Gaming, office or ergonomic chair: how to choose

If you spend a lot of hours sitting at your desk, whether working, gaming or splitting your time between both, the chair you pick makes a real difference to your comfort and your health over the medium term. The usual mistake is framing it as a duel between gaming chair and office chair, when there are actually three distinct profiles, and yours is probably one of them.

If it's mostly about gaming: the gaming chair

Gaming chair design took its cues from racing seats, but it's come a long way since then: today there are sleek, versatile models like the VALK Gaia or the VALK Freya. High backrest, lumbar and neck cushions, armrests adjustable in up to 4 dimensions and recline up to 160°, all built for long gaming sessions.

The mechanism also changes depending on what you're after: a butterfly mechanism, simple and only lockable upright, or a multifunction one, which lets you lock the recline at several specific positions. We cover that in types of mechanisms in gaming chairs. And if you're torn between fabric and PU leather for your setup, the comparison is in mesh or fabric.

If it's mostly about working: watch out for the generic office chair

Unless you're looking at high end models, the generic office chair tends to be cheap and limited: usually only height adjustable, with no real lumbar support or adjustable armrests, a plastic frame and base, and low density cut foam. It's comfortable for the first few weeks, but it's not built to last you for years or to adapt to different postures throughout the day.

That's exactly the gap it leaves open: plenty of racing style adjustment on one side, not enough real adjustment on the other. That's where the third profile comes in.

If you work and game in the same spot: the real ergonomic chair

This is where the third profile lives, and it's the one growing the fastest. If you spend the day working and the evening gaming at the same desk, neither a pure gaming chair nor a generic office chair is going to give you everything you need: the first prioritizes racing looks, the second falls short on real support.

That's what our ergonomic chairs, MYLA, NOMA and NOMA OFFICE, are for. Breathable mesh instead of fabric or PU leather, a synchro mechanism (backrest and seat move together, up to 135° of recline) and a more understated look that fits just as well in a video call as in a long session.

Between the three there are nuances worth knowing. MYLA is the most adjustable: seat that slides in depth, height adjustable backrest with the integrated lumbar support moving up and down with it, and even a folding footrest as standard. NOMA and NOMA OFFICE have a fixed height backrest, but the headrest and lumbar support adjust separately, and NOMA adds a bit more color and gamer character compared to NOMA OFFICE's understated grey. You'll find them all in ergonomic chairs.

Materials and durability

VALK gaming chairs are built with a steel frame and an aluminum or nylon base depending on the model, with wear resistant fabric or PU leather. We use cold cured foam across every model: 55 kg/m³ in the seat and backrest on Freya and Gaia, and up to 60 kg/m³ in the Freya Elite's seat, the same padding system used in car seats, built not to lose firmness over time.

Generic office chairs, outside the high end ones, tend to use lower density cut foam, around 30 kg/m³, which shows up sooner in durability and comfort. Our ergonomic chairs solve this differently: on MYLA, NOMA and NOMA OFFICE, support comes from the mesh stretched over the frame, not from foam, so they don't sag over the months.

Design based on use

Gaming chairs usually have a sportier, more eye catching design, with colors and finishes meant to stand out in the setup. Ergonomic chairs go the other way, with an understated, minimalist look that fits right in at an office or on a video call. At VALK we back both, because not everyone needs the same thing at their desk, and not necessarily even on the same day.

Which to choose

• Long gaming sessions, little to no office work: gaming chair. See gaming chairs.
• Long remote work days, with occasional gaming: ergonomic chair. See ergonomic chairs.
• A real split between work and gaming at the same desk: either family works, the difference is in the material and the type of adjustment, not the category. We cover that in choosing your chair based on height and weight.

If you're torn between all three, reach out and we'll help you decide based on your hours of use and your desk.

FAQ

What's the real difference between a gaming chair and an ergonomic chair?

The gaming chair prioritizes racing looks and comfort during gaming sessions, with fabric or PU leather. The ergonomic chair prioritizes support for long work days, with breathable mesh and a synchro mechanism.

It's not a hierarchy, they're different goals. A lot of customers use a gaming chair for work with no issue, and vice versa, the difference shows up more in the last hours of the day than the first.

Does an ergonomic chair work for gaming?

Yes, no problem at all. MYLA, NOMA and NOMA OFFICE recline up to 135° and offer the same level of adjustment as a gaming chair on armrests and lumbar support. The only thing that changes is the look, more understated than racing style.

Why do cheap office chairs last less than a gaming or an ergonomic chair?

It comes down to the base materials. Generic ones usually have a plastic frame and base and low density cut foam, which sags sooner. Serious gaming and ergonomic chairs use steel or aluminum, and in the case of ergonomic chairs, taut mesh that doesn't depend on foam to stay firm.

Which VALK ergonomic chair suits me if I work a lot more than I game?

If you want maximum adjustability, MYLA: sliding seat, height adjustable backrest and an integrated footrest as standard. If you'd rather have something simpler but just as firm on lumbar support, NOMA OFFICE, with a more understated look, or NOMA if you want the same thing with a bit more color and gamer character.

Which chair should I choose if I share the same desk for working and gaming?

It depends on which activity takes up more hours. If work wins by a landslide, the ergonomic chair will leave you less fatigued by the end of the day. If it's more of an even split, a fabric gaming chair like FREYA comfortably covers both.

We cover it with data for each model in choosing your chair based on height and weight.