The Roccat Magma membrane keyboard reminds us that gaming keyboards don't have to be expensive or mechanical. I was totally impressed with the tactile feel of the rubber dome switches, the unique RGB top plate design, and the great features for competitive gaming. Affordable price with a trusted brand. This is a rarity, and while it may not be as sturdy as some boards or as overflowing with fancy bells and whistles, it is (literally) a beacon of excellence among membrane gaming keyboards.

Lately, Roccat seems to be shaking things up in terms of where peripheral lighting should be, exemplified by Magma's unique lighting design.

Like the hexagon-heavy under-finger lighting on the Roccat Kone Pro Air mouse, Magma is putting RGB LEDs in previously untapped places.

With the membrane, there is no per-key lighting. Instead, Roccat opted for five individually configurable lighting zones spread across the entire top plate behind the keycaps. Those who prefer, for example, that W, A, S, and D glow in different colors will be disappointed. The zoned RGB design still offers room for beautiful gradients and effects, but the cycle is not as smooth as it could be and the colors are not super accurate.

The minimal use of LEDs in the board also results in limited coverage, and as a result, some of the characters on some keycaps appear a bit dark in some areas. However, it is not very noticeable. There are a few noticeable scratches under the top plate that detract from the design, including a small black dot where the board is joined, but I think Roccat was going for a milky translucent, sort of "naked" look. Very cyberpunkish, but not to my personal taste.

The entire face is illuminated, so when dust is noticeable, it really stands out. Thanks to the raised plastic housing under each keycap, which is mechanical and hard to catch dust, this is not a major problem.

Besides, it keeps the keyboard clean and gives you more reasons to show off. It is quite eye-catching compared to standard under-key lighting and is sure to be admired by your RGB-loving friends. And since it's a Roccat product, you can also use the Aimo lighting feature to synchronize lighting across peripherals.

The Roccat Swarm software has some other interesting features. Such as the (slightly gimmicky) option to add sounds to key presses, such as the pew-pew of a typewriter or laser beam. Sure, these are fun to play with, but the most practical feature comes in the form of Roccat's Easy Shift key assignments. Not all keys can be assigned, but there is a huge list of potential actions for each key that can be assigned.

The non-mechanical nature of Magma means that while the keycaps can be removed for easier cleaning, it is not possible to fit fancy new keycaps like mechanical keycaps. But the truth is, and I hate to admit this, I really like the rubber dome membrane construction that Roccat has used. Not only is it oddly tactile and provides great feedback and actuation, but it's soft and quiet, so it can remain a teammate's ally.

The Magma is not the sturdiest board ever. Compared to a solid, machined metal board, the board flexes a bit when the space bar is pushed down hard. Unless you plan on smashing the keyboard with your fist, you should be fine. If you're a particularly heavy typist, the metal keyboard is the way to go.

Otherwise, the board is spectacular looking. The deep rounded corners and thick black frame are really striking, and the lettering is not an overdone sci-fi typeface. It may not have dedicated media controls, but it is a full-sized keyboard with function keys, 26-key rollover and anti-ghosting, everything you need for competitive gaming. This is what Roccat was going for, and it does it without spending a fortune. A wrist rest is also included, and while it's not spongy, it does provide a bit of support.

The Roccat Magma is a keyboard for gamers who prefer the soft, quiet, yet tactile feel of a membrane board and are content to have the entire board light up like a quest item. With its quirky lighting design choices, the board has a flashy, 80s retro aesthetic and is for enthusiasts who want to enjoy competitive gaming on the cheap. And while there are a few minor issues, such as inaccurate RGB colors and a stiff wrist rest, nothing that can't be overlooked from a price of $60 (£50).