The absolute worst things that you can suffer from in competitive games are bad ping and lag issues. It can be frustrating and can often cost you a lot of important matches. And, if you have been playing games like CS2, VALORANT, or Fortnite for a while, there is a good chance you know how it feels to have high ping.

But it’s even more frustrating when you know you have a good internet connection. In cases like this, the problem usually comes down to bad routing or ISP throttling. Fortunately, these can be easily fixed by using a VPN.

Why You Should Use A VPN For Gaming

VPNs have grown massively popular in gaming in the last few years. Previously, they were mainly used for privacy or unlocking region-blocked content. But with the massive influx of competitive games every year and the increase in servers, the use of VPNs has become common.

Bad ping in games can be caused by many reasons, such as using a wireless connection or poor internet. But if you are sure that these aren’t the reason for your problem, the cause of bad ping boils down to two major reasons: bad routing and ISP throttling. Let’s give a quick overview of what these are.

Without getting too technical, bad routing means that your ISP might not be using the most efficient route to the game server. It’s like going from one city to another but using the long way. A VPN can find a faster route to the game servers, ensuring that you get the best ping possible.

The other reason is ISP throttling, often ISPs will limit your bandwidth when they notice you streaming or gaming. Because VPN encrypts your data and provides privacy, the ISP will never know your activities, and you won’t be a victim of ISP throttling.

But, apart from fixing this problem, it’s generally a really good idea to use a VPN even while browsing the internet. Firstly, it gives you access to region-specific content. For instance, if you want to watch an anime on Netflix that’s only being aired in Japan, you can do so with a VPN.

On the other hand, VPN also provide a lot of security features that are necessary in this day and age. With every website and app trying to get as much data from you to sell to advertisers, it’s a wise decision to opt VPN that can prevent that.

How To Choose A VPN For Gaming

The importance of using a VPN should be apparent to you at this point. The low ping and security features are hard to pass by. However, the market is filled with VPNs, so choosing one can be difficult, especially if it’s your first time. So, here are some important things to keep in mind while looking for a VPN for gaming.

Don’t Use the Free VPNs

During your search, you will come across a lot of free VPNs; some will be apps, while some will be browser extensions. However, it’s not worth it to opt for these free VPNs. The reason is that these free VPNs often have low bandwidth and speed, which might be passable if you want to unlock content, but for gaming, it will make things worse.

So, opt for trusted VPNs even if you have to buy a subscription. For instance, NordVPN is a solid choice for gaming, and it isn’t that expensive at $3 USD per month.

Server Availability

The other thing to look out for is the servers the VPN offers. It needs to have a wide coverage with multiple servers across the globe. Because what’s the point of investing in a VPN if it doesn’t have a server near the game server? Taking the example of NordVPN again, they offer 7,500 servers in 150 different locations worldwide, ensuring you can easily connect to anywhere on the globe with ease.

Security Features

The most important reason for using a VPN is the security and privacy features. If a VPN fails to provide solid security features, it’s not worth buying. At the end of the day, you should be able to protect your data and remain private while browsing the internet. These security features also go hand in hand in preventing DDoS attacks. It basically masks your IP address, preventing any form of information leak.

Plus, when it comes to gaming, these security features are necessary to prevent ISP throttling.

Speed

The VPN should not have any speed limitations. A lot of free VPNs put a limit on your bandwidth, which defeats the purpose of using a VPN for gaming in the first place. Ensure that whichever VPN you choose offers unlimited bandwidth and fast speed so you can enjoy your gaming and downloads without any issues.

VPNs can also be handy when you are using a network with bandwidth restrictions, like a school or a cafe. With a VPN, you can browse without any limitations.

Cross Compatibility

If you are a console gamer, this one is the most important. A lot of consoles and even some handhelds don’t have VPN apps. The workaround for this is to install the VPN on your router, so make sure the VPN you choose has this feature. Without that, you won’t be able to get the benefits of using a VPN on your console.

Why NordVPN is a Solid Choice for Gaming

If you are still confused about which VPN to get, just get NordVPN. It checks all the boxes and has a good rep in the gaming community. It’s also quite inexpensive and offers a lot of value. You get unlimited bandwidth, servers in 150 different locations, extensive security protocols to ensure your privacy over the web, and it can be installed on your routers for console gaming.

Overall, it offers everything you need from a VPN for gaming for as low as 3 USD a month if you choose the yearly plan. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the features it offers.

It allows 10 simultaneous connections at the same time and has an app for almost every platform there is.

How to Set Up NordVPN for Consoles

If you are a console gamer and your console doesn’t have the NordVPN app, you will need to install it on your router. To do this, follow these steps.

• Ensure your router has the option to download VPNs.
• Then, log in to your router from the browser. Enter the IP address and password into a browser, you can find this on the back of the router.
• Then, you will need to configure your router. Every router works differently, so visit the manufacturer's website to see how to do so. You can also follow this extensive guide by NordVPN to save time.
• Alternatively, you can use your phone as a hotspot. Just open the NordVPN app and connect to the server you want, and then use that hotspot for your console. PCs can also be used in the same way.

The setup isn’t hard. NordVPN already has extensive guides for each step, so feel free to visit the site or contact their 24/7 customer support for help.

Conclusion

Overall, a VPN is a must-have whether you want it for gaming or not. The security features it offers have become a must-thing to have in this day and age where every website is out to get your data. The number of cybercrimes is also increasing every year, so it’s better to be safe.

But, even for gaming, a VPN ensures a seamless connection to the game server and prevents ISP throttling. As a result, you get a stable ping and no packet loss issues. In short, it’s worth the investment. Get your NordVPN offer here.