What is An Optimal Internet Speed for Online Gaming?

Gamers have a mutual consensus on how their performance is partially dependent on their internet connection. They know that their skills are useless in the face of a slow and unstable internet connection. It can hinder their gaming experience.

A fast and stable internet connection can have a huge impact on their games. It eliminates glitches, lags, and pauses and lets you enjoy a seamless gaming experience. A fast and reliable internet connection has become a necessity for gaming with the rise of e-sports, as a laggy internet can be a huge disadvantage in their careers. It is imperative to know the amount of bandwidth you require for gaming.

The Effect of Internet Speed on Gaming

You can measure the rate of information transfer with Mbps. High Mbps is essential for bandwidth-heavy processes like gaming and streaming, as downloading and uploading data with high Mbps is very quick.

According to gaming experts, gamers only require 3 to 10 Mbps for a seamless gaming experience, but it is only true for 1 user on the network. As the number of users on a network increases, the bandwidth requirements also increase. Sharing a 10 Mbps network with four people will result in a network lag.

It is imperative to have high internet speed if there are multiple users on the same network. High internet speed will eventually translate to better internet and gaming experience.

Reliable Internet Speed Considerations

Few things can make your internet connection suitable for the ultimate online gaming experience.

High Download and Upload Speeds

As most online activities involve downloading than uploading, it is usually the download speed people refer to whenever they mention the internet speed. It measures how quickly you can pull data from the server to your computer. Assuming you are the sole user on the network, the recommended download speed for online gaming is 3 to 6 Mbps, conveniently offered by most ISPs.

On the other hand, upload speed measures the data transfer rate to an external server and is the opposite of download speed. As online activities tend to lean more towards downloading, ISPs offer slower upload speeds than download speeds. A 1 Mbps of upload speed is sufficient for online gaming if you are the only user on the network.

The more people there are on the network, the higher download and upload speeds are required for gaming.

Low Latency Rate

Latency impacts your game performance more than upload or download speeds. Gamers give more importance to latency or ping as it can hinder a multiplayer game and make it almost impossible. Latency is the time it takes for data to be delivered from one location to another. In gaming terms, it measures the delay between the action and its display on the screen.

Games require low ping rates. Anything under 20ms is the optimal latency time for online gaming, and anything above 100ms makes gaming disruptive and unresponsive.

So, what is the optimal speed for online gaming?

Optimal Internet Speed for Online Gaming

There is not one fixed ‘good’ internet speed for gaming. It all comes down to the types of games you prefer. Different games have different bandwidth requirements. For example, competitive games like Fortnite or Overwatch require high download and upload speeds. On the contrary, a classic online game will have a lower internet bandwidth requirement.

If we generalize an optimal speed for online gaming, considering different games’ types, the ideal speed is usually above 20 Mbps. Here is a list of optimal internet speeds of some popular games.

First Person Shooters (FPS)

As the most graphically demanding games, FPS games require high speed and low latency for a seamless experience. Their intricate GUI requires more resources, and if the internet speed is not optimal, you will be unable to play these games smoothly. The optimal download speed for FPS games is above 30 Mbps and 1 Mbps or greater upload speed. The latency rate should be below 20ms.

Some examples of FPS games include Overwatch, Counterstrike, Call of Duty, etc.

Real-Time Strategy Games

The bandwidth requirements of these games are much less than FPS games which account for download speed up to 3 Mbps and upload speed up to 1 Mbps. The acceptable ping rate for these games is higher than FPS games; 120ms.

Some examples of real-time strategy games include StarCraft, Warcraft, Age of Empires, etc.

Role-Playing Games (RPG)

Role-playing games are known for their lowest bandwidth requirements compared to other games. You can enjoy these games even with the low Mbps internet connections, as they only require 2 Mbps download and 0.5 Mbps upload speeds. The acceptable ping rate is also 150ms.

Some examples of RPG games include Paper Mario and Chrono Cross, etc.

Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) Games

MMO games’ requirements are similar to RPGs, but their tendency to transfer a large amount of data during playing sessions requires an internet connection with unlimited data. These games require 3.5 Mbps download and 0.5 Mbps upload speeds. The acceptable ping rate for these games is 150ms.

Some examples of MMO games include Club Penguin, RuneScape, etc.

Invest in A Reliable Internet Connection

Now that we have seen the optimal speed requirements for different games, a stable internet connection from a reliable ISP can make a huge difference.

Choosing a reliable internet provider that meets all your gaming requirements and lets everyone use the internet without any interruptions is more important than ever. A right internet plan with high download and upload speeds and low latency can help you experience a seamless gaming session without any glitches or lags. Our recommended choice for gaming is Spectrum Charter. With download speeds ranging from 200 Mbps to almost 1000 Mbps & upload speeds from 10 to 35 Mbps, and a low latency rate, it can bring your gaming experience to the next level.

With Spectrum internet ultra-speed, you can enjoy any game you want. Its extensive coverage across 44 states and unlimited data plans make it an ideal choice for gaming. You can check its availability in your area if you want to experience its remarkable services. Spectrum customer service can further help in guiding you to their best plans ideal for gaming.

Conclusion

Avid gamers know how much network speed and latency rate can affect their ability to enjoy a smooth, uninterrupted gaming experience. If you continuously experience lags and disruptions, switch to a better internet plan or an alternate internet service provider so you can enjoy your games without any hassle.