The reasons for using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for gaming are numerous. VPNs provide you with greater gaming security, grant you a wider gaming selection, and can boost your gaming performance. It’s unsurprising, then, just how popular they’ve become in the gaming community!
However, what many gamers don’t realize is that there are many different types of VPNs; some work well for specific games like MMOs, while others are better for FFPs. In this guide, we’ll explore the buying considerations you should make when investing in a VPN.
Online casinos
As Sergio Zammit argues, using VPN casinos is an easy way to overcome geographical gambling restrictions, boost the security of your gambling activities, and access a wider selection of games. However, not all VPNs are created equal, and you must select the right type to optimize your online gambling to the max.
If you travel widely and enjoy gambling when abroad, your VPN must come with no geographical limitations. Regardless of where you’re located in the world, your VPN should allow you to easily switch back to the US. Similarly, you should be able to seamlessly change your VPN to any country of your choosing. This will allow you to unlock games that are unavailable in the US.
Before purchasing your VPN, check the list of countries offered by the service. Make sure that no major countries are missing from the list and that the VPN company does not impose any additional fees for switching to specific territories.
Additionally, if you like to keep your online gambling activities 100% anonymous, you should invest in a VPN that comes with a “no-logs” policy. This refers to any VPN that doesn’t track your browsing history or log transfers. With no logs recorded, your gambling activity cannot be shared with any third parties.
Using a crypto or no-KYC (Know Your Customer) casino is a good way to keep your identity and activity secure, while a no-logs VPN can provide an extra layer of privacy.
FPS games
All First Person Shooter (FPS) games – such as Counter Strike – are fast-paced and action-packed. In order to ensure a quality gaming experience, you need to invest in technology that can keep up with the non-stop nature of FPSs. This means looking for a VPN with minimal latency, as even the slightest second of delay can hamper your success in the game.
It’s therefore vital that you use a VPN with a speed of at least 40 Mbps. This will ensure that your gameplay appears smooth without any noticeable lag. VPNs come in a variety of speeds, with some cheaper options offering a speed of 1 to 5 Mbps. While 5 Mbps may be good for browsing the internet or checking your emails, it definitely won’t provide you with an enjoyable gaming experience.
A VPN with 40 Mbps+ not only provides you with high latency resistance but also provides you with Ultra HD picture quality and fast download times.
As a side note, it would also be recommended to use the ethernet over Wi-Fi. A bad internet connection could make your gameplay lag, regardless of the type of VPN you’re using. Ethernet connections are more stable than Wi-Fi connections, which helps you ensure stable FPS gameplay.
Ethernet cables can deliver a speed of up to 10,000 Mbps, while most average Wi-Fi speeds range between 80 and 120 Mbps.
MMO games
Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) games require more stability than they do speed. Investing in a VPN with 40 Mbps+ isn’t as important for MMO games as it is for FPS. However, you do need to invest in a VPN that offers reduced packet loss, prioritizes stable connections, and utilizes split tunneling.
MMO games allow you to play and interact with thousands of people across a digital landscape. In order for you to explore this world unrestricted, you need a reliable connection. Ideally, you need your VPN to provide you with a consistent connection, no matter what time of day it is. One way of doing this is to look for VPNs that clearly prioritize speed over providing minimal latency.
Another way of doing this is to invest in a VPN that helps you avoid packet loss. Peak gaming hours often see high packet loss, which is when data packets fail to reach their network destination. This normally occurs as a result of network congestion, network misconfigurations, or hardware issues.
This can render your gameplay inconsistent and your connection unreliable. Luckily, it’s possible to get specially designed VPNs that can resolve packet loss issues. They come with advanced protocols and can provide better routing paths than your standard ISP.
Alternatively, you should invest in a VPN that offers split tunneling. This feature means that only your game traffic is routed through the VPN, while non-game traffic bypasses it. This, obviously, reduces the risk of packet loss and provides far greater gaming stability.
Ideally, you need your packet loss to be below 1%. Anything above 1% will make your computer over 10 times as slow.
RTS games
Real Time Strategy (RTS) games normally involve lots of different moves made in quick succession. For each move to be carried out successfully, packet loss must be kept to a minimum. However, sometimes opting for a ‘low packet loss’ VPN isn’t enough for the high volume of small packets that RTS games typically send and receive.
Instead, you should look for a VPN that comes with data compression features. By compressing each of the data packets, the overall data load is reduced, and your gameplay remains smooth and consistent.
When it comes to RTS games, it’s also vital that you experiment with different server locations. Switching servers could improve the speed and consistency of your connection. It’s a good idea to invest in a VPN with unlimited location options, as this will allow you to try out your game on an unlimited number of servers.
It also means you can be flexible. If you switch to a different RTS game, you can alter your location to meet the new game’s server architecture.
Final thoughts
There are thousands of VPNs out there, each of which comes with unique aspects and features. As a gamer, you should pick your VPN based on the type of game you’ll predominantly be using it for. Online casinos and RTS games require VPNs with unlimited location options, while FPS games require high Mbps. MMO games, on the other hand, require such features as split tunneling.
