10 Best Games That You Can Play with a Keyboard and Mouse

A keyboard and mouse will beat a gamepad when it comes to aiming and turning the camera because it’s more precise. The only games where controllers like the DualSense triumph over keyboards and Mice are the likes of FIFA 23, Horizon Zero Dawn, GTA V, and many other third-person games. However, for board games and FPS titles, a combination of a keyboard and a mouse is unbeatable. Amid our differences, this is one fact that gamers over at Player.com can agree on.

Also Read: Clash Swords with the 10 Toughest Bosses in Video Games

Types of Keyboards: The Juliet to PC Gaming’s Romeo

Puns aside, the best type of keyboard for gaming on PCs is a mechanical keyboard. Folks over at Player.com have tried different types of keyboards, including butterfly and membrane-switch variants. Yet, the ideal type is the mechanical variant because of benefits such as:

• Mechanical keyboards are known for their longevity. 
• It offers better tactile feedback.
• Some mechanical keyboards use detachable cables.
• Ability to swap out switches whenever you want. 

Some of the best mechanical keyboards for gaming are the Corsair K100, Fnatic Streak 65, and Razer Huntsman Mini. 

Top 10 Games for Keyboards and Mice  

These games vary from tactical games to FPS action titles. However, please note that the majority of these games are best experienced on PCs. So, you might as well note that down as a determinant when we compile our list. Without further ado, these are the best games for keyboards and mice. 

#1: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a revolutionary FPS title that was developed by Valve and Hidden Path Entertainment. The game is a PC staple because it rewards players who play tactically. This means that guns and wounds are more realistic. This isn’t Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, where players are akin to bullet sponges. So, teamwork is a core element of the game. In fact, the team that cooperates better is usually the winner. 

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive was built for the keyboard and mouse experience, even if console ports are now available. The reasons for this are the sharp controls and fast gameplay, which make the game simple yet fun and challenging. All other versions of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive that’s developed or modded for gamepads are cheap imitations. 

#2: Garry’s Mod

Garry’s Mod is a PC classic with a strong pool of followers and fans for the creative approach that it offers to gamers. Also called Gmod, it’s an open-world game with great physics. Players are free to create games using Valve’s in-game assets. It also offers modes like Prop Hunt and Trouble in Terrorist Town, which are hugely popular among fans. 

The game was developed by Facepunch Studios and published by Valve in 2006. To date, it’s best experienced using a keyboard and mouse. The game currently boasts more than 300,000 maps, models, contraptions, and many other items. For one, you can spawn a house and then shoot it down with a rainbow-powered nuclear gun. 

#3: Team Fortress 2

Team Fortress 2 is a multiplayer shooter game from 2007 that’s still popular because of its accessibility. In layman’s terms, you don’t need a powerful gaming rig to play this game. It was also developed by Valve, but unlike the previous two games, you get to choose from a myriad of characters. These characters offer different abilities, powers, and styles to help you build your playstyle.  

Additionally, there are many guns as well as customisation options like hats for you to trade, craft, or purchase from the store. Keyboards and mice are the best combinations for playing Team Fortress 2 because of the game’s sharp movements. To aim for an opponent’s head or chest, only a mouse offers precise aim. 

#4: Fallout: New Vegas

Play any of Bethesda’s Fallout games on consoles and PCs, and you’ll agree that they built those games with PC gamers in mind. With a keyboard and mouse, you get precise control over your character in Fallout: New Vegas. Additionally, there are tons of mods and user-friendly customisation options for players to explore. In fact, this game is considered the most modded PC game ever, though those mods also have the tendency to crash the game. Other features of the game are:

• Fallout: New Vegas offers great maps.
• The characters of the game are colourful, with detailed backgrounds. 
• A great Reputation System that tracks the repercussions of your actions. 

#5: The Sims 3

The Sims 3 is a simulator of real life that allows players to go on dates, romance different partners, get a job, or create a business. It’s modelled after the hustle and bustle of the 21st century, so you can expect some rejections and many triumphs. Let’s not forget that The Sims 3 supports cheat codes for modding the heck out of your character. The Sims 3 is available on Xbox, PlayStation, and even the Nintendo Switch. However, it’s best experienced on a PC with a tactical keyboard and a mouse. After finishing the main campaign, there are also many DLCs and expansions to go through.

#6: XCOM 2

XCOM 2 is a game from 2016 that’s still considered the best tactic game ever. It features turn-based combat that involves base building, macro planning, resource management, and a deep understanding of the characters’ strengths and weaknesses. It also boasts a reasonable storyline where you have to defend against an alien invasion. In short, you’ll need skill and luck to beat this game. However, certain features, like the cool alien designs, will keep calling players back to the game. Other features of XCOM 2 are: 

• There are tons of squad-based tactics to try out. 
• You must plan for the short-term and long-term when it comes to your resources.

#7: Dota 2

Dota 2 is an extremely competitive game that offers squad-based combat. Naturally, you must know your character and companion’s strengths and weaknesses to plan. To keep players interested, the developers frequently update the game. Dota 2 isn’t perfect, but for a keyboard and mouse, it’s ideal for both mid-level players and expert gamers. Other features of the game are: 

• It’s one of the most popular esports in the world.
• There are many unique characters to pick from. 
• Dota 2 is free-to-play. 

#8: StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty

StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty is a fiction-based game that employs real-time strategy and techniques to keep players hooked. It was developed and launched by Blizzard Entertainment for PCs running Windows and Mac OS X. Besides its great ratings, the game offers three campaigns, so the replayability is up there with the best. Also, the first campaign and the multiplayer mode are free to play. StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty is best experienced with a keyboard. This way, you won’t have to use Xpadder to bind keyboard and mouse actions to your controller. Just plug and play.  

#9: Half-Life

Half-Life sold gaming PCs because it was one of the best games of its time. We can also say it revolutionised FPS games on PCs with its tight controls and fast movement. Back then, players could also play the game on the PS2, but the experience paled in comparison to the precise aim that was enjoyed by PC gamers with a keyboard and a mouse. It’s certainly an old game, hence why it’s ranked so low on our list. However, the shooting mechanics and the storyline are finer than wine. Especially with the lack of sensible storylines in modern FPS shooters. 

#10: Divinity: Original Sin 2

Divinity: Original Sin 2 is a fun game because of incentives like a great storyline, a top-notch online co-op, and a huge sandbox. Before Baldur’s Gate 3, this was the largest iteration of a Dungeons & Dragons video game. In the end, all of Divinity: Original Sin 2’s allure and appeal are best experienced on a PC with a keyboard and a mouse.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Games Can You Play on Smartphones with a Keyboard?

This is a tricky question because it depends on which operating system you’re using and the size of your smartphone. For Android devices like the S23, you’re in luck because of its Samsung Dex feature. With it, you can play games such as:

• Fortnite. 
• Call of Duty: Mobile. 
• Apex Legends Mobile. 

For now, it’s next to impossible to game on an iPhone. However, it’s a different story on iPads, which are supposedly the tablet version of iPhones. So, we’re not lost on the irony.

Can You Play FIFA 23 with a Keyboard?

Yes, you can play FIFA 23 on PCs with a keyboard. If you’re a PC gamer who is used to playing with a keyboard, it’ll be easier for you to play FIFA 23 with one. However, if you’re used to gamepads, trying to decamp to the keyboard team is going to be tricky. Most gamepads only have around 16 buttons while keyboards feature the whole alphabet and then more. So, if you’re not a keyboard warrior, you’ll have to get used to the position of each button. 

Which Type of Keyboard Is Best for Gaming?

The type of keyboard that’s best for gaming is a mechanical keyboard. It offers better tactile feedback, is more durable, and even comes with some aesthetically pleasing RGB lighting. Another great aspect of mechanical keyboards is that their prices are fair. However, the more features you want, the more expensive the keyboard becomes.