There are so many gaming mice to choose from. You have traditional wired and wireless options. There are ones with numerous buttons for programming, as well as others that only focus on comfort and accuracy. Here’s a selection of the best gaming mice we’ve tested, but if we had to recommend one it would be the SteelSeries Rival 600.
Our pick
SteelSeries Rival 600
The SteelSeries Rival 600 is one of the best gaming mice around. It’s that simple
The Rival 600 is a serious piece of technology. If you value performance over pretty much everything else, you cannot go wrong with this gaming mouse. The dual-sensor setup offers exceptional performance in-game.
Who should buy this mouse
Do you play games on your PC? If so, you need this mouse. Not only has SteelSeries done an exceptional job with the TrueMove 3 sensor, the Rival 600 feels great in the hand and works with the SteelSeries Engine suite on Windows 10.
Is it a good time to buy this mouse?
The Rival 600 was released by SteelSeries in early 2018, though a successor has yet to be revealed. Even if you pick up the mouse today, you’ll be more than satisfied with its performance and features. It’s also not yet known if SteelSeries will address the adhesive issue with the side grips on the next model.
Reasons to buy
- Excellent performance
- Adjustable weights
- Good price
- Comfortable
- SteelSeries Engine
Reasons not to buy
- Not southpaw-friendly
- Side grip adhesive
The best gaming mouse you can buy
The SteelSeries 600 is a stunning mouse. It’s comfortable to use for prolonged periods of time, sports a detachable USB cable (although with a propriety attachment design — boo) and keeps the RGB lighting to a minimum to prevent the pointer from appearing tacky. But the company didn’t stop there. What sets this mouse apart from the competition is the exceptionally-good sensor tech.
The best gaming mouse money can buy.
The included TrueMove3 sensor is accurate enough to keep up with even the most competitive titles. The best part of going with SteelSeries is the company’s Engine suite, which remains one of the better software packages for managing personalization options and features of all connected SteelSeries peripherals, although other vendors are catching up with their own software.
It’s slightly on the pricey side of the gaming mouse scale but is well worth every penny. The most important feature of any gaming mouse is the sensor and the TrueMove3 sensor from SteelSeries is exceptionally good.
Alternatives to the SteelSeries Rival 600
The SteelSeries Rival 600 isn’t for everyone. Should you be primarily an MMO gamer, you will need more buttons on the pointer, same goes for MOBA fans. Here are some alternatives to our staff favorite.
Runner-up
Razer DeathAdder Elite
Razer’s king of the mousepad
The Razer DeathAdder Elite is a fantastic gaming mouse that is simply good at what it’s designed for. No pointless features or rubbish you’ll not use. Just a rock solid ol’ fashioned gaming pointer.
Razer’s DeathAdder is the esports mouse from its catalog of pointing peripherals. It’s designed for competitive play, meaning it’s great for gaming with friends or aiming for a top leaderboard position. If you’re looking around for a new gaming mouse, the DeathAdder Elite is a super offering for the brand name alone — and Razer makes some kick-ass mice and keyboards.
MOBA keypad
Corsair Scimitar Pro RGB
More buttons than you’ll likely ever need
This is your go-to mouse for MOBA titles like World of Warcraft and Guild Wars 2. With 12 programmable buttons on the side, the Scimitar makes it easy to activate a whole host of character abilities without confusing oneself with keyboard shortcuts.
The Scimitar comes with an optical sensor that can be configured to 16,000 DPI whilst still being accurate enough for an MMO. The buttons on the side of the mouse are mechanical and sport textured keycaps for enhanced grip during tense sessions. There’s even onboard storage with hardware macro playback support.
Jack of all trades
Razer Naga Trinity
Can play most PC games on this one mouse
When you switch between MOBA, FPS and MMO games often, there’s nothing worse than being handicapped with a mouse that wasn’t designed for that genre of gaming. The Naga Trinity is a true Jack of all trades.
The Naga Trinity allows you to switch side grips, choosing between one of three shipped with the mouse itself. You have a plain side with just a few side buttons, a seven button wheel for MOBAs, and finally a 12 keypad for MMOs. All you need to do is switch out the side grip when you move between League of Legends and World of Warcraft, making it ideal with a great sensor and ergonomics.
Wireless king
Logitech G Pro
Forget cables, you’re going wireless
The Logitech G Pro was designed with the aid of professional gamers, resulting in an incredibly accurate, comfortable and truly wireless gaming mouse. Logitech managed to cram advanced tech inside a lightweight design with reliable wireless performance.
The 1ms report rate connection ensures you’re never left behind with skipped mouse instructions and the new HERO 16K sensor will be firing a lot of data to your PC with up to 16,000 DPI. This new sensor is also incredibly accurate and reliable, and the overall body weighs just 80 grams. Oh, and it’s ambidextrous.
Value pointer
SteelSeries Rival 310
Budget gaming doesn’t mean a terrible experience
The Rival 310 comes rocking the same TrueMove3 sensor found in the more expensive Rival 600, making it a well-priced gaming mouse for those on tighter budgets.
The Rival 310 is the SteelSeries optical mouse for tournament play with its impressive sensor technology and customization options. There are six programmable buttons with a configurable DPI setting that tops out at 12,000 CPI. With the added 16.8 million color options and two-zone illumination, you’ll be able to get the Rival 310 to compliment your beastly setup.
Bottom line
When seeking the best mouse to up your game on PC, look no further than the SteelSeries Rival 600. This mouse has everything you need to game on PC, including a fantastic sensor and solid ergonomics. And a mouse is nothing without a great surface to glide across. Check out our favorite mousepads to ensure your mouse performs as designed.
Our pick
SteelSeries Rival 600
The SteelSeries Rival 600 is one of the best gaming mice around. It’s that simple
The Rival 600 is a serious piece of technology. If you value performance over pretty much everything else, you cannot go wrong with this gaming mouse. The dual-sensor setup offers exceptional performance in-game.