Picking a gaming mouse is a very personal endeavor. Everyone’s hands are different, everyone’s preferences and needs are different, and we all play different games. That’s why we’re lucky to live in the golden age of gaming mice, with major manufacturers pouring engineering muscle into one-upping each other. The result is a market loaded with high-quality yet relatively inexpensive gaming mice.
I’ve tested quite a few before and during quarantine. Being stuck inside means a lot of time in front of a computer, for work and for play. I can’t tell you precisely which mouse is right for you, but I can give you a few recommendations. These are the best gaming mice for every kind of gamer, plus a couple of mousepads for good measure.
Be sure to also read up on our favorite gaming headsets, wireless gaming headsets, and keyboards for more gear recommendations.
Updated June 2021: We added the Roccat Kone Pro Air and Steelseries Prime Wireless mice.
Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you’d like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.