There are few relationships in the PC gaming world as important as the one between a gamer and their gaming mouse. That’s why it’s so important to pick the absolute best gaming mouse. It’s the most direct connection you have to whatever PC game you’re playing (no offense to gaming keyboards).A comfortable, accurate mouse plays a huge role in helping you dominate a multiplayer match in Apex Legends, as an unwieldy one will just lead to missed shots. Not to overstate it, but from a gaming perspective, choosing the right gaming mouse is literally a matter of (in-game) life or death. I’ve tested the finest gaming peripherals available, from arcade fight sticks to racing wheels, and now I would like to offer you my picks for the very best gaming mice.
TL;DR – These are the best gaming mice:
1. SteelSeries Rival 600
Best Gaming Mouse
The SteelSeries Rival 600 (read our review) is the company’s flagship mouse, and it’s got some tricky technology under the hood. It’s the first gaming mouse to boast two sensors; one for traditional side-to-side movement, and a second sensor that detects lift-off from the mouse surface. This is aimed at Esports players who are known to wildly throw their mouse around, and it helps prevent the mouse from tracking anything when it’s in the air, even if it’s just .5mm off the surface.
The second big innovation is its custom weight system, which allows you to place 4g weights in four spots on each side of the mouse, allowing you to customize not only how much weight is added but where it’s located in the mouse. It’s also chock-full of RGB lighting, a comfy grip, and adjustable DPI settings as well.
2. Logitech G203 Prodigy
Best Budget Gaming Mouse
The Logitech G203 (read our review) is about as cheap as you’re going to find and trust me, you don’t want to go any lower. I mean, sure, you could find something cheaper in Amazon’s bargain basement, but those ultra-low-cost gaming mice often disappoint with terrible ergonomics, odd button placement, and bad accuracy.
The Logitech G203, on the other hand, is anything but a disappointment with its accurate optical sensor and a tunable DPI up to 8,000. This budget gaming mouse also features six programmable buttons and RGB lighting. Overall, this is the best wired gaming mouse you can get at this price, period.
3. Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless
Best Budget Wireless Gaming Mouse
If you’d rather stay cord-free on a budget, the Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless is your best bet. For $20 more than the Logitech G203 Prodigy, you’re getting a wireless gaming mouse that feels even more responsive with better rubber padding on the sides and a slightly more ergonomic design—for right-handed gamers at least.
The Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless also packs an impressive 10,000 DPI sensor that feels responsive and accurate whether you’re using this mouse in wireless mode or not. Aside from connecting to your gaming PC with a 2.4GHz dongle, the Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless can also pair with any of your devices using Bluetooth, making it a great travel mouse as well.
4. SteelSeries Sensei 310
Best Wired Gaming Mouse
The SteelSeries Sensei 310 (read our review) is one of the finest gaming mice I’ve tested. It’s one of the most comfortable gaming mice I’ve had the pleasure of holding thanks to a coat of soft touch rubber covering a majority of the peripheral. The sides of the mouse also feature two large silicon pads, which aid in keeping a firm hold of the Sensei 310.
Although this gaming mouse boasts a 12,000 DPI Optical sensor, keeping your sensitivity capped to 3,500 will enable the 1:1 tracking—which is to say the on-screen cursor will follow your exact hand movements. For those who are left-handed, the SteelSeries Rival 310 is the same mouse but in a symmetrical shape.
5. Logitech G502 Lightspeed
Best Wireless Gaming Mouse
The Logitech G502 Lightspeed (read our review) is a little on the expensive side at $150, but you won’t find a better ergonomically designed wireless gaming mouse. Based on the already fantastic G502 Proteus Spectrum, this gaming mouse throws in every single wireless technology Logitech has developed including its “Lightspeed” wireless connection and Powerplay wireless charging.
The G502 is a beautifully angular mouse with enough geometric shapes incorporated into its design to make it look straight out of CyberPunk 2077. While it might look too sharp to hold, it has wonderfully sculpted curves for your thumb and hand to rest on. Even its wild assortment of materials makes surprising sense as there’s textured rubber everywhere you need to grip the mouse and smooth plastic anywhere you don’t.
6. Razer Basilisk
Best FPS Gaming Mouse
There are plenty of gaming mice that include a “sniper button” designed as a quick toggle to lower your DPI and help you nail headshots. However, all too often this sniper button is located in an awkward place, forcing gamers to reorient their entire grip to hit it.
The Razer Basilisk is different in that it uses a tiny paddle as a DPI toggle. That might not sound like it would make much of a difference, but it’s located right next to the side buttons so it’s easier to reach. It also feels much more tactile to operate and resets immediately. In a way, hitting the DPI toggle on this gaming mouse to pull off a precise shot feels as good as pulling the e-brake on a hairpin turn in a rally car.
Those looking to save a few bucks might be interested in Razer Basilisk Essential (read our review). It’s a more affordable version of the regular Basilisk that trades in its 16,000 DPI Optical Sensor for one that maxes out at a more pedestrian 6,400 DPI. Aside from some slightly different patterned side grips, the Basilisk Essential is essentially the same gaming mouse.
7. Corsair NightSword RGB
Best MOBA Gaming Mouse
Sensor: Optical ● Sensitivity: 18,000 DPI ● Shape: Right-Handed ● Buttons: 10 ● Connection: Wired ● Weight: 119g (141g with all weights)
The Corsair NightSword RGB (read our review) is a highly customizable weapon designed specifically for right-handed, claw-grip gamers who play battle arena (and first person shooter) games. This gaming mouse has all the usual programmable buttons and sensor, and then you can add six underside weights to adjust this peripherals center of gravity.
Corsair could have just left thing there, but in the iCUE software, you can track how shifting the Corsair NightSword RGB center of gravity is affecting the way you play.
Its key features, the Corsair NightSword RGB is slightly bigger than your average gaming mouse, so it should fit like a glove for users with larger than average mitts. The gaming mouse also offers gamers a completely rubber covered finish, sizable thumb rest, and 10 easily reachable mouse buttons.
8. Swiftpoint Z Gaming Mouse
Most customizable gaming mouse
Sensor: PixArt PMW3360 optical sensor ● Sensitivity: 12,000 DPI ● Shape: Right-Handed ● Buttons: 13 ● Connection: Wired ● Weight: 117g
While a few gaming mice let you change up the side grips and add weights, the Swiftpoint Z Gaming Mouse takes customization to the next level. For starters, you can tune when and how the mouse recognizes left and right clicks based on height and pressure. The Swiftpoint Z also gives you secondary left and right mouse buttons positioned behind the main ones that can be triggered by the base of your fingers or pulling on them like actual triggers.
Aside from the usual 2D tracking mouse sensors give you, the Swiftpoint Z has also been designed to recognize mouse tilting and pivoting as specific commands. Users can tilt the mouse to lean in tactical shooters like Rainbow Six Siege and PUBG. Pivoting, meanwhile, is useful for turning your field of view while running in a straight line. All these handy tricks make the Swiftpoint Z phenomenal for first-person shooter games and one of the best overall gaming mice, period.
9. HyperX Pulsefire Surge RGB
Best RGB Gaming Mouse
The HyperX Pulsefire Surge is a comfortable, attractive mouse with a 16,000 DPI sensor. As great as it is to use, it looks amazing, too, thanks to a crazy 32 zones of RGB lighting. That’s in addition to the customizable HyperX logo. In addition to looking good, it’s also a beast when it comes to gaming; comfortable and smooth no matter what type of grip you prefer.
10. Razer DeathAdder Elite
Best “Palm Grip” Gaming Mouse
Not everyone grips their mouse with their fingertips. Some people like to lay their palm over the length of the mouse and let their fingers dance upon the buttons. For these folks, I think the Razer Deathadder Elite is hands-down the best mouse because it’s as comfortable as a velvet bathrobe and as accurate as a weather forecast in Siberia.
Unlike a lot of highfalutin mice with weights and customizable grips and more buttons than the Space Shuttle, the DeathAdder Elite keeps it simple with just the basics; including buttons for left-and-right click, forward/back, and a mouse wheel.
On paper, it doesn’t sound like much really, but once you slide your palm over the contoured top and rest your fingers on its scooped buttons, you’ll know you’ve found the gaming mouse of our dreams just like I did.
What to look for in a Gaming Mouse
The decision making process when it comes to a good gaming mouse really boils down to how it feels in your hand, and whether you want it to be wired or wireless. Some people grip the mouse with their fingertips, while others use a claw or palm grip, so the shape of the mouse is easily the biggest factor you should consider.
As far as wired versus wireless goes, the wireless technology is so good these days that I can’t tell the difference either way, so that should not be a factor if you’re worried about losing some performance. However, wireless mice are usually more expensive than their wired counterparts, so expect to pay for your freedom from cables.
Also, some mice are rechargeable while others just use replaceable batteries, so pay attention to how long each wireless gaming mouse can last on a charge if that’s important. Lastly, the addition of the battery can also make some wireless mice heavier than a wired version, but this isn’t the case for all wireless mice.
For more guides to the best tech, check out the best gaming headset, best desk for gaming, and the best graphics card round-up.
Kevin Lee is IGN’s Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam