The age-old question. Do you really need a mouse mat or gaming surface? I mean, surely that piece of A4 paper is doing the same job, right? In this article, we’re answering all your questions about mouse mats.
Listen, home slice, it’s not 2004 anymore. You can retire the free tiny square mouse mat with adverts for long-defunct companies on it. All jokes aside, we’ve come a long way from those tiny glossy mouse mats. You can pick up a gaming surface in practically any colour now, with crazy designs, and even RGB! But do you actually need one?
Are Mouse Mats Worth It?
Picture this: you’re in the midst of a heated gaming session, the final boss looming large on your screen, and suddenly, your mouse decides to pull a “whoopsie-daisy” and skids off the edge of your desk. Talk about an unplanned adventure! This is where the humble mousepad swoops in to save the day like a trusty sidekick.
Sure, you could argue that any flat surface will do the trick, but mouse mats do more than just provide a comfy surface for your mouse to skate across.
Do Mouse Mats Make a Difference?
Short answer: Absolutely, positively, without a shadow of a doubt, YES! Long answer: Picture your mouse as a finely tuned sports car, and your mouse mat as the smooth, friction-free track it deserves to race on. A good mouse mat provides the perfect balance of grip and glide, ensuring precise movements and pixel-perfect accuracy.
A good gaming surface or mouse mat can even provide a more accurate gaming experience. Having a clean, uniform surface can allow your mouse to track where it is better. After all, the missile knows where it is because it knows where it isn’t.
Is a Gaming Surface Better Than a Mouse Mat?
Yes and no. When you remove all the marketing mumbo jumbo, a gaming surface is essentially just a larger mouse mat. That being said, gaming surfaces offer some great benefits. Not only do they allow you to place your keyboard and mouse on the same surface offering comfy wrist rests for your keyboard, but they also allow you to accessorise your desk.
Time To Upgrade?
Let’s be honest, if you’ve made it this far you’ve got a stinky mousepad, right? It’s okay, we’re not judging you (we totally are tho). Don’t panic, as Overclockers UK has your back! We’ve put together a few different options below we know you’ll love, and hey, don’t forget to check out our whole selection of surfaces and pads.
OcUK Mega Mat XXL Premium Elite Tactical Gaming Surface
Corsair MM700 RGB Desk Gaming Surface – 3XL 1200x610x4mm (CH-9417080-WW)
How Do I Clean a Mouse Mat?
There is nothing worse than a stinky gaming surface full of gamer sweat and snack crumbs. Fear not, dear reader, we’ve got you covered. This guide has everything you need to know about properly cleaning your mouse mat or gaming surface.
Having a clean and tidy gaming environment can really help boost in-game performance. There will be no crumbies clogging up mechanics or clutter fogging your brain. We’ve covered a few aspects of how to clean your gaming set-up, and today we’re focusing on mouse mats.
Ready To Game?
Hopefully, you’re ready to stop using a terrible old mouse mat or piece of paper now. Make sure to let us know what you’ve been using up till now in the comments, and we promise not to laugh at you too much.
- 4 min read
Robert Mullane
Author
When not working, you'll find me in VR or losing in bottom-tier Valorant matches. I write about all topic's tech and gaming with a particular focus on representation in gaming, virtual reality, and LGBTQ+ themes. If you're still not fed up with me, you can also catch me over on the Overclockers UK TikTok and YouTube accounts.
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