Introduction
The first time I ever played Fortnite, I got destroyed by everyone in the lobby. I struggled to keep up with the fast-paced action, especially when switching between building and combat modes.
My friend Nick suggested I need quicker access to key commands, so I decided to upgrade to a gaming mouse with customizable buttons. Needless to say, my performance got better and I found it to be much easier to manage my player’s actions.
So how many gaming mouse buttons do you really need?
Gaming mice usually have 5 to 12 buttons. For multiplayer games like MOBAs (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena), more buttons (10+) can provide an advantage, while action RPGs or shooters may benefit from fewer, well-placed buttons (5-8), ensuring precision without distraction. Your choice ultimately depends on your gaming style and genre preferences.
Why Gaming Mice Feature a Range of Button Counts
In short, there’s significant diversity of gaming preferences in the gaming community and each person’s preference are entirely different.
The amount of video game genres in the modern day is vast and there’s unlimited potential for it to keep expanding.
These game types include first-person shooters, action RPGs, MMORPGs, real-time strategy games, survival horror titles, adventure games, platformers, puzzles, racing games, sports simulations, and fighting games.
That’s a lot of variation in what types of button controls a gamer would want to need!
Here are some common hotkeys gamers might want on their gaming mouse:
- Weapon Selection (1-9 slots for up to 9 buttons)
- Reloading
- Melee
- Open Inventory
- Open Party Chat
- Mini Map Commands
- Open Scoreboard
- Toggle Flashlight
- Open Hint System
- Quick Save
- Restart Encounter
- Activate Special Ability
This is just a limited list of the commands a player would want to have easily available to them within a split second of using a button on the side of their mouse, hence the reason gaming Mice come with a range of button quantities.
Average Button Use Across Game Types
Below is a table with examples of how many hotkeys you can expect to use. All of these commands can be easily programmed onto a gaming mouse’s side buttons to lessen the burden of your keyboard hand:
| Game Type | Example Game | Average Hotkeys |
| First-Person Shooters | Call of Duty | 8-10 |
| Action RPGs | Diablo III | 6-8 |
| MMORPGs | World of Warcraft | 6-8 |
| Real-Time Strategy Games | StarCraft II | 10-12 |
| Survival Horror Titles | Resident Evil | 4-6 |
| Adventure Games | The Legend of Zelda | 4-6 |
| Platformers | Super Mario Bros. | 4-6 |
| Puzzles | Portal | 4-6 |
2 important takeaways from the data:
- First-person shooters and real-time strategy games tend to require more hotkeys, reflecting the need for rapid actions and strategic decisions.
- In contrast, survival horror titles and adventure games typically utilize fewer hotkeys, prioritizing immersion and exploration over complex controls.
The variation underscores the importance of adapting input methods to suit the gameplay demands of each genre, highlighting the nuanced relationship between player interface and gaming experience.
“I have a 12-button mouse but only use 6. Then those same 6 + shift and the same 6 again + control so 18 binds with those 6 buttons. Also have the mouse wheel up and down plus shift up and down so 22 binds all together.”
—TrewthyMcTrooth, Reddit User
Can The Number of Gaming Mouse Buttons Affect Comfort?
The number of gaming mouse buttons can absolutely affect comfort but it’s more determined by the placement of the buttons in relation to your hand size.
A mouse with too few buttons might require more hand movement to access functions, leading to discomfort or strain over extended gaming sessions. Conversely, too many buttons can lead to accidental presses or hand cramping if they’re awkwardly positioned.
From my experience, the most important factor for ergonomic support is more so on how well it fits the size of your hand and not so much as the number of side panel buttons.
If you have big hands like me, check out my article on the best gaming mice for big hands.
Do Custom Gaming Mouse Buttons Give You an Advantage?
While a gaming mouse alone will not make you a better player, it will provide you with one of the most accurate forms of aiming and maneuvering compared to those who play using a game controller.
When I took a poll of the Reddit Gaming Community I was apart of, I found that the vast majority of gamers who play online competitive games use a mouse
As you can see, 76% of competitive gamers use a mouse due to the customizable and accuracy advantages.
If you’re really into competitive e-sports and the gear that professionals use, check out my article on the mice of famous streamers.
For the other types of gaming genres, here’s some of the additional advantages you could have using a gaming mouse side button:
- Rapid unit management and decision making hotkeys (RPGs)
- Quicker activation of hero abilities and special abilities (RPG)
- Quicker dash, jumping, vaulting (Platforming)
- Quicker formation changes during a play (Sports)
- Easier downshifting and timing (Racing)
Additional Resource
If you really want to take your gaming gear setup and knowledge to the next level, be sure to scroll up and sign up for the free E-book on the very best of what I know about product recommendations!
Thanks for reading! Hopefully you found this to be insightful into how you can better enhance your gaming setup. If you have more questions or comments, feel free to reach out to my email at entertainmentden.ns@gmail.com and I’ll do my best to respond.
As always, stay tuned for the next article!