If you’re already into the gaming world, you probably have already figured out that sitting is the ideal position. And of course, sitting in a chair is more comfortable than sitting on the ground. This makes a gaming chair the ideal spot to sit while playing.
What does a gaming chair look like? A gaming chair is made specifically for gaming, so each of its features serves a purpose. Most gaming chairs will have the following characteristics:
- Racecar inspired bucket design
- Head and neck support
- Armrests
- Extra back support
- Reclining ability
- Multi-color
- Logo
- Footrest
- No base or office chair style base
There are many different ways you can customize a gaming chair, so even within the gaming chair world, and you’ll find many variations. However, there’s no doubt that a gaming chair is very different than a traditional chair that’s made strictly for sitting and lounging around. Keep reading to find out more about what makes a chair a “gaming chair.”
Gaming Chair Features
Gaming chairs aren’t just regular seating. They serve a very specific purpose: to support someone while they’re gaming. Gamers often spend hours engaging in this hobby, so comfortable seating with support is an absolute must.
Racecar Inspired Bucket Seat Design
Many of the initial gaming chairs were developed for racing games, making the race car style the status quo in these chairs. The most traditional material for these chairs is a leather or synthetic leather-type fabric, again, similar to what you’d see in the bucket seat of a sporty car.
Head and Neck Support
The high headrest gives a gamer more support in this area. Just like on a race car seat, the neck and headrest are narrower than the rest of the chair.
Although the gaming chair has built-in head and neck support, it’s not uncommon to see a gaming chair with additional support in the form of a neck pillow. This is often customization that gamers will add.
Arm Rests
A gaming chair has armrests, not something that you’d find in a typical race car-style bucket seat. Typically, gamers will hold some sort of video game controller. Or, in the world of PC gaming, the user will need to be at a desk.
Gaming for long periods of time without an armrest would be very uncomfortable or result in possible joint damage or pain.
Extra Back Support
The race car chair will start to flare out below the shoulders. This is where there is added support for the upper back and lumbar area. The lower region of the lumbar area in the chair will also curve toward the user, almost wrapping the user’s lower back.
The pricier gaming chairs will have an additional cushion in this region. As with the head and neck pillows, some gamers will customize their chairs to have additional padding or pillows in the lower back.
Reclining Ability
As mentioned previously, serious gamers will engage in activity for hours at a time. Again, this makes the comfort of the utmost importance. What’s the most natural comfort position for humans?
The reclining position, of course! Many gaming chairs have the ability to recline somewhat. Although, if you’re willing to pay a little extra, you can get a chair that will recline enough to lay completely flat.
Some gaming chairs are even meant to be set on the floor, with a slightly rounded bottom that allows it to rock back and forth a bit and recline with the help of the gamer’s feet.
Multi-Color
Staying true to the race car style, most gaming chairs have a two or three-color theme. Depending on how much you’d like to pay, you can get a model that’s tailored exactly to your liking. However, there are plenty of gaming chairs out there that come in different colors, ready for purchase.
Logo
Gaming chairs will typically have some sort of logo. The logo is found on the headrest, although some chairs have them on the lower back region as well. Even though most companies will put their own logo on the chair, there are a few out there that will allow the user to customize their own logo. This is another customization that serious gamers will opt to add.
Footrest
Some chairs come with a footrest attached to the end of the chair that you can choose to put up or keep down. This comes as an additional cost.
However, those that don’t need a footrest as often can opt to purchase a stand-alone footrest that can be used when necessary. But, for those gamers that have to be ready for action at all times, it might be risky to take their eyes off the game to move the footrest into place.
No Base or Office Chair Style Base
There are two types of bases. Some seats will sit directly on the floor. These are the ones with rounded bottoms for rocking-type movement. These bases are more common amongst gamers that partake in video games using controllers.
PC gamers are usually at a desk, so they might opt for the office chair-style base. These have wheels and adjustable height.
Optional Technology
Although the features above are more visible and can help you define what a gaming chair might look like, there are some characteristics that you can’t see on a typical gaming chair.
- Headrest speakers
- Bluetooth capabilities
- Headset input
- Rumble functions
How to Choose the Right Gaming Chair
Depending on how dedicated you are to gaming, a gaming chair might be a great purchase for you. If you’re serious about gaming, you may be spending a lot of time in this seat.
So, if you’re considering a gaming chair purchase, there are a few things you should consider to ensure that you make the right choice. Check out the questions below to help you nail down the features you’ll want to find but be mindful that some of them will come at an additional price.
- Is it comfortable?
- Is it compatible with your gaming system?
- Does it fit in the area where you do your gaming?
- Does it fit within your budget?
- Does it have all of the technological features you’re looking for?
- Is the material durable and capable of long-time use?
- Does it have the technology features that you’re looking for?
But, if you’re more of a visual learner and you’d like someone to show you how to pick a gaming chair that’s right for you, check out the video below.
Also, see these videos on YouTube:
Best Gaming Chairs
Most gamers will tell you that a gaming chair is much more than simply a chair you can use for gaming. An actual gaming chair will optimize your experience. So now that you know exactly what a gaming chair looks like, you can decide whether or not the seat you’ve been using is best for your gaming experience.
Gaming Chair Examples
If you’re not sure, you can check out this list to see if your gaming chair compares. Or, perhaps you’re in the market for a new gaming chair.
Either way, this list can help you find the most traditional-looking gaming chairs available. These seats fit the bill of what a traditional gaming chair might look like.
- Homall Gaming Chair
- Mirax Racing Chair
- AA Products Gaming Chair
- X Rocker Extreme III 2.0 Gaming Seat
- Topsky High Back Racing Chair
Do You Need a Gaming Chair?
Some gamers swear by a gaming chair. They believe it makes the whole experience better. However, there are many gamers out there that make a case for needing a gaming chair. Some believe that it isn’t a necessity for gamers.
If you’re still deciding whether or not you need a gaming chair or even want a gaming chair, check out the video Are Gaming Chairs Worth It?
