While your average wireless router is fine for scrolling the web and streaming shows or movies, they’re potentially death traps for online gaming. Enduring slow speeds and additional lag of a less-than-capable router when gaming can be unbearably frustrating. Those issues might be linked to your ISP, but oftentimes, the culprit is the router. If you’re serious about gaming, a great router is an absolute necessity.
TL;DR – These Are the Best Routers for Gaming:
In addition to offering the latest Wi-Fi standards like Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, or even Wi-Fi 7 for faster speeds, reduced latency, and more stable connections, the best gaming routers can prioritize gaming traffic. That means you get the lion’s share of bandwidth for smoother action with less rage-inducing lag. Some higher-end models are even packed with advanced features like multi-gig LAN ports that deliver lightning-fast wired connections and mesh network support for better coverage, helping eliminate dead zones or weak signal areas.
If you’re ready to ditch your old router and its slow speeds, congestion, and signal dropouts, our experts have carefully selected five of the best gaming routers to keep your games and streams running smoothly. Whether you’re after a budget option that still gets the job done or something feature-rich and fast, one of our picks should work perfectly with your gaming setup.
1. Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro
The Best Overall Gaming Router
Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro
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Wi-Fi 7 enabled router with MU-MIMO, beamforming, OFDMA, and excellent parental controls
Wi-Fi Technology
Quad-band 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 7)
Frequency
2.4GHz, 5GHz, 2 x 6GHz
Processor
Quad-Core 2.6GHz
Memory
256MB Flash, 2GB RAM
Features
4K QAM, 320Hz bandwidth, beamforming, MU-MIMO, OFDMA, AiMesh
Wealth of Ethernet ports, some with extremely high bandwidth
While Wi-Fi 7 client devices are still pretty limited, a Wi-Fi 7 router is a great way to future-proof your setup. The PS5 Pro, a few top-tier gaming PCs, and a handful of great smartphones support the latest and greatest network technology. Even if you don’t have Wi-Fi 7 devices just yet, if you’re serious about gaming, the Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro can’t be beat. From multi-gig ethernet ports and wildly fast 6GHz throughput to gaming features and parental controls, this router has it all. Just be prepared to pay for quality.
The Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro is a quad-band router with a 2.4GHz band, a 5GHz band, and dual 6GHz bands. Those 6GHz bands can theoretically hit up to 11,529Mbps, which makes it one of the fastest and most consistent routers on the market today. Its performance is aided by features like 4K QAM, 320Hz bandwidth, beamforming, MU-MIMO, and OFDMA. The AiMesh support also means it can become part of a mesh network with other compatible routers, potentially extending performance further.
For PC gaming or even consoles, a hard-wired network connection might be preferred, and with 7 LAN ports, including two 10GbE connections, the Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro doesn’t disappoint. One of those 10GbE LAN ports prioritizes bandwidth to the connected gaming device, while link aggregation is supported on each Ethernet port for better bandwidth overall. But given the sheer number of connectivity options, this router is massive, with eight bulky, adjustable external antennas to improve signal. Asus added RGB lighting to further signal this as a gaming router.
Adjusting the flashy RGB and a whole slew of other features are available with Asus’ robust software suite. Beyond just providing network stats and basic setting adjustments, other gaming-specific modes can improve network performance. And if you’ve got kids in your household, Trend Micro-powered AiProtection Pro is especially useful, providing excellent parental controls to keep little ones safer online, like usage stats and age-based website restrictions.
2. Asus RT-AX82U
Best Budget Gaming Router
Asus RT-AX82U
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Save with this budget-minded Wi-Fi 6 gaming router offering fast speeds, a dedicated gaming port, a cool design, and a useful app.
Wi-Fi Technology
Dual-band 802.11ax
Processor
1.5 GHz tri-core
Features
MU-MIMO, Adaptive QoS, Beamforming, AiMesh, WP3
Supports Asus AiMesh for a mesh network
Admittedly, many routers in this guide will set you back a good chunk of change, but the Asus RT-AX82U keeps the price tag lower while still rocking all the gaming chops you need. It has dual-band Wi-Fi 6, which offers a stable connection and low-latency communication between your gaming system and the router. There’s a speedy 2.4GHz band and an even faster 5GHz band; we’re talking 5,400Mbps speeds. You can also connect a PC or gaming device to the dedicated gaming port, ensuring it gets the lion’s share of the connection.
The Asus RT-AX82U looks the part of a gaming router with its bulky design, four visible antennae for a better signal, and a healthy dose of RGB lighting. If you’re worried about a poor signal in certain areas of your home, you can build out a mesh network for seamless extended coverage thanks to Asus AiMesh support. And through the router’s app, you can prioritize whatever you’re doing and remove bottlenecks. The sheer number of ways to manage your network’s traffic is pretty astounding.
3. Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300
Best Tri-Band Gaming Router
Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300
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Enjoy fast speeds on this tri-band Wi-Fi 6E router offering a unique design, ample LAN ports, and top-notch performance.
Wi-Fi Technology
Tri-band 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6E)
Frequency
2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz
Processor
1.7GHz Quad-Core processor
Features
WPA2/WPA3, link aggregation
Great, speedy performance
Subscription for parental controls and security
What’s better than a dual-band router? A tri-band router to limit congestion and improve bandwidth. An additional frequency band allows more devices to connect to a network without being overwhelmed, delivering a faster and more reliable internet connection. The Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300 is a brilliant Wi-Fi 6E router offering three dedicated bands: 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz. Plus, it has a lot more on offer to appease every gamer.
This Wi-Fi 6E router is capable of some zippy speeds with the 6GHz frequency, managing to reduce the load on the other two bands for even faster performance. By default, three separate Wi-Fi networks are created for each band, making it easy to dedicate each frequency to different devices. For gamers, the 6GHz band could be dedicated solely to gaming devices, so simultaneous VR gaming and 8K streaming should remain uninterrupted. However, in larger spaces with thick walls, performance will dip no matter the band you’re connected to. The unique winged design of the router, with its six precisely placed internal antennas, should help a little with improving coverage.
Beyond wireless, the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE300 has two ethernet WAN ports to connect to a modem, while four ethernet LAN ports can be connected to more demanding gaming devices like a PC or console. For those with speedy internet service, two Gigabit LAN ports support link aggregation for a 2Gbps wired connection. A USB-C port is even on the router for storage, making file sharing with devices on the same network simple.
Netgear’s Nighthawk App allows for easy access to basic information about the network and guides you through the setup process. This app is fairly limited compared to what you can do with other gaming routers, and while parental controls and security are available, a subscription fee is required. There is a way to unlock even more network capabilities via browser interface, but it’s aimed at more advanced users.
4. Netgear Orbi 860 Series
Best Wi-Fi Mesh System for Gaming
Netgear Orbi 860 Series
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The Netgear Orbi 860 Series is a mesh system that provides coverage across a wide space while MU-MIMO, beamforming, and other Wi-Fi tech ensure no drop-offs.
Wi-Fi Technology
Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6
Frequency
2.4GHz, 5GHz, 5GHz
Processor
2.2GHz quad-core processor
Features
Beamforming, MU-MIMO, 128-bit AES encryption with PSK
Easy to expand coverage area
Sometimes you have multiple gaming devices spread all around your home that need to be connected to fast internet, and that’s where a mesh Wi-Fi router steps in. A perfect option for gaming is the Netgear Orbi 860 Series, which offers a main router and node, and you can purchase additional high-speed nodes to ensure every nook and cranny of your home is up to speed. There’s coverage up to 5,400sqft with this two pack, but each node expands your wireless network, while MU-MIMO, beamforming, and other Wi-Fi tech ensure no drop-offs.
This Orbi system features tri-band Wi-Fi. You don’t get Wi-Fi 6E support, so there’s no 6GHz band, but that second 5GHz band should handle backhaul traffic between nodes if you plan to purchase them. That leaves blazing-fast speeds for the other 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands to connect to all your gaming devices. There are even four LAN ports on the router for a wired connection to devices that benefit from consistent speed, like gaming PCs and consoles. One WAN port also hits 10Gbps if you’ve got multi-gig internet.
5. Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000
Best Wi-Fi 6E Gaming Router
Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000
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Beastly gaming router offering quad-band frequency, insane speeds, 10Gb WAN or LAN, and a Game Accelerator that prioritizes gaming devices.
Wi-Fi Technology
Quad-band 802.11ax
Frequency
2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz
Features
Beamforming, 4×4 MU-MIMO, QoS OFDMA, AiMesh, 10Gb WAN/LAN, 2.5Gb WAN, Link Aggregation, WAN Aggregation, 2 x USB 3.2, Samba support, WPA3, Game Boost
Incredible throughput on 6GHz band
Most ISP won’t be able to hit max speeds
If you want a serious router for gaming, you can’t get much more serious than the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000. It’s a Wi-Fi 6E router, which brings access to even more potential thanks to the 6GHz spectrum it adds on top of 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Quad-band connectivity offers up an easy way to split up your network so you can ensure your gaming devices have the fastest connection in the house. That 6GHz offers incredible throughput, and that connection is not as common yet, eliminating the same kind of interference from all your neighbors’ routers that you will see on 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks.
This router has eight antennas to deliver a powerful signal, and with beamforming, it can go even further, ensuring a strong connection between your wireless devices and the router. You also get some blistering speeds from wired connections, as the router supports 10Gb WAN or LAN and link aggregation, so you’re not stuck with the 1Gbps Ethernet speeds many other routers will limit you to. Beyond that, you get features like Game Accelerator, which prioritizes gaming devices in the dedicated gaming port, and security software built in to ensure everything stays safe while you’re online.
Where to Get Top Gaming Routers (In Stock) in the UK:
Best Wi-Fi 6 Router for Gaming Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000
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Best Wi-Fi Mesh System for Gaming Netgear Orbi RBK752
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How to Get the Most Out of Your Gaming Router
Be aware, just having a gaming router doesn’t mean you’re going to automatically get the best home network instantly. You still should follow a number of best practices for optimizing your home network. Don’t try tucking your router out of the way in a closet at the bottom of a shelf, as that’s the quickest way to ensure you won’t get the full performance out of it.
Your router should be placed in a central location in your living space, ideally high up, and without many obstacles in the way (i.e., don’t put it behind your TV). Everything in the path from your router to your connected devices will impact the signal and thus the quality of your connection.
You can also help out your wireless devices by using a wired ethernet connection wherever possible. (If you need one, consider our best pick: DbillionDa Cat8 Ethernet Cable). Limiting the number of devices connected to your Wi-Fi at a time can help ensure each device gets better performance.
Securing your wireless router is also important not just for security but also for your performance. Sure, you don’t want potentially malicious users accessing your home network, but you also don’t want your neighbors piggybacking onto your network, as they’ll eat into your bandwidth and potentially drag down your network performance. Use a strong password and consider disabling any guest networks. You might even consider not broadcasting your network ID, which makes it far less likely someone will access your network with the tradeoff that setting up new devices can be a little more time-consuming.
What to Look for in a Gaming Router
While you’re shopping for a gaming router, you should be on the lookout for which version of Wi-Fi it supports. The main options you’ll want to look out for are Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) – with Wi-Fi 6E expanding Wi-Fi 6 to include a 6GHz band, as they deliver the fast wireless speeds. Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) is here too, with newer devices beginning to offer support. Luckily, the newer routers are backward compatible for older devices. During your search for a gaming router, you’ll undoubtedly come across units designed for Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) that look very attractive thanks to their low prices, but you should avoid this siren’s call. Wi-Fi 4 is an outdated standard that provides fairly slow speeds compared to more modern renditions. Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) is also on the outs, so we’d stay away from those routers, too.
You’ll also want to find a gaming router that is at least dual-band. Single-band routers only support the 2.4GHz band, which is fine enough for web browsing and downloading most files, but dual-band routers add a second 5GHz channel that provides much faster wireless speeds. You’ll also find tri- or quad-band routers – and we’ve featured them as well – that offer an additional 5GHz or 6GHz band you can completely dedicate to gaming.
Gaming Router FAQ
What’s the difference between a normal router and a gaming router?
Routers are the standard gateways that allow providers to set up internet access in your home. Gaming routers come with enhanced features for, you guessed it, gaming. They enable users to customize how bandwidth is prioritized across devices on a network and can determine which is the best server for a given application. Many gaming routers also come with additional ports.
As mentioned above, upgrading your router doesn’t suddenly mean your ping will drop to 0. Bandwidth is ultimately determined by your internet provider, and if coverage is bad in certain areas of your house, a gaming router won’t prevent you from encountering lag. To avoid bottlenecks, make sure any router you get is well-suited to your specific internet plan.
Do you need a gaming router?
Gaming routers are specialized and more expensive than their “normal” counterparts, so it’s worth asking whether the additional cost is worth it for the average gamer.
In general, wired connections are always best for gaming. Gaming routers can be useful for dorms or other locations where you otherwise may not be able to set up a secure ethernet cable.
Gamers who mostly enjoy offline RPGs or cozy simulation games are unlikely to see any benefit from a gaming router. However, with customized QoS, serious online MOBA and FPS players may be able to get the latency edge they need to set off an ability or secure a winning headshot before their opponent.
How to extend your WiFi range for gaming
The further you get away from your router, the weaker the signal is going to get. If your gaming setup isn’t close enough to your router, consider picking up a Wi-Fi range extender to get a bit more reach.
For more WiFi help, see the best USB WiFi adapters. If security matters most to you, also see our list for the best gaming VPNs for 2025.
Danielle is a Tech freelance writer based in Los Angeles who spends her free time creating videos and geeking out over music history.