A huge part of many people’s lifestyles, gaming is an important hobby for many members of today’s tech-savvy population. However, it comes with its own dangers, particularly given the emergence of unscrupulous online criminals. Known as cybercriminals, they look to disrupt networks and obtain personal information.
Whether through phishing, malware, ransomware, or other attack methods, these internet-based crooks have impacted the lives of many gamers. Sure, they struggle to access casino gamers’ accounts given the cutting-edge security features many reputable sites have, such as DraftKings Casino, but they’re capable of hacking PlayStation accounts, Nintendo accounts, and more. In fact, it happens regularly, making a VPN a necessity for many gamers.
What is a VPN?
First and foremost, it’s important to understand what a VPN is. Also known as virtual private networks, VPNs specialize in protecting online players from the attacks cybercriminals sadly love to carry out. VPNs can mask your location, making it incredibly hard for online criminals to track you down; they protect against DDoS attacks, and they can prevent the theft of any invaluable information, be it your personal details or your login credentials. Also, offering features that can improve the gaming experience, such as lower ping and access to geo-blocked games, VPNs are fantastic tools for gamers in the modern world.
With gamers everywhere now turning to VPNs to keep them safe and secure online, below we briefly highlight some of the finest options gamers trust in 2026.
Surfshark
In terms of affordability, not many VPNs come close to Surfshark. While it’s cheaper than most alternative options, Surfshark also provides a largely faultless service. Sure, things like 848 Mbps on nearby servers can be beaten, but rival VPNs don’t touch SurfShark when assessing the amount of devices gamers can link to an account. Surfshark provides exactly that, all while offering the usual security features other VPNs also share, plus handy additions like dedicated IP options to help users avoid shared IP bans. Overall, Surfshark is great.
CyberGhost
Another cheap and cheerful option that will keep you safe online, CyberGhost can reach speeds of up to 950+ Mbps, while also boasting 11,500 servers in 100 countries. If you’re wanting to keep your data hidden and any online criminals at bay, then CyberGhost has your back.
NordVPN
For many gamers out there, NordVPN is the best VPN on the market today. As one of the biggest names in the space, NordVPN has a solid reputation. For starters, it comes with over 9000 servers in over 180 locations at the time of writing, many of which are gaming-optimized servers. Likewise, their low ping rates are rated by gamers everywhere. Additionally, the inclusion of NordLynx protocol continues to deliver a smooth performance. Also possessing speeds reaching around 901 Mbps, plus a whole host of other features, NornVPN won’t let you down.
Private Internet Access
A popular pick for many, Private Internet Access is a VPN with a strong reputation. While it can lag behind the competition when looking at its Mbps, it more than makes up for it with its reasonable pricing. Whatever package you go for, you can expect must-have security features, over 90 servers to choose from, and more.
ExpressVPN
Another go-to option for gamers right now, ExpressVPN is excellent. Offering superb gaming speeds and servers in over 105 countries right now, ExpressVPN is a solid option. This tried and trusted VPN also boasts a Shuffle IP feature that adjusts during gaming sessions. For gamers who are striving to keep themselves hidden online, this clever feature is what separates ExpressVPN out from the competition.
