Best Gaming Monitors 2022

Our criteria – how do we decide the best gaming monitors in the world?

We have a number of different pointers to consider what makes the best gaming monitors. We only rate the monitor if it ticks all of these boxes, and at that, it has to excel in every single one of these criteria. The criteria we go by are:

•   Image quality – This is essential, and the most important component for the best gaming monitors is the image quality. There’s a number of different imaging formats that offer different components, but generally we look at VA monitors.

TN (Twisted Nematic) monitors are the fastest, but they’re cheap, and generally have worse visuals. IPS (In-pane switching) monitors, for contrast, have slower viewing times but have much better colours and visuals.

VA is the perfect hybrid, having good response times and some brilliant, top notch visuals

•   G Sync vs Freesync – When it comes to the best graphic cards for gaming, both G Sync and Freesync are featured in the best gaming monitors. The differences between the two are just price and graphics, with Freesync monitors being slightly cheaper.

We take into account which graphic card the best gaming monitor on the market has, and the effect it has on overall performance.

•   Refresh rates – Generally, we always search for the bigger refresh rates. This prevents some brutal screen tearing, which we can tell you the best gaming monitor on the market does not have. The higher the hertz (Hz), the better it will be.

The best gaming monitors will have between 75 Hz, and 144 Hz. Of course, the response time also depends heavily on this – you need to search the best gaming monitors for a low response time which will compliment a great overall gameplay package.

•   Affordability/Quality ratio – To cover our earlier points, we do definitely have your bank account in mind! The truth is, some of the most madly expensive gaming monitors often are extortionate – they’re not the best quality.

But, still, you have to be willing to fork out a little to get the best gaming monitors. We search for the monitor that strikes that perfect balance between quality and affordability.

•   Compatibility with other equipment – This is an important one, as it heavily depends on the rest of your setup. The best gaming monitors are able to blend in well with the rest of the equipment you have.

Even if it’s the best desk for gamers, the best gaming monitors blend in well with the rest of your equipment.

It’s not too big that it engulfs your entire desk, and it’s also able to be used across multiple consoles/PC. Finding a gaming monitor that covers a great deal of compatibility really does make it the best gaming monitor in the world.

Top 7 best gaming monitors you can buy today – the absolute cream of the crop

When trying to narrow down a list, we could only get it down to seven. There’s so many great gaming monitors out there, from PC to Xbox and PlayStation, it’s hard to just narrow it down to simply a top five.

So, considering all the factors we mentioned above, here are the 7 best gaming monitors in the world today.

1.     LG UltraGear 38GN950 -  An absolute stallion

Quick specs and facts

•       Costs $1,676
•   It has a screen size of a big 38 inches
•   The resolution is a stunning 3840 x 1600 at a refresh rate 160 Hz
•   It has a lightning quick response time of an amazing 1 ms
•   The color support is DCI-P3 98%
•   A top of the range viewing angle of 178/178
•   It has an aspect ratio of 21:9
•   It’s brightness is stunning, it can go as far as reaching 450 cd/m
•   It has a contrast ratio of 1000:1
•   It only weighs 20.3 pounds

What makes the LG UltraGear so amazing?

If you’re one who is willing to go all the way with your gaming experience, this LG ultragear is the best gaming monitor on the market. It offers absolutely everything you’d need for the stellar gaming experience all serious and pro gamers desire.

It’s response time of 1ms is quick as the speed of sound, it has beautiful graphics that will immerse you into your game and it’s perfect for the best gaming monitor for PS5.

With added on features such as G Sync, Display HDR 600 and an aspect ratio that somehow fits perfectly with any game you are playing. This is the gaming monitor to aim for, and in our opinion, the best gaming monitor in the world without a doubt.

Disadvantages: Are there any drawbacks to this LG Ultragear?

•   Expensive – The biggest downfall is just the price of the monitor. It’s hard not to cringe at what it asks of you… however, a near perfect monitor like this would be charging so highly.

Ranging from $1,600 – the massive cost really knocks this back from being perfect, to just being nearly perfect.

•   HDR vs TVs – If you look at the quality of some High end smart TVs, you’d find it actually would beat the HDR of the LG Ultragear. As surprising as this may sound, it goes to show how well modern Smart TVs are developed. It’s still the best 4k gaming monitor. however.

While this does knock it down in our books, everything else about the LG Ultragear makes it the best gaming monitor on the market – so, we can forgive a slightly lower resolution.

Our rating

Taking all of this into account, we’d say this is the best gaming monitor on the market. Apart from the price and size issues, it ticks every single box from a performance and technical standpoint. These dumbfounding graphics prove it has the best gaming screen bar none.

We are somewhat in awe of what LG have achieved with this Ultragear model – and, despite it’s hefty price, we’ll give it a:

9.5/10

2. Dell S3220DGF – A compatible, adaptable beast

Quick specs and facts

•   Great value price that racks in at just $490
•   It has a screen size of 32 inches
•   The aspect ratio is 16:9
•   The resolution is a great quality 2560x1440 at a refresh rate of 165 Hz
•   Great VA (viewing angle) of 178/178
•   A solid refresh rate of 4 ms
•   It has an ‘Adaptive Sync’ of FreeSync Premium Pro

What puts the Dell S3220DGF second on our list?

For most everymen and every women out there out there, this is the best gaming monitor on the market.

The reason for this is that it boasts amazing features, all at a great value price of just $490. With the fast refresh rate and low response time, you’re bound to be caught up in any game you’re playing.

Take into account the FreeSync Premium Pro that prevents any kind of screen tearing, and it hits that sweet graphics spot of 1440p resolution – which perfectly balances image quality and gaming performance.

Not to mention the great lack of gaming lag, and even G Sync compatibility too. To be frank, this monitor fits in everything you would need for a good budget gaming monitor.

Disadvantages – are there any drawbacks to the Dell S3220DGF?

•   Srgb mode – The lack of a standard Red Green Blue (Srgb) mode could be off puttingly to some veteran, or classic gamers. Srgb is often used in gaming due to its vibrancy and accuracy in showing colours within its range – and, nowadays, it can be easily calibrated to show colours outside of its range.

However, for use of speed and reflexes, gaming mode and those colours is often preferred in a modern context. Still, the lack of choice is a slight disappointment.

•   Lack of gamma presets – Serious players will often rely on gamma presets when it comes to the environment of their games. Gamma presets are essentially shading and tonal technology – they serve to make perception of different colour tones easier.

For example, the difference between a red wall that casts a shadow and one that doesn’t. It’s a small feature that can make a huge difference to certain gamers, and not having these presets is another small setback for this Dell model.

Our rating

The Dell S3220DGF is just a fantastic piece of hardware. Dell knows exactly how to create the best gaming monitors for PC, and it shows with this fantastic monitor.  It has every feature that you would need to have a great PC gaming experience, and apart from a lack of a couple of features, it is well worth the great value price.

Knowing that this gaming monitor will suit both beginners and experts perfectly, we have to give this gaming monitor:

9/10

7.     Samsung Odyssey G7 – The Master of Variety

Quick facts and specs

•   A great price of $500
•   A resolution of 2,560x1440 at a refresh rate of 240 Hz
•   It has a VA of 178/178
•   The contrast ratio is 2500:1
•   It has a very quick response time of 1ms
•   There’s a color support of 95% DCI-P3
•   There’s a brightness of 350 nits

What makes Samsung Odyssey so adaptable?

You’d have to search far and wide to find the best gaming monitors that give you such a great compatible variety. The Samsung Odyssey G7 is one of few that provides absolute quality in it’s performance, with both a fast refresh rate and a high screen quality.

Any gaming monitor that can master those two variables is immediately a top of the range gaming monitor in our eyes. It also has an excellent HDR, so you won’t have to worry about any kind of screen tearing, or playing a wide variety of games across your G7.

These features make it so easy for a gamer to change genres or games to whatever they want to in the one session: you can be playing Fall Guys with your friends one minute, and the next you could be playing Rainbow Six and there wouldn’t be an issue with the Samsung Odyssey G7.

For all intents and purposes, it is the best monitor for next gen consoles.

Disadvantages – are there any drawbacks to the Samsung Odyssey G7?

•       Difficult to assemble – This can be frustrating for those who lack patience, because the big downfall of the Samsung Odyssey G7 is its assembly. Trying to assemble it at times can be downright maddening.

As we’ve stated in our curved game monitor review, setting up curved monitors can go badly if you’re not very careful. We’d recommend you take your time assembling this monitor.

•       No USB-C port – Another strange choice for a high level gaming monitor, but the Odyssey G7 is missing an USB-C port. This isn’t a huge deal, but for many gamers, it can be frustrating when you wish to plug in an older PC or old gen console controller, which commonly would use USB-C ports.

Our rating

The Samsung Odyssey achieves what many of the best gaming monitors in the world don't. It manages to have both a fast refresh rate, and a high screen quality of the perfect 1440p.

It also provides a deeply immersive gaming experience for environmental games, with the curved screen sucking you in, and the ability to switch from game to game without missing a beat is essential. The only major downfall would be the awkward assembly. For all these reasons, we’ve decided that the Samsung Odyssey is a stellar:

8.5/10

4. Gigabyte Aorus FV43U – A huge bang for your buck

Quick facts and specs

•       Screen size of a whopping 43 inches
•       Price is $960
•       Resolution is 3840x2160 with a refresh rate of 144 Hz
•       VA of 178/178
•   97% DCI-P3/ 150% Srgb/ 99% AdobeRGB
•   The response time is 1ms
•   The aspect ratio is 16:9
•   There’s a contrast ratio of 4000:1
•   Brightness of 1,000 nits

What makes the massive Gigabyte Aorus FV43U so valuable?

Gigabyte certainly delivered in their promise to make a Giga sized gaming monitor. This behemoth measures in at an amazing 43 inches, and every inch of it delivers in quality.

The 4K stunning quality makes this massive screen even more immersive and impressive, as well as the fast refresh rate and the brilliant matte screen.

It also comes with its own set of the best gaming speakers, as well as some game optimized settings. This gaming monitor does its absolute best to stand out from the pack, and when looking at the best monitor brands for gaming, it certainly succeeds in that area.

Disadvantages – Are there any disadvantages to the Gigabyte Aorus?

•   Too big for some – It goes without saying that 43 inches is colossal. And, for some people, it’s simply impractical to have a gaming monitor that big. It may have the best gaming screen, but that doesn’t have much use if it doesn’t fit on your gaming desk.

Along with the speakers that come with this gaming monitor, a gaming monitor this big suits people who truly have the space to fit something like this into their gaming environment.

Our rating

This Gigabyte Aorus is, in terms of massive screens, the best gaming monitor on the market . It really does provide that unique experience, with some brilliant graphics, a fast refresh rate and a unique matte screen that has a hypnotic air to it. Without a doubt, you can’t deny this is the best gaming screen you’ll find.

Coming with its own exclusive speakers too, you have everything at your disposal. However, the size might be a deal breaker for some. Taking all that into account, our rating is:

7.5/10

5. MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD – All the colours in the rainbow and more

Quick facts and specs

•       Price of $600
•       Screen size of 27 inches and an aspect ratio of 16:9
•       A resolution of 2560x1440 with a refresh rate of 165 Hz
•       Uses IPS (In Pane Switching) image panelling
•       Response time of 1ms
•       G Sync Compatible
•   112.19% of DCI-P3
•   Nice backlight strobe effect

What makes this colourful MSI Optix so alluring?

It’s small, it’s compact but it is, without a doubt, one of the best game monitors you’ll find. The colour pallet is what stands out about the Optix – with a saturation of 112.19% of DCI-P3, you are getting a screen full of vibrant and in depth colours like you have never seen before. We’d consider it the best gaming screen for colour.

It also uses the IPS panel, rather than the VA, which does lend a hand to the Optix having such a great colour pallet.

We personally consider it to be the best gaming monitor for Xbox One for this reason. And, with an IPS screen, you’d be right to be worried about speed. Don’t be. The Optix features a 160 Hz refresh rate – meaning those beautiful colours won’t be slowed down by high quality graphics.

The Optix also boasts some great G Sync compatibility, which will greatly put it forward in the graphics department.

Disadvantages – are there any drawbacks to the MSI Optix?

•   HDR adds little – We’d like to add that HDR doesn’t take away from what the MSI Optix offers. It’s still one of the most colourful gaming monitors you’ll find on the market. It just doesn’t add anything at all.

The HDR doesn’t have any additional features to the graphics, in fact, it hardly seems to differ from SDR. The colour saturation certainly makes the game beautiful, but the lack of contrast and graphic improvement may not sit well with experienced gamers.

Our rating

We’ll be frank – this is the most colorful gaming monitor we could ever find. That’s the selling point of the MSI Optix, and it knows it – it doesn’t need to excel in anything else, as the beautiful visuals make it the best gaming screen out there.

Along with graphics that can keep up with these beautiful visuals, you’ll quickly be drawn in to what the MSI Optix has to offer.

It has a disappointing HDR, and the IDS screen doesn’t quite compare to the VA – but, that’s not why you’d buy the Optix. With all this in mind, we’ve given the Optix:

7/10

6. Viotek GNV34DBE – The best curved gaming experience you’ll have

Quick facts and specs

•   Price is $400
•   Screen size of 34 inches and an aspect ratio of 21:9
•   Resolution of 3440x1440 at a refresh rate of 144Hz
•   VA of 178/178
•   A response type of 4ms
•   Uses a Free Sync gaming card
•   Brilliant HDR technology

What makes the Viotek GNV34DBE such a special curved gaming monitor?

The GNV34DBE has a great gaming experience attached to it’s name simply because it combines affordability with an amazing gameplay experience. Viotek have spared no expense in making sure that this is one of the best curved gaming monitors out there, with a 1500R curve that will cover your entire peripherals, and no distortion in the slightest. It really is the best gaming screen, in terms of curved monitors.

However, the curve is not all this great Viotek monitor has to offer. With a 144Hz refresh rate, the gameplay will come at you hot and heavy – there’ll be little time to even breath in the face of the 1400p stellar graphics. The HDR is another aspect where this Viotek gaming monitor really does excel though.

With a noticeable jump in quality from the SDR, the HDR feels like a whole new world – a world you can eagerly enjoy in a whole new quality. This noticeable difference is the reason it is the best gaming screen for HDR play.

The Freesync technology will also eliminate any worries of screen tearing too, when you’re playing at such high quality specs. All in all, this is a solid addition, and when it comes to curved gaming monitors, the best gaming monitor on the market.

Disadvantages – Are there any drawbacks to the Viotek GNV34DBE?

•   A weak stand – Strangely enough, the one major pitfall of the Viotek does not come from the monitor itself. Across all the monitors we have reviewed, we’ve never had a monitor that can be as wobbly and unsteady as this stand can be.

Relying on the stand mightn’t end well, particularly if you’re someone who wants to set up a stand beside your desk. It really leaves you little option but to try mount the gaming monitor, which is a shame that it limits your options like that.

Our rating

All in all, this is a solid addition to the tour list. It excels completely in one area: and, that’s providing the best curved experience you can have. It has some great specs – with great quality graphics, and some brilliant HDR gameplay.

While it doesn’t break the mould in any of these areas, this is still an absolutely excellent gaming monitor – and, you can’t deny it’s one of the best gaming monitors on the whole planet.

The only downfall is the flimsy nature of its stand, which could lead to some chronic worrying about the status of your Viotek monitor. For this reason, we give this gaming monitor a:

7/10

7. LG UltraGear Ergo 27GN88A – A true adaptable gaming experience

Quick facts and specs

•   Price is $550
•   The screen size is 27 inches with an aspect ratio 16:9
•   The screen resolution is 2560x1440, with a refresh rate of 144 Hz
•   A VA of 178/178
•   Colour support of 98% of DCI-P3
•   A response time of 1ms
•   Contrast ratio of 1000:1, with a brightness of 350cd/m
•   Adjustable stand

What makes the LG Ultragear one of the best gaming monitors?

Another LG addition to our list covers their newest gaming monitor. This one is a solid addition to our list, mainly because of what exclusive aspects it has to offer. With it’s ergonomics, and its wide colour coverage, you’ll enjoy playing on this monitor without a doubt.

It’s best suited for the portable gamers: those who want to have a fast, 1400p gaming experience without forking out for a massive gaming monitor that takes up too much space.

It’s adjustable stand means it can latch onto a whole variety of surfaces, from your floor, the walls, your desk or wherever you can fit it safely. This is a solid addition to any experienced gamer, because they’ll certainly find value in this.

Disadvantages -  are there any downfalls to the LG Ultragear?

•   Lack of a HDR experience – Like other gaming monitors we’ve covered, the only thing the LG Ultragear falls down on is it’s lack of a proper HDR display. It certainly has some beautiful colours, and it’s adjustable stand is fairly handy for the gamers who want a small setup. But, with no real difference, switching between SDR and HDR means that the function is quite redundant, and there’s no real need to have it at all.

Our rating

We really enjoy what the LG Ultragear has to offer. It’s clearly aimed at a certain, niche kind of gamer: one who doesn’t have a large setup, and one who wants a monitor that is adaptable to any space.

For a smaller screen, it really does provide a beautiful display, and it has even better graphics when you’re playing. But, with a lack of any standout features, it may suit casual gamers better than the hardcore or pro gamers. For that reasons, our ratings are:

6.5/10

Conclusion -  A wide variety of the best gaming monitors

To wrap up, we’ve covered the absolute crème de la crème when it comes to gaming monitors. Every monitor on our list follows a strict criteria, which we follow to the letter – taking all the technicalities, the performance and the general aesthetic that the gaming monitor brings to the table.

Our list shows you the best gaming monitors in the world, but this is just our opinion – any of these 7 gaming monitors could suit you, depending on your tastes. It all just depends on what you want from your gaming experience. Whatever your choice is: you won’t be disappointed!

Best Gaming Monitors FAQ