Gaming on the couch is great and all but sitting on a spongy collection of rectangles isn’t going to do wonders for your back and posture. All too often gamers will get up feeling sore all over after sitting for hours at a time as they race to finish The Last of Us 2 or endure a full 25 rounds of Valiant. Luckily there’s a solution in the form of the best gaming chairs.
Many gaming chairs take their looks from the bucket seats found in race cars and while that might seem silly for the primarily sedentary life of gamers, these chairs offer a great amount of comfort and support at the same time. All those extra contours are designed to help support gamers from slouching to one side while the tall backrest ensures you’re entire backrests on its surface. Many gaming chairs also come with a pair of ergonomic lumbar and neck pillows that align with the curvature of your spine and support your head. Beyond the racing style chairs, there’s a growing segment of ergonomically focused gaming chairs that look suspiciously more like traditional office chairs.
No matter what you’re in the market for and what budget you have to work with there’s a great gaming chair for you in this list – and if not, we’ve also outlined some key features and specs you should keep an eye out for when buying a gaming chair beyond our recommendations. If you’re browsing in the UK, click here to find out where you can go to find the best gaming chairs.
TL;DR – These are the Best Gaming Chairs:
- Secretlab Titan 2020 Series
- tracing Pro Series Gaming Chair (Save $15 off with code ign15)
- OFM Essentials Racing Chair
- Cougar Argo
- Vertagear Racing Series SL4000
- Secretlab Omega 2020 Series
- Corsair T3 Rush
- Vertagear Triigger 350 SE
- Respawn 205
- Cougar Ranger
- Big Joe Dorm Chair
- Respawn 900 Gaming
- Thermaltake CyberChair E500
- Secretlab Titan XL 2020 Series
- Homall High-Back Racing Chair
- Secretlab Titan 2020 Series
The Secretlab Titan 2020 Series 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
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
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. Cougar Argo
Racing stripes and stunning colors are cool and all, but you should definitely make sure you’re also getting a good level of physical support with your chair as well. If you’re working or gaming in your chair for long hours each day, proper support for your head, neck, back, and arms can go a long way toward warding off pain and repetitive strain injuries. The Cougar Argo is designed to let you tune it to your seating needs for just this purpose.
This chair features 3D-adjustable armrests that let you get a smooth transition to where your keyboard and mouse sit on your desk. The headrest and lumbar support are separate from the backrest, so they can move to fit the shape of your back better. And, you can slide the seat forward or backward for a better position. Don’t worry – all these ergonomics features didn’t come at the cost of some serious gamer style.
- Vertagear Racing Series SL4000
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.
- Secretlab Omega 2020 Series
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 here—closely followed by style. The Secretlab Omega is also adjustable in ways your back and shoulders will thank you for.
- Corsair T3 Rush
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.
- Vertagear Triigger 350 SE
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.
- Respawn 205
Respawn doesn’t want you to overheat while you’re gaming, so its Respawn 205 gaming chair is built with a mesh backrest for a higher degree of breathability. Mesh doesn’t mean a lack of durability though, as this chair is constructed on a steel frame and can support up to 275 pounds. That frame is encased in a molded foam for comfort. You’ll also get a wide seat with a decent range of height adjustment, making this a viable option for tall and short gamers alike.
The Respawn 205 gaming chair offers some basic adjustments beyond height. For one, you can raise and lower the armrests, letting you better position your arms for ergonomic use of a keyboard and mouse. It can also recline back to 130 degrees, and can lock in three positions. Attached lumbar and neck pillows also allow you to position cushion where you need it. All that in a sub-$200 package makes for fairly compelling value.
- Cougar Ranger
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.
- Big Joe Dorm Chair
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
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 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 a more sedentary life in your living room, letting you kick back as you play your Xbox One X or PS4 Pro—or 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. Thermaltake CyberChair E500
The only hint that the ThermalTake CyberChair E500 has anything to do with gaming is the brand. Beyond that, you’re looking at a sleek combination of aluminum and black mesh for a seat that can serve as an office throne. But, comfort transcends the office and gaming, and the Thermaltake CyberChair E500 is designed with that in mind.
You’ll find a nice wide seat and a tall backrest all covered in breathable mesh that supports you while keeping you from getting too hot during tense gaming situations. Highly adjustable armrests will support you so you’re not overburdening your shoulders while using your mouse and keyboard. And, the lumbar and headrest on this chair will help ensure you’re supported and can lean back and relax in this chair just as much as you can lean in and take your opponents to school.
- Secretlab Titan XL 2020 Series
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.
- Homall High-Back Racing Chair
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.
Upgrading your gaming setup with a brilliant gaming chair is always a good idea. Not all the chairs we’ve mentioned in this article are available in the UK, but there are still plenty of great chairs ready to order. This includes some of our favorite choices from Secretlab, such as the Titan, Omega, and Titan XL gaming chairs.
