Next-gen consoles like the Xbox Series X and PS5 have revolutionized home gaming. This has amplified the importance of comfortable seating for living room gamers. While fluffy sofas and floor gaming seem convenient, both can lead to fatigue and back pain. Console gaming chairs offer a solution, but caution is advised.
In a recent article, ChairsFX assessed the best seating options for console gamers. Options range from gaming on the sofa or floor to utilizing a desk and chair setup. Surprisingly, console gaming chairs ranked as the least favorable option.
The rationale lies in biomechanics. A healthy standing posture maintains a 20-45° lower back curve. Sitting without support flattens that curve. Then, slouching sets in, leading to lower and upper back pain.
Ergonomic chairs address this problem with adjustable lumbar support systems. Console gaming chairs typically lack such support. Their rounded backrests fail to address the lower back curve. That leaves users susceptible to significant fatigue and back pain.
Best Selling Console Chairs 2024
Console gaming chairs are special seats for Xbox and Playstation gamers. On Amazon’s list of best-selling video game chairs, gaming desk chairs are the most popular option.
Also ranking on that list are three types of console gaming chairs: floor rockers, pedestal rockers, and gaming recliners. Here’s a look at some of 2024’s top-selling console chairs as ranked by Amazon:
The Crew Classic Rocker
Amazon best-seller rank: top 10 | Amazon price: $44.49
The Crew Classic is a fixed plywood chair curved into a ‘c’ shape. Sized to fit ages 3-10, the Crew Classic Video Rocker comes in a choice of mesh fabric or faux leather styles.
These chairs have very basic features: just a c-shaped seat and backrest. The ‘c shape’ enables gentle rocking; an anti-tipping safety makes sure it doesn’t tip all the way back.
Dimensions are (W x D x H): 16″ (W) x 24″ (D) x 32″ (H). No warranty information is available.
Buying advice
When playing video games, kids can use a Crew Classic to rock or relax against the back support. The downside is that its backrest curves the spine into a ‘c’ shape.
That flattens the lumbar curve, shortens hamstrings, and curves the body into the shape of a boiled shrimp.
Best Choice Gaming Floor Chair
Amazon best-seller rank: top 20 | Amazon price: $129.99
At a glance, the Best Choice Gaming Floor chair looks ideal for living room gaming. It has a padded seat and reclining backrest, plus non-adjustable padded armrests. When not in use, you can easily fold it up to place in storage.
There is no rocking function, but you can set and lock the backrest at various recline angles. You can also swivel the chair 360°. Specifications:
- Seat width: 22″
- Floor to seat height: 10.5″
- Maximum weight capacity: 300 pounds
The seat is wide enough to support larger sizes. However, the tiny 10.5″ seat height is best suited for little kids with short legs.
Also, despite being rated to support 300 pounds, these chairs don’t feel very sturdy. Unsurprisingly, no warranty information is available.
Buying advice
This chair has over 10,000 mixed reviews on Amazon. An often mentioned positive is the tiny size of this chair. It’s a great fit for small bodies, while kids enjoy using them.
Negatives include the cheap build quality and poor durability. It’s technically possible for adults to use these models, but it likely won’t be very comfortable.
X Rocker Floor Gaming Chair
Amazon best-seller rank: top 40 | Amazon price: Price not available
This model is a slightly larger, more feature-packed version of the Crew Classic chair for kids. Like that model, its c-shaped seat and backrest works like a rocking chair.
It also comes with built-in speakers mounted onto the headrest, with a subwoofer embedded in the backrest. To use, simply plug your console into the 3.5mm audio jack. Specifications:
- Dimensions: 17″ (W) x 30.5″ (D) x 26.6″ (H); 200-pound weight capacity
- Warranty: no warranty information is available
- Extras: wired speakers and a subwoofer
Buying advice
Like the Crew Classic, this model may delight at first by sitting gamers low to the ground and letting them rock. However, the gnarly c-shaped backrest may cause lower back tightness with extended use.
As well, this unit has a flimsy feel and no warranty information, suggesting that it’s not likely to last very long.
Respawn-900 Racing Recliner
Amazon best-seller rank: top 60 | Amazon price: $349.99
At a first glance, the Respawn 900 looks like an advanced console gaming chair from the future. In reality, it’s a basic chair with a unique retractable footrest and deep recline, but no rocking functionality.
The retractable footrest is the star feature. It goes up and down as a single padded unit, theoretically to provide more legroom.
On the downside, sitting in shorts with the recliner extracted can get sticky. Expect sweat to pool under both legs when sitting for long periods in hot weather.
Features
The upper backrest works like a conventional PC gaming chair. Padded wings support the shoulders, while a neck pillow supports your head. The backrest recline goes down to 135°. That’s good for watching movies or reading, but not deep enough for a nap.
The backrest recline goes down to 135°. That’s good for watching movies or reading, but not deep enough for a nap. Key specifications:
- Build: the chair and footrest provide a continuous surface to support the legs.
- Recline: backrest recline to 135°; backrest and footrest operate independently.
- Base: supports 275 pounds plus 360° swivel.
- Size rating: for sizes 5’10” or shorter.
- Warranty: two years (details).
Buying advice
The Respawn 900 has over 3000 positive reviews on Amazon. Positive comments hail it as comfortable and fun to use.
On the downside, many negative reviews point out the poor quality of upholstery (it gets hot and sticky with extended use).
Homall Gaming Recliner
Amazon best-seller rank: top 70 | Amazon price: $129.99
If you can’t afford $300 for a high-end recliner, the Homall Gaming recliner is an option. Among Amazon’s best-selling video game chairs, this is the top-rated recliner.
The Homall Recliner supports up to 265 pounds. Key features are a retractable footrest and a backrest recline from 90° to 180°. These models also come with fixed neck and lumbar pillows.
Chair dimensions are small enough for kids, but large enough to fit average-sized adults. However, the fixed neck and lumbar support are designed for taller bodies. If those don’t fit your size, they may hurt more than help. Specs:
- Features: retractable footrest; 90-180° recline; non-adjustable headrest & lumbar pillows; side storage pockets
- Dimensions: seat 25.5″(W) x 29.1″(D); backrest 20.9″(W) x 29.1″(H)
- Size rating: for sizes 5’9″ or shorter; 300 lbs weight capacity
- Warranty: 1 year
Buying advice
This recliner gets mixed reviews on Amazon. Positive comments point out the comfort of these chairs. Negatives are the awkward lumbar support and poor durability.
Homall Recliners only come with a 1-year warranty. Reported durability issues include frayed stitching, a flimsy build, and a seat that flattens out after a few months of use.
Console Gaming Chair Alternatives
None of the best-selling console gaming chairs emphasize healthy sitting as a feature. They are “gaming chairs” in the sense that you play video games while using them. But they don’t qualify as gaming chairs in the context of this website.
On ChairsFX, we review ergonomic chairs that promote health, wellness and productivity. Console gaming chairs don’t support good sitting posture. The following are healthier video console gamer seating options to consider.
Ergonomic Chairs For Kids Aged 4-12
In America, 68% of children aged 7-18 have their own gaming consoles. Coincidentally, ages 4-12 is when children develop the posture habits that will stay with them through life.
Poor posture in children has been shown to cause long-term spinal deformities. Chronic poor posture can also reduce a child’s brain functioning and hinder their self-discipline skills.
In contrast, good posture habits yield confidence, health, and vigor — a strong foundation to build a bright future on. For instance, our top-rated ergonomic kids’ chair is the Sidiz Ringo (Price not available on Amazon).
The Ringo is designed for kids aged 4-12. It has a depth-adjustable sliding seat, a height & depth adjustable backrest; 4 seat & backrest sync levels. For younger kids, a footrest ensures they always always keep their feet planted while they sit.
Kids’ Ergonomic Chair Vs Console Chair
Ergonomic kids chairs are light enough to carry from room-to-room. That makes them a healthy choice for kids to play console games in the living room. These chairs can teach children superb sitting habits at a very young age.
However, compared to a flashy console gaming chair, many children may find an ergonomic kids’ chair dreary. But if convinced, they’ll forge strong posture habits that last a lifetime. Thirty years from now, they’ll thank you.
Ergonomic Desk Chairs
For ages 12 and older, a desk paired with a good ergonomic chair is a much healthier option than a console chair. There are a few types to consider:
| Chair Type | Price Range | Pros | Cons |
| Premium gaming chair | $350-$700 | Good build quality; luxurious, versatile support | Can cause pain with misuse; may be too extravagant for casual gaming |
| Cheap gaming chair | $100-$200 | Provide a similar level of back support as premium chairs | Cheap materials provide less precision and stability |
| Footrest gaming chair | Under $300 | Versatile: can be used as a recliner or desk chair | Provides mediocre support for long periods of desk work |
| Cheap ergonomic office chair | $200-$350 | Provides better lumbar support systems than gaming chairs; maintains good posture by forcing users to sit upright | May be too formal and conservative, especially for young gamers |
| Sofa | $200-$1500 | Social; comfortable for short periods; a Couchmaster can support the wrists | Fluffy sofa padding is too unstable; over long periods, users may suffer muscular fatigue |
Many armchair ergonomists may tout ergonomic office chairs as the most sensible option for young console gamers. However, famous doctors and back support experts have debunked perfect sitting posture as the objective while sitting.
Instead, the ideal sitting posture is one that continually changes. This prevents any single tissue from accumulating too much strain. From that context, the ‘best’ desk chair seating option is subjective. Learn more:
Conclusion
The best-selling console chairs don’t compare to the back support you get from other types of seating. Even so, they’re cheap and fun to use while gaming in the living room.
Beyond chairs, other viable seating options include using a sofa and sitting on the floor. Surprisingly, with proper form, the latter is one of the healthy available options. Learn more:
