What is the best gaming keyboard? Whether you need first-person shooters, epic RPG adventures, or reliable typing tools, equipping a great gaming keyboard will allow you to change your setup. There are all kinds of ways to up your game, with options such as ultra-fast switches for the ultimate in competitive game response, additional macro keys to perform additional functions with the touch of a button, or additional noise attenuates to create a whisper Quiet typing experience.
We tested a wide range of gaming keyboards. Bringing you the best list and our entire top picks, thanks to its incredible versatility, it’s the glorious GMMK3 Pro. If you have a budget, the Corsair K55 Core is the way to go. If you’re silent typing, check out Be Circuit! Dark mount. There are more top options listed below. Plus, if you’re not sure what to look for, you can read how to guide by selecting the gaming keyboard and the FAQ section.
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Best gaming keyboard 2025:
The glorious gmmk3 (Pro He)
Overall the best gaming keyboard
| Form Factor | 65%, 75%, and 100% |
| Number of keys | 65-104 |
| switch | Glowing Cherry MX Style or Hall Effect |
| Connectivity | USB-C or USB-C with Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless |
| Media Key | Volume knob |
- Endlessly customizable near you
- Great build quality and design
- Low-cost admission
- Analog support thanks to the Hall effect switch
- Full custom units are expensive
- Entry-level plastic options are dim
- The cable is mostly chunky
- Can’t upgrade wired version to wireless
The glorious GMMK 3 sits at the top of the list for one simple reason. You can design it to be what you want. This is the most customizable off-shelf gaming keyboard you can buy, allowing you to specify your own version, and you can choose everything from the external case to the internal gasket mount, the switch plate, and of course the switch and keycaps. You can also purchase the standard spec version and then upgrade the parts over time.
Plus, the core designs of the GMMK 3 and GMMK 3 Pro are fantastic, with a clean overall look that you can make yourself. The build quality is generally excellent, with a starting price of just $120. However, when you actually start specing these keyboards, it rises significantly with the most expensive unit made with a $500 North solid aluminum case. But it’s still cheaper than most truly custom boards.
Importantly, the option to add a Hall Effect Switch allows these keyboards to provide quick triggering and analog features for many other boards, allowing you to create these high-performance keyboards and versatile keyboards. Also, besides the volume knob, there are no additional keys or other multimedia features, but they come in wired or wireless, and in a variety of sizes.
There are a few factors to keep in mind before ordering any of these keyboards. Check out the full review to get a better picture. But if you’re chasing high-quality custom keyboards without hassle and extreme costs, this is the way. A quality alternative that is not too customizable is the Drop CSTM80.
Read our glorious GMMK 3 review.
Corsair K55 Core
Best budget gaming keyboard
| Number of keys | Full size with 110 keys |
| switch | Rubber dome |
| Connectivity | Wired |
| Media Key | Being alone |
- Valves for money
- Simple and clean design
- Supported by ICUE
- Membrane key
- There are no game-specific features
If you’re tied up to cash or are looking for something to bridge the gap between two premium gaming keyboards, consider it apart from the Corsair K55 core. What’s lacking in game-specific features is more than making up for the quality and value of your build.
This board is basic, but Corsair has ensured it offers solid build quality despite its $40 price. Still, since you’re getting a full size board here, the K55 core doesn’t compromise on size to achieve that value.
Importantly, it is fully supported by Corsair’s ICUE software, allowing you to program several aspects of board and program games specific features, in addition to having full access to syncing the RGB lighting on your keyboard with other systems. The values that Corsair packed into the K55 core are difficult to ignore, even if it doesn’t compete with the more expensive options on this list.
Read our Corsair K55 Core Review for more information.
Corsair K65 Plus Wireless
Best Wireless Gaming Keyboard
| Number of keys | 81 keys – 75% layout |
| switch | Corsair Mlx Red |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, wired |
| Media Key | Reprogrammable scroll wheel only |
- Highly customizable
- Long battery life
- Tactile sensation
- Customization may cost you
Corsair casually released one of the best all-around gaming keyboards we’ve seen in recent years with the K65 Plus Wireless. It has something for everyone. Starting with enthusiasts fiddle with switches and keycaps, we can’t find any barriers that hinder complete customization.
There is no analog switch option, but that doesn’t mean there is a lack of performance. The Corsair MLX Red Switch is very responsive and gives you a lovely touch when you hit the typing flow.
Finally, it’s wireless with up to three storage Bluetooth profiles and a stable 2.4GHz connection. All this is backed up by the very long batter life. This can be expanded by disabling the fun, calm backlighting.
Read more about the Corsair K65 and wireless reviews.
Quietly! Dark Mount
Best Modular Game Keyboard
| Number of keys | Full size with 104 keys and 8 display keys |
| switch | Swappable Cherry MX Style, Quiet Linear or Tactile |
| Connectivity | Wired |
| Media Key | Dedicated via attachment |
- Very convenient modular design
- The quietest keyboard I’ve tested
- Lots of programmable buttons
- expensive
- There is no analog key function (snap tap/operation height adjustment)
- Monotone design
Quietly! Dark Mount takes over from Mountain Everest Max as his new favorite modular keyboard, and also crowns the quietest Keboard we’ve ever tested. If you want a keyboard that provides the functionality of a full-size keyboard, and if you want the compactness of a TKL board, then this is the board.
Quietly! I actually bought Mountain to use clever modular keyboard technology, but this keyboard has a huge effect. You can simply pull out the Numpad section of the board and get plenty of extra space for the mouse. Alternatively, you can attach the numpad to the left side of the board. On the other hand, the removable multimedia section also offers a volume wheel and many additional buttons, and can also be connected to two different positions on the main keyboard.
The programmable OLED backlight buttons in the Numpad section also provide a load of customizable quick access functions, and this method adds a way to customize the look of a fairly simple keyboard.
Quietly! A company known for making quiet PC gear, this keyboard is no different as it is quiet with sound-dating and customization in three layers! The key switches combine to make this the quietest keyboard I’ve ever tested. The cheap and simple Razer Huntsman V2 only cares about low noise, and the dark mount is actually even quieter.
The important thing I missed with this keyboard is the analog key switch, other than wireless. The switches here are swappable, but cannot provide other gaming performance-focused board operation height adjustments or snap tapping features.
Read us quietly! Dark Mount Review.
Drop CSTM80
The perfect game keyboard for modifications
| Number of keys | 88 keys |
| switch | Gaitan Brown or Yellow |
| Connectivity | Wired |
| Media Key | n/a |
- Selecting the Gaitan Switch at the time of purchase
- Highly customizable without costing odds
- Incredible typing feel
- The performance of the game is not spectacular
As keyboard mods become more popular, Drop leads the price along with several other brands like Ducky. First and foremost, he called the Drop CSTM80 one of the most beautiful keyboards I’ve ever seen, and praised the feel while typing.
The installation of the gasket provides a light feel, but the mechanical switch still has a lot of feedback and makes sure it doesn’t suffer from misclicks. It’s also very responsive, but beyond that, the benefits of the game are built for a different purpose and we respect it, so it’s light.
We also emphasized the driverless approach from the drop. This means you can connect your CSTM80 without the need to download any additional software. If you want to customize your input, you can download the software, but under any circumstances it is not required.
Read the Drop CSTM80 Review for more information.
Lofree Flow 100
The best compact gaming keyboard
| Number of keys | 100 |
| switch | Kailh Full Pon Switch |
| Connectivity | Wireless (Bluetooth) or wired (USB-A) |
| Media Key | none |
- Great and smooth use
- Nice and compact
- Stylish and minimalist
- There is no dedicated media key
- There aren’t many wired connections
- Awkward ctrl key placement
Don’t you have much room for gaming keyboards? Well, in that case, the Lofree Flow 100 might be exactly what you need. It takes up a little space, but remains sturdy and durable hardware.
One minor drawback of it being so small is that the Ctrl key is slightly awkwardly placed, which will result in accidentally pressing it with the palm of your hand when typing. I still love keyboards, but it’s annoying when that happens.
What most users appreciate is how smoothly this works. Writing a sentence on Lofree Flow 100 is like spreading butter with a hot knife. You don’t pick it up for the first time, or the opposite happens, and one press is registered twice, so you don’t realize you have to give the key a hard press for a moment.
The biggest flaw was probably that it was in a wired connection and it didn’t work properly. I’m plugging it in all the time so it charges, but it’s connected to my laptop via Bluetooth because the device didn’t recognize it when I connected my device.
Overall, it’s a well-made keyboard and looks just as good as you feel. There may be no dedicated media keys for volume controls, etc., but the keys are hot-swappable (using a Kailh Full POM switch), and there is no delay. Some can be plugged in and played as soon as they’re out of the box, but this could be one because of the possibility of customization.
Read the complete Lofree Flow 100 review.
Razer BlackWidow V4 75%
Best keyboard mods and games
| Number of keys | 82 -TKL |
| switch | Razor orange tactile sensation |
| Connectivity | Wired |
| Media Key | Two Plus Scroll Wheels |
- Designed for almost no compromise games and mods
- Easy to customize and reassemble
- Responsive Game Performance
- Adding switches and keycaps can be expensive
Keyboard modifications are great. Not only can you update your design, it can isolate and potentially fix any issues that arise without worrying about replacing the entire keyboard. The Razer BlackWidow V4 is a great example of appealing to two markets and not leaving functionality on the floor of a mascot room.
I enjoyed the BlackWidow V4 75% significantly and praised how easy it is to play and break it down together, while providing responsive gaming performance. There was always the risk that you could create a confusing Frankenstein monster to appeal to two hobbies, but there is no such outcome here.
If you want to try mods but want to preserve the performance of the core game, you may not have a better option. I wanted to have more pre-purchase customization options to prevent the need to buy new switches or keycaps in advance, but paying a small price in the long run.
For a review of Razer BlackWidow v4 75%, see more.
How to Choose the Best Game Keyboard
When looking for a suitable keyboard (either in this list or elsewhere), we recommend that you consider all of the following points before making a decision:
Start with the price. Some people understand that they must make exclusive decisions based on what they can afford. If that’s you, you can still find a keyboard focused on decent quality games for around $30 (£25), but much lower than that can bring too much compromise. At this price, the main compromise is that you have to miss out on the mechanical key. So the keys tend to be less responsive and not last long, which is why they are so cheap. For around $50 you can get a decent “no-name” mechanical keyboard, but you can see from $70 to $80 or more on mechanical boards from known brands.
What you’re considering is the size. Perhaps the biggest trend for keyboards today is the smaller sizes known as form factors, such as Tenkeyless (TKL), 75%, 65%, 60%. All of these refer to the keyboard sizes associated with traditional full-size keyboards with 105 keys. TKL cuts up the number pad section and 75% do the same, but brings the cursor and home/end cluster closer to the other keys. 65% and 60% are even smaller, and often lose cursors and F1-12 keys due to very small keyboards. A small keyboard looks good and leaves plenty of extra space for the mouse to move, but learning to live without deleted keys can be frustrating.
The game key is the next factor to consider: They were originally the main ones that defined gaming keyboards. It provides additional buttons to press to fire macros and other commands without reassigning other standard keys to these features. These days, there’s less focus on them, but some people still praise them for having a dedicated key.
Media keys may also be interested. These are buttons that play/pause/skip track buttons equipped with volume wheels, mute buttons, and several keyboards. You can also find some keyboards that come with a screen and a multi-functional dial. They are all very useful features, but they are more useful for use on a typical desktop than in real games.
When it comes to the feel and quality construction, the next membrane or mechanical key in the selection list should be next. A membrane or rubber dome keyboard is a cheaper keyboard that uses a switch formed by a rubber dome where the contacts of the spring and switch continue to press. Mechanical switches, on the other hand, use individual springs and metal contacts or magnetic or optical sensors to indicate when the switch is pressed. Membrane keyboards can be very cheap and quiet, but they feel so unwell, lack customization and won’t last long. Mechanical keyboards are more expensive, but at the last age, they can be customized with a variety of switches and keycaps.
With these options, RGB is of course a factor. Is it an essential addition or just a flashy luxury? It’s because you decide, but some form of backlighting often helps you see the key properly in a darker environment. The cheap boards only have a lighting zone, but the other boards have per-key lighting for a very programmable lighting show.
Previously, wireless technology could not respond well to reliable gaming performance, but these days it has worked well. However, wireless keyboards are more expensive and need to be charged once a week. However, a simple wiring board does not require disconnection or charging, and unlike a mouse or headset, it is not something that moves your keyboard frequently. If you’re particularly looking for a keyboard with no wires, check out our best wireless mechanical keyboard guide.
The newest big deal with gaming keyboards is that the keys can respond in an adjustable way. This means you can either make the keys behave like an analog trigger or set up clever functions such as rapid triggers and snap taps. These formers allow you to reissue keys much faster than normal, while the latter allows you to switch between two keys much faster than normal, for example, left and right Strafe.
Game Keyboard FAQ
Do you need a gaming keyboard?
The boundary between a gaming keyboard and a decent quality keyboard has been blurred in recent years. Previously, gaming keyboards were equipped with additional gaming keys, but these days it tends to mean that there is RGB lighting. Ok, we exaggerate it. While most gaming keyboards are also optimized for quick response, non-gaming models may prioritize battery life, but they hang when it comes to key moments in the game.
If you want to touch the button and fire complicated actions and don’t want to reprogram other keys, an extra game key is still useful. Meanwhile, the other three main factors to consider in the game are size, the feel of the key switch, and analog operation.
When it comes to size, some people just prefer a larger keyboard with all the extras. However, many gamers have come to prefer small keyboards without Numpads, as they leave more desk rooms for the mouse. When it comes to key switch sensations, many gamers prefer a very light, moving, linear switch than the heavier, more feedback-rich tactile feel of the tactile or click switch that many typists like. Bright linear switches are easy to push easily in fast lighting response situations.
Finally, analog switches provide the ability to allow keys to work, like the analog triggers of the controller. That’s not all, but the same function means that you can assign two trigger points to one switch, have a quick trigger mode that allows the key to respond very quickly, or you can adjust the height at which the key activates.
What is a mechanical switch?
has a comprehensive guide to mechanical keyboard switches. This makes you an expert on clicks, linear and tactile sensations.
In short, there are two main types of keyboard switches. Mechanical and membrane. The latter is cheap to make, so you can find it on a super budget board and even make it extremely quiet. However, they tend not to feel unresponsive or last very long. Mechanical switches offer a more reliable feel and response, and they last much longer. Additionally, you can replace the keycaps. You can replace the switches on many boards and experiment with a variety of mechanical switches to find the switch you like.
Can gaming keyboards improve the game?
Yes, no. Most games do what you need to do with almost any keyboard that essentially doesn’t have a poor quality, non-responsive switch. However, in many other scenarios, the gaming keyboard can change the game.
Initially, gaming keyboards tend to prioritize responses over other factors, making it less likely to be frustrated as important key taps do not produce results (or delayed results) on the screen. This is especially true when it comes to wireless gaming keyboards.
Keyboards with mechanical switches tend to be more reliable and provide faster response than membrane keyboards, but it is true whether the keyboard is “game” or not. Meanwhile, some people find that the additional game keys are a key addition to performing complex functions with the touch of buttons, but the programmability of the gaming keyboard also helps to optimize the game setup.
Finally, when you select an analog mechanical keyboard, these can actually unlock some interesting features. For example, you can make some keys react, like an analog trigger, providing subtle acceleration or brake input for the game. Additionally, the rapid trigger and snap tap functionality may be converted in some games.
What are Rapid Triggers and Snap Tap?
Rapid triggers and snap taps are names that Razer gave to new features added to many keyboards using analog switches. The Rapid Trigger uses the capabilities of an analog switch to detect the exact height of the key, not the moment it passes a certain threshold like a key, and presses the key again as soon as the keyboard detects that it has released the key slightly. In contrast, a regular switch requires a key to activate a certain distance, then can be pressed again.
This speed of recompression is useful in many games. Fighting games allow you to make very fast combos in FPS games, allowing counterstrofing quickly.
Snap Tap allows users to press and hold one key, then press another key, and have the keyboard automatically reissue the first key once the second key is released. So, for example, press and hold A for the left Strafe, then tap D and tap Right Strafe. As soon as you release D, the keyboard will automatically start triggering again. So effectively, you can just press and hold one key and tap the other key to left and right (or perform the combo you want). There is no need to release both keys and alternate key presses. A very effective one is snap taps (which quickly avoid left and right to avoid being shot) when used for counterstroking, so it is prohibited on counterstrikes.
Do you need an expensive gaming keyboard?
Necessity is a subjective word. Just make a gaming keyboard, inexpensive membrane keyboards tend to have better keys than very cheap $20 boards, optimized for quick response. When it comes to mechanical keyboards, the cheaper models are essentially more basic, but they offer most of the core-responsive feel and reliability of a more expensive board. However, if you really value full control, first-class boards offer so much customization and amazing build quality.
If you need more help to build the perfect game setup, read our article on the best gaming PC. Even the surprising keyboards are no different if you use it with unbroken potatoes. Furthermore, for the ultimate setup, we recommend that you upgrade to one of the best gaming mouse options with complete confidence and confidence in your input.
