I’m in the belief that gaming chairs are the most important part of one’s gaming setup, and that you don’t want to settle for anything less than the best options. Why? Because you’re going to be sitting in it for hours on end. Two, maybe three at the least. More if you tend to play for longer sessions, and more than half your day if you also work from home even only partially.
You want a good gaming chair so that you’re not only comfortable, but so you can stay supported in the crucial areas where you can end up with temporary soreness or pain (or worse) after extended periods of play over time. This is why chairs with at least some ergonomic features are used by many companies. And why I myself, as well as many others, have spent so much time looking into what works best so you can be comfortable during one of your favorite hobbies.
Gaming chairs come in many forms and at vast amount of different price ranges. Some will be expensive and more of an investment. While others will be more affordable and reasonably priced for a larger number of consumers. At the end of the day, you want a gaming chair that you’ll be happy with. Even if you pick something that’s not in this guide, if you’re happy with it, that’s what is most important.
Having said that these are the best options for a gaming chair with features that will keep you comfortable. Plus, they don’t look half bad. And we all know part selecting a gaming chair can include selecting one that fits with your gaming setup’s aesthetic.
Best Gaming Chair Overall: Herman Miller Embody Gaming Edition
When it comes to gaming chairs, none have surpassed the Herman Miller Embody Gaming Edition in terms of comfort and features. Herman Miller worked with Logitech G to craft the perfect gaming chair that provides sustained comfort and overall improvements to your long-term health. I used to use a gaming chair that I initially thought was the coolest chair ever. Then I sat in it for at minimum eight hours a day five to six days a week for a few years.
I quickly changed my opinion about just choosing a gaming chair that looked cool and instead began looking for one that was going to provide me with better long-term comfort. That’s where the Herman Miller Embody Gaming Edition comes in. After years of using a chair that was causing me pain by the end of the day, I was ready to find something that was either a lot less prone to doing so or would eliminate it completely. Not just because it was making me cranky due to the pain, but because the discomfort just made it harder to enjoy playing games. Which I love to do.
The Herman Miller Embody Gaming Edition has essentially eradicated any pain and discomfort that I used to have after sitting in a chair for work all day. The biggest reason for this is the Embody’s exceptional support of your back. My entire back is properly supported. Not just my lumbar. So when I sit down in it and carry on with my day for several hours, I know that I won’t end the day with a sore back.
Yes, the Embody Gaming Chair is expensive at $1,995, and that’s its one major downfall. It won’t be cheap to acquire one and that will ultimately cause some consumers to look for something else. That’s understandable. However, if you can afford to fit this into your budget, it’s worth it. The PostureFit spinal support is designed in a way that it conforms to your spine so every inch of it is supported. The back of the chair moves with you as you move as well. So when you eventually shift, because it’s going to happen as you’ll move around a bit throughout the day, the chair’s back is going to move with you to keep you supported. It makes a huge difference in comfort.
The Embody Gaming Chair also has a really comfortable seat with copper-infused foam. This is designed to keep you cool. It’s not going to be the same as having cold air blowing on you from an AC unit. What it will do though, is help manage your body temperature so it doesn’t build up as fast or as much. And for me, I have noticed a significant difference in how cool I am while I play games for several hours. The seat is fairly wide too at over 29 inches, and it supports a maximum weight of 300 pounds.
There are a couple of things that the chair doesn’t offer, like a headrest or a locking back position. That being said, I’ve found that it actually feels more comfortable playing games without a headrest for me personally. And the locking back position isn’t really important because of the way the back was designed. You can set the angle of the back to recline so you can lean back, and then the back comes up with you as you sit up straight.
There’s a tension adjustment feature to dictate how much force you need to lean back as well. Of course, you can also adjust the height of the chair, and you can adjust the arms. While the arm tops don’t twist or slide inward and outward, they do go up and down, and you can push the whole arm inward or outward to find the right width.
I find that if I’m playing games with a mouse and keyboard, the arms are more comfortable at their widest. When I’m playing with a controller, I push each arm in twice so my arms are properly supported, as they’re closer together when I’m holding a controller for gaming. Like I said, it’s expensive, but it’s an investment in your comfort and health. And if you want the best chair you can buy for gaming, this is it. As an added bonus, it also looks pretty stylish. As a second bonus, this chair comes fully assembled. One last nod to the Embody Gaming Chair is the warranty. It lasts for 12 years, and it covers essentially everything. So you’re more covered with this chair than any other chair on this list if something is wrong or goes wrong with it.
Buy at Herman Miller
Best Ergonomic Gaming Chair: Mavix M9
I used the Mavix M9 for more than a few months before I got the Herman Miller Embody Gaming Chair (I actually tested a few more chairs before the Embody), and I was pleasantly surprised with how comfortable it was. The seat is quite wide so it can easily fit somebody who’s a bit bigger. The seat also slopes in ever so slightly so it kinda feels like it’s hugging your bum, but not nearly as much as a racing-style chair will.
The M9 uses a cooling gel foam in the seat too, and it works pretty well if you find yourself getting warm after gaming for a few hours. I think the cooling works slightly better in the Embody but this did a pretty good job at cutting or preventing me from sweating. The M9 also has a neat little trick up its sleeve to make you even cooler if desired. You can get an optional insert that fits into the lumbar section of the chair and blows cool air on your back.
It has fans that can be turned on to work like a normal everyday basic fan and this was a little added bonus. It won’t work like a proper AC unit, but it’s a little bit extra cooling if needed. I found it was a nice thing to have during the warmer Summer months. Additionally, this same insert has heating for the colder months. So it doubles as a small, centralized heating pad for your back. It also has a massage function. It feels a bit “extra,” but it definitely adds to the comfort.
This chair does come with a headrest and it’s adjustable both in height and angle. So you can move it up if you’re a bit taller or down if you’re shorter like me. Then you can tilt it forward or backward to find the perfect angle you want. The arms go up and down and instead of adjusting the width of the entire arm, you can slide the arm tops in or out and forward or backward. What’s really neat is there’s an arm upgrade that allows the arm tops to rotate around.
This really gives the Mavix M9 some great customization capabilities so you can find the best possible comfort for your gaming sessions. Naturally, the back can recline as well but one thing this chair has that the others don’t is a height adjustable back. The actual backrest of the chair can move up or down. This is so you can find the right height for the adjustable lumbar support as well as the overall back support and headrest support.
It’s also a bit pricey at $999, but overall a very comfortable gaming chair. In terms of ergonomics and customization, I don’t think you’ll find a better option. The Mavix M9 doesn’t come fully assembled like the Embody, but it was pretty quick to put together.
Buy at Mavix
Best Mesh Gaming Chair: Razer Fujin Pro
If you’re strictly looking for a mesh gaming chair, Razer’s Fujin Pro is our pick for the best mesh option. This is one of Razer’s two ergonomic gaming chairs and has a few added extras that the regular Fujin model does not. One is the headrest. If you prefer a headrest with your gaming chair for those leanback moments, you’ll find this one pretty comfortable.
The Fujin Pro is made from a high-grade aluminum alloy and has a weight capacity of 300 pounds. Razer also used a mesh that’s resistant to wear and tear so you shouldn’t have to worry about the mesh getting damaged or frayed after it’s a bit older. Of course, this will partially depend on how you treat the chair. But, if you’re just sitting in it and not doing anything weird like intentionally rubbing against the mesh constantly, you shouldn’t have any problems.
In other words, getting in and out of the chair and moving around as you would normally isn’t going to damage the mesh. I have found that this isn’t the case with other mesh chairs I’ve used. Where over time, the mesh degrades and doesn’t hold up as well.
What I really loved about the Razer Fujin Pro is the back recline (Razer calls it Synchro-Tilt Technology). It has a tension adjustment just like the Embody that allows the back to move with you. So when you lean back, the back of the chair reclines but will still support your back so you can lean back comfortably and not put undue stress on your back muscles or spine. This is great for kicking back and watching movies or playing some casual games with a controller. Or even taking a quick break to rest for a few minutes.
With a slick knob on the back, you can adjust the lumbar support and this is probably the sleekest-looking lumbar adjustment I’ve seen. Razer once again scores points for design. The arms are height adjustable as well, and they’re 4D so they move forward, backward, inward, and outward. When it comes to the warranty, Razer offers 5 years for chair frame, mechanisms, and armrests, and 1 year for the mesh backing and seat pan. It’s not as good as Herman Miller’s, but still pretty decent.
At $1,049 this is another pricey option, but very comfortable, stylish, and well-made.
Buy at Razer
Best Customizable Gaming Chair: Secretlab Titan Evo
Gamers come in all shapes and sizes and the unfortunate thing about some gaming chairs is that they don’t really feel as comfortable for people that are bigger or taller. If you need a chair with a higher weight capacity and one that works better for taller people, Secretlab’s Titan Evo is what you should be looking at. It comes in three sizes – Small, Regular, and XL. The XL model is perfect for people who are a bit bigger or taller or both.
The XL model supports up to a height of 6 feet 9 inches, and up to 395 pounds. Above and beyond the height and weight capacity, the Titan Evo is highly customizable in the design department with a wide assortment of different styles including games and esports teams. Secretlab offers several different fabric and material choices as well, including its new NanoGen hybrid leatherette that feels way more supple than it has any business feeling.
For even more customization, you can add on ‘Skins’ in a variety of colors. There are also optional accessories like the Ergonomic Recliner add-on so you can put your feet up, and my personal favorites, are the magnetic memory foam head pillow and the magnetic 4D armrests. The armrests in particular are super neat because they click on with the magnets and Secretlab offers a variety of colors for armrest toppers, so you can pick your favorites and swap them out.
They also come with a nice and soft material on top to make your arms feel extra comfortable. In terms of ergonomics, Secretlab’s Titan Evo is more than capable of supporting your back for longer gaming sessions. You can’t see the lumbar support because it’s wrapped in the chair’s backing material, but it adjusts to fit your posture with the use of a little knob on the side. So you just twist that knob to find the right lumbar support based on your personal comfort.
And because your needs might change based on how you’re sitting, you can easily adjust the knob again whenever necessary. The Titan Evo has always been a pretty good gaming chair but Secretlab has continued to improve on it each year. The seat is quite comfortable too, though I did find that I don’t like the backrest as much as I did on the Embody or the Fujin Pro. Overall it’s a great chair that will fit in nicely with any gaming setup.
Price-wise, it’ll start above $500 and can go up from there depending on the add-ons or material choices.
Buy at Secretlab
Best Budget Gaming Chair: Corsair TC100
While I generally don’t recommend people skimp on a gaming chair, not everyone’s budget is going to allow for spending $700 – $2,000 for a gaming chair. If your budget is around $200-$300, then Corsair’s TC100 is the best option in this price range.
It comes with a fairly wide seat that’s about 375mm and it has a majority of the more fancy features that you would want if you’re sitting in it for several hours at a time. This includes 4D armrests so you can find the height, width, and depth that works best for you when you game. You can also get it in leatherette or fabric. The leatherette will be easier to clean but some don’t like the feeling of leather or leatherette on their skin.
In that case, you can go with the fabric which will be a bit more maintenance with regard to cleaning, but it’ll be nice and soft. The chair also comes with a lumbar pillow and a head pillow for added comfort. This in particular is a nice value add because you aren’t paying anything extra to get them. The chair does have a maximum height of 6 feet 2 inches and a weight capacity of 264 pounds. So if you’re taller and bigger than that, you might want to go with the Titan Evo.
The seat can also recline all the way back to 160 degrees and it can stay in a locking position. There are tension adjustments as well if you don’t want to engage the lock and just prefer to have the tension support your weight. At a price of $249.99, this is an extreme value on price for the features and comfort offered.
Buy at Amazon
Best Fabric Gaming Chair: Razer Enki
When it comes to fabric gaming chairs, Razer’s standard Enki model is the most comfortable I’ve sat in. Unlike some other racing-style gaming chairs, the back has more of a subtle curve to the sides that kind of feels like it’s hugging your back gently. Some chairs with the racing design have very angular sides on the backrest that make it feel too tight and after a longer period of time it’s just not as comfortable. That wasn’t a problem with the Enki.
So if your main concern is “all-day comfort,” then the Razer Enki won’t disappoint. At $499 it’s a pretty solid buy and if you’re a Razer fanatic, then this easily completes your gaming setup. It lacks the adjustable lumbar support that the Iskur line offers, but I mostly found that this wasn’t too big of an issue. it’s also worth noting that the lumbar support is built-in, so it’s not like there’s no lumbar support at all. The Enki offers a nice, high back that not only supports your back pretty well, but you have something for your head to rest against as well.
This might not be the case if you’re pretty tall, but for me it was perfect and I’m 5 feet 7 inches. The seat cushion is nice and padded so even after hours of gaming I never really felt uncomfortable and didn’t get that numb feeling that you get with some chairs. It’s breathable enough, though I did find that other chairs had seats that felt more breathable and overall more comfortable over extended periods.
The back can recline up to 152 degrees and the support is weight-tilted. So while it doesn’t lock into place, just like with the Embody, it’s not really needed. The Enki is another chair that comes with a plush head cushion if you want extra comfort when you’re leaning back in the chair, which is great for movies and TV. Overall this is an excellent option for gaming if you want comfort but aren’t too fussy about ergonomic features. It’s also fairly affordable in the $500 range so it should more easily fit into most people’s budgets.
Buy at Razer
Best Affordable Premium Gaming Chair: Herman Miller Vantum
Rounding out this guide is the Herman Miller Vantum. If you’re looking for something that’s Herman Miller but you’re not ready to spend closer to $2,000 for a chair, this is the next best thing. I used this chair just before I got the Embody and had it for more than six months, and up until the Embody, it was the best gaming chair I’ve ever sat in. The nice thing is that it’s priced at $895 so it’s cheaper than Razer’s Fujin Pro and the Mavix M9.
Both of those are great options, but if you’re going to spend that much, I’d suggest this chair instead. It was designed with the same attention to detail and focus on ergonomics as the Embody and all of Herman Miller’s other chairs. So a primary focus here with this chair is improving your back and joint health. Like the Embody, the Vantum’s backrest is designed to keep you supported regardless of whether you’re leaning back or sitting upright.
However, the Vantum does have a tilt limiter which is something the Embody lacks. It also has a tilt tension knob to adjust how much tension the backrest gives you as you lean back in it. It was nice to have both of these features as it made gaming in any position very comfortable. What’s also nice is that Herman Miller revamped the headrest, so it’s now easier to adjust the height and angle of it.
The arms are adjustable as well, with the ability to adjust the height, width, and depth. I found that this was great for moving them out of the way when I didn’t want them there, which was often when I was working. Then I could easily move them back in when it was game time. Like the Embody, you can also adjust the seat depth. If you can’t or don’t want to spring for the Embody, this is an excellent alternative.
Buy at Herman Miller
