Well, this narrows down the options pretty quickly.
If you are looking for the best massage chair for gaming, especially if you are a PC gamer, you cannot just buy any full size massage chair and expect it to work well with your gaming setup.
Most full size massage chairs are simply too large, too bulky, or not designed for sitting at a desk. They are great for relaxing, but that does not necessarily mean they are great for gaming.
If you are playing on a video game console with a controller, you have a little more flexibility. You can sit back, recline, and enjoy the massage while playing.
PC gaming is a different story.
You are usually sitting at a desk, looking at a monitor, using a keyboard and mouse, and you need to stay in a position where your arms can comfortably reach your setup. That eliminates a lot of traditional massage chairs right away.
So What Is the Best Massage Chair for PC Gaming?
In my opinion, a zero gravity massage recliner or a regular massage recliner is probably the best option for most PC gamers.
This is where something like the Bodyfriend Familie becomes very interesting.
The Familie is compact, lightweight compared to a traditional full size massage chair, and it actually looks more like a regular luxury recliner than a traditional massage chair. That makes a huge difference if you are putting it in a gaming room, office, bedroom, or living room.
And yes, it actually has 3D massage.
That is important because when people hear the word compact massage chair, they sometimes assume they are giving up a lot of the massage technology.
You are not.
The Familie uses 3D massage with multiple massage techniques and an S and L track system that follows the body from the neck down toward the lower body. It also has zero gravity positioning, calf airbag massage, Bluetooth speakers, and a rotating footrest.
The other thing I really like about it for gamers is the size.
It is only about 27 inches wide. That makes it much easier to work into a gaming room or home office compared with some of the massive full body massage chairs on the market.
And there is another feature that you do not see very often in a compact recliner style massage chair.
Leg massage.
The Familie has calf airbag massage, so you are not limited to getting your back massaged while sitting there gaming.
What If You Already Have a Gaming Chair?
There is another option.
You can buy a massage chair pad that sits on top of or behind your existing gaming chair.
This can be a great space saving solution, especially if you already have a gaming chair that you love.
But there is a trade off.
You are getting the convenience of keeping your existing gaming chair, but you are also giving up a lot of the massage capabilities that you get from an actual massage recliner.
A massage pad is smaller, easier to store, and usually much less expensive.
A dedicated massage chair or massage recliner is going to give you a much more complete massage experience.
So it really comes down to what matters more to you.
Space and convenience, or massage performance.
My Pick for Gamers
If you are a console gamer, you have plenty of options because you can simply sit back with a controller.
If you are a serious PC gamer, I would look at compact massage recliners and zero gravity massage chairs before looking at the giant full size models.
For me, the Bodyfriend Familie makes a lot of sense because it gives you something that most massage chairs cannot.
You can actually use it like a normal recliner.
Then when you are done gaming, you have a 3D massage chair sitting right there waiting for you.
That is a pretty good combination.
If you are in the Orlando area and want to see what works best for your gaming setup, come try one in person. A massage chair can look great on a website, but you will know within a few minutes whether it actually works with your body, your desk, and your gaming setup.
