I'm not a gamer, but I like some casul games from time to time, like Timberborn or Shapez. Yesterday I wanted to start a game again, after a period of not gaming since february or so. I've been getting used to sitting in my comfy chair in the evening, doing some programming or some online ciurse. I would like to game in my comfy chair as well, instead of sitting behind my desk where I've been working all day. But games demand much more intense mouse usage. A mouse does not work very well on an armrest. Have any of you solved that problem?

I'm KBM at my desk, but controller on the couch.

If you insist on mousing, you're going to have to engineer yourself a stable flat surface. Options really depend on available anchor points and how permanent you want it, but start with a board and figure out how to to attach it, screws, clamps, dowels, zip ties, extra-strength velcro-strips....

If it's a couch upholstered arm rest, make it a table with the leg going to the floor on one side, and between the cushions on the other.

Worse case scenario, ditch the armrests and just put the board on your lap.

Edit: maybe thumb (trackball) mouse or trackpad.

I don't because that shit is bad for your wrists and forearm.

On the couch I use a Logitech K400r keyboard with touchpad for basic navigation, but for couch gaming just go with a controller. If you need pointer control, get a Steam Controller and use the trackpads.

Switch 2, pro controller, lying relaxed on the couch, resting hands with controller in my lap. I can comfortably keep this position for hours.

You will never make me sit at a desk and screen to relax. It'd be a contradiction in itself.

Couch with high arm rest, firm pad underneath.

Three words: Couch arm table

I have a little table that straddles the arm rest of my chair. But it's uncomfortable for long periods.

Logitech Ball mouse. You move the ball with your thumb and your hand stays still. Takes a little getting used to.

Trackball mouse.

I just put that shit on the couch right next to me.

Look into trackballs. you can just set them on your lap and they are much more precise and easy to use than I was expecting. that said, you're not gonna be winning any counter-strike tournaments with one.

Two people sitting on a 3-person couch, plenty of room to mouse on my left side.

My usual gaming position is in my livingroom couch, keyboard in lap, mouse on the pillow next to me, and feet on the table next to my laptop. Mouse works fine in the couch. As long as it's not a reflective surface, it should work fine. Mine is cloth, so it's no problem.

Protip: I travel a lot, and often find myself in hotel rooms, trying to operate a mouse while in bed. Because I always travel with a plastic cutting board (regular white one I found at a shopping mall in Bahrain). It works well as a mouse pad, for when the sheets are no longer stretched perfectly flat. It also fits perfectly the bottom of the pelicase in which I carry my laptop.

K400r. But I still prefer a controller (I have a couple of 8bitdo, an NVIDIA controller, steam controller or a PS4 one too)

Lap desk, book on the coach next to me, but steam deck/steam controller mostly

Unfortunately I found that taxing on my thumb over time. What I use instead in those situations is a proper trackball, with fingers controlling the ball and thumb on buttons.

That's a trackball. A ball mouse is a regular mouse from 30 years ago.

Definitely not a gamer but what about one of those little tables for serving breakfast in bed?

I don't. Controller is for couch.

If I want to game with KB+M then I stream my lounge gaming rig to my desk workstation with Moonlight/Sunshine.

You could come up with some elaborate setup of lap tray or Steam Controller or Trackball or controller remapping...... They're all inferior to being at your desk.

Exactly, trackball, lol

I have an aluminium mouse pad.
In the past I was gaming from my bed: lap table with cooling fans on top for the laptop and the high-res mousepad on the bed.

Nowadays I mostly play controller but I have a regular aluminum mousepad when I need it - but I no longer play demanding mouse games on the couch.

Mostly a Steam controller. It works in almost every application or game.

I've also got a trackball for the few cases where the controller doesn't work. I don't use it very often because I don't think there's a comfortable way to use it on the couch without using a lapdesk or something.

This probably isn't what you're talking about, but I miss the old Trackman Marble mice. I had a Trackman Marble FX that I used for years until I finally upgraded to USB.

Get a lap desk

I’ve had a Corsair K63 with lapboard for years and’s have no complaints

I just use a fat pillow and put a small mousepad on it if need be.

Trackball, currently a Gameball Thumb and I'm pretty happy with it but I do wish it had just a couple programmable buttons.

I also have an old steam controller that filled the role pretty well once I got the settings figured out how I wanted them. After a lot of years though, the touchpad click has started to crap out on me though, I think I can fix it but I just haven't gotten around to it. The new steam controller would probably be as good or better but I haven't gotten my hands on one to say for sure yet.

I don't on the couch, but occasionally I do on my bed. Not stuff like first person shooters, but less-frentic mouse based stuff.

I have a USB trackball and a USB trackpad, and I'll use one of those.

I am not as accurate or quick as I am with a mouse with either of those, but both work fine without a rigid, level surface.

EDIT: My problem for use on a bed isn't really the mouse, but the keyboard. I have used a split ergo keyboard, with one half on each side, but even that isn't amazing. I don't have a reasonable way to do much typing if you're not sitting up.

If you're looking for some lightweight wood that can take a beating and is cheap to use on your lap as a surface I'd get some bamboo

I put the mouse right on my fat fucking thighs

JK I ain't got no thickness to me. Keyboard and mouse gaming stays on the desk and controller gaming is for the couch. Looks like some other people recommended a lap desk, so yeah. Go with that

I got a "CouchMaster" desk thing for working from home. Works pretty well. It's hard to setup an ergonomic couch though. It was very expensive for what it is though

The Steam Controller with its two trackpads and gyroscope paired up with Steam Input which lets you configure the controller (even non-Steam controllers) very granularly to your liking.

For shooters the best setup for me is to use the right stick for broad aiming and the gyro for precision.

For strategy and management games I use the right trackpad as a mouse and the left trackpad for hotkeys. In StarCraft I set up the left trackpad to be contained to the area on the screen where the selected unit's functions are displayed. Not good enough for multiplayer, but good enough for casual play.

touchpad and thumb trackball are what I use.

I use a logitech K400 and a bluetooth xbox or ps4 controller on the couch. Any game that needs intensive mouse usage gets played at a desk.

I use my PC in the living room more than my office desktop these days so I've bought a bunch of shit.

So you'll spot the usual Logitech K400 Plus on my couch because it's the only available option for a trackpad wireless keyboard combo unit with physical left/right mouse buttons. Then I also use a separate wireless mouse, which works just fine on my couch arm fabric as is for regular browsing. K400 Plus is not backlit and it's creaky af, but the "competition" is tragically worse.

Generally I'll opt to use controllers for games, but sometimes I need a proper mouse+kb so I bought a cushioned wood lap desk and a better mechanical keyboard and then I reuse the mouse with it. Most recently Minecraft Eternal 2.

I got a Ploopy Adept almost a year ago now and it has quickly become my main mouse. I love that thing. Only problem is lack of feedback when scrolling makes some games where you have to scroll to select things, like Minecraft, a teensy bit more annoying

I have a Kensington trackball with scroll ring. Yours is probably way better for gaming (dig all the buttons), but as a person with early arthritis, I love how easy this is on the hand, and the scroll ring is just awesome for fine adjustments and webpage browsing, both.

https://www.google.com/search?q=kensington+trackball+with+scroll+ring&udm=2

I'm sure there's better stuff out there, but it's been years since I was collecting trackballs. (and the Logitech stuff was generally disappointing from back in the day)

When I read ball mouse I almost had a stroke, those things needed constant maintenance.

KDE Connect Remote Input for me, but I mostly play mouse games on my desktop.

1. sock off
2. mouse on floor
3. foot mouse

Trackball mouse, either wired or wireless. No need to move the mouse at all besdes to get it into a comfortable position.

Only thing you really gotta worry about from there is occasionally removing the ball and cleaning where it rests from gunk that builds up and causes friction.

I use a large sketchbook as a mousepad. The sketchbook sits on a pillow to lift it to the appropriate height. Works great.

Steam controller.

The trackpads are great and weirdly make a decent keyboard too.

I love trackballs, and I wish there was a bigger market for gaming trackball mice.

Steam controller

There are so very many devices geared towards this issue. I don't think I have anything to add to comments lready here except that you should try a few of the optuons if possible and see what vibes best with you and your specific setup.

I personally wouldn't have much of a use for gaming trackball mice, but I would absolutely buy one. Imagine a trackball that has a ball that rolls smooth as butter. Pure heaven!

I considered that one, as well. I really liked the scroll ring, but opted for the Ploopy for more buttons. The top ones are not particularly convenient to reach all the time, but are definitely necessary. Just wish someone would make a decent trackball with a clicky scroll wheel and multiple buttons!

You can use a ducky mini 2 (60%) (three levels of keys/macros and mouse function); but really just use a controller. Or just get $1200 Steelcase chair and get the mouse pad addition. Also you can get a laptop stand for like $40 and use that, as in they can slide under your chair and give you platform to put your mouse and drinks on.

In any case, I can understand the undeniable, magnetic attraction of the word "Ploopy!" :D