As gamers and live streamers, we often put a lot of emphasis on our setup and components — the 240Hz monitor, the Nvidia 3000-series GPU, the mechanical TKL keyboard — to give ourselves the best chance at succeeding in our games of choice. However, we tend to forget one key part of the equation: our own energy level and mental focus.
Although general caffeinated beverages like tea and coffee can often do the job, sometimes you just need that extra edge over your opponents in order to perform at your level best. For that, there are many gaming-centric energy drinks available in the market. Let’s discuss ten of the best ones in this article.
Powdered vs. Canned: Which is Best?
When you try to picture an energy drink, nine times out of ten you’d imagine it to be in a traditional canned form. When it comes to gaming energy drinks, however, that’s not the only option available these days. Since gamers and streamers want the best bang for their buck, canned energy drinks are quickly gaining traction in the market.
Manufactured and marketed by many popular brands like G Fuel, JuJu, and XP Sports, these are available in the form of powder stored in tubs which you can prepare with water in a shaker. Since more supplements are packed into a smaller form factor, they’re significantly more effective along with having a lower cost-per-serving and being easier to store.
However, canned drinks are still relevant. They have a coolness factor to them and bring a certain level of originality too. That’s why in this list I’ve made sure to have a mixture of both. So, without further ado, let’s dive in…
Top 10 Best Energy Drinks for Streamers and Gamers in 2022:
1. Sneak Energy
SPECS:
- Form: Canned & Powdered
- Caffeine: 150mg per scoup & 150mg per can
- Flavors Available: Purple Storm, Blue Raspberry, Tropikilla & Strawberry Watermelon & Many More
Sneak energy came onto the scene a few years ago and has now become one of the most popular energy drink brands in gaming. Sneak is specifically made with gamers and streamers in mind.
They have both a powdered version & a canned version of their drink. Personally, I wasn’t a big fan of powdered drinks before Sneak. However, their blue raspberry flavour tastes great especially with ice.
If you want energy to power forward in your gaming sessions, Sneak is a great option to go for.
Pros
- 150mg of caffeine per can
- Suitable for Gaming & Gym
- No Tingly Pre-workout feeling
Cons
- Cans are more expensive than big name brands
2. Bang Cherry Blade Lemonade Energy Drink
SPECS:
- Form: Canned
- Caffeine: 300mg per can
- Flavors Available: Cherry Blade Lemonade
Bang is a pretty popular brand, both for the right and wrong reasons, almost to the point of becoming a meme. If you keep all that aside, however, there’s a lot packed into this can: CoQ10, EAA Aminos, and the Bang-patented “Super Creatine” which the company claims is “the only form of creatine that is sustainable in liquid for an extended period.”
This pack includes twelve 16 oz cans, and depending on your dietary habits could last around two weeks. If Cherry Blade Lemonade isn’t your thing, there are also many other flavors available: Radical Skedaddle, Peach Mango, Lemon Drop, Georgia Peach, and Cotton Candy, among others.
Pros
- Gluten-free and vegan-friendly
- Sugar- and carb-free
- Impressive level of caffeine
Cons
- Expensive
3. XP Sports Boost Energy Drink
SPECS:
- Form: Canned
- Caffeine: 175mg per can
- Flavors Available: Rainbow Candy
XP Sports makes gaming energy drinks in both canned and powdered form, and this is the canned one. One important point to note is that this drink is useful for tasks outside of gaming too, like sports, biohacking, and workouts.
Plus, it also includes some great ingredients like nooLVL and FloraGLO Lutein. The former increases mental accuracy while the latter improves with eye health, both important factors for a gaming session. All in all, this is a great gaming energy drink.
Pros
- 175mg of caffeine per can is great
- Useful for tasks outside of gaming too
- Contains watermelon and coconut powder
Cons
- Not budget-friendly
4. Mountain Dew Game Fuel
SPECS:
- Form: Canned
- Caffeine: 90mg per can
- Flavors Available: Original Dew, Cherry Burst, Orange Storm, Berry Blast, and Tropical Strike
If you like Mountain Dew but want a version of it designed for gaming specifically, here you go! This drink is available in multiple different flavors besides the good ol’ Original Dew, like Cherry Burst, Orange Storm, Berry Blast, and Tropical Strike.
As the brand name suggests, this is the most widely available gamer-centric energy drink, although it doesn’t really pack as much of a punch as other options out there. Overall, if you’ve never had a gaming energy drink before and are skeptical about the results, this is a good entry point to get started with.
Pros
- Original Mountain Dew taste with a twist
- Available in a wide variety of flavors
- Cool design
Cons
- Doesn’t pack as much of a punch as other energy drinks
5. Dbl XP Labs Metabolic Bioshock Powder
SPECS:
- Form: Powdered
- Caffeine: 165mg per serving
- Flavors Available: OG Punch and Blue Pom Nom
Now, finally on to powered energy drinks! Although these aren’t as easy and straightforward as a canned energy drink, since they have to be mixed and stirred in a shaker bottle by yourself, they provide great value for money and also the highest level of energy per serving on average. One of the best options in this regard is the Dbl XP Labs Metabolic Bioshock Powder.
In terms of the actual ingredients, you get over 165mg of caffeine per serving, which is more than enough to get you going. In addition to that, there’s Lutein and Ginseng for eye health along with some natural nootropics for mental precision. Also, all of this minus sugar, maltodextrin, artificial flavors, and artificial colors!
Pros
- Powdered form great for storage and effectiveness
- 30 servings per tub
- No sugar
Cons
- Can cause crash
6. XP Sports Boost Powder
SPECS:
- Form: Powdered
- Caffeine: 200mg per serving
- Flavors Available: Sour Lime Pucker Face and Rainbow Candy
If you felt like the XP Sports energy drink was a bit overpriced and didn’t pack a big enough punch for your gaming sessions, the powered version of the product could be a viable alternative. Right off the bat, there’s 200mg of caffeine per serving compared to the canned version’s 175mg.
Of course, you need to mix two scoops of this powder with water in a shaker cup. Just like the canned version, you get both nooLVL and FloraGLO Lutein, which are great for mental accuracy and eye health. You also get to choose between two distinct flavors: Sour Lime Pucker Face and Rainbow Candy.
Pros
- Great powdered alternative to the canned version
- High amount of caffeine per serving
- Available in two flavors
Cons
- Not budget-friendly
7. JuJu Professional Grade Gaming Energy Drink Mix
SPECS:
- Form: Powdered
- Caffeine: 180mg per serving
- Flavors Available: Grapesicle, Blue Raspberry, Bomber Pop, Tropical Juggernaut, Cherry Bomb, Horchata, and Pumpkin Spice
JuJu Energy is one of the newer plays in the gaming energy drink space, but it’s quickly gaining traction thanks to the unique tub designs, fun and tangy flavors, along with partnerships with famous streamers like Kat_Life.
When it comes to the actual product, there’s a lot to talk about. First, you get over eighteen high-quality ingredients like B, C & D vitamins, Alpha GPC, antioxidants, and general nootropics. Of course, when gaming and live streaming you’ll be staring at your monitor for hours at a time. So, you need something that helps with your eye health too. For that purpose, this energy drink also includes Lutemax2020.
Overall, JuJu is perfect for those who want a more premium option when compared to more popular names like G Fuel.
Pros
- Keto-friendly for those looking to lose weight
- Less chalkiness
- Premium high-quality ingredients
Cons
- Expensive
8. G Fuel FaZeberry Elite Energy Powder
SPECS:
- Form: Powdered
- Caffeine: 150mg per serving
- Flavors Available: FaZeberry
If you’ve been in the live streaming industry for any amount of time, you’ve no doubt heard about G Fuel. It’s been around back in 2011 and has partnered with many popular live streamers like Summit1g, xQc, Nickeh30, and, of course, FaZe Clan.
Listing all of their flavors will take another entire article, since they seem to launch a new one almost every month! However, this one is the FaZeberry flavor, and resembles a sweet strawberry taste. In terms of the actual ingredients, it’s fairly decent: 150mg of caffeine per serving.
Overall, consider this one if you’re a fan of the FaZe Clan or just want a decent strawberry-flavored gaming energy drink.
Pros
- 150mg of caffeine per serving
- Perfect for fans of FaZe Clan
- Packs over 40 servings in one tub
Cons
- Chalky and granular texture
9. X-Arch Gaming Energy Drink Powder Formula
SPECS:
- Form: Powdered
- Caffeine: 175mg per serving
- Flavors Available: Grape Blast, Peach Rings, and Raspberry Twist
The X-Arch Gaming Energy Drink Powder Formula is another great option. It is a nootropic supplement, and is intended for both a physical and mental boost in energy. When it comes to caffeine per serving, 175mg is still decent enough although not the highest. 100mg of that is pure caffeine while 75 mg is something called “Di-Caffeine Malate.”
This is a patented ingredient that can be defined as a “buffered” form of caffeine. Instead of giving you the full dose at once, it provides longer-lasting energy and no caffeine crash. I’ll definitely give X-Arch some points for innovation!
Just as the G Fuel tub, you can get around 40 servings out of one container, which is highly economical when compared to canned drinks, and there are also three distinct flavors to choose from, so you can get one that you like the most: Grape Blast, Peach Rings, or Raspberry Twist.
Pros
- Vegan-friendly
- Over 40 servings in one tub
- Available in three unique flavors
Cons
- Expensive (average $2 per serving)
10. Ghost Gamer Energy and Focus Support Formula
SPECS:
- Form: Powdered
- Caffeine: 150mg per serving
- Flavors Available: Sour Patch
Unlike brands like G Fuel and JuJu, Ghost Lifestyle didn’t originally start out with gaming-centric products. With that being said, the Ghost Gamer Support Formula is a great energy drink product.
Since this is a nootropic, this supplement includes nooLVL, L-Tyrosine, Cognizin, which improve overall mental focus and is something Ghost Gamer calls the Brain Gains Trifecta. This makes it suitable for other tasks outside of gaming too, like work, study, or programming. Overall, it’s a solid gaming drink powder if you can overlook the lack of flavor options.
Pros
- Improves both mental and physical energy
- Vegan-friendly, soy-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free
- Thanks to the Brain Gains Trifecta, it’s also suitable for work and study
Cons
- Only available in one flavor
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Best Mini Fridge Options Available?
If you’re going to be stocking up on multiple cartons of energy drinks for your long gaming and live streaming sessions, it can be a drag to get out of your room and go to your fridge every time you want a new can. So, like many popular live streamers, getting a mini-fridge to place beside your gaming setup can be a great idea for easy access to chilled gamer fuel at all times.
On the budget-friendly end of the spectrum, there are many great options like the Midea WHS-65LB1 or the Avanti VFR14PS-IS. If you’re looking to get something bigger and more premium, you can check out the NewAir 126 or the Whynter BR-130SB.
In addition to this, also make sure to get a decent shaker bottle if you’re going to be using energy drink powers. Most companies that sell canned powders also sell branded shakers, like G Fuel and JuJu.
Wrap Up
So, that wraps it up! These are some of the best energy drinks available right now, both in liquid and powder form. Of course, be sure to consume these in moderation to maintain your health. To summarize, here are all the products I listed in this article:
- Mountain Dew Game Fuel
- Bang Cherry Blade Lemonade Energy Drink
- XP Sports Boost Energy Drink
- USN Qhush Extreme Energy Drink
- Dbl XP Labs Metabolic Bioshock Powder
- XP Sports Boost Powder
- JuJu Professional Grade Gaming Energy Drink Mix
- G Fuel FaZeberry Elite Energy Powder
- X-Arch Gaming Energy Drink Powder Formula
- Ghost Gamer Energy and Focus Support Formula
