A gaming chair should be a long term investment. You'll be spending a lot of hours no doubt either playing, working, or as often is the case for me, doing both. It's not an area of your setup you want to skimp costs in, but value for money is still very important.

We've rounded up what we think are the top five gaming chairs available right now in 2021, in terms of performance, comfort, durability and cost. We're less interested in the overt bling and unnecessary features, although all these chairs do look really sweet, but our primary concern has been one thing; how good is it at being a chair?

So without further ado, here's our list;

5. Arozzi Verona Junior V2

This choice is for the younger readers out there, this is a smaller than usual racing chair for individuals 5ft 2 or smaller. It's perfect for younger kids in that 10-15 year old age range, or simply the shorter than average adult. It has a weight limit of just 130lb, but it's super comfortable and has all the high-end specs you'd expect, including recline, adjustable height, and back and neck pillows

It's recommended by us if you're of the size this chair is aimed at, as ergonomically, it'll be much better for your health in the long run than trying to fit into a larger chair, which are often catered for people on the medium to large end of the spectrum, not to mention more comfortable.

4. Ikea Markus

This isn't a gaming chair, per-say, at all. It's a hugely popular choice among both gamers and those who need to get some serious work done, though. You'll see the Markus popping up all over the place, from gamers like DanNerdCubed to podcasters like Leo Laporte - and it's for good reason - it's an incredibly durable and comfortable chair designed for long periods of sitting down.

The best bit though is the price. Unlike other gaming chairs you might see on this list, the Markus is just $150 or thereabouts. It even comes in two colors, albeit very similar, black and grey - plus you get to pick up one of those tradmark Ikea hotdogs when you go to pick it up.

Thank you, Sweeden.

3. X-Rocker Pro Series H3

This is another good value for money chair, and this one is decidedly gaming in asthetic. The Pro Series H3 has some pretty impressive specs for the price, including a full 115 degree recline, a generous weight limit of 275lb, and it's special party trick.

Like other chairs in the X-Rocker range, it has four built in speakers and a subwoofer, which sounds completely crazy when you look at it. It can really immerse you into games, especially racing titles like Forza Horizon 4. It may not be the choice for you, if you prefer a proper external speaker setup, but despite the audio gimmicks, this is still a very comfortable and serviceable chair.

2. DXRacer Classic Series

This is a heavy duty chair for heavy duty gamers, if you catch my meaning. It'll take up to 300lb in weight and weighs a hefty 66ln in and of itself, but with a 135 degree reclining function, and choice of colors, it really does look the part.

The main thing is that it's build quality and specifications mean it's not just aimed at the larger gamers out there - if you're after a long term investment that will stand the test of time better than the lower cost chairs on this list, then this one is a no-brainer.

1. Secretlab Omega

There's one go-to chair out there right now for gamers with cash, and that is the Secretlab Omega.  It's a hugely popular chair with gaming influencers, and for good reason - they were all given free samples. I kid, I kid (although that is potentially true) - but in all seriousness, it's a phenominally good chair.

It includes Velour memory foam pillows for extra back and head comfort, and has one of the best tilt and mechanisms out there. The materials used are also first class, and you'll be guaranteed to be as comfortable as possible in one of these.

It even comes in a wide range of colors, including my favourite, the "stealth", as well as amber, royal, ash and classic designs.

The price though isn't too shabby, ranging from around $350 to $650 depending on the spec chosen and materials. It won't take as much weight as the DXRacer, but it's still a solid chair and one of my personal favourites.

And those are our choices. Let us know down below which gaming chair you use!