Whether gaming is a hobby or a full-time career, novice and serious gamers alike are searching for ways to up their game and get an edge over the competition. Beyond hours of practice, gamers also need to fuel their skills and keep their mind and bodies sharp with proper nutrition. Along with a healthy diet and regular exercise, there are gaming supplements that can take your game to a whole new level – and GNC is here to give you our top picks.
To create the list of 11 Best Supplements for Gamers of 2023, I sat down with a group of product experts at GNC in the merchandising department. The merchandising team is responsible for curating an assortment of products specifically for gamers. They sample and try THOUSANDS of supplements to make sure that only the best of the best makes it onto GNC shelves (so who better to ask?).
I asked the merchandising experts them to rank the top supplements for gamers across different categories. As a dietitian myself, I threw in my two cents on the nutrition profile of each product.
Here are the winners for each category:
• Overall Best Supplement for Gamers – GHOST® Gamer
• Best Brain Supplements – Beyond Raw® Neuro SurgeTM
• Best Energy Drink for Gamers – GHOST® Energy
• Best Protein Snacks – Legendary Foods™ Protein Sweet Roll
• Best Protein Drinks – GNC AMP Wheybolic 40 Whey Protein Drink
• Best Meal Replacement – CTRL Meal Replacement Shake
• Best Hydration Supplements – GNC AMP Amplified Hydration
• Best Sleep Supplement – Beyond Raw® Anabolic SleepTM
• Best Eye Supplements – GNC Preventive Nutrition® Eye Health Formula
• Best Joint Supplement – GNC TamaflexTM Fast Acting
• Best Multivitamin for Men & Women – GNC Mega Men® and GNC Women’s Ultra Mega
Overall Best Supplement for Gamers
GHOST® Gamer
The overall best supplement goes to GHOST® Gamer. Why? Because it is formulated specifically with gamers in mind. It offers a slew of vitamins and trademarked ingredients meant to give a boost of energy and focus. On the label, it says “GHOST® Gamer was conceived to pwn noobs in and out of the game”. Not to mention it comes in insanely deliciously and nostalgic flavors, like Sour Patch Kids® Redberry®, Swedish Fish®, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ooze, and even Faze PopTM – a flavor inspired by a partnership with FaZe Clan, the lifestyle and media platform rooted in gaming culture.
Best Brain Supplements
Beyond Raw® Neuro SurgeTM
Beyond Raw Neuro Surge takes over the nootropic (aka. brain supplement) category. The side of the box says it all: “Get S**t Done”.
With just one pill a day, Neuro Surge supports mental energy and improved reaction time while helping you fight stress and lack of energy. The stand-out ingredient is ZynamiteTM, a mango leaf extract that is clinically shown to improve the performance of cognitive tasks. Roberta Townes, Senior Category Merchant for the nootropic category states: “Everyone is always looking for better mental energy and focus, BR Neuro Surge gives you just that with a clinical dose of the key ingredients to keep you performing at your best!”
Best Energy Drink for Gamers
GHOST® Energy
GHOST® makes the list again thanks to its fantastic flavors, collabs, and formulations. GHOST® Energy Drink offers gamers legendary energy and epic focus. It provides 200mg of natural caffeine, 100mg of NeuroFactorTM Coffee Fruit extract, 150mg of alpha-GPC, and 1000mg of Carnipure® Carnitine. Gamers love the Faze PopTM flavor, thanks to a partnership with FaZe Clan.
Best Protein Snacks
Legendary Foods™ Protein Sweet Roll
Craving a sweet treat? Reach for one that’s not only delicious but packed with protein. Legendary Foods Protein Sweet Roll is loaded with 9 grams of fiber and 20 grams of protein from casein, collagen peptides, and whey protein isolate to help you feel full. It’s keto friendly, gluten free, and only 200 calories. Want in on an insider secret? Take it out of the wrapper and throw it in the microwave for a few seconds before eating (you’ll thank me later).
Best Protein Drinks
GNC AMP Wheybolic 40 Whey Protein Drink
If you’re looking for a protein packed drink that doesn’t require mixing in a shaker cup, GNC AMP Wheybolic 40 is your go-to. Each bottle provides a whopping 40 grams of protein, without loads of sugar or fat. They’re a great option for gaming to keep you fuller, longer…but they’re also great as a post-workout protein shake. Wheybolic performance protein shake includes an ingredient called BetaPower® to support athletic performance and power in your training sessions.
Best Meal Replacement
CTRL Meal Replacement Shake
CTRL is a new brand that just launched at GNC. Charlie Branovan, merchandising manager for protein products, says “CTRL is awesome to have around during those long hours of streaming, editing, or gaming when you just don’t have the time to make yourself a healthy meal or snack”. At just 230 calories, CTRL Meal Replacement Shake provides 23 grams of protein and 22 vitamins and minerals, making it a convenient swap for a meal (or a snack during gaming hours). It’s available in four delicious flavors, Cookies N’ Cream, Cinnamon Toast, Fruity Flakes, and Strawberries N’ Cream!
Best Hydration Supplements
GNC AMP Amplified Hydration
Instead of sipping on plain old water during your gaming sesh, why not step it up a notch? The winner of the hydration category is GNC AMP Amplified Hydration. Cody Kishur, the senior merchandising manager over sports nutrition products says “I’ve been working at GNC for 11 years, and AMP hydration is BY FAR the most creative and effective approach to hydration supplementation I’ve experienced.”
• READ MORE: HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE DRINKS FOR GAMING
Best Sleep Supplement
Beyond Raw® Anabolic SleepTM
In order to perform at your peak, gamers need to get adequate rest…and sometimes you need a little help. Introducing Beyond Raw® Anabolic SleepTM. Each tablet is dual-release tablets provides immediate and sustained release ingredients to help you unwind and get restful sleep. These ingredients include theanine to help promote a sense of calm, 3 mg of melatonin to support restful sleep, plus ashwagandha, a botanical traditionally used to manage everyday stress. This product is great after tough workouts because it features an ingredient called PAM (palmitic acid monoethanolamine), which provides comfort and support for a healthy inflammation response.
Best Eye Supplements
GNC Preventive Nutrition® Eye Health Formula
Staring at screens can have a negative impact on eye health. The winner for best eye supplement goes to GNC Preventive Nutrition® Eye Health Formula, which features premium ingredients to support multiple eye benefits. It contains lutein, which provides antioxidant protection and nutritional support for those concerned about eye strain, fatigue, and long-term eye health. It may also increase macular pigment density, which helps eyes filter blue light from electronic devices.’
Best Joint Supplement
GNC TamaflexTM Fast Acting
Sitting for long periods of time, especially in non-ergonomic chairs, can put strain on joints. Get proven joint support with GNC Tamaflex Fast Acting, which provides an herbal blend of tamarind and turmeric (an ingredient called Tamaflex). Tamaflex has been shown to improve joint comfort, function, stiffness, and flexibility^. The best part? It’s been shown to start working in just FIVE days. Now that’s fast.
Best Multivitamin for Men & Women
GNC Mega Men® and GNC Women’s Ultra Mega
Let’s face it, no one’s diet is perfect. Adding a multivitamin to your routine is a great way to fill nutritional gaps. At GNC, the clear winners for best multivitamins go to our long-standing products – GNC Mega Men and GNC Women’s Ultra Mega. Mike Wagner, merchant over the vitamin category, says: “GNC has been a trusted vitamin retailer for over 80 years. Our top-selling GNC Mega Men and GNC Women’s multivitamins are a staple for everyone’s routine.” From a scientific standpoint, what makes these multis stand out is the fact that GNC put our multis to the ultimate test in a clinical study to show they work better than a basic multi and help boost levels of key nutrients in the body^.
• READ MORE: 11 TIPS TO STAY HEALTHY WHILE GAMING
• READ MORE: A GAMING SUPPLEMENT TIMELINE
