Best Gaming Chair 2022: Top Picks For Comfort And Style – GameSpot

The good:

• New and improved premium materials are incredibly durable
• Extremely comfortable and adjustable
• Excellent lumbar support
• Magnetic memory foam head/neck pillow
• Wide variety of themes to choose from

The bad:

• N/A

Since 2014, Secretlab has led the way with its ever-growing line of gaming chairs, honing its craft to offer the best combination of price and quality you can find. Secretlab just released its 2022 Series, which improves on the 2020 Series in virtually every respect. The Secretlab Titan Evo gaming chair is our pick for the best gaming chair you can buy today thanks its combination of quality and price.

In a nice change of pace, Secretlab only made one design for the Titan Evo. Rather than splitting up features between the Omega and Titan, there are now three different sizes of Titan Evo chairs with the same features. On top of that, the chair sizes were specifically made to fit a wider variety of users, with the small even more compact than the previous Omega, the regular falling between the Omega and Titan, and the extra large rounding out the group as a better alternative to the Titan XL.

The Titan Evo may look pretty similar to the 2020 Series at a glance, but it has subtle improvements that make a big difference. The lumbar support has a pair of adjustable dials to help you find optimal support. It also automatically adjusts to your sitting position. Meanwhile, the pebble seat base provides excellent support for your bottom, thighs, and legs. This time around, the 4D adjustable armrests attach magnetically, and the memory foam head/neck pillow is also magnetic, eliminating those pesky straps.

The Titan Evo has three different materials: NEO Hybrid Leatherette, SoftWeave Plus fabric, and NAPA leather. The NEO Hybrid Leatherette is designed to be more durable than the Prime 2.0 leather, while the SoftWeave Plus utilizes a new automatic stitching technique to create layered colors that stand out.

Leatherette models start at $429, SoftWeave Plus editions start at $469, and NAPA Leather starts at $899. We’d recommend going with the NEO Hybrid Leatherette or SoftWeave Plus for the value.

The good:

• The most comfortable gaming chair around
• Professional design that fits in all spaces
• Stellar lumbar support
• Highly adjustable

The bad:

• Pricey

Mavix is a newcomer to the gaming chair space, but it’s already making waves thanks to high-profile streamer sponsorships and a dedication to quality. Mavix currently has three gaming chairs, each of which share a similar design. The Mavix M9, the company’s most extravagant and expensive chair, is the comfiest chair on this list and comes in as our pick for the best premium gaming chair.

Unlike most of the other chairs on this list, the M9 doesn’t have a racing seat look. Instead, it’s designed to resemble a high-end ergonomic office chair with subtle flair. The back has a two-piece design, with an ergonomic lumbar support and a backrest that gets wider as it rises. It’s supported by a thin mesh covered in premium fabric that has a far more cushiony feel than you’d expect. Meanwhile, the seat is covered with Mavix’s M-Breeze fabric (similar to PU leather) and filled with cool-gel memory foam that helps keep your bottom comfortable through long gaming sessions.

The M9 is highly adjustable, allowing you to find the right settings that work for you. The backrest reclines to 127 degrees, and a tension dial provides even further customization for your recline. The backrest can easily be moved up and down, which changes the positioning of the lumbar support. The M9’s construction also allows for seat depth customization, which can be important for ergonomics when it comes to leg comfort. It’s also fitted with roller blade-style wheels for a smoother roll and has 4D armrests.

From a comfort standpoint, the Mavix M9 is a step above the other contenders on this list. It’s also far more expensive, so it’s ideal for those who sit at their desk for hours on end every day. The comfort combined with the wealth of customization features make the Mavix M9 a clear standout in its price range. The M9 is available in four color schemes: black, white, black/blue, and black/white. You can add Elemax massage technology to the M9 for $130 and a footrest for $44.

The good:

• Two-tone color schemes give it a unique look
• Great ergonomics from contoured back and adjustable headrest
• Quick assembly
• Wonderful seat cushion and mesh back

The bad:

• Doesn’t recline very far back
• Armrests only have one-way adjustments.

While the Mavix M9 is our pick for the best premium gaming chair, not everyone can (or wants) to shell out around $1,000 for a chair. If you like the M9’s design, another great option is the Mavix M4. As Mavix’s lowest priced gaming chair at $444.44, the M4 is the best combination of performance and value on this list.

The Mavix M4 retains the shape and general features of the M9, including the wonderful dynamic variable lumbar support. Where it mainly differs is the materials. The M4 uses cooling mesh on both the backrest and seat cushion. While it doesn’t have the superb memory foam seen in the M9, the seat base still the cleverly implemented curvatures that make it comfortable to sit on for lengthy gaming sessions.

The M4 has locking wheel casters, but these are conventional wheels unlike the rollerblade-style units featured on the M9. The M4 can recline back and lock into place, though not as far as some chairs on this list. It also has an adjustable headrest that removes the need for an additional pillow. You can go for all black or grab one of the three two-tone designs with different colored backrests: blue, red, or green.

Mavix also offers a separate footrest for the M4 as an add-on, and you can get the Elemax massage technology added to the M4 for $130.

The good:

• Lumbar support cushion is a cut above the rest
• Stylish design
• Premium feel
• 4D adjustable armrests

The bad:

• Difficult to assemble

Razer’s first foray into the gaming chair market is a dream, and it was in consideration for the top of our best gaming chair list. The Razer Iskur is a stylish and innovative ergonomic gaming chair that features the best lumbar support we’ve tried. While most gaming chairs have a small, detachable lumbar pillow, the Iskur has an ergonomically designed lumbar support that’s central to the design of the chair. It’s large and contours to the shape of your back, providing support across a larger area. The lumbar support is also unique in that it’s adjustable, so you can position it to the shape of your spine.

The fine-tuned customization extends far beyond just the lumbar support. You can easily tinker with the angle and height of the chair, and its 4D adjustable armrests allow movement in multiple directions so you can find your perfect position. It also comes with a detachable head cushion made of memory foam. The Iskur is made with high-density foam that molds to your body for optimal comfort, and it’s wrapped in synthetic leather that is both soft and durable. As a Razer product, it’s unsurprising that it has a cool design. The jet black color and green stitching give it that iconic Razer look.

Even though the Iskur is a wonderful ergonomic chair, it does have a couple of downsides–both of which are apparent before you ever sit on it for the first time. It’s also sort of a pain to assemble, with screws that are tough to secure and heavier parts than you’d expect. You’ll want to assemble it with the help of another person to avoid as much frustration as possible. That said, if you are in need of better lumbar support, the Iskur is as good as it gets.

The good:

• Unique design stands out
• Backrest has a sleek but ergonomic profile
• Cold-foam cushion contours to your shape

The bad:

• Lacks variety when it comes to color options
• Pricey

Though not as well-known as Secretlab, Noblechairs also makes some of the best gaming chairs on the market today. And if you’re not enamored with the “racecar” look of most premium chairs, Noblechairs’ Icon model is an intriguing option. With an understated design and elegant argyle pattern on the backrest, the Icon looks like a cross between a gaming chair and a high-end desk chair. The backrest has a unique shape, with less pronounced wings and a sleeker profile at the top.

Made of premium materials, the Icon is ultra-comfortable and withstands the wear and tear of everyday use. The cold foam cushion used throughout is covered by thick faux leather. The Icon has all of the customization options you’d expect, including reclining up to 135 degrees, adjustable armrests, and neck/lumbar cushions.

Thanks to its unique design, the Icon is built for gamers of all shapes and sizes. It comes in a variety of color schemes, but most of them are primarily black. It’s certainly not a flashy chair, but the Icon is a high-quality pick that lives up to its lofty name.

The good:

• Adjusts to fit your needs
• Stellar ergonomic design
• Rollerblade-style wheels are quite cool

The bad:

• Design doesn’t stand out

As one of the leading PC peripheral manufacturers, Corsair has made its mark on everything from keyboards to headsets. If you’re a Corsair fan and want to complement your gaming setup with one of the best gaming chairs, the Corsair T2 Road Warrior is a super-comfortable and well-designed option. With adjustable neck and lumbar cushions, an ample seat cushion, and an ergonomically designed backrest, the Road Warrior has all of the basic elements you should look for in a chair.

The Road Warrior also has an adjustable height, 170-degree reclining, fully movable armrests, and a lightweight but sturdy frame that makes it easy to move. Unlike most gaming chairs, the Road Warrior has slim wheels that resemble rollerblades. It’s not a feature that is really needed in a gaming chair, but it does make the Road Warrior name make sense. The perforated leather on the backrest can be accented in black, white, blue, yellow, or red.

The good:

• Affordable price
• Comfortable and ergonomically designed
• Nice variety of colors to choose from

The bad:

• Doesn’t hold up as long as other chairs on this list

While the more expensive gaming chairs on this list tend to feature premium materials that withstand the test of time, you can still get a solid gaming chair without breaking the bank. The Homall S-Racer is our favorite sub-$200 gaming chair. As one of the most popular gaming chairs on Amazon, the Homall S-Racer boasts over 30,000 user reviews and holds a 4.4/5 average rating. It has the classic gaming chair look and comes in a myriad of color schemes. The price ranges from $150 to $180 depending on which style you choose, which is roughly half the price of most of the chairs on this list.

The Homall S-Racer features most of the adjustability options you’d expect, including full reclining, rocking, and a movable lumbar cushion. However, the armrests aren’t adjustable. You sacrifice some comfort with the Homall S-Racer, and it likely won’t hold up as well as the premium chairs we’ve mentioned, but it still has a nice ergonomic design and is better than your average desk chair for gaming. The Homall S-Racer is the best budget gaming chair.

The good:

• Great for console gaming on TVs
• Padded seat promotes comfort
• Built-in speakers and subwoofer
• Easy to store

The bad:

• Ergonomics are lacking for lumbar support
• Floor rockers aren’t great for those prone to sore knees

Though gaming chairs have moved toward being designed for desk use over the past decade, console gamers who play on a TV may want something different. That’s where floor rockers come in. Rocker chairs have been around for decades and could be viewed as the “original” gaming chair, and technological advancements have only made them more impressive. Our pick here is the X Rocker Pro, a fully-featured rocker chair with premium padding and a great look.

The X Rocker Pro has four built-in speakers and a subwoofer to blast in-game music wirelessly and provide a more immersive experience. It also features vibration to accompany the audio. The X Rocker Pro is an easy chair to store if you don’t want it in the center of a room all the time: The armrests and backrest fold to make it compact enough to fit in a closet when not in use. The X Rocker Pro earns the best floor rocker nod on our best gaming chair list.

The good:

• Great for console gaming on TVs
• Lumbar support has a massager for added comfort

The bad:

• Takes up a lot of space
• Plain color scheme

Homall’s gaming recliner is another solid option for those looking for a living room gaming chair. Designed specifically with console gaming on TVs in mind, Homall’s gaming recliner is fairly unique in the space. It looks much like a conventional recliner, though where it separates itself is with the lumbar and neck supports. Similar to a desk gaming chair, Homall’s gaming recliner is focused on comfort for lengthy gaming sessions. And the lumbar cushion doubles as a massager with three different modes of vibration.

The recliner certainly maintains the general aesthetics of conventional gaming chairs with its PU leather and sleek look. But this is also a gaming chair that will work great for lounging and watching TV thanks to its reclining capabilities and retractable footrest. Pockets on each side add a bit of storage space for small accessories, remotes, and other items you want to have close by. The chair comes in black/red, black/blue, and black/white–however, black is the dominant color for all three models.

The good:

• Promotes a feeling of weightlessness that’s calming
• Contours to the shape of your body
• Great for those who need to sit closer to their TV

The bad:

• Not great for small living spaces
• Pricey and can get more expensive with add-ons

Bean bag chairs have long been a gaming staple, especially for kids and teens. Admittedly, the average bean bag chair isn’t the most comfortable option for adults. The Moon Pod, however, is anything but an average bean bag chair. While not technically a “gaming product,” the Moon Pod absolutely works as a high-end living room chair for those who want to sit closer to their TV while gaming (especially for those games where the text is annoyingly small). It also works well for those who are working from home and need to take a break from their office chair. Unlike most bean bag chairs, the Moon Pod’s design is specifically aimed at providing an ergonomic lounging experience. The Moon Pod contours and adapts to your positioning, providing back and lumbar support. The bean bag, which is appropriately shaped like a pod, features high-density beads that are packed to simulate the sensation of weightlessness, and it’s incredibly relaxing to sink into.

At $300, however, the Moon Pod is extremely pricey for a bean bag, and there are add-ons that raise the price even more. The Crescent back pillow, which is helpful for additional back support, tacks on another $129 to the price. For that reason, we recommend just getting the base product first to try it out before snagging any add-ons, though we will say the combination of the Moon Pod and the Crescent feels absolutely incredible. It’s worth mentioning our sister brand CNET currently has a promo code, CNET15, that slashes $15 off the Moon Pod.

The Moon Pod itself is also quite large, taking up approximately four square feet, so you definitely need to have a spot picked out for it or somewhere that you can store it between uses. That said, this is the most comfortable bean bag chair around and checks all of the boxes for a solid living room gaming chair.