The Best Gaming Lights for Walls

When preparing a new gaming setup, decorating walls is often the last on a list of priorities. Even if a gamer builds a flashy gaming rig complete with RGB case fans, blank walls can make an otherwise exciting space seem ordinary. Fortunately, a bevy of smart wall lights on the market sync with keyboards and mice to make gaming room lighting more immersive.

How to Brighten Up Gaming Room Walls

• Type of Light: A variety of lights can become permanent fixtures or project backlit effects onto walls. Buyers must decide whether wall panel lights or LED light strips are the best option for a particular gaming room.
• Application: Smart lights improve gaming rooms in many different ways. Bright light strips near doorways provide enough illumination to safely walk in and around rooms. On the other hand, wall panel lights add more to the ambiance of a room and function as reactive lighting triggered by in-game events.
• Compatibility: Most smart lights and devices are compatible with platforms like Google Home and Amazon Alexa. However, support for lighting applications like Razer Chroma and Overwolf is just as relevant for gamers.
• Budget: Gaming room lights can quickly stretch the budget needed for vital PC components. Still, some affordable options are available that make more of an impact than traditional white bulbs.

When sprucing up gaming room walls, there is more to consider than just how bright or colorful a wall panel is. The following smart lights include some less-than-obvious options for extending a gaming experience well beyond the confines of a monitor.

Game Rant’s Picks for the Best Gaming Room Wall Lights

Nanoleaf and Govee are the two names that come to mind first when thinking about wall panel lights. In particular, Nanoleaf Shapes are a tempting way to cover blank walls with RGB LED lighting in various shapes. These lights are available in Triangles, Mini-triangles, and Hexagons, and thanks to Nanoleaf’s Connect+ technology, they can be used to form elaborate designs.

As with most wall panel lights, Nanoleaf Shapes adhere to walls using double-sided adhesive pads. Nanoleaf’s mobile app can suggest different designs, or buyers are free to create custom layouts. The lights connect using plastic linkers with a controller box and power cord attached to any panel, making cord management more flexible. The Nanoleaf mobile app will pair with the Shapes lights and ask to connect them to a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network, with 5.0 GHz bands not an option. Buyers will need walls with a smooth enough texture or a wall anchor kit; otherwise, the installation process will be relatively straightforward.

Once mounted on walls, Nanoleaf Shapes can react to music and change lighting effects based on a schedule set up in the app. The suggested lighting scenes are impressive enough, but the number of user-created effects downloaded in apps continues to grow. Touch controls are something that many other wall panels lack, and they can allow owners to adjust brightness and change scenes just by making contact with the Shapes.

Gamers will find plenty to like about these Nanoleaf lights, especially their integration with Razer Chroma and Overwolf. A buyer can use Synapse software to coordinate the RGB lighting of Razer mice, keyboards, and case fans with the Shapes. Also, Overwolf support allows the panels to enhance gaming by reacting to in-game events like wins, losses, deaths and kills.

Although Nanoleaf Shapes are quite expensive, their ability to function as a Thread border router could add to their value. Matter-compatible lights like Nanoleaf Essentials Light Strip and light bulb run more efficiently in a household of smart lights when on Thread networks. This revolution in smart home technology promises to coordinate the lights of many different brands on a low-latency mesh network.

Despite their thin and lightweight profile, Nanoleaf wall panels are known for their build quality and are well-supported by the company for years after release. Since replacing wall lights can risk damaging homes and apartments, Nanoleaf Shapes is ideal for buyers searching for long-term lighting solutions. With hassle-free installation, outstanding brightness, and features that gamers can appreciate, Nanoleaf Shapes are the best wall lights for gaming rooms.

Wall panel lights are a way to quickly cover walls with multicolored RGB illumination. However, Nanoleaf Lines employ a different type of lighting that projects illumination from the backside of light bars onto walls. The overall effects are somewhat more subtle, but since the Lines are exceptionally bright, the result is no less spectacular.

The more popular Nanoleaf Lines kits include light bars that can connect at 60-degree angles rather than stacking triangles and hexagons next to each other. Nanoleaf will still suggest a surprising variety of designs in their app, but adding the 90-degree Lines extension kits allows for more possibilities. Buyers can use the Lines as borders around monitors or desks to brighten up a gaming room with LED bulbs.

Nanoleaf Lines are durable despite minimal weight and may survive some unfortunate drops. Double-sided tape pads on the back of each connecting joint on the Lines keep the lights secure on walls and also elevate the bars from flat surfaces. Users can choose which light to connect the control box and power adapter to minimize clutter. The small controller allows buyers some basic control over the Lines, like switching them off and on and toggling between some default scenes. Once the lights are connected to a Wi-Fi network, homeowners can use voice commands to control them in the Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Apple Home platforms.

Compared to Nanoleaf Shapes, the Lines lack a few features, such as touch gestures. Fortunately, the Lines’ gaming features are virtually identical, offering Razer Chroma and Overwolf compatibility. Having Nanoleaf Desktop running in the background on a PC can implement screen mirroring so anything shown on a monitor is reflected with lighting on the Lines.

Some features, like grouping with other Nanoleaf lights and scheduling, make the Nanoleaf mobile app less user-friendly. Regardless, with their ability to cast vivid glowing light onto walls and widespread compatibility with smart home and gaming platforms, Nanoleaf Lines are the top pick for accent gaming lights.

Screen mirroring kits don’t place any lights or strips directly on surfaces. Instead, blank walls are the canvas for their backlighting effects. The Govee Gaming Light Strip G1 is an affordable way to make gaming more immersive, comprised of little more than an RGBIC LED light strip, controller unit, and power adapter. More expensive screen mirroring solutions like the Govee Envisual TV Backlight T2 utilize cameras mounted above TV screens to capture scenes in movies and gaming and program reactive lighting on light strips. In this instance, the Light Strip G1 relies mostly on screen visualizer software running in the background on PCs.

The streamlined Gaming Light Strip G1 system makes installation of the kit a breeze. Buyers just need to adhere the LED strip, which is available for monitors of 27–34 inches or 24–26 inches, to the back of their displays. Govee supplies some clips with double-sided tape to keep the strip flat on surfaces. Attached to the lights is a control box with a long enough cord to place in a convenient spot for access.

Benefiting from a dense layout of LED lights, the Gaming Light Strip G1 casts plenty of light on walls behind monitors. Govee separates screens into ten distinct sections so that the light strip can more accurately reflect complex scenes in a game with wide-ranging color palettes. VibraMatch technology amplifies gaming environments, making their color schemes look even more impressive on the lights.

Marketed as a gaming product, it’s not surprising that the Gaming Light Strip G1 also boasts compatibility with Razer Synapse. Govee Desktop can effectively mirror screens on its own, but Synapse opens up even more possibilities with customized screen visualizing effects. With DreamView, gamers can sync the light strip with other compatible Govee lights for a room-wide light show.

Since these Govee lights depend on PC software, console gamers will struggle to mirror games using the system. Even so, the Gaming Light Strip G1 is a welcome budget alternative to screen mirror products, which can cost three times or more than the G1’s asking price.

Game Rant praised Govee’s Neon Rope Light for Desks in its review as a simple accessory to add flair to gaming desks. The Neon Rope Light 2 is an even more flexible light strip that unleashes the creativity of the most talented gamers. Instead of desk edges, this rope light runs along walls, which can result in some sophisticated illuminated artwork.

The Neon Rope Light 2 is sold in 9.8 and 16.4-foot varieties with black or white on the edges of the diffused lighting. Govee includes mounting clips that buyers can use as guides when experimenting with designs before installation. Unfortunately, it can take considerable patience and practice before successfully forming anything resembling a palm tree or cat. Less artistically inclined gamers can always use the rope light to highlight picture frames or create more abstract, squiggly lines. Govee gives installers many suggestions for shapes, but they are rather complicated and require using most of the provided clips to guide the strip around numerous corners.

Time-consuming installation is the main drawback of the Neon Rope Light 2, but otherwise, the lights impress. Even when diffused, the lights are noticeable from a distance, and animations can travel in many different directions along the rope. In the Govee Home app, the software can recognize a custom shape through a phone camera and map lighting accordingly. The lights are a laboratory for other cutting-edge features like AI technology that suggests lighting schemes based on voice commands. Addressing complaints of other Govee smart lights, the Neon Rope Light 2 is also Matter compatible, which is a way to achieve Apple HomeKit connectivity.

Govee’s latest rope light demands more than stacking hexagons next to each other, but its unique designs have more potential. Whether the shapes are elaborate or simplistic, the Neon Rope Light 2 is an attractive alternative to LED strips or panel lights.

LED light strips have many different applications on gaming room walls. Since they often aren’t the most pleasant to look at when off, many gamers use them along floorboards to provide some essential illumination. Buyers can also place the lights on the back of furniture like gaming desks to shine back lighting onto walls. The Nanoleaf Essentials Lightstrip provides all the functionality of a typical light strip but also embraces the emerging Matter smart home platform.

Where the Nanoleaf Essentials Lightstrip differs from other strips is with its connectivity. Using Bluetooth, gamers can rely on the Nanoleaf app to communicate with the lights and experiment with preset and downloadable scenes. However, unlike most smart lights, the Essentials lights do not directly use Wi-Fi networks to connect to other apps and smart home ecosystems. Instead, buyers will need a Matter controller like a hub from Google Home, Amazon Alexa, or Apple Home to fully experience what these lights are capable of. Once the Essentials Lightstrip is on a Matter network, it’s simple to connect it to other smart home devices without using multiple different apps.

With the proper Matter hardware supporting it, the Essentials Lightstrip responds to commands more instantaneously than lights on Wi-Fi networks. The Nanoleaf lights are also brighter than typical light strips and excel at white tones, capable of showing the slightest differences in warm and cold white hues. The range of colors possible with the light strip is also extensive, but they are not RGBIC, meaning that only one color can be displayed at a time.

Nanoleaf lights consistently support Razer Chroma, and the Essentials light strips are no exception. Once again, the Nanoleaf Desktop software is necessary, but the light strip can sync with Razer peripherals or act as screen visualizing lights when gaming.

The Nanoleaf Essentials Lightstrip is a step forward in smart home lighting technology. The fact that Matter lights respond to commands without noticeable latency will have more benefits in the coming years, especially when reacting to fast-paced gaming action.

The Govee AI Gaming Sync Box is yet another approach to screen mirroring gaming scenes with backlighting on walls. This kit includes not only an LED light strip for monitors but also a sync box with three HDMI inputs and a pair of light bars to place around the sides of monitors. Instead of cameras scanning monitors, the AI Sync Box connects to HDMI cables from graphics cards, consoles, or media players. The system programs reactive lighting on the light strip and light bars accordingly as the box reads the video signals from these components.

One of the advantages of the AI Sync Box is its ability to react to fast-paced gameplay much more quickly than cameras. In addition, the system works with a list of supported games like Valorant and League of Legends to display animated effects that reflect in-game achievements. Govee’s CogniGlow algorithms are constantly evolving to support more titles despite the current list of games being not particularly extensive. Even when not playing a compatible game, the light bars and light strip will change their lighting to mirror the colors in a gaming environment. If gamers prefer to use Razer Synapse for game-specific lighting effects, the AI Sync Box also supports that app.

Some limitations worth noting with the AI Sync Box is its lack of compatibility with HDMI 2.1 signals. As a result, 120 Hz or higher refresh rates are not an option at 4K resolutions or features like VRR or G-Sync. Thankfully, HDR and Dolby Vision are allowed, which makes movie watching with the AI Sync Box a no-compromise experience.

The Govee AI Sync Box is one of the more costly ways to screen mirror gaming content compared to camera or software-based systems. Regardless, it has greater potential to enhance gaming experiences with animated effects that celebrate hard-fought victories or signal agonizing defeats. Even with its lack of support for HDMI 2.1, the Govee AI Sync Box is the best wall light for syncing with games to amplify the thrills of competitive play.

Govee plans to address the limitations of the original AI Sync Box with an 8K compatible refresh coming soon. Govee also makes a kit for TVs from 55 to 85 inches, and users can read Game Rant’s review of those smart lights.

Ceilings above gaming desks should also not be ignored, since bright overhead lights can effectively illuminate spaces. While the Nanoleaf Skylight replaces traditional ceiling light fixtures, it is more than just functional lighting. The Skylights bring the same performance and features as other Nanoleaf lights to often ignored parts of gaming rooms.

Buyers will need to do some planning to ensure that the Skylights will work in a space. Instead of using an external power plug, these Nanoleaf lights connect to existing wiring running along ceilings. Once identifying the correct wires, most users won’t have many issues installing the Skylights, but screws are necessary to secure them rather than double-sided tape. Buyers can add up to 99 panels with only data cables necessary to power other Skylights.

The Nanoleaf Skylights impress with their powerful white hues, which can instantly brighten a room below. Casting warm or cool whites, the Skylights are more versatile than traditional light bulbs and can also match the vibrant colors of Nanoleaf Shapes. These ceiling lights lack support for Thread and Matter, but otherwise, they sync seamlessly with Nanoleaf products. With Razer Chroma functionality, gamers can experience reactive lighting to victories and defeats above sitting positions. More practical uses include things like creating a cozy gaming room atmosphere or keeping potential criminals at bay.

Skylights are designed as permanent additions to gaming rooms. They are pricey and require a more involved installation process than the typical smart light. Even so, with excellent performance and Nanoleaf’s history of supporting older products, buyers likely won’t regret purchasing them.

Many affordable wall panels that are alternatives to Nanoleaf or Govee lights either have poor build quality or lack compatibility with gaming platforms. While buyers will have to make some compromises, the Cololight Plus Hexagon lights offer dynamic lighting and more than adequate brightness. In the Cololight app, gamers can edit the colors of the individual beads inside the panels, resulting in some complicated lighting effects.

Unlike most other panel lights, the Plus Hexagon kit has a stand to showcase a custom design on a table or desktop. Wall mounting these lights is possible, but an additional wall mounting kit may have to be purchased depending on the configuration purchased. The hexagons are linked with a series of connectors and a fixator to make any design more stable. A controller unit attaches to the base of the lights to complete the arrangement.

Installing the lights on a wall is a bit more time-consuming and involves attaching the lights to brackets and mounting them with double-sided tape or nails. Since these panels are also on the thick side, they stick out on walls more than most alternatives. Also, the 3.5-inch power cord will surely require an extension cord in many setups.

The Cololight Plus Hexagon lights are smaller than full-sized Govee panels, but the lighting effects are convincing nonetheless. Where the Cololight shines is with its compatibility with not only Google Home and Alexa, but also Apple HomeKit, which Govee lights usually lacks. The hexagon panels are also a viable option for gamers and streamers since they support synchronization with Razer Chroma and the Steam Deck.

With a reasonable cost per hexagon, the Cololight Plus Hexagon kits allow gamers on a budget to finally experience the splendor of wall panel lights. They are designed as much for table mounting as wall mounting, but their vast compatibility with smart home and gaming software makes up for any setup annoyances.

The Govee Glide Hexagon Light Panels Ultra takes existing wall panel lighting to a new dimension. Using line lighting and a dense layout of RGBIC LED bulbs, these premium Govee smart lights produce a convincing 3D effect. While very costly, the Glide Hexagon Light Panels Ultra is the answer when gamers find existing panel lights too conventional.

With multiple lighting pathways and 129 LED bulbs on the ten hexagon-shaped panels, each light has a solid feel. Fortunately, Govee reinforced the back of the panels with three double-sized tape strips to ensure they stayed on the walls. Since the hexagons must face the same direction for cohesive lighting patterns, installation is more involved than other panels. However, the Govee app guides users on arranging the lights and plastic linkers when setting up a planned configuration.

Once illuminated, each Light Panel Ultra appears like a 3D cube, with pulsating lines on their edges and surfaces. Each panel section can display a different color, so the potential for elaborate lighting schemes is almost unlimited. However, while Govee enables users to develop custom scenes in the app, clicking and changing colors on many segments can be frustrating on a mobile phone. Most buyers will find plenty of preset dynamic scenes with fluid animations in the software or download many creative suggestions from other Govee fans.

The Glide Hexagon Light Panels Ultra are wall lights that instantly become focal points of gaming rooms. Their compatibility with RGB lighting platforms like Razer Chroma means that all components in a setup can perform as a single giant light show. Unlike the Nanoleaf Shapes, Govee’s panels can’t function as a Thread Border router or a Matter device, but they are fully supported by Google Home and Alexa apps.

Price is likely why these innovative smart lights haven’t found their way onto more walls. Regardless, Game Rant’s review of the Glide Hexagon Light Panels Ultra found that they elevate panel lighting in ways all competing lights should aspire to match.

How to Transform a Room into a Gaming Paradise

With so much technology around, hanging pictures and posters seems unfitting for a cutting-edge gaming room. To decide which smart lights are the best candidates to make white walls more colorful, consider these factors:

Type of Light

Wall panel lights are the obvious choice to hang up on an empty wall. Nanoleaf Shapes are available in a variety of hexagon and triangle shapes to form unique designs. Another way to brighten up walls is with screen mirroring kits which usually include LED light strips, if not light towers as well. The Govee Gaming Light Strip G1 is affordable and, in conjunction with PC software, can screen mirror gaming scenes with appropriate lighting effects.

Application

Some smart lights are ideal for just making a gaming room look more inviting to spend time in. Nanoleaf Lines are light bars that can connect at 60 or 90-degree angles and act as accent lighting above gaming desks. Other lights are more focused on magnifying the excitement of gaming. The Govee AI Sync Box connects to HDMI video signals from graphics cards and consoles, programming an attached light strip to react to key in-game events.

Compatibility

Voice commands in Google Home and Amazon Alexa apps can power smart lights on or off or activate basic scenes. Some lights take things further by integrating with gaming software like Razer Synapse and Overwolf. Nanoleaf and Govee typically support one or both of these platforms, but not all embrace the latest smart home protocols like Thread and Matter. For instance, although they have been out for several years, Nanoleaf Shapes received a firmware update to act as a Thread border router. On the other hand, the recently released Nanoleaf Skylights can not currently communicate with other devices on these newer low-latency wireless networks.

Budget

Gamers don’t have to settle for a lower-end GPU or CPU to preserve a decorating budget. Even though the Cololight Plus Hexagon Light kit is less expensive than most wall panels, the lights are still compatible with Razer Chroma RGB mice, keyboards, or RGB case fans. Still, the most premium wall lights for gaming rooms are capable of more dynamic efforts. Govee’s pricey Glide Hexagon Light Panels Ultra benefits from line lighting and multiple illuminated zones to exceed expectations of how wall panels can perform.

Nanoleaf Shapes is Game Rant’s choice for the best wall lights for gaming rooms because of their build quality, color accuracy, and ability to work with almost any smart device. Even though buyers have different priorities when designing a gaming space, there hopefully is a solution for every gamer in this guide.

FAQ

Q: Are wall panel lights substitutes for light bulbs?

Many wall panel LED lights are exceptionally bright, but they still should not be the first option to provide critical illumination in a room. Smart light bulbs can easily take the place of traditional light bulbs and are the most practical way to avoid stumbling in the dark.

Q: Do all RGB lights in a gaming or media room need to be made by the same brand to work together?

Although it’s usually simpler if all the RGB lights in a gaming room are made by the same manufacturer, there are smart home platforms and software solutions that can integrate many different types of devices into one ecosystem.

Q: What are the most popular types of lighting to add near gaming desks?

Many gaming keyboards, mice, and headsets are RGB enabled with color-changing effects. To enhance the lighting from these peripherals, gamers often install RGB cooling fans and LED strips in PC cases. In recent years, other types of smart LED lighting like wall panel lights are common additions near PC desks.