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The best gaming chairs will be different from person to person. It boils down to the one that you prefer based on your own priorities and sitting styles, but gaming chairs can sometimes fall into the trap of focusing on gamer aesthetics and gimmicks over comfort. There are, however, a few that avoid this pitfall. As I continue the hunt for gaming chairs that don't suck, here are a few picks I've tested that are a good place to start.
Whether you get in some gaming sessions between work and the gym, or you play from 5 on Friday to 11 on Sunday, we've got a recommendation for you here.
Be sure to check out our related guides, like the Best Office Chairs, the Best Gaming Mice, and the Best Standing Desks.
Best Gaming Chair for Most People
Photograph: Louryn Strampe
Photograph: Louryn Strampe
Photograph: Louryn Strampe
Branch
Ergonomic Chair Pro: SEGA Edition
The Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro is our favorite office chair, and it's also my favorite gaming chair. As it turns, out a comfortable and reliable design is ideal regardless of the use case. The real “gaming” piece boils down to aesthetics. And now, this chair is available in three different Sega-branded styles, all of which are super comfortable and adjustable. Assembly wasn't too difficult, and the chair isn't too fiddly to get dialed in, though there definitely is a learning curve when it comes to all the different knobs.
Each of the designs is both fun and attractive, and that the chair offers incredible value for the price. The Sonic version has a mesh back, while the Sega Genesis and Sega Dreamcast versions have leather backs. I didn't find the leather-backed version that I tested to be too sweaty. All the little details of the designs pop, and it's hard to find a better gaming chair for the money. I like that I can always lean back and “have a think” when I'm staring at a blank text field or waiting for my Discord friends to get back to the mic. As a 5'1" woman, I do wish this chair got just a little bit lower to the ground, which is a bit ironic considering that Branch sells an optional Tall Cylinder for people above 6 feet tall. I also found the headrest pretty much useless. But again, for the price, and for your health, good luck getting more value. If you're locking in for hours and hours, this chair can help you do it more safely.
Specs Upholstery options: Performance mesh or vegan leather Color options: 3 Maximum weight capacity: 275 pounds Seat height: 17 to 19.9 inches Armrests: 5D adjustable armrests (removable) Warranty: 7 years Instructions: Video adjustment tutorial; Video assembly Best Gaming Chair for Any Sitting Style
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Photograph: Louryn Strampe
The Razer Iskur V2 Newgen is comfortable and stylish. It definitely feels like a “gaming” chair more than an office chair, with thick foam padding and an aesthetic that serves more “Twitch streamer” than “white-collar employee.” It isn't as breathable as I want it to be, and while the phase-change material keeps me relatively cool, it does get a little warm during long gaming sessions, especially if my house is already hot. This sentiment was echoed by my fellow chair tester Julian Chokkattu. It's not a dealbreaker for me, but if you run hot, it may not be ideal.
What I really love about this chair is its adaptive lumbar support, which can be dialed in using a know on the side, and its back tilt and wide seat. I can sit cross-legged or put up one foot with no issues. I wish the seat were a little deeper, though, and the pillow-like headrest is admittedly silly. I'll also flag that my cat is seemingly obsessed with trying to scratch the backrest. But the full reclining action is so good that I wanted to keep this chair around for long-term testing, so now I just pop a blanket over the back.
WIRED
- Breathable and comfortable for long gaming sessions
- Excellent adaptive lumbar support
- Gaming aesthetics without embarrassing gaming aesthetics
TIRED
- Still not as breathable as mesh
- Headrest doesn't stay put
- Embroidery can be scratchy
The Upgrade Pick
Courtesy of Herman Miller
Herman Miller
Embody Gaming Chair
The Embody is taking me a long time to get used to. After my week of testing, it feels a bit slippery and stiff. It even creaks here and there. I try not to read other testimonials about products before I form my own opinions, but for a chair this expensive, I thought I must have been missing something. Many people across the Internet say that this chair requires a break-in period, so I'm trusting the process.
WIRED's own Julian Chokkattu tells me that it'll be worth my patience. And I can objectively see how it could be a great chair, with eye-catching aesthetics, memory foam cushions with copper infusion to keep you cool, and active support points to accommodate however you like to sit. So I'm sticking it out, making this my primary chair of choice for the next few weeks, and will update this accordingly once the chair has been fully assessed. But my very smart colleagues like the non-gaming version of this chair which is very similar, so I can't imagine I'll feel too differently. And so far I do like it—just not quite as much as the other two in this guide, at least not yet. Fortunately, it comes fully assembled and the back conforms to my spine for excellent counter-pressure. I hope once it's more broken in that this chair will meet my expectations.
Specs Upholstery options: Three-layer knit polyester Color options: Six Maximum weight capacity: 300 pounds Seat height: 16 to 20.5 inches Armrests: Two-way adjustable armrests Warranty: 12 years Instructions: Video adjustment tutorial WIRED
- Buy-it-for-life quality
- Eye-catching
TIRED
- Long break-in period
- Four digit price tag
What Should I Look for in a Gaming Chair?
The best way to get comfortable and to sit ergonomically is to have the option for a lot of adjustments. You want to be able to tweak and dial in the armrests, seat height and depth, level of lumbar support, and seat tilt and recline. A good chair should feel seamless and supportive. Adequate ventilation and cooling are also important, especially if you game for hours at a time.
How Does WIRED Test Gaming Chairs?
By being a degenerate gamer. I play Path of Exile 2 and League of Legends and Stardew Valley for hours at a time. I sit in them cross-legged, I rock back and forth, I shove myself away from my desk in them when my teammates start selling. I'm fully eating Hot Cheetos and drinking Baja Blast.
I also work from them most of the time, so they're getting at least 8 hours of testing per day. I use every feature, I adjust every adjustment point, and I assemble them myself unless noted otherwise. Next I'll be testing chairs from Staples, SecretLab, Steelcase, and a few other brands.
How Does WIRED Decide Which Gaming Chairs to Test?
I'm prioritizing chairs that are branded as gaming chairs specifically. I'm looking for chairs from trusted brands with unique features that set them apart from office chairs, whether that be through design or a gaming-specific trait. My next update will include testing on more I'll also be testing accessories like headrests, footrests, chair mats, and specialty casters.
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