Building a gaming rig is expensive. It can be easy to just pick up the first mouse you see for the cost of a pack of biscuits and call it a day. But why not go the extra mile and purchase one of the best gaming mice, too? Throw in the best gaming keyboard, the best gaming router, the best gaming chair and a reliable headset into the mix, and you’re ready to slay trolls and blast zombie heads.

What are the main things you should look for when shopping for the best gaming mouse?

Well, that depends on what type of games you usually play. If you play lots of shooters, you’ll want to look for something with a high CPI sensor.

If you play sim games or spend hours micromanaging vast empires in 4x or grand strategy titles – Crusader Kings 2, Europa Universalis 4 and the like – you’ll want something comfy and ergonomic.

Regardless of your gaming preferences, you’ll likely find something suited to your needs in our review. 

So, without further ado, here’s our list of the best gaming mice that you can buy right now.

MIHAI RADUCU → Sporting a truly novel design, the Zalman ZM GM4 is surely one of the more peculiar peripherals that you can find out there. Regarding its design, the first thing that comes to mind is the Batmobile after a particularly intense night of fighting crime.

Similar to the Batmobile (and I promise this is the last reference to Batman), this mouse is highly customizable

In fact, it’s so customizable that by detaching just a few pieces, it suddenly morphs into an entirely different mouse, like how the Batmobile can turn into the Batwing by a simple button press (ok, we lied). Mouse feeling unnatural? No problem, the Zalman Zm GM4 has you covered – just grab the tiny wrench from the box and adjust it to your preference.

While the mouse might look flimsy at first glance, it’s actually quite sturdy and reliable. Surprisingly, it leans on the heavier side – even without the weights, it feels like you would need a forklift to move it around the desk. Unfortunately, it does have a few drawbacks, like the function button that feels a tad plasticky and the sniper buttons that are too loose. Not deal-breakers, but something to consider.

In conclusion, while the Zalman ZM GM4 does have its flaws, it deserves praise for its unique design and ridiculously customizable build. There’s certainly nothing like it on the market.

IOANA “BAABUSKA” SIMA → ASUS’s aptly named Republic of Gamers brand is known for releasing dependable and reliable gaming peripherals. The ASUS ROG Gladius II is living (or mechanical, if you will) proof that their reputation is entirely deserved.

The first thing that stands out regarding this mouse is the design. At first glance, it doesn’t look like much. But once you take a more careful look, it becomes quite apparent that this mouse, from the design, build to the layout of the buttons, is made to offer the most optimal gaming experience without making any aesthetic sacrifices.

The ASUS ROG Gladius II is not covered in buttons like other gaming mice, but it has just enough of them to make it a competitive choice.

Furthermore, the Gladius II supports some degree of customization by making the left and right buttons, as well as the switches, removable. The package includes a few extra switches, and by replacing them periodically, users can significantly increase the life-span of the mouse.

This also solves the most common issue for replacing a mouse, namely the switches breaking. In terms of RGB capabilities, users can choose between three ‘’areas’’ of the mouse which can be controlled individually using the official software.

Performance-wise, the Gladius II can go as far as 12000 DPI with just two adjustment steps, which can be customized according to preferences. However, the mouse doesn’t offer buttons for burst-fire and other modes, but the existing buttons can be customized to do so.

All in all, we wholeheartedly recommend the Gladius II, especially to those who are into customizing their peripherals.

IOANA “BAABUSKA” SIMA → The Razer Mamba Elite is a sleek-looking gaming mouse that features Razer’s signature RGB lighting and a light build. The Mamba is a flat version of the DeathAdder. Although it’s not a perfect mouse, it is more comfortable (overall) than other Razer mice.

What makes the Razer Mamba Elite stand out from its counterparts is its design and varied customization options. From a design standpoint, it’s not that different from the Deathadder – they share many characteristics in terms of build and curvature. The similarities end when you realize that the Mamba is less of a mouse.

By that, we mean it weighs way, way less than the Deathadder – a 19-gram difference, to be more precise. This might not seem like a huge difference, but trust me, you’ll feel it once you start using it. It’s a matter of preference, but this can be its biggest quality or its greatest liability.

The Razer Mamba Elite is designed specifically for right-handed gamers, and supports three types of grips, namely fingertip, palm or claw grip. Razer named this design optimization as Advanced Ergonomics, meaning that the mouse is custom-built to encourage the most natural position of the hand no matter which grip the user adopts.

For the Mamba Elite, Razer opted to collaborate with Omrom to design the switches. The result is probably one of the most reliable mechanical switches on the market. Also worth mentioning is the software, which allows for a high degree of customization. All in all, this is why the Razer Mamba Elite is worthy of a spot in our list of the best gaming mice.

MARCO GIULIANI → When it comes to multi-purpose mice, few are better than the SteelSeries Sensei 310.

Whether you are absent-mindedly clicking your day away on Facebook or expertly maneuvering hoards of zergs to crush your enemies, the Sensei 310 delivers in spades. And all that even if you’re a leftie because the manufacturers were thoughtful enough to design it as an ambidextrous mouse.

The Sensei 310 is built, from the ground up, to accommodate long gaming sessions. To make this possible, Razer used a newer type of plastic which, thanks to its thick and textured surface, can shrug off palm sweat.

The body of the mouse is slick and compact. In fact, it’s one of the most comfortable mice out there. However, if your hands are bigger than average, the mouse’s compactness may become an issue – but nothing a short period of adjustment couldn’t solve.

Furthermore, the buttons are spread evenly, so you won’t have any problems reaching them in a second’s notice.

In terms of customization and performance, the Sensei is way ahead of the competition. The lights can be customized right down to the color code using the manufacturer’s intuitive software. Other things you can customize through the software is the time between the switches and, yes, even macros.

To conclude, the SteelSeries Sensei 310 is a sound choice, especially if you are looking for an ambidextrous mouse. It’s sleek, compact and very ergonomic.

MARCO GIULIANI → Marketed primarily as an FPS mouse, the Logitech G402 Hyperion Fury has everything an avid FPS player would need: high precision, ergonomic design, and low weight.

From a design standpoint, it shares many similarities with the Corsair Dark Core – I’m referring, of course, to the upward curvature of the body. However, compared to the Dark Core, the G402 feels light like a feather, which could give the impression it’s made of cheap materials.

Fortunately, I am happy to report that the materials are far from being cheap, with the low weight of the mouse strengthening its FPS-centric design.

While I was sort of split regarding its customization options, mainly because it doesn’t have a macro library, forcing users to manually input their favorite commands into the software, they’re far from being a deal-breaker.

By using the software, you can customize macro buttons, change LED settings and fiddle with the DPI levels. All in all, the Logitech G402 is a great choice for all gamers, especially for FPS die-hards.

MIHAI RADUCU → At first glance, the Razer Deathadder Elite is indistinguishable from your regular, run of the mill office mouse. But looks can be very deceiving, and in this case, it only hides the beast that lies inside. Well, not really a beast, but you know, chips and hardware and stuff.

What I’m trying to say here is that the Razer Deathadder Elite is the epitome of ‘’function over form’’. The Deathadder Elite is purpose-built to offer top-notch performance without sacrificing comfort.

However, the design has one small quirk: if your hands are smaller than average, you may have some troubles with this mouse. But again, nothing a small period of adjustment can’t solve.

One place where this mouse will surely fit is your desk. Sporting a compact build, you’ll be able to swing this mouse on any desk no matter the size. It comes with two dedicated DPI buttons located on the upper side of the mouse, right behind the scroll wheel.

Overall, the button layout is well thought-out, but depending on your type of grip, you may lower or increase the DPI by accidentally pressing the buttons.

The Deathadder Elite uses Razer’s inhouse lighting technology called Razer Chroma. This will light the scroll wheel and the Razer logo in a ridiculous amount of color combinations – 16.8 million, to be more exact.

You can configure pretty much anything by using their dedicated software, the Razer Synapse, including setting your DPI to a whopping 16000, if you want to do that for some reason, remap or disable the two DPI buttons altogether.

You might’ve noticed that I’ve only briefly mentioned the design of the mouse. That is because it’s, well, simple. Other than the fact that it’s eerily reminiscent of the mice you would see in any office building in the 2000s, there’s nothing more to add about it.

So, if you like the idea of a beast hidden beneath an unassuming look – and high-quality peripherals, of course – you should definitely give the Razer Deathadder Elite a shot.

MARCO GIULIANI → When it comes to peripherals, Corsair has always been one of those manufacturers always pushing the limits and trying new things. The Corsair Dark Core stands as living proof of this, both from a technical and design standpoint.

The first element that stands out is the design. It’s a mix between hard plastic and soft-touch material, with the palm rest featuring a nicely textured surface. It also features a thumb-rest, and while it takes some adjustment, after a few hours it feels very natural, making me wish all mice had it.

If the thumb rest is not enough for you, you can attach a pinkie rest on the opposite side of the mouse for some extra comfort.

While the upward curvature of the body might seem like a gimmick, it actually serves a perfectly reasonable purpose – to make space for the Qi charging components on the rear. Speaking of which, despite the clean and minimalistic design, the Dark Core is littered with buttons, making it an ideal mouse for MMOs or games that require intense micromanagement.

This is not to say the Corsair Dark Core is built solely for MMO’s -I’ve tested the mouse on other games, like Rainbow Six: Siege and Divinity: Original Sin 2, and I didn’t experience any performance drops.

All in all, the Corsair Dark Core RGB SE gets a strong recommendation from me, both for its design and performance. I’d also like to mention that, out of all the gaming mice that I’ve tested, the Corsair Dark Core RGB SE is one of the few that can be used both for gaming and work. So if you’re looking for something more multi-purpose, this one might be up your alley.

MARCO GIULIANI → The Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum is considered one of the best mice in the company’s history – so it’s no wonder why when you type the word Logitech, the first result from the autocomplete is ‘’g502’’.

Not only that, but it managed to maintain its place on the podium despite all the amazing products Logitech has released over the years. Surely enough, it deserves all the praise we can spare.

When it comes to comfort, the G502 Proteus Spectrum delivers in spades. Its sleek build and the relatively flat surface makes it ideal for people with small hands. In the same vein, its elongated shape means that maneuvering it feels natural for people with bigger than average hands, too.

Surprisingly, the buttons take up about 50% of the mouse’s surface, so there’s no danger of miss clicking or boosting a DPI during a highly-sensitive gaming situation.

Other things worth mentioning are its matte finish, smooth texture, and high-quality rubber, which has non-slip capabilities, the extra weights (which do make a difference, trust us on this one) and its sturdy build.

Customization freaks will have a field day with the Proteus Spectrum, as all of its 11 buttons are configurable. Using the dedicated software, you can create profiles and switch between them. If fiddling with the default setting is your thing, the Proteus Spectrum has you covered.

MARCO GIULIANI → What better way to attempt to surpass its predecessor than attaching ‘’Rival’’ to the name of the product? None, we tell you. But is it better than the 330, or any of its older cousins? Not quite.

But it’s very, very close. In fact, it’s a few quality-of-life features short of surpassing them, some of which we’ll mention later on.

First, let’s start with the positives. The Rival 600 is one of the most physically balanced mice we’ve put our hands on. The elegant balance of the mouse is possible thanks to the weights – there’s eight of these bad boys, each weighing 4 grams -, which can be attached on each lateral edge of the mouse.

The attachments don’t add significant weight to the mouse, but they do confer it with a weightier glide. The weights not only make for a better balance, but they also make the mouse more accurate, too.

The additional level of accuracy will come in handy while playing competitive shooters. Another reason why the mouse is so balanced is due to the overall build and shape of the mouse itself.

As you’ve probably figured out until now, much of the design effort went into ensuring the best possible control. This is not to say the Rival 600 is not a looker. The body of the mouse feature two RGB-illuminated strips running across the edges of the mouse, with the angular shape of the Rival 600 reinforcing this design choice. The design is novel and ‘’wacky’’ enough, but without going over-the-top. The cable is not braided, but it can be replaced, so we won’t give SteelSeries any smack for this choice.

Now, as for the quality-life-features, some users have complained that the grease-magnet soft plastic finish has a tendency of wearing away and get sticky after a year. The right flap of the mouse, too, is prone to come off. These are not necessarily deal-breakers, but at this price, you’d expect SteelSeries to do a little better than that.

Despite its disadvantages, the physical qualities of the mouse – namely the balance and the precision – on their own make the Rival 600 a worthy purchase. If this is not quite enough to convince you, maybe the diverse customization options and highly optimized software will.

MARCO GIULIANI → This brings us to our number one and what we consider the best gaming mouse: the mighty Logitech 6900 Chaos Spectrum. Ergonomic, made for ambidextrous people, good grip and easy to move around the table, the Logitech G900 Chaos Spectrum has everything you would need from a gaming mouse.

It’s highly customizable, with spare magnetic buttons and weights. When it comes to the build, it has a good weight and size and is easy to use.

Several DPI settings should be suitable for any professional gaming needs and accounts for personal preference through every design choice it makes. The customizable scroll wheel allows for two types of scrolling, regular and inertial.

A fun little fact – the inertial scroll spins on its own for 15 seconds. We decided to have a little fun and tested the scroll wheel on Twitter, and to absolutely nobody’s surprise, the endlessly updating Twitter feed was no match for the G9000’s almighty scroll wheel.

On the flipside, in default mode, it’s quite noisy, which is surprising because the inertial scrolling is as smooth as butter and very satisfying to use. Fortunately, the sound is not unpleasant, and the noise is not high enough to disturb other people.

The design is simple, slick and futuristic. We were especially impressed by the middle part of the mouse and, more generally, its elegant shapes and contours.

The point of this design choice, as we see it, is that the manufacturers attempted (and succeeded) to create the sensation of weightlessness, but without making the mouse seem flimsy and fragile. And indeed, at about 107 grams, the Logitech G900 is targeted to competitive players who seek speed and agility. And despite its slightly hollowed middle part, the mouse feels very sturdy and stable.

Plenty of choice of how to organize the desk, it can work wired or wireless, and the cable is cleverly designed so you can’t unhook it by accident while playing. The Wireless receiver is also small and sleek, and can either be kept in the PC or attached to the end of the cable so you can have it nearby when you need to switch between modes.

The battery is also impressive. After a week of heavy usage, it still didn’t need recharging. We could talk endlessly about this mouse, but suffice to say, it’s simply the best gaming mouse that we’ve tested so far.

CONCLUSION

This concludes our list of the best gaming mice that you can buy right now. With gaming rigs costing so much money now, the temptation to buy the first cheap thing that pops up in the search bar is irresistible. However, a good gaming mouse will not only go well with your fresh-bought rig, but it will also significantly improve your performance. Read through our selection and you’ll find something to your liking.

Win one of the keyboards we reviewed:

Hey guys! Thanks for reading through our article. We’ve had so much fun testing these products (office hijinks and whatnot), and we’ve decided to give away one of the keyboards that we’ve reviewed. You can join our giveaway by tapping the button below. And while you’re at it, you can also find out more about our contest here.