But, what if you don’t have a gaming monitor? Buying one can be a quest on its own. There are numerous options available on the market and many variables that you should consider when deciding on the monitor that’s right for you. So, to help, let the list below serve as your world map, guiding you through a culmination of the very best gaming monitors of the year.

How did we choose these products?

There’s a large variety of gaming monitors on the market and your preference for display size, refresh rate, and overall viewing experience is the ultimate decider of what’s best. When compiling the list, we take into account the following: The Odyssey G7 is a testament to that claim and so much more. It sports a 27-inch monitor that’s curved just enough to differentiate itself from the flatter, traditional monitors, without forcing you to stay centered for a practical viewing experience. The Odyssey G7 can also ramp up to 240Hz (if your graphics card can power it) and produces pixel-sharp 1440p content. That duo of features alone means that you can make the most out of any graphic-intensive game. Speaking of graphics, the G7 is G-SYNC and FreeSync compatible, meaning it plays well with NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards.
While I can spend all day telling you about the impressive motion handling that this monitor delivers, I think the unsung hero that uplifts this entry is its body design. Flanking the back are vents that allow for an even and effective dispersion of heat, which is vital for long periods of gaming. The base is also fairly wide and heavy, keeping the monitor sturdy and stationed, even if you decide to adjust the height and angle. The monitor supports AMD FreeSync. The main reason you’d want to buy this monitor, though, is for the sharp and freshly-calibrated 34-inch display. The CU34G2X is perfect for wide-screen gaming, watching movies, and day-to-day multitasking. It’s a productivity beast. What you’re probably eyeing this monitor for, however, is the design and RGB base. When powered on, the Raptor 27 looks clean, futuristic, and should work well with any gaming setup. Razer also incorporated a cable management system on the back of the stand, though it will take some fidgeting to fit everything properly.  Standing out from the competition isn’t necessarily the ASUS TUF’s forte, but you’d be hard pressed to find a similarly-priced alternative that offers the same feature set. With an ample amount of ports in the back and a rotatable mount, this monitor gives you nothing more and nothing less – and for many, that’s exactly what’s desired. In the kingdom of gaming monitors, the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 takes the throne. It features Samsung’s Mini LED technology, which produces industry-leading contrast and some of the most true-to-life colors on any monitor. The display can ramp up to 240Hz and is NVIDIA G-Sync compatible for variable refreshing, adapting to your game or task. Sitting in front of the Odyssey Neo G9 is probably the closest virtual reality experience you can get without putting on a headset. It’s an immersive wonder that will change your definition of the word ‘monitor’. 

Longevity: When scouting for the best gaming monitors, longevity is important. What we mean by longevity is how the monitors fair with time and also how well the viewing experience is over long periods of gaming. The ideal display should provide excellent viewing angles and fast response times. Display quality: Fromrefresh rate to the type of panel (TN, VA, IPS), gaming monitors are built with an arsenal of technology to give you the advantage when queuing up. A high refresh rate offers ultra-smooth gameplay so we definitely favor monitors that boast at least 120Hz. Price: Not everyone has the money to splurge on an expensive gaming monitor. Or, perhaps you’d rather save some of the money to buy a gaming keyboard or mouse. Whatever the case may be, we scour the internet for the best for less and more.

What happens if you’re using a standard monitor for gaming? You’ll likely experience tearing, blurred images, flickering, and other visual bugs that will hinder your gaming overall.

Twisted nematic (TN): TN panels are among the oldest types of panels and paved the way for flat-screen monitors and LCD displays. While viewing angles are not the best, gaming monitors with TN panels offer less input lag and are often cheaper as they don’t cost as much to produce. In-plane switching (IPS): Coined by LG and later adapted by other manufacturers, IPS panels bring excellent viewing angles and color reproduction. One thing to look out for is “IPS glow” which is when the backlighting of the display peaks through it at certain angles. Vertical alignment (VA): VA panels are widely used in the TV industry due to their stellar contrast ratio and color reproduction, and bring similar benefits to gaming monitors. A VA panel is a safe and reliable choice when shopping for a gaming monitor.

Adaptive-Sync technology connects the refresh rate of your gaming monitor to your graphics card, so the latter can control the cadence of which the display refreshes. That way, you can play your favorite games with the most optimal refresh rate.