The Best Gaming Chairs of 2024: A Comprehensive Review

1. Secretlab Titan Evo – The best gaming chair

The Secretlab Titan is our top pick for the best gaming chair. It’s comfortable, supportive, and looks good. This hasn’t changed with the latest model, the Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 (don’t mind the old name in 2024).

Let’s get to the good stuff. The Titan Evo comes in three sizes: small, regular, and extra large. This means you don’t need to look for a different model to find the right fit.

Secretlab added a slight curve to the seat base to help you sit healthily. It’s hard to say if this gentle curve really helps keep me in place all day, but the seat is very comfortable with lots of foam padding.

The Titan Evo is great for long gaming nights or eight hours of work because of its excellent built-in back support. It’s very adjustable, so you can get a great fit easily.

The 4D armrests and head cushion, which are both magnetic, are also worth mentioning.

Yes, a magnetic head cushion. This simple solution gets rid of fiddly straps. The Titan Evo uses a couple of strong magnets that work well and add a touch of high-end design to what is usually an ugly compromise in other chairs.

A big part of the Titan Evo’s comfort is the adjustable lumbar support. It works by moving an internal support in and out and up and down, using the two dials on the side.

So you’re not relying on an awkward pillow for back support, you can adjust the Titan Evo’s lumbar support while you’re still sitting on it. This makes it very easy to get just right.

Anyone who’s used a chair for a long time without good lumbar support knows the pain, so being able to adjust the support to fit your needs really improves the experience.

The chair is also covered very well. While the SoftWeave Plus fabric that Secretlab also offers is still good (we tested the hybrid leatherette version), I really like the look of the leatherette, especially the bright red stitching.

When it comes to durability, we can vouch for this chair. Ours has been in the office since late 2021, and has been hit with heavy boxes, pushed, spun, and sat on by almost all of us at some point, and still looks as good as the day it arrived. That’s impressive for any piece of equipment, especially a chair, and the Titan Evo passed our durability tests with flying colors.

The Secretlab Titan Evo, which combines the best of Secretlab’s previous models, the Titan and Omega, feels better in every way. What each chair did well, the Titan Evo does as well or better. It is a bit more expensive than its predecessors at $449 ($499 for the XL model), but I think the improvements are worth the higher price.

2. Corsair TC100 Relaxed – The Best Affordable Gaming Chair

The Corsair TC100 Relaxed has entered the gaming chair market with a stylish racer chair that has very few trade-offs, making it our top pick for the best budget-friendly chair. We were big fans of the Corsair T3 Rush, but the TC100 beats it in many ways.

The TC100 and T3 gaming chairs are very similar in many ways, especially in their simple color scheme and 160-degree recline. But the main thing to note is the price difference. The TC100 is $70/£100 cheaper than the T3, so you’d expect some kind of trade-off, but I haven’t figured out how Corsair has managed to lower the price so much while offering essentially more chair.

The TC100 Relaxed is a bit shorter with an 81cm backrest, but instead of being tall, it goes wide. It has a wider backrest, more cushion in the seat, and softer bolster (side cushion) angles, hence the “relaxed” name.

Those of us with a more robust build had no trouble sitting in it at the office, and our shorter colleagues had no problem reaching the headrest, which can be a problem with other chairs. I’ve never been a big fan of Corsair’s headrest attachment, though. The straps are very short, and while threading them through the two backrest holes might seem practical, it limits your adjustability.

Those over 6’2″ will need to look at other options, but the headrest and accompanying cushions are comfortable enough and come with the chair.

The main drawback with the TC100 Relaxed is the 2D armrests. This means you only get up, down, in, and out adjustability, and compared to the Secretlab Titan Evo and other chairs with 4D armrests, it’s a bit disappointing. But I guess the company had to make it affordable somehow, and it was the arm support that took the hit.

The short distance between the armrests means I can comfortably rest my elbows without any rotational help, and the lack of forward and back movement isn’t too much of a problem for me.

When you put it together, you’ll be gently reminded of the budget price. While everything did line up well, and the materials are more than adequate, I did have a little trouble getting some of the bolts in place. That was due to the balls of synthetic material around the holes, which had clearly been burned through. Other than that, it took me about 40 minutes to put together—even without instructions in the box it was relatively straightforward, but this is coming from someone who assembles chairs almost every month.

I appreciate that both the leatherette and fabric versions of the TC100 Relaxed are the same price, as you often see fabric gaming chair models going for a bit more. I can confirm that not only is the fabric soft, it’s also breathable and prevents you from sticking to the surface when wearing shorts in the summer. Aside from it being a nice change from testing leatherette options, I’m glad the TC100 Relaxed makes the soft-look lifestyle more accessible.

Even at $320/£300, we were taken with the T3 Rush, so the fact that the TC100 Relaxed is priced at a distinctly more affordable $250/£200, with only a few minor trade-offs to speak of, gives me a lot of hope for the future of affordable, cheap gaming chairs with very few trade-offs.

3. NeueChair – The Best Office Chair For Gaming

We’ve been endorsing the NeueChair as the top office/task chair for years, even before I took over the hardware coverage at Top 5 Reviews. However, I hadn’t had the chance to try out the chair myself, so I wanted to ensure that it was a recommendation I could support.

The NeueChair comes from the same company that makes the top gaming chair – the Secretlab Titan Evo. So, it’s no surprise that the NeueChair is a great chair. But it’s an office chair, not a gaming chair.

What I mean is, it’s made for desk work, not for relaxing with a game controller. It’s not uncomfortable when fully reclined, but even with the optional headrest, it’s not the best for long gaming sessions.

The upright position, though, is very supportive. I feel like the mesh back and adjustable lumbar support are taking good care of my spine. The wide seat is nice, but it’s not as soft as some gaming chairs I’ve tried.

I know it’s good for me because I can’t sit in my usual relaxed position with one leg under me. If that’s what you like, you’d be better off with the TC100 Relaxed or the wider Andaseat Kaiser XL. But this chair makes me sit properly, and I feel better for it during the workday.

There’s still a part of me that wants to relax in the evening, and the NeueChair isn’t made for that. It’s an office chair, after all. And it’s one of the very best.

This is shown by the smart Controlshift controls under each armrest. The two levers let you lock or unlock the recline, and adjust the chair’s height. The armrests are a bit disappointing, though. You can only raise them a certain amount, and they don’t go high enough for my desk. They also don’t move to support your elbows.

The headrest isn’t included as standard, which adds to the chair’s cost if you want it. But since I think the chair is better for sitting upright than reclining, I don’t think it’s a big loss not having the headrest.

The NeueChair is built to last, with a shiny, sturdy design that would fit in any modern office. It also comes with a 12-year warranty, which helps justify its high price.

It’s the most comfortable office chair I’ve ever used. If you’re going to be at your desk working all day and gaming into the night, it’s a good investment for your spine’s health. But remember, it’s also good to get up and move around now and then.

4. ThunderX3 Core – The Best Gaming Chair For Back Support

The ThunderX3 is a new chair that surprised me with its flexible backrest and low price. It’s now our top pick for best back support. Even though it’s new, it can compete with the best chairs out there and gives your back top-notch comfort for less money.

I know it might sound strange, but when I first sat in this chair, I realized I’ve never really sat up straight in a gaming chair. Most people don’t. We move around, lean forward, and pull our legs up. But the ThunderX3 Core can adjust to all these movements. I don’t think I’ve felt this much support for my body since I was a baby in my mom’s arms.

ThunderX3 has really worked hard to make this chair ergonomic, even for people who don’t usually care about that. If you’re bigger, you might want to check out the Kaiser 3 XL. But besides the Lumbar 360° tech backrest that moves with you, this chair has great, well-cushioned, 4D armrests and a Sync6 mechanism with more ergonomic features than most gaming chairs.

The Sync6 mechanism helps keep the chair seat level, so even short people like me can keep their feet on the ground when leaning back. The only problem is that the armrests don’t move with it, so you have less arm support when leaning back.

There’s also a forward seat tilt for when you need to lean in because your opponent is better than you thought. The adjustable seat depth lets you slide forward to get closer. This might not be the most useful feature, but it’s handy if you need to get close to your PC and can’t roll any closer.

There’s a lot more to say about how comfortable this gaming chair is, but I’ll stop here. The main point is: it’s really comfortable. If you’re on a budget and want the most comfort, you should check out the ThunderX3 Core.

5.  AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL – The Best Gaming Chair For A Larger Frame

The Kaiser 3 XL is a great chair for anyone who wants more space than a regular gaming seat. It’s our top pick for the best gaming chair for bigger people. The Kaiser 3 comes in two sizes: large and extra large. The large is for gamers from 4’11 to 6’2’’ (150-190cm) and the extra large is for gamers from 5’11” to 6’9” (181-210cm). We tested the extra large, and it was really nice.

Don’t worry if you think either size will be too big. We found the extra large was very comfortable even for smaller people, with lots of room.

The Kaiser 3 offers lots of choices. It comes in two materials, premium PVC leather and linen fabric. The leather comes in seven colors, including orange, pink and blue. The fabric comes in two colors; carbon black and ash gray.

The Kaiser 3 reclines to 165 degrees and has two levers, one for tilt and one for height, raising it about three inches. These features all add to its comfort.

What’s really cool about the Kaiser 3 are features like the 4D armrests. Like the Secretlab Titan Evo chair we like, the armrests are magnetic and made of a PU foam that’s easy to rest on. There are three buttons on the armrest. One controls the height, one allows it to go forward and backward and pivot left to right, and one moves it left to right.

Another cool feature is the magnetic neck pillow. No straps, no struggle to clip it on. It’s great if you’re shorter than the 5’11” that’s recommended for this chair because it’s easy to adjust up or down.

The magnet doesn’t make it less comfortable. The neck pillow is made with memory foam and has cooling technology to keep you cool as you sit in comfort.

There’s no lumbar support pillow, but there is built-in lumbar support controlled by two knobs on the sides of the frame.

The knobs aren’t in the best places. But the one on the left moves the lumbar support up and down, which is great depending on your height. The one on the right adjusts the firmness of the lumbar support and how much it sticks out from the chair. It might not be easy to reach, but it works well.

I can sit in this chair all day, and I have. It’s big, bold, and very comfortable, and worth checking out for anyone, not just bigger people.

How We Choose The Best Gaming Chairs

When we were picking the best gaming chairs for this guide, we did a lot of research and testing. We tried to sit in as many chairs as we could to see how they worked in real life. Even if we couldn’t try a chair ourselves, we made sure to look closely at the specs and prices to help us choose.

We looked at more than just the size of the chair and how much weight it can hold. We also checked the materials used, like the fabric and cushioning in the seat and the build of the frame, to make sure they would last. Many chairs have extra features like tilt, recline, lumbar support, 4D armrests, neck pillows, and more, which can make gaming more enjoyable. We made sure these features were good. Price is always important, so all our picks are good value for their price.

FAQS

How much does a gaming chair cost?

Gaming chairs can cost anywhere from $150 to over $1,000. The price depends on things like features, design, size, and what they’re made of. Some chairs are basic, with just a regular seat cushion and backrest. But more expensive chairs have special features for comfort and seats that can get rid of heat to keep you cool. Some chairs even have built-in heating and massage.

Are gaming chairs good for sitting in all day?

Yes, these chairs are indeed made by manufacturers for such purposes. When a chair is truly low-cost, they’ve made savings in some areas. This might lead to a seat cushion that’s not comfortable, or inadequate support for the back, arms, neck, and head, or it might just not be durable. As with many things, the quality of what you get often corresponds to what you pay.

What is a 4D armrest?

While more affordable gaming chairs may have fixed or height-adjustable armrests, a 4D armrest offers more adjustment options, helping gamers find their most comfortable position. These armrests can be moved up and down to accommodate people of different heights, and can be moved sideways for a wider or narrower arm spread. Additionally, they can be rotated and moved forwards and backwards.

Should you get a gaming chair or an office chair?

One of the main differences between gaming chairs and office chairs is that gaming chairs often have a longer back and a headrest, providing better support for your back and shoulders than a shorter office chair. Gaming chairs often come with additional lumbar and neck pillows to help you sit up straight, while office chairs usually provide more effective lumbar support and better seat adjustability. However, gaming chairs typically offer a deeper recline for better relaxation.

In terms of aesthetics, the two are quite different. Gaming chairs often have a unique racing-style seat design and are available in various colors with large logos, while office chairs are usually more understated.