitor.
These features add up to a sturdier, more comfortable chair you can easily use for various situations. It also adds up to a hefty price tag: Gaming chairs typically run between $300 and $600 (with good ones starting at around $400 and some extreme picks reaching nearly $2,000). They are typically much more expensive than a basic desk chair at an office supply store. Of course, if you spend a lot of time in it, you probably want to invest in a good one. They’re like beds that way.
Several gaming chairs avoid the aforementioned design elements and opt for a sleeker look. Herman Miller pioneered this idea in office chairs and offers its spin on gaming chairs. Does Gaming Chair Size Matter?
Size is the most important thing to consider when shopping for a gaming chair. Most manufacturers design chairs with different body types in mind.
Standard gaming chairs usually support a maximum weight between 240 and 300 pounds, depending on the model. Larger, more heavy-duty chairs support maximum weights of 350, 400, and even 450 pounds. The difference in seat dimensions varies by several inches in width and depth, leading to an uncomfortable chair if you buy one that’s too big or too small.
Fortunately, most manufacturers offer detailed measurements for every aspect of their chairs. Seat depth and width, backrest height and width, armrest height range, and other measurements affect how a chair feels. If you’re unsure about a given model, compare its measurements with those of your current chair.What Is the Best Gaming Chair for the Price?
It’s best to try furniture before you buy, but that isn’t always the case for gaming chairs. You can sometimes find a limited selection at your nearby Best Buy, Micro Center, or Staples. Besides that, your best bet is to go to video game conventions, such as Evo or PAX, where gaming chair companies often set up booths with chairs to try and offer convention-exclusive discounts. Otherwise, thoroughly research the chair you want to buy because it’s a significant investment.
For more, check out our favorite desktop and laptop PCs for gaming. While you’re at it, consider accessories that will help improve your game, including headsets, keyboards, and mice.