Ever jumped into a game, only to be smacked with lag?
Your shots don’t register, you get stuck in place, or your character moves like a robot on a broken treadmill.
Sound familiar?
The culprit? Ping.
But what exactly is it, and why should you care?
Let’s dive in.
What is Ping in Gaming?
Ping is how long it takes for your device to send a message to the game server and get a reply.
It's measured in milliseconds (ms).
Lower ping = less delay. Higher ping = more delay.
Simple, right?
Why Ping Matters in Gaming
You don’t need a degree to know that high ping kills the vibe.
When your ping is high, actions you take in the game can feel sluggish.
Here’s what it can mess with:
Lag: That annoying delay between you pressing a button and something happening in-game.
Rubberbanding: When your character seems to jerk forward and backward. It’s like playing on dial-up in 2025.
Disconnections: Extreme ping can knock you offline, turning your epic gaming session into a rage quit.
In short, your gaming performance can drop. Hard.
What’s a Good Ping for Gaming?
Here’s the deal:
You want the lowest ping possible.
But what is a good ping ?
Here’s a simple breakdown:
Under 20ms – Perfect. It’s like you’re in the game before you even hit the button.
20ms to 50ms – Great. Barely noticeable lag. Smooth sailing.
50ms to 100ms – Decent. It’s still fine for most games but you’ll notice a tiny delay.
100ms to 200ms – Not great. There’s lag now. Your inputs are delayed, and it’ll mess with your head in competitive games.
Above 200ms – A nightmare. You’re practically teleporting around the map. Good luck.
In a nutshell, the closer you can get to 20ms, the better your gaming experience.
How Does Ping Affect Different Games?
Let’s get real.
Different games need different levels of ping to keep things running smoothly.
Here’s what you need to know:
FPS Games (e.g. Call of Duty, Apex Legends)
Ideal Ping: Under 50ms.
Why: FPS games are all about speed and reflexes.
A higher ping? You’ll feel the delay when firing shots, especially in fast-paced matches.
MOBAs (e.g. League of Legends, Dota 2)
Ideal Ping: Under 100ms.
Why: These games are a little more forgiving, but even slight delays can mess with your gameplay, especially in critical moments.
MMORPGs (e.g. World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV)
Ideal Ping: Under 150ms.
Why: These games have a slower pace, so higher ping won’t completely ruin the experience.
But if you’re doing endgame content, you still want to keep it low.
Fighting Games (e.g. Street Fighter, Tekken)
Ideal Ping: Under 50ms.
Why: Timing is everything. Lag can mess up combos, and that’s a game-changer.
How to Improve Your Ping (Without a Tech Degree)
You’ve got the lowdown on ping.
Now, how do you fix it if it’s messing up your game?
Here’s what you can do:
Go Wired, Not Wireless: Wi-Fi is great for scrolling through Instagram, but Ethernet cables are your best friend when gaming.
Close Background Apps: That Netflix stream? Shut it down. It’s eating up your bandwidth.
Pick a Server Close to You: Servers far away = high ping. Simple.
Always pick the nearest one when you can.
Use QoS (Quality of Service): This feature on many routers lets you prioritize gaming traffic, so your game gets the best slice of the bandwidth pie.
Upgrade Your Internet: If your internet is slow, no wonder your ping’s high. Upgrade your plan to something faster.
Stop the Bandwidth-Hogging Devices: Ask everyone else in your house to stop streaming videos or downloading large files while you’re gaming.
FAQs About Ping and Gaming
What’s the difference between ping and latency?
They’re the same thing. Both refer to the delay in communication between your device and the game server.
Why is my ping higher at night?
It could be because more people are online, eating up bandwidth.
Try playing at different times of the day for better results.
Can a VPN lower ping?
It is most appropriate to use a gaming VPN to reduce ping, and reducing ping and improving connection stability are not in conflict.
Final Thoughts on Ping
In gaming, ping is everything.
A lower ping means quicker reactions, less lag, and a better overall experience.
If your ping’s high, it’s time to make some changes.
Go wired, close apps, and pick the right server.
At the end of the day, no one wants to lose because of something they can control.
So, do yourself a favour and fix that ping. It’ll make all the difference.
What is a Good Ping for Gaming: Optimal Performance Guidelines
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3 min read
