A good mouse and keyboard are all you need to enjoy most PC games. But MMOs often require more keys than are accessible around the WASD cluster. This is where a good MMO mouse and its thumb cluster can come in handy. But what sets apart the best MMO mice from a regular gaming mouse?

Many factors play a part in making a good MMO mouse, from the number of hotkeys to the position of the buttons. It’s also worth considering whether you play MMOs exclusively or if you dabble in other genres. But let’s not waste time and look at some of the best MMO gaming mice on the market today.

Our Picks for the Best MMO Mice

1. Razer Naga Pro Wireless

The Razer Naga is an iconic MMORPG mouse that has been around since 2009. The latest version of the Naga, the Naga Pro Wireless, is a high-end wireless MMO mouse with 20 customizable buttons, swappable side plates, and robust software. Although this mouse comes with a premium price tag, you get a no-compromises MMO gaming mouse packed with features.

A 12-button side pad is common for MMO mice, but the buttons can be small and difficult to press if you have large thumbs. Some MMOs don’t require that many extra keybinds, either. This is where the Naga Pro Wireless’ swappable side plates come in handy. In addition to its default 12-button side panel, the Naga Pro Wireless has 6- and 2-button side plates that let you tweak the mouse to your preferences.

The swappable side plates also make the Naga a great mouse for gamers that play a variety of genres. Traditionally, one of the issues with an MMORPG mouse is that the extra buttons can get in the way when you’re playing other genres such as FPS. This isn’t an issue for the Naga since it only takes a few seconds to swap the plates. The Razer Synapse software will instantly recognize the change and load the relevant bindings if set.

In terms of other mouse features, the Naga has a reliable sensor, fantastic build quality, and up to 100 hours of battery life on wireless or 150 hours if you use it via Bluetooth. The Razer Synapse software has matured over the years too, becoming an easy-to-use program for changing keybinds and recording macros.

Overall, the Razer Naga Pro Wireless is a premium MMO gaming mouse that doesn’t skimp on features or build quality. It’s the best wireless MMO mouse in our books. If you’re looking for a wired version, you can pick up the Razer Naga Trinity for a little under half the price. There’s also the Razer Naga X for those who don’t need the two extra side panels.

2. Logitech G600

If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on an MMO gaming mouse, then the Logitech G600 has you covered. It’s a great budget mouse and a steal at under $40. We can see people buying one just for MMORPGs alongside their current gaming mouse, or even solely for the software’s robust macro features.

While Logitech lists the G600 as having 20 buttons, you can get double that thanks to the G Shift key, an extra mouse button that the ring finger rests on. When pressed, it acts as a modifier that changes what all of the buttons do, giving you even more keybinds to use. This can be excessive even for the most demanding MMO games, but it’s a welcome feature for power users that need even more keybinds on their mouse.

So what has Logitech sacrificed to offer the G600 at such an affordable price? For starters, the mouse sensor in the G600 isn’t exactly the most reputable one. In fact, it hasn’t changed since the mouse came out in 2012. It works fine for most games, but don’t expect the same level of accurate tracking that you’d find in Logitech’s HERO sensor. It’s also a wired mouse with no wireless alternative, which is a shame since the G600 hasn’t had a meaningful revision or upgrade since it came out.

The G600 is an old mouse with outdated internals that deserves a new revision. But at under $40, you’re getting the extra buttons important for a good MMORPG mouse at a great price. Sure, it doesn’t have the latest optical sensor or a unique differentiating gimmick. But it’s hard to beat the G600 if you’re looking for a budget MMO gaming mouse that you can rely on.

3. EVGA X15 MMO Gaming Mouse

Most MMO mice use a 12-button setup on the side that can feel a little cramped, and there’s usually a short adjustment period before you stop pressing the wrong keys. The EVGA X15 aims to do away with that convention by using a spread-out side button layout. We think the X15 is better suited for gamers with larger hands, or people that just find the common 12-button layout uncomfortable.

The EVGA X15 has a 10-button arrangement on the side that consists of 8 buttons in a square formation and 2 extra buttons further up the mouse. Buttons 11 and 12 are placed on the left mouse button instead of the side of the mouse.

The center of the side panel is empty, giving your thumb a place to rest without accidentally pressing something. This configuration sets the EVGA X15 apart from the competition and presents an interesting alternative to the traditional 12-button MMO mouse layout.

Like the G600, the EVGA X15 has a third click that acts as a modifier to double the number of assignable commands. This gives you plenty of extra buttons for things like macros and system controls like changing volume or controlling media playback. You can even use the mouse to control streaming software.

The EVGA X15 has a lot of competition at its retail price point. However, the unique side button layout and wealth of programmable keys are great reasons to give this mouse a try if you play many MMO games or like the idea of having more buttons. If you’re tired of accidentally pressing keys on your current MMORPG mouse and think a new layout would suit you better, we think it’s worth checking it out.

4. SteelSeries Aerox 9 Wireless

A common gripe of MMORPG mice is that they’re heavy. It’s understandable when you consider all the extra buttons and components, but that doesn’t mean a lightweight MMO mouse isn’t possible. The SteelSeries Aerox breaks the mold with its honeycomb design, cutting its weight down to just 89 grams while offering a robust set of features and excellent durability.

While 89 grams could be considered heavy for a modern gaming mouse, it’s far lighter than the other MMO mice on this list. The Logitech G600, for example, weighs 133 grams. You will have to deal with the honeycomb design, but there’s no denying the weight reduction benefits it has. The internal components are also shielded from dust, dirt, and water, making the mouse surprisingly durable.

Another unique quirk of the Aerox 9 is the longer side buttons. This makes it a little easier to differentiate between each key by feel, and it’s also a welcome change for people with longer thumbs. Larger buttons also mean you’re less likely to accidentally press the wrong thing during an intense gaming session.

The Aerox 9 also has an optional Bluetooth mode that can be convenient if you don’t want to take up a USB slot for the receiver, or if you want to switch to a different device quickly. The internal battery can last up to 180 hours with the RGB off, and it even comes with fast charging that gives you up to 40 hours of playtime in just 15 minutes.

The Aerox 9 is one of the best wireless MMO mice available today, with modern features that we’ve come to expect from high-end gaming peripherals. While we’ve crowned it the best lightweight MMO mouse in this list, it could also make a case for the best MMO gaming mouse overall. If you don’t need as many buttons but are still interested in trying an Aerox mouse, the Aerox 5 is a great alternative that has nine extra buttons instead.

5. Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite

Gamers with larger hands might find it difficult to use MMO mice because the extra side buttons need to be small so they can fit on the side of the mouse. If you’re looking for something more accommodating for larger hands, then the Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite could be a great choice.

Depending on your hand size and how you grip the mouse, you might find it difficult to comfortably reach all of the extra keys on the side of an MMO mouse. The Scimitar fixes this by having a sliding keypad that allows you to reposition the extra keys. So instead of trying multiple MMO mice to find one that suits your hand position and size, you could get the Scimitar and adjust it to your needs.

The Scimitar is also the widest gaming mouse on this list at three inches. This makes it great for people with large hands, and we consider it one of the best palm grip gaming mice. So if you’re looking for a larger MMO gaming mouse to suit your hand size, the Scimitar is a great choice.

So whether you’re a gamer with a large hand or are worried about the position of the extra side buttons on the typical MMO gaming mouse, check out the Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite. The movable keypad helps you find a comfortable place to rest your thumb while keeping it centered so it can quickly reach all of the keys, and the wider body accommodates gamers with larger hands.

6. Logitech G502 HERO

The Logitech G502 HERO is one of the most popular gaming mice on the market today, but it’s not exactly marketed to MMO gamers. So why have we included this on a list of mice with a minimum of 17 programmable buttons?

Despite not being a dedicated MMO gaming mouse, the G502 still has a respectable 11 programmable buttons and even more if you use the G Shift button. While it only has half the buttons of a typical MMO gaming mouse, that’s still plenty for most MMORPGs on the market today. Just remember that MMO games need to work with regular non-MMO peripherals, so you technically don’t need the full 12-key panel on the side to play them.

You also benefit from the G502 being a fantastic overall mouse for other game genres. Not everyone wants to buy a mouse specifically for MMOs, and you might dislike using an MMO mouse for genres like FPS. As such, having a well-rounded gaming mouse for all genres is usually the best choice for value.

But what makes the G502 such a great gaming mouse overall? It’s well-built and durable, has a comfortable ergonomic shape, and comes with an accurate sensor and low click latency. These combine to make it highly responsive for even the most demanding games. It accommodates the three common mouse grip styles, and you can customize the weight if you prefer a heavier mouse.

We’ve picked the regular G502 here for its excellent value, but you can always upgrade to the G502 Wireless if you need a wireless MMO mouse.Overall, the G502 HERO is one of the best gaming mice you can pick up regardless of the genre you play, but it just so happens to have extra buttons that are perfect for playing MMOs.

What to Look For in a Top MMO Mouse

Number of Buttons

Having extra buttons is the main reason for purchasing an MMO mouse, but more doesn’t necessarily mean better. The number of extra keys that you can realistically make use of will depend on the types of games you play. There’s also an adjustment period to using an MMO mouse, which gets longer the more keys and functions you add to your mouse.

Since the standard for an MMO mouse is the 12-button side keypad, we suggest starting with this as a baseline. You can add as many keybinds and macros as you like, but you can also disable keys if you don’t want to use them.

If you know you can’t use that many keys, choose an MMO mouse recommendation with fewer keys, like the Logitech G502. But if you know you want as many keys as possible, pick an MMO mouse with a modifier key that effectively doubles the number of programmable buttons.

If you want full flexibility with side buttons, then the Razer Naga Pro Wireless offers unique swappable side panels with 12-key, 6-key, and 2-key variants.

Software and Operating System Compatibility

MMO gaming mice use proprietary software to reprogram keys, make macros, and switch between profiles. This software is central to the MMO mouse experience because it’s how you personalize your mice to fit your needs

While there are a few differences in the capabilities of each program and how they perform, every reputable brand on this list has software that is fully compatible with Windows. Most MMO gaming mice also have onboard memory that lets you save bindings to the device. This makes them universally compatible with different operating systems without needing software.

Unfortunately, some users report difficulties with specific hardware and OS pairings, such as this discussion on using the G600 with macOS. You’ll also need to keep the associated software, such as Razer Synapse, running to use advanced functions like macros. Not all of these programs work on macOS or Linux, so it’s essential to research your specific use case and operating system before making a purchase.

Button Layout

The most common layout for an MMO gaming mouse has 12 keys in a 4×3 configuration, but some people may find the buttons too cramped. The side buttons may also make holding some MMO mice uncomfortable.

We’d suggest trying out different MMO mice to see if a cramped button layout is a problem. If it is, or you suspect this will be the case, then you want to investigate mice with different button layouts. You might also want to check out a mouse like the Corsair Scimitar RGB Elite with its sliding panel. Some MMO mice can also alleviate this issue by placing buttons in other locations, such as on the left mouse button.

Button layout is a personal preference, and it will depend on how comfortable you are with hitting every button. Try out different MMO mice before investing in one if possible, so that you have a good idea of your preferences for layout and comfort.

Conclusion

MMO mice are highly personalized and customizable peripherals; no two people use an MMO mouse the same way. As such, you should consider investing in an MMO mouse to be like a journey. You’ll learn a lot about your playstyle, what really matters to you when choosing an MMO mouse, and your preferred keybindings.

If you want a solid recommendation, we’d suggest our best overall MMO mouse, the Razer Naga Pro Wireless. The swappable plates and robust software highlight MMO mice’s strengths in personalization and customization. It’s flexible enough to be used as a mouse for any genre too, giving it extra value and flexibility you won’t get with other MMO mice.