To fully immerse yourself in a game, you need space to set up peripherals like your mouse, keyboard, headset rack, speakers, and maybe multiple monitor stands. If you live stream your gaming sessions to Twitch or YouTube, you may also want room for a microphone, boom stand, and other equipment. While a gaming room is ideal for hobbyists and pros alike, it’s not an option for most people – especially if you rent or live with family and friends. However, a corner with the right furniture can work just as well if you invest in a high-quality gaming desk. Below, you will find my top recommendations for the best gaming desks of 2023. Whether you want a massive rig or a convenient space saver, I rounded up a variety of options to fit your budget and needs. Also: The best gaming PCs: Top rigs for pros, casual gamers, and creators The Bestier L-shaped gaming desk is my top choice, and it can be purchased at Walmart. Available in red or black, the Bestier L-shaped gaming desk measures 56.6 inches and is pretty affordable at just under $150. I have a fondness for L-shaped designs in general, because they offer plenty of space for a keyboard, mouse, and other accessories, without taking up a full wall in a room. This desk also features a writing table you can use to house two or three gaming monitors. As a bonus, this desk comes with useful accessories: a 47-inch laptop stand, LED lighting strips, a cup rack, and a headphone stand. The carbon fiber matte black surface is a nice, modern touch. Overall, this is an excellent desk for gaming that also works well as a home office. The Atlantic Original carbon fiber gaming desk is another great option if you’re in the market for a space-saving gaming desk. This compact desk embodies the definition of ergonomic, and PVC-laminate delivers durability for years to come. Plus, right now this gaming desk is currently on sale at Walmart. Measuring just under 50 inches, this desk features a detachable monitor stand, a cable management system, a phone charging station, a headset hook, a cup holder, a power strip holder, speaker trays, and more. It can hold gaming monitors up to 32 inches wide with a weight of 40 pounds or less. Right now, you can pick up this dedicated gaming desk for under $60. The functional design works well for gamers who prioritize organization and value. The Ikea Fredde is an excellent multi-use desk for both work and gaming. Ikea is known for its range of flat-back furniture, and countless websites show you how to ‘hack’ the design basics. While the Fredde is undoubtedly basic, it has features that are great for gamers, like off-the-floor shelves for your tower, printer, and speakers. Also: The best gaming speakers you can buy The desk includes a mid-height workstation for your keyboard (complete with cup holders and a cut-out for wires), a second shelf for monitors, and a top shelf for other items. You can use trunking to hold your headset, while side panels keep out obtrusive light. I used this specific model for years, and it was a brilliant investment. I chose to leave off the side panels, though, and I believe it improved the design. As all gamers know, lighting and audio can greatly impact your experience. This gaming desk by Eureka combines LED lighting with a smooth glass finish to take things to the next level. Let’s be honest – it looks cool, too. Music-sensing LED effects offer greater customization, too. You can blend your gaming experience and RGB lighting with 27 nodes to choose from. Plus, there’s a dimming capability for when you want less visual stimulation. You can access these features through the Smart App control, available for download on iOS and Android devices. The L-shaped Eureka desk has a 60-inch length that offers plenty of surface area. You can house many gaming accessories such as monitors, keyboards, mice, and more. A cup holder and headset holder are also included. The Secretlab Magnus Pro is one of the best gaming desks on the market. Although expensive, the Magnus Pro is a worthwhile purchase if you’re willing to invest in a sturdy, cable-friendly, and ergonomic gaming desk. The Magnus Pro builds on Secretlab’s older Magnus metal desk by implementing sit-to-stand legs, a seamless RGB light system, and exceptional cable management. It has a fully-integrated power supply column (located in a desk leg) with a built-in socket to power all of your gaming devices. Constructed of metal, this sturdy desk is quite heavy, but that means it can handle your personalized gaming rig, no matter how complicated. You can also purchase accessories like cable management kits, desk mats, smart lighting, LAN extenders, and headphone hangers to build the desk of your dreams. You can’t go wrong with my top picks, depending on your preferences related to features, storage, and shelving options. I’ve broken down my top choices below to see how they compare based on shelf space, size, and price: My decision tree below can help you decide which option may work best for you: Lastly, I took note of extra components like shelves, space for speakers, towers, and peripherals. And, of course, I made sure to choose design options likely to appeal to gamers. Most glass desks can support the weight of a standard PC, but you may miss useful shelving found on non-glass or glass-hybrid desks if you opt for a complete glass option. It will certainly be stylish but could be more of a chore to keep clean, too. However, a gaming desk can be used for more than just gaming. With proper organization, you can create a multi-functional space for work and entertainment while fitting your gaming consoles and PC rigs. If you’re spending a lot of time at a desk – whether for work or gaming – my answer is yes. Sitting in an uncomfortable, rigid chair for long periods can leave you stiff and result in long-term spinal problems. Gaming chairs are designed for comfort and back support – and they can serve as a stylish addition to your gaming corner, too. Also: The best gaming chairs you can buy As a result, I’ve listed a few other options worth considering:
