Last Updated on December 20, 2022
In this article, we will provide information about How To Know If a Mouse is Good for Gaming in detail so that you can find the best mouse that is most appropriate for playing games.
Only when a mouse fits their playing style and is comfortable to use can gamers truly enjoy the gaming experience. Gamers can play games with a conventional mouse, but the experience won’t be the same as when they use a gaming mouse. The gaming mouse differs from a standard mouse in that it has special functionality.
A gaming mouse, for instance, has better software that allows for customization and tweaking and can support both high DPI and CPI. Compared to a gaming mouse, a conventional mouse is noted for having a significant latency. Furthermore, a gaming mouse needs to have sensors in order to keep up with faster motions than a standard mouse in order to be effective. The previously listed characteristics highlight the distinction between a gaming mouse and a standard mouse. The special features make playing games more enjoyable.
You’ve come to the perfect place if you’re unsure about which mouse to buy and want to make sure you don’t overlook anything when shopping for a new mouse.
By the end of this essay, you’ll be able to accurately assess the gaming mice that are optimal for your hand’s shape and your preferred genres of games.
How To Know If a Mouse is Good for Gaming?
Here are some things you can consider when choosing a gaming mouse:
- Game Genres/Play Styles
- Shapes
- Build Quality
- Mouse Feet
- Mouse Buttons
- Scrollwheel
- Features & Software
- Reliability & Warranty
- Type of Sensor
- Wired or Wireless
- DPI (Dots per Inch and Counts per Inch)
- Weights
- Grip Style
Game Genres/Play Styles
Even while playing FPS, MOBA, or MMO games, the ideal gaming mouse will aid in your movement and precision. The right mouse is also helpful for various in-game tasks including changing camera angles and weaponry.
Before choosing a gaming mouse, it is crucial to take your favorite game genre into account. Various types of games have different priorities and needs, with some placing greater emphasis on accuracy and precision while others on quick movements. For First Person Shooter (FPS) games like Call of Duty and Doom Eternal, the accuracy of the mouse is more crucial than having many customizable side buttons. If you enjoy playing these kinds of games, you should always take into account a precise, dependable, and consistent mouse.
On the other hand, having a lot of customizable buttons can help you in games like Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) World of Warcraft and Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) DOTA. Side buttons that can be programmed can be utilized to quickly access key game elements and abilities. For example, if you play a role-playing game (RPG) like The Elder Scrolls, you can set the side buttons to cast spells without learning tricky keybinds.
Shapes
Picking a mouse shape that works with your preferred mouse grip type is a good idea. This makes playing for longer periods of time more comfortable and can enhance your tracking and accuracy. Check out our in-depth guide to mouse grip styles if you’re unsure of your choice or what you should use.
Asymmetrical mice that are designed to fit the form of your hand are called ergonomic mice. More points of contact between your hand and the mouse might increase comfort. Because of this, ergonomic mice are a perfect fit for people who utilize the palm grip and lay their entire hand on the mouse. The consistently popular Razer DeathAdder Elite and Logitech G703 for ergonomic shapes, For ambidextrous forms, use the Zowie FK1/2 and the Logitech G Pro.
Everyone has various-sized hands and holds their mice in different ways, thus what constitutes a decent mouse form is purely arbitrary.
A good gaming mouse will have a form that works with a variety of grips and sizes.
You must determine a few aspects of your gaming style in order to find different mice shapes that you could enjoy.
Mouse Size
Although mice don’t have size labels, they are typically divided as small, medium, and giant mice, and the manufacturer’s website lists their exact measurements. These measurements, according to Razer, can aid in determining the size of your mouse hand.
| Length | Width | |
|---|---|---|
| Small | Less than 6.7 inches | 2.9 – 3.3 inches |
| Medium | 6.7 – 7.9 inches | 3.3 – 3.9 inches |
| Large | 7.9 inches | 3.9 – 4.3 inches |
Although choosing a mouse size is a matter of taste, this might serve as a useful guide when making a first-time purchase of a gaming mouse. We’ve produced a thorough essay on hand measurement that goes into detail on the significance of mouse size in relation to hand size.
While most mice are easy to use for persons with medium-sized hands, those with small or large hands might want to take a little more time looking for solutions that are more suited to their size. Viewing our articles on the top gaming mouse for both large and small hands is advised. Both of these articles have a lot of suggestions that can assist you in choosing an excellent gaming mouse that fits your hand size.
Build Quality
Plastic with a matte or glossy finish makes up the majority of gaming mice. Depending on the style of finish, the mouse may feel smooth or rough in your hand. If your hands start to perspire, a mouse with a glossy surface may feel sticky, therefore you should stay away from mice with finish materials that are simple to peel off.
Plastic is plastic, right? Yet the materials used to make the mouse play a significant yet underappreciated impact in how it feels. No!
The density and finish of the ABS plastic, which is used to produce the majority of mice, greatly affects the final product. Look for a mouse with material that isn’t overly slippery and that can withstand the sweaty, greasy palms of nerds.
The grips of a mouse are typically made of silicon or rubber. You want the grip to be firm enough to allow you to pick up and move the mouse with ease, but not so firm that it sticks to dust or is painful for your thumb.
When you twist the mouse, it shouldn’t creak, and there shouldn’t be any soft plastic spots. There shouldn’t be any internal rattling when you shake the mouse.
The ideal mouse weighs under 100 grams and has a high build quality. Most gamers find that lighter mice perform better.
In contrast to shape, you may read reviews online to find out if the mouse’s construction quality is to your taste and whether it has kept up through use.
Mouse Feet
The mouse feet are in charge of making sure you can consistently glide over various surfaces, whether they are hard or soft.
Every gaming mouse has varied feet, ranging from two strips to four tiny feet. However, the arrangement and substance of the feet should guarantee secure contact between the mouse and the surface to allow for accurate tracking by the sensor.
Most stock mouse feet are very decent, but if you want to replace or upgrade your current feet, Hyperglide is a firm that creates great mouse feet for a range of gaming mice models. Mouse feet gradually wear away due to friction.
Mouse feet are simple to replace; all you typically need to do is heat them up with a blow dryer to melt the adhesive and remove the old feet. Then swap out the old feet for the new ones, which ought to be marked with a sticker. Naturally, you should read the directions for each mouse carefully before replacing the feet because they may vary.
Mouse Buttons
There are two major button manufacturers: Omron and Huano. Omron switches are found in the majority of mice and are reliable.
Because Huano switches are a touch firmer and have occasionally had QA problems, they work better in FPS games. If I had to choose, I would choose a mouse with Omron switches just to be cautious.
Each gaming mouse manufacturer adjusts the button tension a little bit differently, so keep an eye out for the button tension that best suits your preferences and the games you enjoy playing.
You should be able to spam click instructions without becoming tired in RTS and MOBAs, therefore you probably want a softer click with a distinct click and little travel.
For shooters (FPS and Third Person), buying a mouse with heavier buttons ensures that you don’t have any unintentional shots or skill firing that gives away position. Of course, this relies on how heavily your hand rests on the mouse in its normal posture. Since you’re not continually clicking with shooters, tiredness shouldn’t be as much of a problem.
All mouse have double clicking concerns, though at different rates, so you should be on the lookout for these.
The amount of buttons is entirely up to you, but unless you’re playing an MMO, I’ve found that the typical configuration of five buttons—left, right, two sides, and a scroll click—is more than sufficient for the majority of games.
Programmable Buttons (MOBA/MMO Mice)
The majority of mice have a straightforward design with a left and right click, clickable wheel, DPI button, and two additional side buttons. Some mice, though, go one step further.
A MOBA or MMO mouse is the fantastic Razer Naga Trinity, which may be seen in the image above. These mice may be identified by the additional programmable buttons and are typically a little bigger and heavier than standard gaming mouse.
The crucial query is: Do you require one?
These mouse are ideally suited for gamers who mostly play MOBA and MMO games, as implied by the name. With all the extra buttons, you may quickly and easily carry out complex commands by having a variety of functions or groups of functions (macros) at the tip of your thumb.
Additionally, they can be quite helpful at work because one of the extra programmable buttons can be assigned to a variety of keyboard shortcuts and hotkeys. Needless to say, these mouse can assist simplify more than only MOBAs and MMOs!
The added mass and perhaps the price of these mice are, of course, an obvious disadvantage. Large, hefty mouse aren’t the best for games that need quick reflexes or for persons with small hands, but we’ll get to that later.
In conclusion, MOBA/MMO mice are absolutely worth considering if you can utilize all the extra customizable buttons.
Scrollwheel
A decent scroll wheel should have distinct steps so that you, the player, can tell when you’ve made a mouse input. This is important for games that require you to use the scroll wheel to switch between skills and weapons, or for crouch spamming or bunny hopping in some games.
Noise can be a trade-off for precise stepping; the more precise the mouse wheel, the noisier it might be to wheel through.
Although it isn’t that important because most gaming mice have a good wheel, some scroll wheels have textures to help you get a better grip on them. We appreciate this feature because it lets you truly feel the wheel moving in your finger.
The scroll button should be responsive once you press the middle click and should not wiggle to the right or left (unless it already has those clicks).
Features & Software (LIGHTING AND CUSTOMIZATION)
It is imperative to purchase a mouse that is simple to personalize in accordance with your preferences. So, when looking for a gaming mouse, think about whether or not the illumination would be distracting. Additionally, take into account the option of customizing the software and buttons to suit your preferences.
RGB illumination
There isn’t much real instruction for RGB here, but it should have all the standard settings, including color cycling, breathing, brightness level, color change pace, and the ability to modify each part independently. RGB is the main feature that all mouse currently have (aside from Zowie).
Additional capabilities for RGB include the ability to sync RGB with in-game actions or the ability to sync RGB with many devices so they may all share the same color profile.
If keeping your colors in sync is vital to you, go to Logitech, Gigabyte, Asus, and Razer for peripherals because they are the industry leaders in RGB sync solutions.
Weighting Method
If you like a heavier mouse, make sure the one you choose includes a weight system that maintains the mouse’s balanced balance.
Reliability & Warranty
Gaming mice naturally malfunction because of their numerous moving components and heavy use, but they should endure for at least two years before they do.
Make sure to seek up “[model] troubles” before purchasing a mouse to discover what kinds of problems other customers have experienced. Keep in mind that only individuals will voice their complaints about a problem; the vast majority of users who experience no problems will remain silent.
The warranties offered by the major gaming mouse manufacturers in the US differ per manufacturer, according to what I could find:
| Mouse Brands | Warranties |
| Logitech | 2-3 years |
| Razer | 2 years |
| Steelseries | 1 year |
| Asus | 1 year |
| Corsair | 2 years |
| Coolermaster | 2 years |
| Nixeus | 3 years |
| Finalmouse | 3 years |
| HyperX | 2 years |
| Roccat | 2 years |
| BenQ Zowie | Nothing public, case by case basis? |
Type of Sensor
Your unique preferences will determine which sensor is optimal for your gaming experience. On the subject of laser and optical sensors, gamers are split. Because it may give consumers a more responsive sensor and better gaming experience, pro-optical mice contend that they are the greatest sensors. A laser mouse tends to exhibit latency, whereas an optical mouse does not.
The kind of sensor a mouse uses is one of the first things you’ll notice about it. You will learn about optical and laser sensors in today’s article. What are each of their advantages and downsides then?
Optical sensors are far more prevalent and would generally be the best option. It’s true that earlier laser sensors were better since they were more sensitive, but that was a long time ago. Technology moved gradually as it always does, and optical sensors eventually caught up.
The fact that laser mice can be utilized on any surface, including transparent ones like glass, gives them one edge over optical mice. However, because laser mice can analyze a surface more thoroughly than optical mice, there may be some visible jitter during slow mouse movements. They are in some ways more precise than they should be.
Ultimately, there won’t be much of a difference in precision or cost between optical and laser mice in 2020. Although there is still a slight advantage to laser mice in terms of accuracy, this advantage is not one that will be apparent when playing games. Laser mice are still generally more expensive, albeit somewhat.
Wired or Wireless
The next significant decision is whether to use wired or wireless.
Naturally, each has advantages and disadvantages.
Undoubtedly, wired mice are more common, particularly with gamers. You never have to worry about charging them, they offer a more reliable connection, and they are slightly less expensive. Cable management is, as you might have guessed, the main drawback with wired mice.
Wireless mouse were once thought to have a slow response time, which was required for fast-paced, reactive games. Wireless gaming mice may now do the same tasks as wired mouse thanks to advancements in technology. The two’s prices are significantly different from one another. Gaming mice that are wireless are thought to cost more than those that are tethered.
Wireless mice, on the other hand, have some additional advantages of their own. Having a wireless mouse has several benefits, the first and most evident of which is the removal of cumbersome cords. This results in a cleaner desk surface as well as a mouse that can be used anywhere, including away from your computer desk.
This, however, has a price—literally. For starters, wireless mice are often more expensive, but the difference in price isn’t as pronounced as it formerly was. In addition, as was already said, a wireless connection is less reliable and lag-free than a connected one, and batteries will eventually need to be recharged or replaced.
DPI (Dots per Inch and Counts per Inch)
The definition of DPI is the number of pixels your screen cursor will move per inch of mouse movement. Therefore, the optimal DPI will be determined by the size of your screen. A higher DPI mouse is necessary if you have a larger screen since it causes a larger mouse movement on the screen per inch of movement. Your game experience could be improved by the procedure.
The physical resolution of the camera that is employed in the mouse sensors, on the other hand, is known as CPI. It displays the sampling rate per inch. Your mouse sensitivity can be determined by both the CPI and DPI. To enhance your gaming experience, your gaming mouse must have a wide range of sensitivity.
The DPI, or dots per inch, is one particular specification that many manufacturers absolutely love to brag about because it indicates how sensitive the mouse is. So, how much is sufficient? Is a 16000 DPI mouse even useful on a 4K screen considering that one dot equals one pixel on the display?
Well, when it comes to normal desktop use, no, there isn’t. However, the additional DPI can be useful when playing video games.
The capacity to instantly change sensitivity is the main advantage of a high-DPI mouse. This is particularly helpful in shooting games where accuracy is crucial. When you need to be more precise, such as when using a sniper rifle, you might choose a low-sensitivity option by default while using a high DPI setting by default.
Do not, however, assume that a high DPI is always a sign of quality. A lot of inexpensive mouse will likely be advertised as having an extremely high DPI; if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. A high DPI does not imply accuracy or dependability; it merely indicates the sensor’s sensitivity.
We believe that the horizontal resolution of your display should roughly equate to the lowest DPI you should seek in a mouse. In other words, it would cost around 2000 for a Full HD monitor, 2500 for a QHD display, and 4,000 for a 4K panel. You won’t have to worry about falling short in that regard as gaming mice with this kind of DPI are likely frequent.
Since the majority of gaming mice have more than enough DPI for contemporary displays, choosing the appropriate DPI setting ultimately comes down to personal preference rather than selecting the best hardware. Nevertheless, if you stick with dependable models from dependable producers, you won’t need to worry.
Weights
The weight of a gaming mouse is important since it affects how much fun you can have while gaming. The weight of the mouse will be important if you play video games and flick your mouse around. Depending on the user’s preferences, the weights on some gaming mice can be added or deleted.
Until you compare a heavy mouse to a light one, it can be difficult to compare mouse weight. You may be used to the weight of a mouse if you’ve only ever used one. There are advantages to both heavy and light mice, while it is easy to get acclimated to any weight mouse and work effectively with it.
Moving around requires a little more force for heavy mice. Because palm grip users have more points of touch with their mouse than other users, this isn’t a significant issue for them. The mouse will be easier for them to control since more of their weight will be dispersed across it. Additionally, it implies that you can rest your palm on the mouse without worrying about it moving about.
A fantastic illustration of a heavy mouse with a starting weight of 121 grams is the Logitech G502 HERO. This can be increased to a substantial 139 grams by using the supplementary weights that are offered.
Because they have fewer points of contact on the mouse, lightweight mice are ideal for gamers who hold their controllers with their claw or fingertip. As a result, they are unable to apply as much pressure to the mouse. Therefore, a lighter mouse might aid in keeping you nimble when making short, abrupt motions. However, a heavy-handed gripper might find that light mice are slippery and could result in unintended movements.
Grip Style
The majority of gamers employ palm, claw, or fingertip grips to improve their gaming experience. The kind of mouse grip style is crucial since it defines the weight and shape of the mouse that will feel most comfortable to you.
Mouse Grip
Choose your preferred grip style and continue from there. The three most popular mouse grip styles are palm, claw, and fingertip.
The optimal mouse should allow you to choose and move without tiring your fingers, thus check that the size of the mouse fits your hand. We divide mice into three categories in our reviews: small, medium, and large hands.
You should aim for a mouse that is roughly 60–70% the size of your hand’s length and width. Therefore, with your fingers tightly clasped, measure the length of your hand from the base to the tip of your middle finger.
Generally speaking, width is more crucial than length. Consider the breadth of the mouse more than its length if it fits your hand size.
Palm grips call for a more precise length fit.
Claw and fingertip grips can fit more people.
The two main shapes of mice are ambidextrous and ergonomic.
Ambidextrous mice are symmetrical and balanced and can fit either hand, whereas ergonomic forms strive to fit the right hand and have thumb grooves to facilitate pick ups. Both are competent gamers and neither is better than the other. However, some people prefer the ergonomics of ergo mice and others the balance that an ambidextrous mouse offers.
Conclusion
With so many options available nowadays, choosing a new gaming mouse can be extremely challenging. We hope that this post has helped you identify key features to look for in a gaming mouse and reduce the number of options available to you.
And that is all the significant facts you should have in mind when purchasing a gaming mouse. Please let us know if you see any errors or feel that we’ve missed something critical, and we’ll look into revising the guide.
Additionally, if you’re currently looking for a new mouse, we recommend looking through our collection of the best gaming mice; you just might find something you enjoy!
