Welp MagazineDo you want to take your gaming to the next level? If so, you need to invest in a good set of keycaps. Keycaps are one of the littlest things you’ll choose when you’re designing your dream setup, but they can make a big difference to your gaming experience. They can improve your accuracy, speed, and comfort, and they can also make your keyboard look and feel more stylish.
If you’re looking for the best keycaps for gaming, there are a few things you need to keep in mind: material, profile, legends, backlighting, and price. In this article, we’ll show you our top five picks, and break down what it is that makes them so great. So whether you’re a casual gamer or a competitive pro, read on to find yourself the best keycaps for gaming!
Product Comparison Table: Best Keycaps for Gaming
| Title | Price | Rating (Amazon) | Best in class | Buy | |
 | YMK Double Shot 104 Keycaps | $ | 4.5 stars | Best Budget | Amazon |
 | HK Gaming Rubber Keycaps | $$ | 4.5 stars | Best Rubberized | Amazon |
 | SteelSeries PRISMCAPS | $$ | 4.5 stars | Best for Backlights | Amazon |
 | YMDK DSA Retro Keycaps | $$ | 4.5 stars | Best Retro | Amazon |
 | Gliging Japanese Minimalist Keycaps | $$$ | 4.5 stars | Most Durable | Amazon |
YMK Double Shot 104 Keycaps
The YMK Double Shot 104 Keycaps are made of 90% PBT. They have a thickness of 1.2mm, which is thicker than most keycaps too.They’re also double shot, which means that the legends are printed on two layers of plastic, making them more durable and resistant to fading. Plus, these have shine through legends, which means that the light from your keyboard’s backlight will come through and light up the symbols. As for compatibility, they work with most standard ANSI MX switches, full-size keyboards, tenkeyless keyboards, ISO and 60% keyboards. However, they are not compatible with 64-key, 68-key, 75-key, 84-key, or 96-key keyboards, Corsair or Razer keyboards.
Pros
- Durable double shot PBT
- Shine through and colored keys
- Compatible with most keyboards
- Great value low price
Cons
- Not compatible with Razer or Corsair
- May have some mold flashing
Verdict
The YMK Double Shot 104 Keycaps are our best budget keycaps for gaming. They’re strong, durable and decent to look at, with solid printing and a long life. The shine-through design is a real bonus, especially for the price range. They’re also compatible with most keyboards – apart form specialist brands like Corsair and Razer, which could be a pain for gamers. However, the biggest issue is the mold flashing. This is fine if you’re already DIY savvy and need these caps for a home build, but it does mean they can’t just be clicked in by casual gamers.
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HK Gaming Rubber Keycaps
The HK Gaming Rubber Keycaps are have a rubberized finish, with a non-slip diamond texture for extra grip on the most used gamer keys. They’re made out of extra thick 1.2 mm Doubleshot PBT material for improved durability. Plus, these are shine-through, so they can be used on a backlit RGB keyboard. They are also available in a variety of different colors such as lime, yellow, and blue. These keycaps have an OEM Profile, making them compatible with Cherry MX, Gateron, Kailh Box, Outemu and LK Mechanical Key Switches. This makes them a perfect fit for your typical 60 Percent / 65 / TKL or Full Size gaming keyboard. Finally, the set includes 23 keys, and a key puller.
Pros
- Great value low price
- Largest range of customisation options
- BPA-free, durable labels in a variety of finishes
- Portable and battery powered
Cons
- Doesn’t include batteries
Verdict
Like others on this list, the HK Gaming Keycaps are also made out of Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT), but these utilize a soft-touch grip finish to increase your speed and accuracy when playing games. HK Gaming even claim they can increase your gaming performance by having the necessary grip during your games; it’s true that this kind of keycap is used in e-sports by pro players. However, this set only includes 23 keys. They may be the keys most used in gaming, but it’s not as many as you’ll get in other sets on this list – for the same price.
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SteelSeries PRISMCAPS
The SteelSeries PRISMCAPS have ultra-wide compatibility, with both standard and non-standard bottom row keycap sets that fit most mechanical keyboard brands. This includes SteelSeries, Razer, Corsair, and virtually all other MX stem mechanical keyboards. Plus, the Standard US ANSI 104 keys work on full sized, tenkeyless, and 60% mini keyboard layouts. However, the best feature of the PRISMCAPS is their appearance: they display brilliant pudding-style RGB illumination through a specially engineered double shot design with translucent sides and letters. Lastly, they come with a free keycap puller that makes installing and removing keycap sets an absolute breeze.
Pros
- Compatible with most keyboards
- Perfect design for RGB backlights
- Come with keycap puller
Cons
- Sometimes ship with extra unnecessary keys
Verdict
The SteelSeries PRISMCAPS don’t just look good, they work well too. The design is perfect to make your keyboard setup shine, with the clear sides and base allowing RGB backlights to come through bright and clear. The keycap puller is also very handy to have for the long-term. The only downside we could find was the fact that some users have reported receiving extra unnecessary keys – 4 more CTRL caps, for example. Nothing wrong with a free gift, right?
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YMDK DSA Retro Keycaps
The YMDK DSA Retro Keycaps offer a unique look that is unlike most contemporary gaming keyboards – they’re made to look like the keyboard you used to have from back in the 90s! However, despite their nostalgic look, these keycaps are compatible with almost all modern keyboards, with the exception of some Corsair, Ryzen, and Logitech models. They can also be used on the Filco Ducky IKBC 104 TKL 61 ANSI and ISO keyboards, as well as the YMD96, Melody96, Kira96, Tada68, and KBD75 models. They do have a DSA keycap profile that is lower than most other types, which you may have to adjust to. It also means they don’t feel as retro as they look. But unlike your old keyboard, these will allow RGB LED backlighting to shine through from beneath the keycaps.
Pros
- Nostalgic retro aesthetics
- Compatible with most keyboards
- Made of durable PBT
Cons
- Incompatible with some Corsair, Ryzen and Logitech boards
Verdict
The YMDK DSA Retro Keycaps are unlike any other keycaps on the market, offering a super cool aesthetic that’ll have you longing for the good old days of playing Tetris on a big clunky PC. They’re also compatible with most keyboards, with a few rare exceptions. The only feature we didn’t rank in our ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ is the relatively low profile. This is because it could be either a negative or a positive depending on your tastes; if you’re looking for a good old-fashioned clunk, you’ll be disappointed. But if you want the speed of a modern keyboard, it’s a benefit.
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Gliging Japanese Minimalist Keycaps
The Gliging Japanese Minimalist Keycaps are made of high-quality PBT material, with a matte texture and anti-grease coating. This provides first-class durability and typing feel, whilst advanced five-sided sublimation technology prevents the print from fading or scratching. They’re made of 1.5mm thick PBT too, which is extremely durable. As for the profile and compatibility, the Cherry height isn’t tough to get used to, and the suspended height, curved layout, and ergonomic design bring you a lasting and comfortable experience. The range is huge, too: it consists of 138 keycaps and other stabilizers, suitable for 90% of 61/87/104/108 mechanical and optical keyboards, as well as any key switches with cross-shaped shafts.
Pros
- Durable scratch, grease and fade resistant PBT
- Comes with 138 pieces
- Compatible with 90% of keyboards
Cons
- Printed with Japanese characters
Verdict
The Gliging Japanese Minimalist Keycaps are our most durable choice. The PBT construction is strong enough to stand up to years of use, which you wouldn’t expect at this price. Even the sublimation printing is scratch, fade, and grease-proof – so you won’t have to live with an orange keyboard forever just because you ate some Doritos once. Coincidentally, they also have one of the biggest ranges, making them compatible with custom keyboards. However, they do have Japanese characters on them. Konnichiwa!
