Few things are more frustrating than packet loss or high ping causing in-game lag. It always seems to happen at the worst possible moment, when you’re about to snipe an unsuspecting opponent or screech into a hairpin bend. While there are other potential causes, your substandard router could be doing you dirty. The best gaming routers promise rock solid connections and can usually prioritize game-related traffic to reduce the risk of issues. They also frequently feature fancy designs and customizable lighting to fit your gaming room.
Now, you don’t necessarily need a special gaming router. A good router is a good router, and you’ll find tons of them in my guides to the Best Routers and Best Mesh Systems. You can also get a better connection simply by running an Ethernet cable from your router to your gaming PC. That said, I have tested several gaming routers, and my top pick is the fastest router I have ever tested.
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Table of ContentsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevron- Best Asus Gaming Routers
- Best Gaming Router
- Best TP-Link Gaming Routers
- Other Gaming Routers I’ve Tested and Liked
- Gaming Routers I Don’t Recommend
- Gaming Router FAQ
Best Asus Gaming Routers
The brand I recommend as the best for gamers is Asus. The Taiwanese company has a long gaming history and dedicated sub-brands like Republic of Gamers (ROG). It produces fast, highly configurable routers with free security software and many gaming extras. Ports are usually generous, there’s no need for a subscription, and you can combine different Asus routers that support AiMesh into a mesh system to extend your coverage. The potential downsides are the relatively high prices, occasionally buggy firmware, and the need to dig into configuration settings to get the best performance.
Best Gaming Router- Photograph: Simon Hill
- Photograph: Simon Hill
Asus
ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro
$685Amazon
$700Asus
$700 $685 (2% off)Best Buy
Topping my testing charts, the Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro is a supremely capable, quad-band Wi-Fi 7 gaming router. In terms of raw speed, this is the best router I have tested to date. That alone makes it feel worthy of the “gimmick” of being designed explicitly for gaming. It is very similar to the RT-BE96U in my regular router guide, but with the ROG model, Asus has added a second 6-GHz band on top of the existing 2.4-GHz, 5-GHz, and 6-GHz bands. This massively increases the available bandwidth, affording you plenty of space for multiple gaming streams, or giving you an extra band for wireless backhaul if you decide to set up a mesh using Asus’ AiMesh connectivity. It also has an extra 10-Gbps LAN port, giving you one 10-Gbps WAN/LAN, two 10-Gbps LAN, four Gigabit LAN, one USB 3.2, and a USB 2.0 port. The USB ports come in handy for NAS devices. You must pay extra for these additions, so if you don’t have multiple gaming streams or a NAS, you can save money with the RT-BE96U and still get great performance.
This is also easily the biggest router I have ever tested at nearly 14 inches across, with eight huge antennas, and it weighs 4.4 pounds. It is far from subtle, won’t blend in, and could prove tricky to place due to its size. Because it’s a gaming router, Asus has included Aura RGB lighting, so you can pick the colored lighting you want and make it a feature.
AiProtection Pro security software and parental controls, powered by Trend Micro, are bundled into the cost. This comprehensive security combo includes a firewall, intrusion prevention, malicious site blocking, automatic updates, and more. Parental controls include scheduling, website filtering by age, and usage stats. You also get VPN support with the option to connect remotely when you are out and about. You can redeem a free year of NordVPN service with this router. Naturally, there are some gaming-focused features, with game acceleration enabling you to prioritize gaming-related traffic through ports and packet analysis. If you have Asus’ ROG gear, it can be prioritized with a click, and Asus includes server acceleration to minimize latency through the third-party WTFast service.
Apart from the size and cost, there isn’t much to complain about here, but it is worth considering that the range on the 6-GHz band is limited and struggles to penetrate through walls, so you will need Wi-Fi 7 devices nearby to take full advantage of this router. Ideally, have it in the same room as your gaming PC or laptop. This router was originally touted to get Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) support, but it never did (look at the next pick if that’s something you want).
Asus
ROG Strix GS-BE12000
$400 $320 (20% off)Amazon
$340 $320 (6% off)Walmart
$400 $366 (9% off)Best Buy
Asus ROG Strix GS-BE12000 for $400: If you don’t want to spend as much, but you’re set on a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router, and you want lots of ports, this model could make sense. I found it stable and seriously speedy on the 6-GHz and 5-GHz bands. It boasts 320 MHz channels on the 6-GHz band, Multi-Link Operation (MLO), and 4K-QAM (read my How to Buy a Router and Wi-Fi 7 guides for a breakdown on these terms). It has a 2.5 Gbps WAN and seven 2.5 Gbps LAN ports, two of which are dedicated gaming ports, and a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port. You get mostly the same excellent software and gaming options as my top pick. This is a scaled down version of the BE18000 ($530), and has 2 x 2 MIMO on the 6-GHz band instead of 4 x 4, but I think it’s a better buy for most folks, especially if you see it on sale. It’s worth noting that both models have official Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) support, which extends the range of the 6-GHz band to make it more comparable to the 5-GHz band range. I can’t test this here in the UK, as it’s only available in North America and requires your precise real-world location so local regulators can authorize it.
Asus TUF Gaming BE9400 for $265: The cheaper end of Asus gaming routers, this model is still a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 router, and it doesn’t make too many compromises. It has one 2.5 Gbps WAN, three 2.5 Gbps LAN ports, and a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port. You miss out on some ROG-exclusive gaming features, the design is not as nice, and it lacks RGB lighting. But this router performed far better than the price would suggest, keeping pace with my top pick at close range, though coverage doesn’t extend as far.
Asus ROG Rapture GT6 (2-Pack) for $350: This Wi-Fi 6 system is a solid gaming mesh. Aside from the look, Asus touts game modes that boost performance and prioritize related traffic. My 2-pack of black routers (they come in white too) was simple to set up, and each sports a 2.5-Gbps WAN port, three Gigabit LAN ports, and a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port. The tri-band Asus ROG Rapture GT6 finished in the top half of the table in most tests. It has a single 2.4-GHz band and two 5-GHz bands (one is used for backhaul unless you connect the routers with an Ethernet cable). While the 2.4-GHz band performance was very good, the 5-GHz results were among the best I have recorded, and this system supports the wider 160-MHz channels and WPA3 for security. You also get AiProtection security software and comprehensive parental controls free for the lifetime of the product. The GT6 has VPN support, too, and you can use it as a VPN server when you are out. If your gaming rig doesn’t have Wi-Fi 7 yet and you need a mesh system for your home, this is worth a look.
Best TP-Link Gaming Routers
You can sometimes get a little more for your money with TP-Link, and it offers a dedicated gaming line-up under the Archer brand (prefaced with GE), but I don’t think they always offer the best value for performance compared to its regular Archer routers. Folks in the US may also hesitate because TP-Link has not yet secured a Conditional Approval from the FCC’s router ban (Asus and Netgear have). All routers that were already on sale (including everything here) are unaffected by the ban and software updates have a waiver at least until January 1, 2029. There’s a slim risk the waiver doesn’t get extended, but it’s unlikely (read my guide for more information).
- Photograph: Simon Hill
- Photograph: Simon Hill
- Photograph: Simon Hill
TP-Link
Archer GE800
$600 $450 (25% off)Amazon
This stunning tri-band Wi-Fi 7 gaming router features an angled design with customizable RGB lighting that screams Vader’s castle but also provides room for antennas to ensure extremely fast performance across the board. You also get a 10-Gbps port for your incoming internet connection, a further two 10-Gbps and four 2.5-Gbps Ethernet LAN ports, and a USB 3.0 port. The Tether app is solid, with some gaming-specific options, but separate subscriptions are required for extra security and parental controls. Despite the blazing fast results, the GE800 couldn’t quite match my top Wi-Fi 7 gaming pick above on the 6-GHz band, and it produced quite a lot of heat and audible fan noise. The upside is that it’s significantly cheaper.
Photograph: Simon HillTP-Link Archer GE400 (BE6500) for $220: This dual-band Wi-Fi 7 gaming router is a solid performer. At close range on the 5-GHz band, it can go toe-to-toe with most of the best routers. It also offers dedicated gaming features, though some of them require subscriptions. I was disappointed by the limited range, and the comparable TP-Link Archer BE400 (BE6500) ($180) is currently on sale for less. You also don’t have to spend much more to get the far superior, tri-band Archer BE600 (BE9700) ($250), giving you the full 6-GHz Wi-Fi 7 experience. For gamers who live alone in apartments or small homes, this router could still be a decent buy.
Other Gaming Routers I’ve Tested and Liked
Netgear used to manufacture dedicated gaming routers under the Nighthawk brand, but the latest Nighthawk routers are billed more as mainstream products (you’ll find a few in my Best Routers guide).
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300 for $285: This Wi-Fi 6E gaming router has a curvy spaceship design in matte black with wings containing antennas for a strong signal throughout your home. The Nighthawk RAXE300 is a tri-band router with 2.4-GHz, 5-GHz, and 6-GHz bands. It served seamless, speedy Wi-Fi during two weeks of testing, with no issues handling a mix of four simultaneous gaming and video streams. A single 2.5-Gbps WAN/LAN port, five gigabit LAN ports, and a USB-C 3.0 port will be enough for most folks.
The Nighthawk app is excellent and offers band splitting, guest network options, and a host of analytical tools. While both the Premium Smart Parental Controls ($8/month or $70/year) and Netgear Armor ($100/year) are slick, the extra expense is hard to swallow when many competitors offer cheaper or free alternatives with similar features. This is discontinued, but a few places still have new stock, and it’s still a great router.
Gaming Routers I Don’t Recommend
Here are a couple of gaming routers I tested that I don’t recommend.
Photograph: Simon HillAcer Predator Connect T7: Another brand with gaming pedigree, I had high hopes for this Acer system, but my excitement was short-lived because the half-baked Predator Connect T7 is a mess. Buggy installation, with the firmware update repeatedly failing, followed by flaky performance with frequent dropouts, made testing this system a frustrating experience. The band steering is poor and frequently dumped me onto the slowest 2.4-GHz band. The T7 also dropped my connection multiple times a day, froze video calls, and was a general pain.
MSI RadiX AXE6600: This Wi-Fi 6E tri-band gaming router has that familiar red and black Sith spider look, though you can customize the lighting. It proved very fast in most of my tests, coming close to the top of the table at short range on the 6-GHz band and offering average performance on the 5-GHz and 2.4-GHz bands. But the mobile app had limited options, a confusing layout, and was buggy (it crashed on me more than once). The web interface was better, with more options, including open VPN, simple parental controls, a guest network, and QoS optimization for gaming. Unfortunately, performance was inconsistent, and I suffered random drops twice in a week of testing.
Do I Need a Gaming Router?
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronThe short answer is no. As I said in the intro, a good router is a good router, and you’ll find loads of great options that offer top-notch gaming performance in my Best Routers and Best Mesh Systems guides. That said, gaming routers do sometimes offer specific gaming features to help you prioritize gaming traffic, boost the speed of gaming streams, and keep lag to a minimum, though some of these features are available on regular routers, too. Gaming routers also sometimes have RGB lighting and designs that are supposed to appeal to gamers, though your mileage may vary.
Can I Add Routers or Extenders to Make a Mesh?
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronMany manufacturers allow you to create a mesh network by adding more routers or devices like Wi-Fi extenders, but check what is supported before you buy. For example, Asus AiMesh enables you to link multiple routers, while TP-Link’s OneMesh only allows you to add power-line adapters or range extenders. EasyMesh is a standard certification by the Wi-Fi Alliance that hopes to allow the mixing and matching of devices from different manufacturers to form a mesh, but few devices support it so far. You can also buy single mesh routers, like an Amazon Eero, and then add more later if you find that you need them. Based on my testing, a mesh is always better than an extender.
How Do Ethernet Cables Compare?
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronRunning an Ethernet cable to create a wired connection between your home router and gaming PC or other device will always provide a faster, more stable, and more secure link than Wi-Fi. But running Ethernet cables everywhere can be messy. Read my Ethernet guide to learn more. Wireless connectivity makes life easy and is fast enough for most tasks.
How I Test Routers
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronTo find the best gaming routers, I use each one for at least a week (usually longer) in a busy family home of four with lots of video streaming, gaming, and video calls. I also test the mobile apps and web interfaces to see how easy it is to change settings, set up parental controls, and access security features. My priority is to learn how well the router works in real-life rather than a lab, but I do also run a set of standardized tests, so that I have numbers to compare.
I run speed tests (downloads and uploads). I transfer files on the network on multiple devices (including iPhones, Android phones, Windows PCs, and MacBooks) from different spots around my home. I use NetSpot to survey signal strength throughout the house and create heat maps for comparison. I run the TamoSoft Throughput Test. I turn the power and modem off and on to find out how each system recovers.
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