If you are a long time fan of The Sims 4, you may be pleased to know that as well as a mouse and a headset, Steelseries have designed a branded a Sims 4 mouse mat based on the game. While it is not essential for the set to be bought together, it is nice that the developers have opted to make the fans feel immersed in the virtual neighbourhood experience.

The box of the mouse pad is tall and thin, measuring at just under 30cm high. Once you have opened the packaging, the mat is rolled into a tube shape, ready to be uncurled. This simple approach is tried and tested, and the thick cardboard shell offers effective protection against damage before purchasing. On each side of the box, one of the Sims pre-created by the development team is shown to offer a small sample of the artwork included on the pad.

The artwork on the mat is synonymous with The Sims 4, featuring a variation of the characters that appear on the splash screen of the game, along with the EA logos and a plum bob hanging in the air. The top is made from a slightly rough cloth material, offering just enough resistance for the mouse to travel across, without causing any slowdown or unnecessary friction. When you lay the mat out flat, it has a sleek reflective surface, ideal for optical mice, or the laser and roller ball alternatives. Compared with ordinary desks, the mat allows the mouse position to be tracked with more accuracy, and offers a better experience than some of the cheaper cloth based mats I have tried in previous years.

On the other side, a thin layer of friction resistant rubber claims to ensure that no matter how much you move the mouse, the mat will not follow suit. This did cause initial concerns for me when I got it out of the box, as I have tried several mats in the past that claimed to stay in one place, but they did not live up to their promise due to their thin structure. In this case however, I need not have worried, as it remained stuck to the various surfaces I tried it on without fail.

Overall, The Sims 4 Gaming Mousepad is a solid piece of mat. Although some players may not purchase it because of it’s affiliation with The Sims, there is little to no cause for concern with the build quality, or the materials that have been used to construct it. If you are interested in seeing the other products in this range, check out The Sims 4 Headset and The Sims 4 Mouse, also reviewed here on VGU.