While 4K TVs and now even 8K TVs are getting all the attention, especially as big purchases around sales events, projectors get left out in the cold. That's despite the fact that many quality projects can offer an excellent picture, deliver enough brightness to work in the daytime, and are far more portable than most TVs while offering a projected image that can be much larger.

TL:DR – These are the Best Gaming Projectors:

1. Optoma UHD50X

Best Gaming Projector

UHD50X On Amazon See It

Display Technology: Texas Instruments 0.47" 4K UHD DMD● Max Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 (60Hz) / 1,920 x 1,080 (240Hz) ● Native Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 ● Input Lag: 16ms ● Projection Screen Size: 34.1"-302.4" ● Brightness: 3,400 ANSI Lumens ● HDR Support: HDR10, HLG ● Displayable Colors: 1.07b ● Lamp Power: 240W ● Lamp Life: 4,000/10,000/15,000 hours (Bright/ECO/Dynamic) ● Inputs: 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x HDMI 1.4a, 1 x VGA, 3.5mm audio in ● Outputs: Optical Audio Out, 3.5mm audio out ● Weight: 8.6 pounds ● Size: 12.4” x 4.6” x 10.6”

2. BenQ HT2050A

Best Budget Gaming Projector

BenQ HT2050A On Amazon See It

Display Technology: DMD DLP ● Max Resolution: 1,920 x 1,200 ● Native Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 ● Input Lag: 16.67ms ● Projection Screen Size: 60"-300" ● Brightness: 2,200 ANSI Lumens ● Displayable Colors: 1.07b ● Lamp Power: 240W ● Lamp Life: 3,500/5,000/7,000 hours (Normal/Eco/SmartEco) ● Inputs: 2 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x D-Sub, 1 x VGA, 1 x Component video, 1 x Composite video, 3.5mm audio in ● Outputs: 3.5mm audio out ● Weight: 7.27 pounds ● Size: 15" x 4.8" x 10.9"

3. JVC DLA-NX9

Best 4K Gaming Projector

JVC DLA-NX9 On Amazon See It

Display Technology: 3 x 0.69" 4K D-ILA ● Max Resolution: 4,096 x 2,160 ● Input Lag: 40ms ● Brightness: 1,800 Lumens ● Displayable Colors: 1.07b ● Lamp Power: 265W ● Lamp Life: 4,500 (Low) ● Inputs: 2 x HDMI ● Outputs: D-Sub, Ethernet ● Weight: 43.1 pounds ● Size: 19.75" x 9.25" x 19.5"

4. Epson Home Cinema 5050UBe

Best Mid-Range 4K Projector

Epson Home Cinema 5050UBe On Amazon See It

Display Technology: Epson 3LCD, 3-chip technology ● Native Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 (with pixel shift) ● Input Lag: 23.5ms ● Projection Screen Size: 49.93"-300" ● Brightness: 2,600 Lumens ● Displayable Colors: 1.07b ● Lamp Power: 373W ● Lamp Life: 3,500/5,000 hours (ECO) ● Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0 + 4 x HDMI (On Wireless transmitter), 1 x VGA, Ethernet, ● Outputs: 1 x RS-232, USB power, Optical Audio Out (On Wireless transmitter), HDMI out (On Wireless transmitter) ● Weight: 25.1 pounds ● Size: 7.6" x 20.5" x 17.7"

5. BenQ TK800M

Best Budget 4K Gaming Projector

BenQ TK800M On Amazon See It

Display Technology: 0.47" DMD DLP ● Max Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 ● Native Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 ● Input Lag: 49ms ● Projection Screen Size: 30"-300" ● Brightness: 3,000 Lumens ● Displayable Colors: 1.07b ● Lamp Power: 240W ● Lamp Life: 4,000/10,000/15,000 hours (Low/Medium/Full) ● Inputs: 2 x HDMI, 1 x VGA, RS-232 Serial Port ● Outputs: 3.5mm audio out ● Weight: 9.2 pounds ● Size: 13.9" x 5.3" x 10.7"

6. Sony VPL-VW695ES

Best High-End Gaming Projector

Sony VPL-VW695ES On Amazon See It

Display Technology: SXRD (3 Chip) ● Max Resolution: 4,096 x 2,160 ● Native Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 ● Input Lag: 55ms ● Projection Screen Size: 60"-300" ● Brightness: 1,800 Lumens ● Lamp Power: 280W ● Inputs: 2 x HDMI, Ethernet, Minijack, RS-232 Serial Port ● Weight: 31 pounds ● Size: 19.5" x 8.09" x 18.25"

7. Epson Home Cinema 2150

Best Budget Wireless Projector

Epson Home Cinema 2150 On Amazon See It

Display Technology: Epson 3LCD, 3-chip technology ● Max Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 ● Native Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 ● Input Lag: 28ms ● Projection Screen Size: 30"-300" ● Brightness: 2,500 Lumens ● Displayable Colors: 1.07b ● Lamp Power: 200W ● Lamp Life: 4,500/7,500 hours (Eco/Normal) ● Inputs: 2 x HDMI (1 x MHL), 1 x VGA, 1 x USB-A, 1 x mini USB (service) ● Outputs: 1 x audio out ● Weight: 7.7 pounds ● Size: 12.2" x 11.2" x 4.8"

8. AAXA S2 Pico Projector

Best Ultra Cheap Gaming Projector

AAXA S2 On Amazon See It

Display Technology: Triple RGB LEDs ● Max Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 ● Native Resolution: 1,280 x 720 ● Projection Screen Size: 10"-120" ● Brightness: 400 Lumens ● Displayable Colors: 16.7m ● Lamp Life: 30,000 hours ● Power Consumption: 36W ● Inputs: 1 x HDMI, Composite A/V, USB-C (MHL), USB-A, microSD ● Outputs: 3.5mm audio out ● Battery Life: 6 hours (Eco mode) ● Weight: 1.28 pounds ● Size: 5.2" x 4.5" x 1.9"

9. Anker Nebula Capsule II

Best Portable Gaming Projector

Anker Nebula Capsule II On Amazon See It

Display Technology: DLP ● Max Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 ● Native Resolution: 1,280 x 720 Projection Screen Size: 20"-100" ● Brightness: 200 ANSI Lumens ● Displayable Colors: 16.7M ● Lamp Life: 30,000 hours ● Inputs: 1 x HDMI, 1 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A ● Outputs: 3.5mm audio out ● Weight: 1.5 pounds ● Size: 3.15 x 3.15 x 5.9”

10. Optoma HD39HDR

Fastest Gaming Projector

Optoma HD39HDR On Amazon See It

Display Technology: 0.65" DLP ● Native Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 ● Input Lag: 8.4ms ● Refresh Rate: 120Hz ● Projection Screen Size: 30"-301" ● Brightness: 4,000 Lumens ● Lamp Power: 245W ● Lamp Life: 4,000 / 15,000 hours (Eco) ● Inputs: 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x HDMI 1.4a, 3.5mm Audio in, VGA, 1x RS-232 Serial Port ● Outputs: 3.5mm Audio out, USB power out, VGA ● Weight: 7.7 pounds ● Size: 4.5" x 12.4" x 9.5"

What to Look for in a Projector for Gaming

That big picture can make for an amazing gaming setup as the game worlds you're exploring stretch across the width of your living room wall. More ambitious setups can even take advantage of all the empty space on your ceiling, letting you relax in bed while gaming on a truly massive display.If you're worried that a projector might fall short compared to a TV when it comes to gaming, you can set those fears aside, as we've found a bunch of projectors that can offer big, bright, sharp images while succeeding in one of the most important aspects: keeping low enough input lag for gaming. We've got projectors from massive 4K and high refresh rate models to compact models that can run on a battery. So, start dreaming about your TV-free gaming setup and check out the best gaming projectors that can make those dreams come true.If you're serious about gaming on a projector, then the Optoma UHD50X should be your beast of burden. This projector is not just a media center sizzler with its UHD projection resolution, HDR support, and 3,400 ANSI lumens of brightness, but also gaming powerhouse thanks to its high-speed gaming mode that ditches the XPR pixel shifting to instead deliver 1080p visuals at a blistering 240Hz refresh rate.This projector gives you two ways to play. You can enjoy pristine 4K visuals at 60Hz with HDR and a decent 25ms response time, or you can go full bore in 1080p for a 16ms response time and the smoothest gameplay you can get from a projector. And, with zoom, lens shift, and vertical keystone correction, you should have an easy time getting the picture you want.The BenQ HT2050A delivers just what you want from an affordable gaming projector: a massive, bright image and a low response time. This projector offers a respectable 2,200 lumens that'll handle your indoor brightness needs when you're going for a more reasonably sized picture but can also hold up when you're setting up the massive, outdoor gaming screen of your dreams at night.The projector can display a 1080p picture stretched over anywhere from 60 inches up to 300 inches. And, while you're gaming, you can get as little as 16ms of input lag, which is impressive for any display that's not also offering a high refresh rate. This projector is also incredibly flexibile for setting up, thanks to both vertical and horizontal keystone correction.The JVC DLA-NX9 is the true 4K projector to get If you're setting up an epic home theater and you want the biggest and best-looking picture possible. Sporting a native 4,096 x 2,160 resolution, you can make your picture as big as you want without having to worry about losing detail.You also get one of the highest contrast ratios of 40,000:1 out of any projector from this unit, so you'll be able to experience darker blacks. It's 1,800-lumen peak brightness doesn't make this the brightest projector we've ever seen, but it's more than enough to make flashes of light in games and movies pop.The Epson Home Cinema 5050UBe is a brilliant projector for both your usual movies and TV but also for gaming. It has an impressively fast response time at 23.5ms, so you won't be feeling heavy lag when you're playing games. At 2,600 lumens, you'll also be able to get a big, bright image. This project creates a 4K image using pixel shifting technology, however, unlike some projects it doesn't internally downsample 4K video to a 1080p signal and blowing it back up to an Ultra HD resolution. Instead, you're getting true(-ish) 4K input to 4K output. This version also includes a wireless transmitter, letting you set the projector across the room from your gaming computer or consoles.4K projectors are still pretty pricey compared to 4K TVs , but if you're trying to go big on a budget the BenQ TK800M ( read our review ) is your best option. It's a little more affordable than most 4K units at $1,300, but you still get 10-bit color and HDR support.What's more, this budget projector outputs 3,000 lumens so it'll work in most rooms even ones that are well lit. The BenQ TK800M's rated contrast ratio of 10,000:1 might be significantly lower than other projectors, but it has the latest a dynamic 0.47-inch DLP chip and a dynamic iris to strike the right balance between brightness and contrast while presenting rich colors.There are plenty of 4K projectors on the market now, but Sony is one of the few companies that actually produce a true 4k projector. Most "4K projectors" use a pixel shifting (which involves flashes images multiple times to simulate a 4K picture). the Sony VPL-VW695ES' native 4,096 x 2,160 pixels is far more impressive than the blown-up 1080p picture that most "4K units" produceThe 695ES supports HDR10 and HLG (for when the content actually becomes available). For gaming though, the input lag reduction option is only available in SDR. It only has a dynamic contrast ratio of 350,000:1 and a light output of 1800 lumens, so it's best in a room with minimal ambient lighting. But if you’re spending nearly $10,000 on a projector, chances are your room is a dedicated theater with little to no ambient light bleed.The Epson Home Cinema 2150 is an impressive all-around projector. It has a sharp, Full HD picture that can easily stretch up to 300 inches for those with the screen space. Thanks to its 2,500 lumens of brightness, it should do a solid job even when you are projecting it at range for those bigger image sizes. The projector will also dynamically adjust the contrast to hit a high 60,000:1 contrast ratio. All of that just gets better when accounting for the 10-bit color depth the Epson Home Cinema 2150 can display. While this is surely a good enough projector in general, the input lag is also low enough for gaming. When you're not gaming, you can take advantage of its support for wireless connectivity through Miracast, making it that much easier to stream from different devices without having to plug them in. At well under $1,000, this projector offers unquestionable value.AAXA's S2 is a small projector ready to give you a big screen wherever you go. While you can keep it plugged in like a traditional projector, it also has a battery that can last up to six hours. You can use it to give your game consoles, computer, or even phones a much bigger display to play on. It even has built-in speakers, though, they can be a little hard to hear over the fans if the projector is on its brightest setting. This projector wins when it comes to being affordable and portable.So, you like the idea of gaming on a project but want something that better suits your on-the-go lifestyle? Well, the Anker Nebula Capsule II is up to the task. This projector is close in size to a can of soda, and it only weighs 1.5 pounds, but it's ready to put on a show wherever you go. You don't even need to bring along a speaker or battery, as this projector has both built in.The Nebula Capsule II can shine at up to 200 lumens, letting it create a 40-inch display in light conditions or a 100-inch display in a dark setting. You'll get a 720p picture that's sharp enough for decent gaming, whether that be from your console at home or a Nintendo Switch on the go. You can connect your devices to the projector over HDMI or even try out some games on the device itself, as it runs Android TV.If you want a projector that's going to give you the best shot at beating out your opponents in competitive online games, then the Optoma HD39HDR is the one for you. It doesn't offer the highest resolution at just 1080p, but it can deliver super smooth frames with its 120Hz refresh rate, and your controls will feel snappy thanks to the 8.4ms response time. You even get HDR support, making it all the more impressive that the Optoma HD39HDR comes in at under $1,000.When looking to buy any display—be it a computer monitor, a flat-panel television, or a projector—there are basic specifications to keep in mind. Color accuracy, contrast ratio, and resolution combine to create a true-to-life and engaging image.With gaming, another primary concern is a low input lag on the projector so you can be the frag-er and not the frag-ee. We recommend aiming for something below 35ms. There are of course a few more important necessities to keep in mind when it comes to projectors.The room you plan to have your projector in, and more specifically the amount of ambient light in that room, can drastically affect image quality. If the projector doesn’t output enough light, measured in lumens, the ambient light in the room can cause the picture to look washed out and dull. You’ll lose definition in the blacks and colors won’t seem as vivid. If your room lets in a lot of light you’ll want a projector that outputs around 2500 lumens or more. A light-controlled room will be fine with a 1500-2000 lumen projector. No matter what avoid any unnecessary direct light on the displayed surface.That displayed surface is another concern. While it is completely possible to display your projector on to a white wall, color and contrast will be affected. There are fixed (non-retractable) options like the Silver Ticket 100-inch STR-169100 , and there are screens that are mounted to a separate stand that sits in front of a wall, or products for painting a screen surface directly onto your wall.Having the screen sit in front of a wall causes you to lose a couple of feet of space, which is not ideal if space is at a premium. The paint option is a cool alternative for small living rooms but can be messy and finicky to apply. Plus, if you move it’s difficult to take the entire wall with you. If you can afford it, we recommend just using a fixed screen.Where you put your projector can also drastically affect your gaming experience. If it sits in a low position directly behind your couch you’ll need to sit to one side to avoid any unintentional MST3K shadows. Plenty of ceiling mounts, like the VIVO Universal Mount , are available for under $20, but be aware you’ll need to think about how you're going to run power and signal cables.Projectors have a throw range that determines how near or far they need to be from the screen. If your room depth is limited, a short-throw projector needs only around four or five feet of distance to project a 100-inch diagonal image on the screen or wall.Mark Knapp is a regular contributor to IGN and an irregular Tweeter on Twitter @Techn0Mark