I have to admit that I was not sure what to expect from Durgod because my only experience with the brand was at a trade show nearly two years ago wherein a lot of their products seemed nice, but clearly targeted the Asians markets. The representative attending their booth was not comfortable with English, and I left expecting nothing would come out of it as far as reviews and further coverage of the brand would go here. Then suddenly a different venue opened courtesy of Hong Kong Gaming, or HK-Gaming as they go by, which meant that a retailer with a vested interested in the Durgod brand also appreciated the bustling markets in the Americas and Europe.

So here we are then with another brand added to our review database, and one I have had several messages from readers about before, too. I can see why. The feature set of the Durgod x HK Venus might as well be a checklist from various enthusiast mechanical keyboard communities online: 60% form factor, aluminium chassis, PBT doubleshot keycaps, a ton of switch options across different vendors, onboard controls, backlighting, and a good price point. However, that last point is somewhat contentious as the price differential between switches is not nearly enough to justify a $40 spread, especially as there are only 61. So keep that mind, and also that the beta software driver can put a dampener on your experience, lest it affect your purchasing decision. With that having been said, the sample in the configuration with the Gateron Brown switches at $99.99 is well worth the recommendation for those in the market for a small form factor keyboard.