The best gaming routers 2018

If you play a lot of the best PC games online, then making sure you have the best gaming router is essential.

These routers have been specially designed to prioritise network traffic from games, a feature known as Quality of Service (QoS), so your gameplay won't be affected if other people are streaming Netflix or browsing the web.

Many gamers think that a wired connection is necessary for online gaming and streaming via services such as Steam In-Home streaming, and for the most part, we’d agree. The best gaming routers, then, should have an array of Gigabit Ethernet ports for connecting your favorite gaming devices to the internet – or for playing local LAN games.

However, it’s not always possible to have a wired connection, so having the best router for the job, with the latest – and fastest – Wi-Fi technology (currently 802.11ac), is extremely important. Having external antennae which can be moved to direct the Wi-Fi signal to certain areas of the home is also useful.

With the particular needs of gamers in mind, then, here are the very best gaming routers you can buy.

If you’re looking for one of the best gaming routers with old-school aesthetics and new-school tech, the TP-Link Archer C5400 v2 is exactly what the doctor ordered. This gaming router blends enthusiast-grade features and accessible setup into a package that’s appealing to pretty much everyone. And, when you add in the Alexa support, you have a router that can adapt to any situation, whether you’re focusing hard on topping the leaderboards in Overwatch, or you have guests all connecting to your network.

Read the full review: TP-Link Archer C5400 V2

Unless you’re an impossibly hardcore gamer, the Asus RT-86U is likely overkill. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t have it’s place, though. On top of our benchmarks that prove it’s a beast, the RT-86U has a ton of nice features. If you have multiple PCs all vying for bandwidth, MU-MIMO is a nice touch – not everyone will need it, but it’s a nice addition either way. It’s not cheap, but if you need uncompromising performance, better gaming routers are hard to find.

Read the full review: Asus RT-AC86U

The Asus RT-AC5300 is an excellent high-end gaming router that comes with a number of advanced features for making online and network gaming as lag and frustration free as possible.

This includes an easy-to-use yet powerful interface, as well as comprehensive QoS settings. The spider-like design won't be to everyone's tastes, but the eight antennae serve a purpose, as they can be used to direct your Wi-Fi signal throughout your home, giving this router an excellent range.

Read the full review: Asus RT-AC5300 Tri-band Gigabit Router

It may appear as though it would abduct a close friend or family member, but we assure you, the Zyxel Armor Z2 AC2600 isn’t as alien in function as it is in looks. Equipped with MU-MIMO support, which improves speeds when multiple devices are connected to the same network, the Armor Z2 AC2600 prides itself on its performance capabilities. Paired with StreamBoost, Zyxel has devised a router that can not only handle ample traffic, but it can actually prioritize bandwidth based on the needs of each device connected to it.

Read the full review: Zyxel Armor Z2 AC2600

Asus RT-AC88U

The Asus RT-AC88U justifies its above-average pricing with unrivalled record-breaking next-generation 802.11ac wireless performance. With four antennas and NitroQAM technology, which pushes speeds further still, this router enables wireless performance that can break the 1GB/sec limit. There's a minor catch - you'll need to invest in a NitroQAM wireless adapter, such as the Asus PCE-AC88, to see those faster speeds. It's worth it, though, because this router is a champion cheaper than its Asus RT-AC5300 Tri-band gigabit rival.

Netgear Nighthawk X4S VDSL/ADSL Modem Router D7800

If routers had a fashion contest, Netgear’s D7800 would be among the top contenders. Its solid black finish is complemented by a quartet of antennas. Plus it’s damn fast and bettered by its inclusion of a duo of USB ports paired with an eSATA connector. The real centerpiece, though, is the VDSL 2 modem built into the Nighthawk X4S D7800, negating the need to buy or lease one separately. The outfitted software isn’t too shoddy either; a simple Dynamic QOS system makes it a breeze to govern a multitude of devices on a single home network.

If you're looking for a dependable mid-range router that combines speed with a great Wi-Fi range and features aimed at games, then you'll definitely want to consider the D-link DIR-885L/R. It has a good selection of ports, and the user interface for setting up and configuring the router is nicely designed and easy to use. It also supports DD-WRT open-source firmware, which makes this a flexible and powerful gaming router.