Should you use a VPN while gaming?

A gamer visits the IndieCade exhibit at E3 2019 at the Los Angeles Convention Center — (Image credit: David McNew / Getty Images)

As a discerning reader of GamesRadar+, there’s a good chance you at least know what a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is all about.

VPNs act as a way to show your network traffic coming and going from another location in the world, there are plenty of useful reasons to use one. These range from connecting to iffy coffee shop Wi-Fi to getting around geo-blocked content to see what’s on Netflix or another streaming service elsewhere in the world.

There’s a little more nuance in finding the best VPN for gaming, though. Whether you’re playing Call of Duty late into the night or looking to snatch victory in an intense game of Fortnite, playing online with a VPN has some positives and some negatives. Here’s what you should consider before signing up, and some recommendations for when you do.

Before we start: Is using a gaming VPN legal?

Yep, you can use a VPN without fear of legal reprisal, as long as you’re aware of the terms and conditions of the game and platform you’re playing on.

We’ll touch on that below, but VPN usage, when done properly, is additive to your own gaming experience without making it unfair for anyone else.

Why you should use a VPN for gaming

Cartoon of a laptop and phone with VPN security displayed — (Image credit: Getty images)

Avoid ISP Throttling

Depending on where you are in the world, you may find that your ISP (internet service provider) will crack down on your network usage if there’s too much pressure on the service.

It may happen infrequently, but at peak times in affected areas, it can be noticeable, particularly with many players now streaming entire games into their homes via cloud services.

A VPN allows you to circumnavigate those ISP restrictions, potentially netting you an extra couple of kills for your streak when things would have otherwise slowed down.

Access other digital storefronts

Location spoofing is a key consideration when buying a VPN, letting you check out video and audio content in other regions as if you were at home - but what about gaming?

Depending on the storefront, your account settings, and how good your VPN is (be sure to check out our recommendations below), it’s possible to download a game when it becomes available - often hours before you’re supposed to be able to.

Getting a few extra hours to enjoy a hot new title, or even practice your finest noob-stomping skills, is another perk of a VPN while gaming.

Lower lag and ping

One of the biggest draws for competitive gamers is using a VPN to essentially sidestep server load. Your favorite MMO rammed with players? Try hopping to a different server in another country. No one playing in your time zone in your shooter of choice? Jump to somewhere it’s daytime and enjoy a match when everyone else is asleep.

Not only do you get additional choice for when and how you play, but you can enjoy knowing you’re likely to reduce your ping because your virtual location is closer to the physical server. Depending on the game’s infrastructure, you may even encounter less in the way of lag.

Non-gaming applications

Aside from gaming, a VPN can cover multiple devices. That means you may find it useful outside of gaming because you can use it for privacy, geounblocking, or just about anything else you’d use a VPN.

Many have dedicated platform apps, too, so you can install them on your phone, tablet, laptop, and more.

Why you should avoid a VPN for gaming

A padlock displayed on individually lit panels

Slower speeds

But wait, we said you can get lower lag and ping? Yes, that’s true, but as a rule of thumb, all VPNs will slice a percentage of your speeds off the top. That’s because your input needs to be relayed to a new server that’s potentially on the other side of the world before being relayed on.

If your connection speeds are fast, though, this will be a drop in the ocean and negligible for just about anything. If you’re starting from a slower connection speed, though, it’ll be much more noticeable.

Terms of Service and geographical concerns

Depending on the game in question, using a VPN could be seen as a way to gain a competitive advantage and see you butting heads with terms of service from a developer or publisher.

Storefronts also reserve the right to lock down buying games and content from other regions, while some countries restrict VPN usage wholesale, such as China.

GamesRadar+’s VPN recommendations

I’ve been testing VPNs for a number of years at this point, and there are three that I can recommend:

Disclaimer

We recommend VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

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Lloyd Coombes is an experienced freelancer in tech, gaming and fitness seen at Polygon, Eurogamer, Macworld, TechRadar and many more. He’s a big fan of loot-driven games like Destiny 2 and Diablo 4, and can’t stop buying Magic: The Gathering cards.

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