Here's The Best Gaming Browser For Windows 11
Level up your gaming with the perfect companion
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Sure, everyone uses a browser for everyday tasks but have you ever considered getting a gaming browser? The best gaming browser is out there for your Windows 11, and we’ll help you narrow down the top-tier contenders.
Key features to look for in a gaming browser
- Cross-Platform compatibility – When playing a game, how easy is it to switch from one device or OS and pick up from where you left off? If your browser offers these synchronisation capabilities then it’s a go-ahead.
- Performance optimization – How well does the browser respond when reloaded? How’s the resource consumption? Some browsers come with built-in performance optimization features so that your CPU overhead is not through the roof and you’re not experiencing frequent lag. For instance, our Opera vs Firefox CPU usage analysis reveals which one is a CPU hogger.
- Security and privacy – Are you feeling secure with your data on that browser? You’re likely sharing some personal information so you need to be sure there are no anti-tracking or phishing incidences.
- Gaming extensions and plugins – Extensions make the browser world go round and enhance your gameplay. So how well does your choice of browser integrate with these additions?
- Developer support and regular updates – So your browser meets all other requirements but how often is it updated? Are the developers prompt in bug fixes? If not, then the browser is only as good on paper.
Before you go downloading any browser, you need to have your non-negotiables fulfilled. Once a browser satisfies these requirements, you can go ahead and install it. Remember that your device’s hardware specs also play a key role in all this.
Other notable features you may want to look out for include an intuitive interface but if its performance is great, you can overlook some components.
What is the best gaming browser for Windows 11?
We’re going to test out several browsers and see how well they respond to our recommended browser games. We’ll be checking for:
- Load times
- Smooth scrolling
- CPU and RAM usage
- Packet loss
- Network stability
For context, I’m on Windows 11 Pro and the following are my hardware specs:
- Processor – Intel Core i5 with 4 cores at 2.50GHz speed (not overclocked)
- RAM – 8GB
- GPU – Intel
- PC model – Lenovo
Other notable factors that may play a part include internet speed and mine is at 23 and 24 for download and upload speed respectively. I’m on a wireless connection and my latency is also 2 ms.
Before playing, I made sure all my graphic drivers were up-to-date, my OS and the browsers too.
We’ll be playing Tanki Online, an online multiplayer game on all browsers for good measure.
Opera GX – Very fast and customizable
Opera GX was the first browser created specifically for games and gamers. Due to this, it comes with some pretty neat features which we will take a look at below.
Loading was fast. CPU overhead was negligible at around 11%. When it comes to security, Opera GX blocked the game for security reasons and I had to give permission to continue playing.
Despite having built-in security features, this prompt made me feel like Opera GX cared about my privacy and security.
Opera GX allows you to allocate RAM and CPU toward your browser, so when playing a game, you can just increase them to ensure it runs smoothly.
The performance was really good, with smooth movements and clicking. Opera sync also came in handy when I switched over to my mobile.
It’s a bit ironic that Opera GX and Chrome use the same Chromium engine but the performance metrics are higher for Opera GX. Overall, the game was smoother on Opera GX.
Other noteworthy features include:
- Anti-tracking features
- Numerous integrations
- Can use extensions from the Chrome Web Store
- Browser data sync across devices
- CPU and RAM limiter
- Integrated Discord and Twitch
Opera GX
Try Opera GX and get the full browser gaming experience without crashes or lagging.Google Chrome – Secure browser
First impressions: The game took a few seconds to load. Approximately 15 seconds. It would probably perform better if I was on an a wired internet connection.
I did not receive a security prompt on whether I wanted to proceed with the game but let’s assume Chrome’s built-in safe browsing and security settings already did its inspections in the background.
I have adblockers installed on all browsers but since Google Chrome is my default browser, it has a little bit more extensions compared to the others so this would explain why it is a bit slower than the rest. It is a fact that browser extensions tend to slow down your browser.
Navigating the game was quite smooth but there were slight delays when releasing bullets. CPU usage shot up to 33%. Again, it was probably high because of the additional plugins.
Once the game was closed, there was some bit of lag on my device but it was quickly resolved once I closed that tab. I switched to Chrome on my phone to see if I could pick up from where I left off on my PC and synchronization had already been done.
Overall, Chrome did well but could’ve been better with a little bit of adjustments on my part.
Other noteworthy features include:
- Excellent browsing speed
- Clean interface
- It is secure
⇒ Get Chrome
Firefox – Lower-end devices browser
Loading was average. Could’ve been better. No security checks too. Firefox had some lag. Moving the tanker was a bit hectic and shooting was delayed a bit which ultimately caused my tanker to get blown up.
The game was also not easy on my CPU as it registered highs of 65%. I also noticed that this particular game was not forgiving on memory on all browsers so you might want to clear your cache and cookies once you’re done playing.
Of all the browsers, I had the least favorable experience with Firefox. However, I’m sure with a few tweaks, anyone can have an immersive gaming experience.
Further, Firefox has been known to perform well in the face of adversity so if your hardware specs are subpar, you could easily get away with it and the performance would remain unchanged.
Other noteworthy features include:
- It is secure
- Has an add-ons store
- Sync feature
⇒ Get Firefox
Microsoft Edge – Windows-optimized browser
Microsoft Edge was the slowest to load. I almost reloaded the page thinking it was stuck. Again, still based on the Chromium engine, it is surprising that it took that long to load. However, loading was the only issue.
As far as playing is concerned, I had the most fun playing on Edge. The gameplay was smooth and fast. I eliminated a few players, learnt some new shots and played a couple more games.
I’d say Microsoft Edge had an edge over other browsers probably because Microsoft has been working tirelessly to optimize its performance making sure it can handle resource-intensive tasks like playing online multiplayer games.
It was also forgiving on CPU usage so once the game has loaded, you have nothing to worry about.
Overall, I’d say, Microsoft Edge is a pretty good choice if you’re looking to enjoy gaming.
Other noteworthy features include:
- Fast and secure
- Intuitive interface
- Many customization features
Brave – Privacy-based browser
Everyone knows Brave is the privacy-focused browser so at least your information is safe here. Loading was more or less similar to Opera, playing was pretty smooth with no lags.
Because of Brave’s many built-in features that optimize it for elevated performance, CPU usage was also low at 9%. Overall, the gameplay was smooth but if you’re not used to the interface, it might confuse you a bit.
Other noteworthy features include:
- Fast and secure
- Brave rewards for earning tokens
- Tab search
⇒ Get Brave
Safari – iOS-based browser
Not to forget the people over at Apple. Safari is pretty much an iOS and MAC-friendly one so its results whether good or bad, there isn’t much of a choice. The above browsers work well on iOS devices but Safari is the one that has been optimized specifically.
Playing the game was smooth and the loading was fast.
Other notable features:
- Offers a privacy report
- Has a tab preview feature
- Compatible with Chrome extensions.
⇒ Get Safari
From these results, each browser has its strengths and weaknesses but nothing a little tweaking won’t do. In fact, we have some tips on how to make your browser games run faster. So while all these findings may be true, they’re also subjective.
This means preference also plays a big role. You may have to sacrifice some security settings for a better gaming experience but all that is up to you. But because we’re big on security, we’d recommend you optimize your PC for gaming instead of compromising on its security.
Try out these browsers for your gaming in Windows 11 and let us know which one you’d award the top spot. And because we’d like to compare our results, share them with us in the comment section below.
