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The 5 Best PC Gaming Controllers for | Reviews by Wirecutter - TL;DR – These are the Best PC Controllers: |
Game controller for pc. The best PC game controllers in 2022
Not updating a controller can cause compatibility and sensitivity problems, a nightmare for any gamer. Wired controllers can update automatically or manually using the Device Manager , but Bluetooth controllers have to be plugged into a computer to download software updates. The software used to configure a Bluetooth controller is the same one that organizes the updates. When the controller is plugged in, it will search for updates automatically, but there should also be an option to check manually.
The lighting can even react to information coming in from some games, or you can just use it to express your style. It has gripped texture around the handles so you can keep a firm hold on it.
The thumbstick caps are swappable for your desired feel, while four buttons on the underside, a pair of extra shoulder buttons, and hair-trigger locks provide ample flexibility. If you play a good deal of arcade or fighting games, you've got a case to pick up a fight stick instead of a standard controller. The quick actuation of fight stick buttons and the precise control over a joystick give a huge advantage in fighting games. It offers no-fuss working with your PC, as it has all the same buttons as an Xbox controller.
You can also minimize the cables running between you and your PC, as it's simple to connect a gaming headset to the fight stick. Controls to mute your mic and turn audio on are even on the controller itself. The Hori Fighting Stick Alpha is also ready to take to tournaments without the worry of accidentally getting disqualified, thanks to a Key Lock mode.
Modders also get a lot from this stick, as the case and faceplate are both easily opened to swap out components or artwork. Of course, if you don't want to mod, you'll enjoy the high-quality Hori Hayabusa joystick and buttons that come stock. PCs are the place to experience simulation racing games. This platform not only allows you to connect multiple displays and ultrawide screens for the ultimate immersive experience, but they are also the place for some very serious — and sometimes seriously obscure —racing games.
This direct drive racing wheel connects a large motor right to the steering wheel, allowing for much better control and force feedback.
To complete this ultimate PC racing wheel setup is a steel two-pedal set. It is unsurprising that the Xbox controller tops the list here, but you've actually got a couple of options depending on whether your laptop or PC is Bluetooth enabled.
But, if you want to consider all your options, here are the best PC controllers available in the UK. Don't see the controllers below? Click here. While playing PC games with a controller might seem like sacrilege against everything that is right in the church of keyboard and mouse, you shouldn't care about what other people think about the way you play PC games.
After all, PC gaming is just as much about playing games that their best possible quality, experience games at ultrawide and super-wide aspect ratios unobtainable on the consoles, or just having the highest, silkiest frame rate possible.
How you get to play that experience is up to you, and if you're like us, sometimes you rather just sit back with a controller than constantly lean over your desk's keyboard and mouse.
This can be especially true if you happen to be playing games on a big-screen gaming TV on your couch. While there are lapboards to bring the true PC gaming experience to your living room, controllers are great for keeping things casual and comfortable.
Follow him on Twitter baggingspam. Best PC Controller Select Xbox Adaptive Controller for more information. Experience every turn and burnout like never before this award-winning racing wheel Prepare for take-off with this comprehensive flight simulator officially licensed for Talk to an expert.
Need help? TechRadar Game-changing stories. North America. Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller. Specifications Connectivity: Wired, Bluetooth. Features: Textured grip, 3. Reasons to avoid - Not very many features.
Microsoft Xbox Elite Wireless Controller. Specifications Connectivity: Wired, Wireless via adapter. Features: Interchangeable components, haptic rumble, 3.
Reasons to avoid - Very expensive. Logitech F Specifications Connectivity: Wired. Features: Programmable buttons, DirectInput switch for use with older and modern games. Reasons to avoid - A bit small. Sony DualShock 4. Specifications Connectivity: Wireless. Features: 3. Reasons to avoid - Exposed shoulder buttons.
The best PC controller | PC Gamer - Best PC controller
The best PC controller is something every PC gamer should include in their setup. And while the best gaming mouse opens in new tab , when combined with the best gaming keyboard opens in new tab will keep you going for the most part, so many genres call for one of the best game controllers for PC.
Games with certain control schemes are just better suited to a controller, such as Elden Ring with it's half-assed mouse and keyboard controls opens in new tab.
Driving games are the big one, as most keyboards don't offer pressure sensitive keyswitches, so an analog stick is your best bet for accurate movement. Some games that have been ported from console to PC end up with a monumentally confusing control systems, so join the best gamepad club is the way to go for those. And while you might begrudge the fact, sometimes a controller is simply the best tool for the job. This is true even for games held to be PC classics. The Witcher 3 opens in new tab , for example, actually has a far more straightforward control system when played with the best PC controller.
Just think, with the best PC controller in hand you can sit back, relax, and get into a chilled gaming session, rather than hunching over the keyboard and ruining your posture. We've tested a good deal of today's top console controllers and PC controllers to find out which ones are worth cheating on your trusty keyboard and mouse with. If you use the Microsoft Elite Series 2 controller for more than ten minutes, you'll understand why we have it at the number one spot.
Everything about the Series 2 screams luxury. The near-endless customization options give you an unparalleled level of control pun intended over your gameplay. Being able to tweak all aspects of the controller, like d-pads, shift paddles, and joystick tension, is an absolute godsend. The most significant changes in the Series 2 over the Series 1 which we also loved include a neat little carrying case that doubles as a portable USB Type-C powered charging station for the controller's new rechargeable battery, which has around 40 hours of juice.
Finally, with project Xcloud and Apple Arcade bringing some great games to mobile devices, you can easily pair the Series 2 controller via Bluetooth.
It comes with a bunch of custom bits: 6 thumbsticks, 2 d-pads cross-shaped and faceted 4 rear pedals and one tool for adjustable thumbstick tension. It makes the controller that much more versatile, which is essential given the high price of admission. The returning hair-trigger locks are still among one of my favorite things about the Elite. The four additional back paddles are a neat feature too and can make for some interesting controller layouts.
Never want to take your thumbs off of the thumbsticks? Simply assign the face buttons to the back paddles and you're good to go. In fact, the extreme flexibility of the Series 2 has the additional benefit of making the controller highly accessible, meaning that more people can use it to play PC games. Some people might find the more hefty controller a bit jarring at first since it's heavier than the standard Xbox One controller by a few ounces. And while it's nice to swap out the standard d-pad, both the cross and faceted alternative d-pads take some getting used to especially in fighting games like Dragonball FighterZ or Mortal Kombat PowerA's Spectra Infinity Enhanced wired controller is a step up over the Spectra Enhanced we used to rate in this guide.
The latest version has more similarities to the Xbox Series X S controller, not too surprising since the Spectra is an official Xbox license product, though it has notably more bright lights. It's a pretty swanky controller nowadays, considering its budget price. I compared the Spectra and an official Xbox One controller while playing all the usual suspects like Call of Duty: Warzone and Mortal Kombat 11, and found that the joysticks are almost the same amount of tension and even the face buttons had similar feel when you pressed down on them.
The button layout is nearly identical to an Xbox One controller, even down to the same texturized rubber on the joysticks, and the two extra programmable buttons in the back of the controller are well placed right around the grip. The Spectra would have scored higher, but the lack of any wireless connectivity is a big let down in the days of untethered gaming. Instead, it comes with a 10ft snap-lock detachable micro-USB cable that's a little overkill for playing at a desk, but great if you're using it in the living room.
This controller retains a lot of what we loved about the original. Keeping it very comfortable overall design with texturized rubber grips makes you feel extremely great in your hands. Much like the original, it boasts a vastly superior d-pad that you won't dread using in fighting games and platformers, taking cues from the Xbox One Elite Series controllers.
You might have noticed a new button in the center of the controller; a much-requested Share button now lets you capture screenshots and gameplay footage without diving too much into the menus. And now it's practically standard fare for console transplants deterred by the learning curve mouse and keyboard gaming presents. Best gaming laptop opens in new tab Best gaming monitor opens in new tab Best gaming headset opens in new tab Best wireless gaming headset opens in new tab Best computer speakers opens in new tab Best capture card opens in new tab.
The PlayStation 5 opens in new tab DualSense has a "you have to touch it to believe it" quality thanks to its new haptic motors and "Adaptive" triggers, which can offer resistance under your finger. Firing a bow can actually feel like firing a bow, for example. The rumble is also easily the best and most nuanced we've ever felt in a controller.
It really is as good as people say. The bad news: the DualSense's most advanced features don't work in PC games yet, since games will need to be programmed to take advantage of them. But Steam already offers full support for the controller, so it's at least a breeze to plug in and use like any other pad.
It's a hair less comfortable than the Xbox Series X controller, and not as simple to use in non-Steam games, but if you prefer Sony's analog stick layout or love gyro aiming, this is the one to get.
Scuf doesn't mess around with its controllers, offering some of the best premium pads outside of Sony and Microsoft. And the Instinct Pro is the absolute best Microsoft-focused pad controller should you wish to eschew the two big bois of the console world. But when the Elite Series 2 opens in new tab exists in the world, how does anyone else compete in the enthusiast controller space.
There are more customisation options on offer with the Instinct Pro than with pretty much any other pad you could name. Scuf is offering a huge variety of different cosmetic and physical customisation options from the initial store page. The faceplate options, and the rings around the thumbsticks, are the most obvious, but you also get to pick your choice of actual thumbsticks in terms of length and topper convex or concave.
There are also options to change the D-pad, button facades, as well as the styling of both the bumpers and the triggers. Interestingly, there is also the option to remove the rumble motors from inside the controller which is something you'll often find the pros end up removing from their tournament controllers, to cut down on the inherent distraction of hand-wobble. But did create a gloriously pink pad without the distraction of rumble packs. Obviously aside from the faceplate, rings, and mute button on the front.
The thumbsticks are reassuringly solid and responsive during gaming a session. Hammering the sticks with quick switches of direction in a twitch game haven't had an impact on the pad, and they still feel smooth and accurate when you're in something less fast-paced. The triggers have a pleasing action, too, maybe not quite so deep as the Elite, but still just as accurate. The rest of the button-feel is robust and reassuringly clicky too, though I would say the hair-trigger mode feels a little too shallow for my tastes.
But I can see where some folk might prefer it, so I'm not going to count that as anything more than personal choice, not a negative. The ability to swap in a fresh pair of batteries mid-tournament is potentially a selling point, and lithium ion batteries are meant to have a finite shelf life. Though it's not something I've ever experienced with my Elite pad in the past few years of use.
Either way, it's a fantastic controller that feels great in the hand and is as responsive as you could wish for. It's just painfully pricey with all my chosen greebles. Read our full Scuf Instinct Pro review opens in new tab. Razer's Wolverine Ultimate could very well be the best gamepad available today, save for one critical disqualifying factor: it can't connect to a PC wirelessly.
The Xbox-style gamepad offers many of the same luxury features as the Xbox One Elite Wireless Controller, like a swappable d-pad and customizable back paddles. It's also nearly the same price, which begs the question: why not just buy one of those instead? Well, it's not for everyone, but the Wolverine Ultimate does have its fair share of unique, downright enticing features. For starters, the face buttons—the ones labeled A, B, X, and Y—click like mouse buttons.
This seemingly minuscule detail makes a world of difference. It's like using nothing but membrane keyboards your whole life and then making a move to mechanical switches. So while the enclosed foot braided micro USB cable takes some getting used to, tactile button presses are a worthy trade-off. Of course, no Razer product would be complete without a healthy dose of Chroma, the three-headed green snake company's signature brand of RGB lighting.
However, rather than integrating it into the existing Synapse 3 app for Windows, Razer decided to develop an app specifically for Xbox One. So if you do plan on using this controller for your PC, bear in mind you'll need a separate app to configure it. The short answer is yes. The slightly longer answer is that you might need to perform a little fiddling the first time you set it up—although after that it will just be a case of plugging it in.
This might seem like an utterly offensive question to ask in the annals of PC Gamer, but it remains true that certain PC games are far better played with a controller than with the classic keyboard and mouse combo.
But there are other titles, specifically those which were primarily designed for consoles whose control schemes are so unwieldy away from a pad that playing them any other way is a pain. You could play Witcher 2 without a controller, for example, but it actually felt far better using a pad on PC.
Ignore those who seem to think every game is best with a mouse and keyboard. Assassins Creed Valhalla is not best played with a keyboard. Street Fighter 5 is not best played with a keyboard.
True, we play most games with a mouse and keyboard, but for PC gamers with ranging tastes, a good controller is a must. Though I've done some testing with first-person shooters, I've largely ignored the genre. While it may be necessary for console gamers, we're almost always going to use WASD for any kind of shooter. With that in mind, the games I used mainly for testing are the ones mentioned below:.
Street Fighter V: I've put a lot of hours into Street Fighter V with both controllers and fight sticks, so I know how it ought to feel. If I can't crush an AI opponent as Ken, something isn't right. Forza Motorsport: I chose Forza primarily to test the analog sticks, which according to my preferences, need three qualities: springy enough to quickly snap back to center, sensitive and resistant sufficient to make slight steering adjustments, and comfortably contoured.
Hence, my thumbs aren't bloody stumps at the end of a few hours. He built his first gaming PC at the tender age of 16, and finally finished bug-fixing the Cyrix-based system around a year later. When he dropped it out of the window. Now he's back, writing about the nightmarish graphics card market, CPUs with more cores than sense, gaming laptops hotter than the sun, and SSDs more capacious than a Cybertruck.
Image 1 of 5. Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2. Specifications Weight: 0. Features: 3-step trigger modes, replaceable thumbsticks, paddle switches.
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