Gamers turn sitting into an art form.
While maneuvering a controller, keeping an eye out for opponents, and sitting for hours, your body is in fight-or-flight mode. Whether you're playing solo or streaming a play-by-play to your Twitch audience, it's important that you're sitting comfortably and properly. hig quality gaming chair
One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to gaming chairs, though. There are ergonomic-style chairs, as well as models with additional cozy fixings (like a footrest). Regardless, it can be hard to find the best gaming chair for your digital entertainment needs. That's why we want to help you make the best decision when picking one up.
If you're looking for the best gaming chair in 2023, you might want to ask someone who spends a lot of time in theirs. While entertaining their audiences, professional streamers often sit for more than eight hours a day. So, we interviewed a range of professional gamers to get their picks for the most comfortable gaming chair.
Of course, there's no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to purchasing a gaming chair. Some models work best for tall people, while others may have better lumbar adjustments that can help alleviate back pain. Before you make a purchase, check our list to see if you've met your match.
Before you spend some serious cash on a gaming chair, there are a few things to consider.
How will you use your chair? If you’re only buying a chair for gaming and streaming, look for something that offers head, neck, and back support. On the other hand, if a gaming chair will serve as a desk chair, a kitchen seat, and a napping spot, you can opt for a model that’s more recliner-like.
Factor your height and weight when you’re looking for a gaming chair. You don’t want to buy something that’s too big or too small for your body proportions. Some chairs even come in alternative sizes, so you can game without worrying about breakage or wear-and-tear.
As if playing video games or streaming aren’t stressful enough, having a comfy seating option is important. You want to have good posture and be comfortable during your gaming sessions, especially if you’re playing online. A gaming chair should provide support without causing pain.
Some gaming chairs come with cool features, including plush neck rests, sections to place your feet, and cup holders for beverages. Consider what a model can do for your digital entertainment needs before making a decision.
Most gaming chairs don’t come cheap, so check to see what a company’s warranty policies are. If a chair comes with a money-back guarantee or warranty, see what’s covered. Some models don’t come with warranties, and if that’s the case, factor in how much more you’ll be spending if the chair needs to be repaired or replaced.
Whether you’re a seasoned player, professional streamer, or part-time video game aficionado, here are our top picks for the best gaming chairs.
Secretlab has long been producing some of the best gaming chairs on the market. Its Titan Evo 2022 seat is one of its most recognizable, with a variety of customizable aesthetics, including licensed movies, TV shows, and games to match whatever your aesthetic happens to be.
Streamer Runwyld, whose real name is Robby, is a Twitch partner who spends much of his week playing games like Elite Dangerous and Minecraft for his supportive and tight-knit community. He knows a thing or two about seeking out the best seats possible, including all of the "work chairs" he previously used in an office that didn’t meet his needs. He recommends the Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 due to how "comfy" it is as well as a myriad of other important reasons.
"I typically sit with either one leg tucked under the other (you know you do it too) or I sit crisscross," says Runwyld. "Being six foot three inches, and a bigger person, you try doing that in a smaller chair, it's not going to happen."
What keeps him coming back to this seat as an everyday chair is how well it works beyond the workday and for "continued sessions afterwards for streaming/gameplay."
This chair is tough but comfortable, flexible, and distributes weight easily. One of its major draws is a set of "4D" armrests, which you can move up, down, and side to side as well as raise them, all thanks to the power of magnets. This chair offers more seat depth, a stiff base, and lumbar support to ensure it fits for short sessions or all-day gameplay.
This gaming chair, which is built similarly to a race chair seat, will give you on-point comfort, support, and posture when you're recording gameplay. You won’t have to worry about pain, since the chair’s back features a continuous surface of padding from the headrest to the footrest to keep your upper and lower body cushioned and the chair has multiple reline options so you can find your optimal viewing angles. While not as sturdy as a normal recliner, you still won’t have to worry about bending back and forth too much during gameplay. And we can’t forget about the generous padding in the armrests. You can rest your elbows comfortably while you’re playing games with a console or computer and there's also a built-in cup holder.
LolaBunz is a full-time variety streamer who regularly plays Apex Legends, Valorant, Fortnite, and other multiplayer titles. As someone who strives to create a welcoming and positive stream for her community of thousands, being comfortable was at the top of her list when looking for a new chair. She opted for the white Respawn model with pink accents, which she sits in just about every single day for a few hours at a time.
When shopping for her gaming chair, she looked for one that could satisfy all of her needs, including comfortability, ergonomic support, an adjustable footrest and recliner, and a style that fit her aesthetic.
"One of the things that I did not realize was important until I got this chair was the cushion support system. It has both a lumbar and headrest, which I feel has improved my posture while I game."
If your chair experiences wear-and-tear or quality issues, Respawn offers a limited lifetime warranty, so you’ll be likely to keep this gaming chair for a while.
Mavix may be a relatively new name in gaming chairs, but it's a heavy-hitter when it comes to comfort and ergonomics. From its headrest to its curved backrest, it's built for comfort, and that's what many streamers are looking for due to the long hours they put in on a daily basis.
QueenManda is a variety streamer who, in addition to hosting streams where she hangs out and chats with her audience, spends most of her week streaming in blocks of time. She’s known for playing games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Valorant, Fortnite, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. In addition to amassing nearly 17,000 followers, she’s streamed nearly 300 hours of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe alone. She recommends the Mavix M7 because of the brand's "clean, minimalist style" and the comfort it delivers.
"I can confidently say that it has been the best chair I’ve sat on," says QueenManda. "I’ve spent countless hours streaming and editing videos on my chair. It provides great back support and helps me produce content every day. On top of that, the chair is extremely breathable."
Its cooling mesh keeps you from overheating while sitting for long hours, especially in the warmer months, and it's fully adjustable by way of the four bars below its seat. It conforms to your body in a way that most gaming chairs simply cannot, and thanks to its curvature and improved air circulation it's an excellent choice for spending long periods of time in. That’s easy to do when you're cultivating a regular community on Twitch like QueenManda, who’s always hoping to “grind more hours” with her community each week.
Herman Miller is known for its excellent office chairs, and the Embody is meant for long-haul sessions at a desk. It's a bit understated compared to the other products on this list, but it's by far the most feature-loaded.
The most noticeable feature of the Embody is the backrest. Herman Miller calls this unique design the Pixelated Support system. It consists of a large "spine" with many small "ribs" connected to it, which flex to conform to your body. With some adjustment, practically everyone should be able to find a perfect fit.
Streamer and video game journalist Jason Faulkner is the Senior Editor at Game Revolution, the longest-running video game website on the internet. As one of the staff’s regular streamers, Jason spends dozens of hours a week playing games on and off camera to create written reviews and guide content. That necessitated something that wouldn’t cause him back pain when cranking out content as he often finds himself in his seat over 14 days a day at times. That’s why he heartily endorses the Herman Miller Embody:
"I've seen tons of people who will drop $1,500 on a GPU without blinking an eye but turn their nose up at spending more than $200-$300 for a chair where they spend 5-10 hours a day. Most lower-tier gaming chairs I've tried were concerned more with aesthetics than ergonomics. The Herman Miller Embody promotes good posture, which most gamers don't have, and is the most comfortable chair I've owned."
Don't let the Noblechairs Epic Black Edition's racing seat aesthetic fool you. This isn't just another gaming chair with a fresh coat of paint and metal accents. It's a plush, supportive seat with adjustable lumbar and head cushions as well as a larger frame that's more than suitable for those with varying frames.
Comfort and quality are two of the most important things that full-time streamer Tixee, who specializes in “comfy, cozy games” like Disney Dreamlight Valley, looked for in her most recent gaming chair. She can be found interacting with her community and streaming series like The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, and Kingdom Hearts for up to three or more hours daily. She recently went shopping to replace her “worn out” old chair, and this Noblechairs model won her over with its promises of comfort and quality. Tixee relies on this seat daily and loves it for how much space it offers as well as its level of support.
"One of my absolute favorite things about it is [that] the seat itself is very roomy. I love chairs that allow me to sit crisscross or have one leg up without circulation problems, and this chair does just that!" Plus, as Tixee points out, it's not just a chair you'll sink into, but one that pushes back to keep you feeling supported and comfortable.
"The lumbar pillow and neck pillow it comes with have a good level of 'firmness' for my preferences, enough to support you but they're still comfortable to lean against," says Tixee, whose old chair had begun to cause her back pain.
"As soon as I got my [Noblechairs Epic Black] chair, all that went away. I felt instantly better and I could actually sit at my desk and get work done again!"
Beyond its supportive nature, the chair’s vinyl and PU-leather hybrid also makes for a cooling, dry surface that won't make you sweat buckets even if you're plastered to it all day long, which any streamer can tell you is a very real problem.
Racing Office Chair Brittany is fueled by horror, rainbow-sugar-pixel-rushes, and video games. Until her dying breath she'll be wielding a BFG made entirely of killer drive and ambition. Check out her work at PfhorTheWin.com. Like a fabulous shooter once said, get psyched!