Why 2025 Is a Great Year for Gaming Keyboards
If you care about both gaming performance and everyday comfort, 2025 is a fantastic time to upgrade your keyboard. For a long time, you usually had to choose between a great typing experience and gamer focused features like rapid trigger switches, crazy high polling rates, and macro keys.
This year that trade off has started to disappear. A new wave of boards offers proper build quality, satisfying typing feel, and serious gaming features without the old gamer tax on price. Even better, there is real variety. You can go compact and affordable, whisper quiet, or fully ergonomic while still getting proper gaming performance.
Here is a closer look at three standout gaming keyboards that have been nominated for a major hardware award in 2025. Each one targets a different type of player, so you can match your board to the way you game.
Gamakay x NaughShark NS68: Compact Power on a Budget
The Gamakay x NaughShark NS68 has effectively replaced older budget favorites and become one of the most compelling cheap gaming keyboards around. Unlike many past low cost gaming boards, this one is not just about flashy lighting. It brings current generation features at a price that often drops under forty dollars during sales.
The NS68 uses a 68 percent layout, which means it is smaller than a full keyboard but still includes arrow keys and a few navigation keys. For gamers this strikes a sweet spot. You get more mouse space on your desk for aiming, but you do not lose essential keys for everyday use or in game shortcuts.
Under the hood it is surprisingly advanced for the money. It offers:
- Hall effect switches that enable rapid trigger behavior, ideal for fast movement and quick key resets in competitive games.
- 8K polling for extremely low input latency, keeping your actions tightly synced with what you see on screen.
- A carry strap and compact form factor that make it easy to move between setups or take to LANs and events.
What makes the NS68 stand out is how it combines all these modern gaming features while staying extremely affordable throughout 2025. If you want a high performance board for shooters or competitive titles without gutting your budget, this is one of the most attractive options this year.
Be Quiet Light Mount: High End Gaming that Stays Silent
Mechanical keyboards are usually known for their satisfying but loud clacks. That is fun if you play with a headset or game alone, but less ideal if you share a room, stream with a mic close to your keys, or work late at night. The Be Quiet Light Mount tackles this head on by being one of the quietest gaming keyboards around while still feeling good and looking the part.
Its silence comes from a mix of custom silent tactile switches and heavy internal dampening. Many quiet boards end up feeling mushy, but this one manages to stay soft on the ears without turning the typing feel into a sponge.
Beyond the sound profile it still checks all the gamer boxes:
- Durable PBT keycaps for a premium feel and longer lasting legends.
- 1K polling which is plenty fast for almost all gaming scenarios.
- Bright RGB lighting to customize your setup’s look.
- A dedicated knob and left side macro keys for quick controls, shortcuts, or MMO rotations.
The Light Mount is especially appealing if you want a serious gaming board that will not annoy housemates, coworkers, or your microphone. It proves you can have a proper mechanical gaming experience without the usual noise.
Kinesis Gaming Freestyle Edge RGB Plus: Ergonomics for Serious Gamers
Ergonomic keyboards are usually designed with typing comfort and wrist health as the top priority, not gaming. The Kinesis Gaming Freestyle Edge RGB Plus is one of the rare designs that tries to do both and actually pulls it off at a relatively reasonable price for an ergonomic board.
This Plus version is an update to an already respected split gaming keyboard. The core idea is that the keyboard is divided into two halves, letting you position each side where it feels most natural. That can reduce strain on your wrists, shoulders, and forearms, especially in long sessions.
In the new model one of the biggest improvements is that you no longer need to buy the tenting kit separately. The adjustable tenting hardware comes in the box, so you can angle each half to better match your natural wrist posture. This makes it far easier to dial in a comfortable setup for both gaming and typing.
Other upgrades help with feel and customization:
- Pre lubed stabilizers for smoother, less rattly larger keys.
- Hot swappable switches so you can change the feel of the board without soldering.
- RGB lighting and a layout designed with gaming in mind so it does not feel like a pure office tool.
It is still more expensive than a straightforward compact board, but compared to other ergonomic gaming options it comes in at a more approachable price. For players who game a lot and want to protect their wrists and hands long term, this is one of the most convincing ergonomic gaming keyboards released in 2025.
Choosing the Right 2025 Gaming Keyboard for You
These three nominees show just how much choice PC gamers now have when it comes to keyboards:
- If you want maximum value and modern competitive features, the Gamakay x NaughShark NS68 is a standout budget pick.
- If you need silence without sacrificing build and features, the Be Quiet Light Mount is a uniquely quiet mechanical option.
- If long term comfort and ergonomics matter most, especially for long gaming or work sessions, the Kinesis Gaming Freestyle Edge RGB Plus gives you a serious split design that still feels built for gamers.
Whichever direction you go, 2025 has proved that you do not have to compromise nearly as much as before. You can get fast response, good feel, and thoughtful design in a board that actually fits how you play and work. That is a win for anyone building or upgrading a PC gaming setup this year.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/gaming-keyboards/pc-gamer-hardware-awards-the-best-gaming-keyboard-of-2025/
