If you’re a gamer, you probably tend to use your internet browser not only for tasks such as playing music or shopping online, but for watching gameplay videos or playing online. Whether it’s resource optimization, visually rich themes, custom profiles, or integrations with gaming services, there are a few gaming browsers that can make your gaming experience more rewarding.
Tip: expand your Steam library with games that aren’t available in the Steam store.
Why You Need a Gaming Browser
You may be comfortable using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge for all of your Internet browsing needs. After all, these are two of the most popular browsers. But as fast and seamless as they are, they’re not targeted toward gamers.
Gaming browsers are designed with features in mind that address issues typically encountered by gamers. Running out of system memory due to a RAM-hungry browser such as Chrome or not being able to customize a browser are just a few of them.
If you haven’t used one of the browsers in our list below, we encourage you to give them a try. You’ll better appreciate the many advantages they provide during your gaming sessions and through other browsing.
1. Opera GX
Developed by the team behind the popular Opera browser, Opera GX is packed with gaming features that will appeal to every gamer. It was one of the very first dedicated gaming browsers to be created. One great thing about it that it lets you stay connected even while you’re immersed in playing via the integrated social messaging apps, such as Facebook, Telegram, Whatsapp and more. It also packs options to transfer files between your computer and phone with Flow, and cleans up your browser with GX Cleaner – which are both super handy.
Pros
- Lets users stay on top of upcoming game releases and the best deals
- Can limit CPU, RAM, and network usage on the browser for uninterrupted gaming
- Integration with Twitch, Discord, YouTube Music, Spotify, and more for seamless media playback
- Built-in VPN, adblocker, and a pop-out player for streaming media while gaming and more
- Unlimited visual customization and support for Corsair iCUE, Logitech Lightsync, and more for RGB integration
- Customizable sound effects for different actions
- Available on Android and iOS
Cons
- Not available on Linux
- Lacks out-of-the-box support for many Google Chrome extensions
2. Brave
For gamers, Brave is a great option due to its speed and protection from malware. The advertising model based on BAT rewards and the native crypto wallet can further raise its appeal to some gamers and crypto enthusiasts. Brave offers many more features that may just make it your new favorite browser.
Pros
- Out-of-the-box protection from third-party ads, cookies, trackers, and more
- Built-in onion routing and custom filter lists for enhanced privacy
- Brave Rewards in the form of Basic Attention Token (BAT) for opt-in first-party ads
- Similar design to Google Chrome due to the underlying Chromium code
- Available on Android and iOS, too, with a built-in firewall and VPN
Cons
- Limited extensions, add-ons, and plug-ins compared to Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox
- Built-in torrent client is slower than full-fledged clients
Good to know: your PC has a configuration on the lower side? You may benefit from installing a lightweight browser, such as the ones described in our article.
3. Mozilla Firefox
Despite not being designed exclusively as a gaming browser, Mozilla Firefox has much to offer to gamers who prefer speed, privacy, and customization above all else. Plus, the huge list of Firefox add-ons and plug-ins further extends its functionality.
Pros
- Customizable UI to remove any buttons or toolbars you don’t need
- Pop-out video player for media playback while playing
- Blocks third-party trackers and cookies
- Firefox View for seamless browsing across devices
- Hundreds of extensions and plug-ins to enhance the gaming experience
- Available on multiple platforms
Cons
- Memory intensive
- Doesn’t resume interrupted downloads
4. Vivaldi
The Vivaldi browser offers gamers plenty of multitasking and resource management to be considered a worthy alternative and is targeted toward more tech-savvy users. Consequently, gamers will find many of its features useful, especially the ones enabling multitasking and customization. For instance, Vivaldi has three distinct modes– Essentials, Classic, and Fully Loaded – each targeting a distinct type of use. The first option could prove to be the most useful for gamers, providing a bare-bones browser environment that’s perfect for online gaming sessions.
Pros
- Highly customizable UI and shareable themes
- Built-in email, calendar, notes, and translation apps to avoid using Google’s services
- Two-level tab grouping to easily manage multiple tabs
- Smart resource management to ensure smooth gaming
- Split-screen for viewing two websites in a single tab
- Fast, secure, and full of keyboard and mouse shortcuts
- Syncs across devices with Android and Android Automotive versions
Cons
- Not the fastest or lightest browser
- The plethora of features could be confusing to some
Tip: get rid of annoying cookies consent pop-ups in your browser with these tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do browsers use so much RAM?
Modern internet browsers with more features than ever need all the CPU bandwidth and RAM they can get to provide a great user experience. This often ends up consuming too much memory and, in fact, hurts the experience on relatively lower-spec machines. Some of the methods on how to fix high memory usage can help you reduce browser memory usage.
Which browser uses the least RAM?
It may come as a surprise that Microsoft Edge uses the least amount of memory, leaving even lightweight browsers like Brave behind. You can quickly check how much RAM your browser is using by opening the “Processes” tab in Task Manager.
Which browser is the most battery-efficient?
If you’re a laptop gamer, your best bet is using Microsoft Edge. Keep reading for more tips on how you can make your laptop’s battery last longer while gaming.
Image credit: Unsplash. All screenshots by Tanveer Singh.
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