Mice specifically designed for massively multiplayer online (MMO) and multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games are few and far between. Sure, you can use just about any mouse to play these types of games, but the deeper you slip into the genre, the more likely you'll want a gaming mouse tailored to your needs. The Razer Naga V2 Pro has been our top pick in the category since it launched last year, but Corsair's new and ominous-sounding Darkstar Wireless RGB MMO Gaming Mouse ($169.99) makes a credible claim to the crown. Despite its name, it shines bright, both literally (thanks to its bouncy RGB lighting) and figuratively. A 26,000-dot-per-inch (dpi) sensor ceiling, a unique button layout, an eye-catching cyberpunk aesthetic, and deep customization options help it stand out. Its steep price is hard to swallow, though it squeaks under the Naga by $10, but the Darkstar is a worthy alternative to Razer's MMO mouse and earns an Editors' Choice award.
Darkstar Rising
While not Cyberpunk 2077-branded, the Darkstar's look and feel conjure up an edgy, industrial design reminiscent of that game's aesthetic. Most of the mouse is made up of asymmetrical quadrilaterals, overlapping with one another to create a striking facade that doesn't necessarily scream "gamer." RGB lighting adds color to the Corsair logo on the tail end, while a spectrum of lights bounces across the mouse. Two thin LED strips lay hidden at the mouse's tip, sandwiching the USB-C port used for recharging.
The Darkstar, whose name evokes astrophysical concepts of black holes and supernovas, measures 1.7 by 2.7 by 5 inches—a fairly standard size that puts it in the same range as the Razer Naga V2 Pro and the Roccat Kone XP, though its waist is a little slimmer and it's a bit longer. At 3.3 ounces, it's just over an ounce lighter than the V2 Pro, which sounds minor but makes a big difference when playing fast-paced shooters like Overwatch 2.
Two profile switches sit atop the mouse, with a textured 3D scroll wheel between the two main clickers. On the left clicker are two additional DPI buttons, jutting slightly off the edge. The left and right flanks are textured to maintain your grip, but the left side is dominated by a cluster of buttons—six to be exact, arching around a textured center where your thumb goes. (Left-handed gamers need not apply.) Three LED indicators near the edge of the mouse light up to signal changes in resolution and profile settings.
The Darkstar comes with a 2.4GHz wireless dongle that enables up to a 2,000Hz polling rate, while also maintaining hyper-fast wireless speed with sub-1-millisecond point-to-point latency. Those are Corsair figures, of course; we don't measure wireless mouse latency, but we didn't encounter any issues in testing or casual play that would make us doubt them.
Speaking of speed, the Darkstar's custom sensor, dubbed the Corsair Marksman, supports a maximum resolution of 26,000dpi. This super-sensitivity ranks just below the Naga V2 Pro's claimed 30,000dpi, but it gets the job done for just about anyone but the hardest of the hardcore.
Besides providing extreme sensitivity, the sensor has a few tricks up its sleeve. Namely, the Darkstar allows programmable gesture-based movement. Left, right, forward, and backward tilt gestures can be used as extra virtual mouse buttons that you can assign to in-game or productivity-focused actions. For example, tilting the mouse to the right can be assigned to peeking around a corner. Not only does this increase immersion in gameplay, but it could potentially open the door to accessibility options that would be impossible otherwise. It's an impressive capability, and it works smoothly, even if I don't see myself personally using it in normal play.
Low latency does come at a price, of course—relatively short battery life. According to Corsair, a charge lasts for only about 20 hours with RGB on, though you can stretch it to 65 hours if you turn the lights off. Use a Bluetooth rather than USB connection and dim the lights, and you can expect about 80 hours. This falls far short of the Razer's claimed 150 hours over a 2.4GHz link and 300 hours over Bluetooth.
Customizing Darkstar: Cue the App
In my short time testing the mouse, I settled into it nicely. I prefer a palm grip when playing, thanks to my fairly large hands, which the Darkstar accommodates, and the additional buttons were comfortably accessible. However, I prefer both the Naga's modular faceplates and traditional number pad for assigning macros, if only because I'm more familiar with the numeric pad.
Adjusting your hand to the mouse may take some time, but customizing its controls is much quicker and easier. While you can adjust profiles and DPI settings on the fly, the lion's share of the Darkstar's features are handled within iCUE, Corsair's downloadable software. In addition to remapping the 15 programmable buttons, it lets you tweak RGB lighting and DPI sensitivity across five onboard profiles.
The utility also supports third-party plug-ins to monitor other aspects of your computer, in addition to managing your Corsair gear. iCUE is easy to navigate and comparable in features to Razer's celebrated Synapse. There are a lot of options to explore, but it never feels overwhelming.
What might be overwhelming, at least for many shoppers, is the Darkstar's $169.99 price. While it's a bit cheaper than the Naga V2 Pro, it's still significantly more expensive than most wireless gaming mice, such as the Roccat Kone XP Air, which offers the same number of buttons. Still, Corsair's updated sensor with its gyro capabilities, improved sensitivity, and customization options make a case for the Darkstar's impact on your wallet.
Verdict: A Gravitational Shift in MMO Mice
Overall, the Corsair Darkstar is a great choice for players looking for an MMO mouse, standing on equal footing with Razer's Naga V2 Pro. While the Razer's modular faceplates and slightly higher resolution have their benefits, Corsair's unique sensor and lighter weight will surely have their fans, as well. The two mice are so evenly matched that your decision may ultimately come down to the games you play: I like the Naga more for MMOs, but the Darkstar felt more natural while playing MOBAs.
But if you're looking for a high-speed mouse that can handle both complex MOBAs and MMOs as well as fast-paced arcade shooters, the Darkstar's unique design and features will serve you well. For that, it earns an Editors' Choice award.
