10 Best Gaming Routers 2025 in the United States

The NETGEAR Nighthawk Tri-Band WiFi 7 Router (RS500) is designed to meet the demands of serious gamers looking for top-tier speed and reliability. Its WiFi 7 technology offers blazing-fast wireless speeds up to 12Gbps, which can handle real-time gaming, UHD streaming, and other high-bandwidth activities with ease. Compared to the previous WiFi 6 standard, it promises over twice the speed, helping reduce lag and improve responsiveness during gameplay.

The tri-band setup helps distribute your devices across different frequencies, minimizing interference and keeping your connection steady, especially if you have many gadgets connected at once. Coverage of up to 3,000 square feet makes it a good choice for larger homes or apartments, ensuring strong signals over a wide area. For wired connections, it features one 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port and three standard Gigabit ports, offering fast and stable connections for your gaming consoles or PCs.

Security is well addressed with automatic firmware updates and NETGEAR Armor, which protects against hackers, malware, and identity theft, adding peace of mind for online gaming and other activities. It does not include a built-in cable modem, meaning it must be paired with a separate modem, and it is designed for use in the U.S. only. The router’s compact design and high-performance antennas add to its appeal without taking up much space. While it may be more expensive than basic routers, its features cater well to gamers who want future-ready speed and strong security in one package.

The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 PRO is a powerful gaming router designed for serious gamers who demand high performance and speed. With support for the latest WiFi 7 technology, it offers impressive speeds of up to 30 Gbps and utilizes Quad-Band connectivity, which significantly enhances the range and capacity of your network. This router excels in providing low latency, crucial for online gaming, and features like Multi-link Operation ensure stable connections by linking multiple bands simultaneously.

A standout feature is the Triple-Level Game Acceleration, which prioritizes gaming traffic, optimizing your online gaming experience from your device to the game server. Additionally, the router boasts multiple Ethernet ports, including dual 10G and quad 2.5G ports, which are ideal for wired connections, ensuring that your gaming devices can access high-speed internet without interference.

While this router is packed with features, its complexity might be daunting for less tech-savvy users. Setting up and managing all the advanced options, like the QoS and AiMesh, could require a learning curve. Its price point may also be on the higher side, making it more suitable for dedicated gamers or those with extensive smart home setups rather than casual users. The GT-BE98 PRO is particularly beneficial for gamers who want the best performance, but those looking for a straightforward, budget-friendly router might need to consider alternatives.

The NETGEAR Nighthawk WiFi 7 Router (BE17000) is a powerful option for gamers looking for top-tier wireless performance. Its standout feature is the incredibly fast WiFi 7 connection, offering speeds up to 17 Gbps, which means smoother online gaming with minimal lag and excellent support for 4K or 8K streaming and virtual reality experiences. The router uses a tri-band setup, providing three separate WiFi channels that help reduce interference and maintain strong signals even when many devices—up to 150—are connected.

Coverage is impressive, reaching up to 3,300 square feet with high-performance antennas designed for 360-degree signal distribution. This makes it suitable for medium to large homes or gaming spaces. For wired connections, it includes one 10 Gigabit Ethernet port along with four standard Gigabit ports, allowing ultra-fast and stable connections for gaming consoles or PCs. Security is another strong point, with NETGEAR Armor providing protection against hackers, malware, and identity theft. This built-in security suite adds peace of mind, especially for families and frequent online gamers.

This router is not a modem, so you’ll need a separate modem device to connect to your internet service. It also lacks a coaxial input, which might limit compatibility for some cable internet users. Additionally, it's designed primarily for use in the U.S., which could be a drawback if you live elsewhere. The router is an excellent fit for gamers who want cutting-edge speeds, solid range, and strong security features, keeping in mind that a separate modem is required and it's best suited for U.S. users.