Gaming has evolved significantly over the last decade. We’ve gone from handheld consoles like the GameBoy™ to bigger gaming consoles like the Play Station and the Xbox to powerful dedicated gaming PCs in a matter of years. Today, most of us work and play in the same area, which means our home office setup also doubles as our battle station for PC gaming. The quality of your experience is going to depend on how comfortable you are. That is why you’re going to need the best gaming desks you can find.
Best Desks For Gaming: Highlighting Features & Recommendations
The best gaming desk money can buy is an absolute tank that goes by the name of Cougar Mars. Even if that doesn’t tickle your fancy, we have a star-studded lineup of the best gaming desks you can buy this year, so you’re bound to find the perfect match.
1. Cougar Mars
A gaming desk only qualifies as a good one if it is sturdy, spacious, and ergonomic. The Cougar Mars checks all three boxes, and then some. Its stylish aesthetics, emphasized by the sleek carbon fiber desktop texture and stunning RGB lighting effects, make it one of the most attractive gaming desks on offer. The Mars is a high-tensile steel-framed gaming desk with manually adjustable height settings, and in-built control stands where you can connect PC and audio devices. In one word, it is a tank.
View On AmazonKey Features & Specs
- Frame material: Welded steel
- Type: Standard
- Surface width: 150cm
- Desk height: Adjustable (75cm, 80cm, 85cm)
- Key features: Dual-sided RGB lighting effects, I/O panel with two USB 3 ports, two audio jacks, a power button, a reset button, and a backlight button.
Pros
- Sleek design
- Textured desktop
- In-built controls
- RGB lights
- Adjustable height
Cons
- RGB is only compatible with specific desktop motherboards
2. Arozzi Arena Gaming Desk
A cutting edge gaming desk like the Arozzi Arena is exactly what you need to take your gaming to the next level. You get 14 square feet of surface, a generously-sized custom mouse pad, cable management mechanisms, and an all-metal base when you go with the Arena. Plus, you can choose up to five different colors to match your gaming desk to your décor or style needs. Believe it or not, this gaming desk offers so much more than what we’ve just covered.
View On AmazonKey Features & Specs
- Frame material: High-density solid construction materials, all-metal base
- Type: Standard
- area: 131 sq. centimeters (14 sq. feet)
- width: 160cm
- Surface depth: 82cm
- Desk height: Adjustable
- Key features: 5mm-thick water-resistant mouse pad (removable, machine-washable), all-metal base, adjustable height, available in green, red, white, black, and blue.
Pros
- The surface is entirely covered by a mouse pad
- Plenty of space for multiple-screen setups
- Adjustable height
- Mouse pad is machine-washable
Cons
- Desk lacks RGB lighting
- It tends to wobble
3. ApexDesk Elite
If you’re looking for a gaming desk you can use, whether seated or standing, the ApexDesk Elite is a choice worth your consideration. Its adjustable height allows you to transition from sitting to standing in seconds. It looks more luxurious than you’d expect thanks to woody finish, though the surface material is an inch-thick MDF-core covered with high-pressure laminate. The heavy-duty steel frame leaves little to desire, especially since it is motorized and supports minimal telescopic height adjustments. It can lift up to 225 pounds comfortably.
View On AmazonKey Features & Specs
- Frame material: heavy-duty steel
- Type: Standard (sitting and standing desk)
- Surface area: 71” x 33” (also available in 60” x 30”)
- Max. weight capacity: 225lbs
- Table height: Adjustable from 29” to 48.”
- Key features: Motorized height adjustment with four programmable presets, solid MDF surface, center beam.
Pros
- Elegant finish
- Electric height adjustment mechanism with 4 presets
- Easy to assemble
- Center beam for enhanced stability
- Impressive adjustable height range
Cons
- Although durable, the MDF surface is still prone to scratches.
4. GTRacing Gaming Desk
Perks like an adjustable monitor stand, a spacious gaming surface, and an easy-to-wipe carbon fiber desktop make the GTRacing gaming desk an attractive prospect. Its sturdy T-shaped design promotes stability, which is further assured by the strong metal frame. This feature-rich desk equips you with a headphone hook, a speaker/controller dock, and a power strip holder for better cable management. On top of it all, it is easy to assemble.
View On AmazonKey Features & Specs
Frame material: Metal
Type: Standard T-shaped
Gaming surface: 47.2” x 25.5.”
Key Features: Carbon fiber desktop, adjustable monitor stand, sturdy T-shaped design, headphone hook, controller dock, speaker holder, power strip holder.
Pros
- Full of useful features
- Easy-to-clean surface
- Ergonomic design
- Stable
- Easy to assemble
Cons
- Height is not adjustable
5. Eureka Ergonomic I1
This is a quaint ergonomic gaming desk that satisfies your needs in a space-saving manner. It features a standard t-shaped build with 43.3 inches of real estate up top and a sturdy metal frame down below, which makes for a comfortable gaming experience. Designed for both gaming and home office applications, the Eureka gaming desk is a modest option with great value for money.
View On AmazonKey Features & Specs
- Frame material: Metal
- Surface material: Wood
- Gaming surface: 43.3.”
- Key Features: Cable management system, in-built mouse pad, four leveling feet, compact design.
Pros
- Very stable
- Space-saving design
- In-built mouse pad and cable management system
- Easy to assemble
Cons
- Very basic (lacks some useful features like a slide-out tray)
6. Ironstone Gaming Desk
With a design that looks as durable as it feels, this Mr. Ironstone gaming desk is one of the strongest you’ll find anywhere. It offers ample room (45.3” width and 29” depth) for gaming plus equips you with useful features like a headphone hook and a cup holder. The top is made of MDF with PVC laminate, and the frame material is heavy-duty steel. It might look a bit brutish with its square edges, but it gets the job done.
View On AmazonKey Features & Specs
- Frame material: Steel
- Gaming surface: 45.3” x 29.”
- Max. weight capacity: 110lbs
- Key features: Headphone hook, cup holder, water-resistant MDF tabletop, adjustable leg pads, R-style desk legs
Pros
- Stable design
- Comes with inbuilt headphone hook and cup holder
- Fast installation
- Easy-to-clean MDF surface
Cons
- Rigid height settings (not adjustable)
7. Couchmaster Cycon (for Couch Gaming)
This here is the best gaming desk for gamers who play on consoles (Play Station, Xbox) or use a gaming laptop as opposed to an entire rig. The Couchmaster Cycon allows you to enjoy a world-class gaming experience from the comfort of your couch. It comes with bells and whistles like cable management systems, a mouse pocket, and a side pocket. Although it is designed for comfort, it does not come at the expense of speed. A 16-foot high-speed USB 3.0 cable allows you to turn it into your gaming command center when you hook it up to your PC.
View On AmazonKey Features & Specs
- Ergonomic, cushioned build
- 16ft active USB 3.0 extension cable
- Universally compatible
- 4-port USB 3.0 hub
- Cable management system
- Side pocket
- Mouse pocket
- High-quality suede finish
Pros
- Comfortable
- Plenty of storage accessories
- 5-meter-long active USB 3.0 cable for lag-free connections
- High-quality suede finish
- Widely compatible with different gaming consoles and rigs
Cons
- Not ideal for standard monitor and PC setups
What Makes a Gaming Desk Perfect?
- Sturdiness
Most gaming setups cost thousands of dollars in total. Apart from being shockingly expensive, they are also very heavy. A typical high-end gaming PC with a widescreen monitor and all the bells and whistles needed to create a modern gaming experience may weigh as much as a few hundred pounds. That’s a lot of weight to entrust to a rickety old table. A gaming computer desk must be sturdy. That is the first and most important prerequisite.
- Space
When you decide to buy a gaming PC, one thing you must have in abundance is space. Remember, a gaming setup may not mimic the standard monitor PC arrangement, especially if it has multiple displays. A gaming computer desk must be spacious enough to accommodate more than one screen because, eventually, you will feel the need to add more displays to your setup. It should also have plenty of room for comfortable movement.
- Design
Gaming desks are built for a specific purpose, so their design is just as important. There are a few designs to choose from, depending on the amount of space at your disposal:
L-shaped gaming desks: These desks are shaped like an L, and they’re perfect for setting-up your gaming rig in the corner of the room.
U-shaped gaming desks: U-shaped desks provide a lot of space for multiple monitors and other gaming gadgets. Unfortunately, they are quite large and heavy, and they take up a lot of room.
Standard gaming desks: These are shaped like standard computer desks but are equipped with stronger materials, gaming-friendly designs, and a build that’s rudimentary but exceptionally sturdy.
Why “Gaming” Desk Is a Must For Modern PCs
Gaming desks are designed to accommodate the needs of the modern gaming PC, which is usually a high-end piece of equipment that costs hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Modern PCs are heavy. Whether pre-assembled or built by the gamer, they can weigh quite a lot. Gaming desks are built to be sturdier than the average computer desk, which is why they’re better suited for holding massive gaming rigs.
A modern PC also has special needs. For instance, it needs space to “breathe.” The vents must not be obstructed by anything lest the computer overheats. Many gaming desks have dedicated PC stations that keep it well-secured, out of the way, and perfectly ventilated.
Finally, modern gaming has a lot of gadgets involved. The best gaming desk takes this into account by providing ports, hooks, and trays for headphones, controllers, and the keyboard. Some even have an in-built mouse pad. In other words, gaming desks focus on improving your experience by providing a reliable (non-wobbly) build, plenty of real estate for your rig, and special designs to accommodate the needs of your expensive equipment.
Things to Consider Before Buying Gaming Desks For Ultimate Gaming
- Size and Shape
The size of the gaming desk you buy will be determined by the amount of room you have. As for the shape, a standard T-shape desk is ideal for most scenarios, a U-shaped desk is suitable for large spaces, and an L-shaped desk is the best option for setting up your rig in a corner.
- Build Quality & Materials
The gaming desk must have durable and sturdy materials. The top can be metal or MDF, but the frame has to be some sort of heavy-duty metal (possibly steel) that can support hundreds of pounds.
- Aesthetic Appeal and RGB Support
Unless you want it to look like an eyesore, you must consider the aesthetic design of the gaming desk you want to buy. RGB light support can further enhance your visual gaming experience.
- Height Adjustability
The best gaming desks can be adjusted to suit different comfort levels. The most important adjustment is the height adjustment.
- Bonus Features and Price
Consider whether you need features like a headphone hook, a cup holder, or a controller dock. These do not come as standard with most gaming desks.
Summary
Although your choice is largely dependent on the type of rig you’re working with, the best gaming desk must provide you with enough stability, comfort, and features to make your experience memorable. Pair a sturdy gaming desk with a comfortable gaming chair if you want the ultimate gaming experience.
