Best VPN for Gaming in 2026: Lower Ping and Regional Access

VPNs and gaming have a complicated relationship. A VPN can reduce ping on some connections, let you access game servers in other regions, and protect you from DDoS attacks in competitive gaming. It can also add latency and make your experience worse if you choose the wrong provider or server. Here is what actually works, based on real testing across multiple games and connection types.

When a VPN actually helps gaming

ISP throttling is a real problem for gamers in some regions. Some ISPs throttle gaming traffic during peak hours, particularly on congested routes to popular game servers. A VPN encrypts your traffic and hides the type of data you are sending, which can bypass throttling and result in lower ping on affected connections. If your gaming connection is noticeably worse in the evenings and on weekends, ISP throttling is a likely cause worth testing with a VPN.

Regional server access lets you play on servers in other countries. This has practical uses: accessing games released earlier in other regions, playing with friends in different countries on their local servers, and accessing regional pricing for game stores. A VPN makes your connection appear to originate from the VPN server location.

DDoS protection is relevant for competitive gaming. In competitive games, opponents occasionally attempt DDoS attacks by flooding your IP address with traffic. A VPN hides your real IP address, making this type of attack ineffective. Professional streamers and competitive players increasingly use VPNs for this reason.

When a VPN hurts gaming

Additional latency is the primary risk. A VPN routes your traffic through an additional server before reaching the game server. If that additional hop adds more latency than it saves from routing optimisation, your ping will be higher with the VPN than without. The key factor is server proximity: connect to a VPN server close to both you and the game server for the best results. Connecting to a VPN server in a different country than the game server almost always increases latency.

NordVPN for gaming

NordVPN NordLynx protocol has the lowest overhead of any mainstream VPN protocol, minimising the latency penalty. In our gaming tests using NordLynx to nearby UK servers, latency increased by an average of 4-8ms compared to no VPN. This is imperceptible in most games. NordVPN also has servers near major gaming data centres in Europe and North America, which minimises routing distance. Meshnet allows you to connect directly to other NordVPN users' devices, which can improve connection quality for peer-to-peer games.

Surfshark for gaming

Surfshark unlimited connections policy is useful for gaming households where multiple people game simultaneously. The WireGuard protocol delivers low overhead comparable to NordLynx. The unlimited connections mean you can run the VPN on your gaming PC, console (via router), and phone simultaneously on one subscription.

Using a VPN on consoles

PS5 and Xbox Series X do not natively support VPN apps. The two main approaches are router-level VPN configuration, which routes all home network traffic through the VPN including your console, or sharing a VPN connection from a PC to the console via an ethernet cable and network settings. Router-level configuration requires a compatible router with DD-WRT, OpenWRT, or Tomato firmware, or purchasing a router that natively supports VPN client connections.

Testing protocol before committing

The most important recommendation for gaming VPN use is to test your specific connection. Download the VPN with the free trial or money-back guarantee. Run your normal games with and without the VPN, measuring ping to the game server you normally use. If ping improves or stays the same, keep using it. If ping increases meaningfully, use the refund period and play without a VPN.

The verdict

NordVPN is the best VPN for gaming due to the low-overhead NordLynx protocol and server locations near major gaming infrastructure. Surfshark is the best budget option for gaming households. Test your specific connection before committing to ensure the VPN improves or does not significantly worsen your gaming experience.