The best controllers for PC gaming in 2023

Finding the best controller for taking part in PC video games is a extra private journey than it sounds. It’s acquired to be comfy to make use of, with each button, stick, and set off simply in attain. It’s additionally vital that you simply’re getting the options you need. For instance, these may embrace simple setup on PC, good battery life, multi-platform compatibility, and accessibility choices, like the flexibility to remap buttons and alter stick or set off sensitivity.

At Polygon, we play video games on loads of consoles and platforms — each new and outdated. Our employees has all kinds of preferences and desires. We’ve come collectively to share our favourite PC-ready controllers.

Photo: Henry Hargreaves for Polygon

Microsoft Xbox controller

On the Polygon workforce, the Xbox controller acquired the best variety of endorsements of any controller. This speaks to its consolation and worth, and that Microsoft has launched sufficient colours to fulfill various tastes in design. It additionally helps that it’s normally round $50 (relying on the colour), and that it simply works with most PC video games. Regardless of the Windows PC recreation consumer, there aren’t any additional steps for setting it up.

Xbox wi-fi controller

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Compatible with PC, Steam Deck, Xbox, cell (Android/iOS) 

This controller is a refined model of Microsoft’s Xbox One wi-fi mannequin, with added texture round its grips, plus a seize button in the center. It can, after all, hook up with Xbox consoles, and to PCs which have Bluetooth. One universally optimistic change from the older model is that, if you wish to join by way of a cable for wired play, its connector port is the extra ubiquitous USB-C as a substitute of Micro USB. It additionally has a 3.5mm headphone jack for non-public listening, although it may possibly solely be used in case your controller is wired into your PC, not wirelessly.

Beyond PC compatibility, the Xbox controller boasts native compatibility on Steam Deck, plus current variations of Android and iOS. So, whether or not you have got a cellphone or pill, this controller can simply join by way of Bluetooth. A rising variety of cell video games assist it, too, and it really works like a attraction with the Xbox Game Pass recreation streaming app.

It can work on much more platforms if you are going to buy 8BitDo’s intelligent $19.99 USB Adapter 2. With it, you need to use the Xbox controller in your Nintendo Switch. In addition to Switch assist, this USB adapter helps you to simply join your Xbox controller to different units, like Mac, Raspberry Pi, and extra.

The greatest draw back to the Xbox controller may not hassle you: It requires two AA batteries, although on a optimistic observe, the battery life is across the 40-hour vary, relying on utilization. If you don’t need to change out batteries, we advocate this $44.99 8BitDo twin controller charging dock, which incorporates two rechargeable battery packs, sufficient for two controllers.

Image: Microsoft

Microsoft’s Xbox Elite Series 2 builds on the wonderful basis of Microsoft’s Xbox controller with options that fanatic players might respect. It options swappable stick caps and directional pads, adjustable pressure for its analog sticks, and customizable again paddles. It additionally ships in a pleasant zip-up case. If you need extra buttons and tweakable settings in a controller, this may be price its $178.99 worth. This mannequin is suitable with Xbox and PC.

If you don’t want the entire additional equipment that include the Elite Series 2, Microsoft makes a less expensive Elite Series 2 Core. If you determine afterward that you really want the paddles, zip-up case, and swappable sticks, you should purchase this third-party package on Amazon for $22.99.

Photo: Henry Hargreaves for Polygon

Sony DualSense controller

There’s one other slice of our employees who swear by Sony’s DualSense, a contemporary controller that retains the symmetrical analog stick association that PlayStation controllers are identified for. Compared on to the Xbox controller, the DualSense has related ranges of compatibility (each are suitable with Android and iOS, and have built-in Bluetooth for assist on PC). However, the DualSense does have key variations, in addition to just a few perks that assist to justify its larger $69.99 worth.

In phrases of utilizing the DualSense on a PC, it’s potential to do, nevertheless it’s a bit of sophisticated. It can join by way of Bluetooth for a wi-fi connection, however video games that don’t assist the DirectInput controller API doubtless received’t acknowledge it as a controller. Plugging the controller into your PC may clear up that difficulty, however there are different methods to get round this barrier if taking part in wirelessly is vital to you.

One is to depend on Steam, which helps the DualSense controller with its SteamInput API. That makes Sony’s controller a first-class citizen in the eyes of Steam, proper subsequent to the Xbox controller, and loads of video games ought to supply no-fuss DualSense assist.

If you have got PC video games that you simply need to play on different providers, like PC Game Pass, Epic Games Store, and extra, you may expertise some middling compatibility with the DualSense. However, including them as a “non-Steam game” inside Steam can clear up for this. To do that, click on the “Add a Game” possibility in the underside left nook of the Steam consumer, then discover the executable file (.exe) in your storage.

To get round utilizing Steam totally, you’ll be able to obtain an app known as DS4Windows together with some drivers, which ensures recreation compatibility on PC by emulating the DualSense as an Xbox controller. The app provides you a number of settings to customise the DualSense’s button mapping, if you want. And, in case you need to go down the rabbit gap of determining which PC video games assist the DualSense’s haptics and adaptive set off options (and the steps to getting them to work), the positioning PCGamingWiki has you lined.

The DualSense is the official controller for the PS5. In video games that assist its options, it may possibly have realistic-feeling haptic suggestions and gyroscopic movement controls, and its triggers can present pressure to make sure actions really feel extra practical. There’s no higher controller for the PS5 than this one. It’s a great controller for utilizing PS Remote Play, too. When it’s linked to an Android machine for a PS Remote Play session, the DualSense helps adaptive triggers in video games that benefit from the function.

8BitDo’s $19.99 USB Adapter 2 additionally works completely with the DualSense, letting you play video games in your Switch with it as soon as it’s paired. I most well-liked to play Splatoon 3 with my PS5 controller’s analog stick association. Heck, it even helps gyroscopic digital camera motion, identical to the official Switch controllers.

Image: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Just like Microsoft, Sony additionally has its personal pro-grade controller. It’s the $199.99 DualSense Edge, which is suitable with the PS5. It’s tempting to name out its similarities to the Xbox Elite Series 2, of which there are a lot, nevertheless it’s extra useful to talk about the way it differs. For one, its stick modules may be changed totally — a transfer that makes the DualSense Edge a bit of extra user-repairable. Also, the PS5’s interface for the Edge is intuitive, and it makes remapping controls and setting schemes the breeze that it must be.

While the Edge is suitable on PC, Sony and Steam haven’t developed drivers that allow players take full benefit of its again paddles and swappable management schemes.

Nintendo Switch Pro controller

The Switch Pro controller is one other employees favourite. If it’s an incredible Nintendo Switch and PC controller you’re after, that is the top in phrases of consolation, sturdiness, battery life, and different Switch-specific extras, however we’ll get to these a bit of later.

The Switch Pro controller can be utilized to play PC video games. But just like the DualSense, it’s not a plug-and-play affair until you actually plug it in by way of USB. To use it wirelessly, working Steam will help you out, because it formally helps the Switch Pro controller. Adding non-Steam video games to your Steam library is a intelligent manner to make sure compatibility for video games that assist controllers. Again, you are able to do that by clicking the “Add a Game” possibility on the underside left nook in the Steam consumer.

Alternatively, in case you don’t need to use Steam to play your video games, counting on DS4Windows and its bevy of drivers is a free but barely superior method to make Windows acknowledge your Switch Pro wi-fi controller. Of course, that $19.99 8BitDo USB Adapter 2 that I hold referencing can come in helpful right here, too. After plugging it into your PC and tethering wirelessly to it, you’re good to go — no fussing with apps required.

The Switch Pro controller is, unsurprisingly, a unbelievable Switch controller. Like the Joy-Cons, it helps movement controls, HD rumble for extra refined, correct jolts of haptic suggestions in video games, and amiibo connectivity to redeem in-game perks in a number of video games, together with the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

This may appear small, nevertheless it stands out as being one of some wi-fi Switch controllers in existence that may wake the console remotely by holding down its residence button. Many require you to manually activate the console, which is usually a minor annoyance.

Image: 8BitDo

8BitDo Ultimate 2.4g controller

8BitDo has launched loads of controllers in current years, however the identify for its Ultimate controller is becoming. It has lots of the options from its best gamepads, plus some extras that ought to settle any sticker shock related to its $49.99 worth.

For starters, its asymmetrical analog stick format, general form, and face button labels ought to really feel proper at residence for individuals who love the form of the Xbox controller. All of the buttons, triggers, and sticks really feel simply nearly as good to make use of as any trendy controller from a console producer.

Like a number of different 8BitDo controllers, this one may be completely personalized with its Ultimate software program on cell units, or on PC. From there, you’ll be able to remap controls, assign buttons to its two rear paddle buttons, tweak the actuation sensitivity of its triggers, and alter stick settings. The controller permits as much as three customized management schemes, which you’ll be able to swap between with its center “star” button.

The Ultimate controller ships with a charging dock, and nesting inside that dock is a 2.4 GHz transmitter that makes it quick and straightforward to connect with a PC. The dock makes for a handy method to cost the controller, and you’ll swap between DirectInput and XInput through the use of a swap on its again, relying on the necessities of every PC recreation.

8BitDo makes a pricier model of this controller with Nintendo-style face buttons known as the Ultimate Bluetooth. They’re just about similar, and it may possibly work by way of 2.4 GHz with PC, too. However, its greatest profit is its Gulikit Hall impact analog sticks, that are proof against creating drift over time by design. By comparability, the potentiometer-based sticks used in the Ultimate 2.4g (and the entire different controllers talked about up to now) bear no such assure. There’s a chance you could by no means expertise the problem firsthand, however the anti-drifting sticks alone may be a cause for some to contemplate shopping for the Ultimate Bluetooth.

The Ultimate Bluetooth is analogous in loads of methods to Nintendo’s Switch Pro controller, with its movement management assist, rechargeable battery, and Nintendo-style face button format. However, it doesn’t have all of the identical options. For occasion, it doesn’t assist NFC, so you’ll be able to’t faucet an amiibo on it, and its haptics aren’t as much as par with Nintendo’s. However, it’s one of some third-party Switch controllers that may wake your console from sleep. If it’s paired, press the house button, then shake the controller to awaken the Switch.

Update (Aug. 3): Checked costs and hyperlinks for accuracy.