The best PC game controllers are a great alternative to using the best gaming mouse and best gaming keyboards. This is especially true if you grew up playing on consoles and made the switch to PC. These controllers will be a natural fit.
To test PC gamepads, we use Hardware Tester’s Gamepad Tester app to make sure there are no inherent issues with a controller’s joysticks or buttons. We also reviewed a variety of games on those controllers. That means you can rest easy knowing that we’ve put each and every device to the test.
Our current pick for the best PC game controller is GameSir Kaleid. This excellent pad may just be stressed, but that doesn’t matter, as it costs less than $50 and has Hall effect activators that are a joy to use. If you need the most productive budget PC platform, check out the HyperX Clutch Gladiate, which offers smart build quality and programmable rear buttons.
Whether you’re looking for a Pro controller or want something lighter on your wallet, our top picks for the best PC controllers will help you choose your next gamepad.
A sophisticated yet affordable pad that has rear paddles, hall effect sensors and hair triggers and ll for under 50 bucks. It looks fantastic and has a long cable to accommodate for couchplay. Its lightweight design also feels great.
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The HyperX Clutch Gladiate is a stressed controller that comes with a 10-foot cable. There are two programmable recoil buttons and they also block faster shots in FPS games.
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Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra is one of the most productive third-party professional controllers used. It may be expensive, but it uses high-quality parts such as Hall sensors and microswitch yettons. It also comes in a handy carrying case.
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The PowerA OPS V3 Pro is designed especially for PC. In the past, PowerA made stressed professional controllers that worked on both Xbox and PC. Losing Xbox support, it now offers two professional wireless controllers with the OPS v3 Pro and the less expensive OPS v1.
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A brilliantly modular “pro” controller that makes up for its minor shortcomings with a genuinely freeform approach to customization. Though it faces stiff competition in the PC market, it truly shines on PS4/PS5.
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The Razer Wolverine V3 Pro is a sleek, comfortable, and high-performance controller for Xbox and PC. It boasts Hall Effect thumbs and sticks and a premium build. It uses Razer’s mouse switches for the face actions, which are the real stars of the show.
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Our opinion:
The Xbox-oriented GameSir Kaleid improves on its predecessor, the T4 Kaleid, with a sleeker design, a longer included cable, and compatibility with Xbox Series X/S. Right now, it’s my pick for the most productive PC gaming controller. you can buy.
However, it’s not all updates and GameSir has incorporated the best features of the T4 into the new model, specifically its Hall effect sensors. These magnetic sensors allow you to customize the sensitivity of the joysticks and triggers using the GameSir Nexus app, giving you precise control of both.
The Kaleid also features microswitch buttons (although a slightly cheaper membrane button version is available, called the Kaleid Flux), which should stand up to the test of time, even under heavy use. And no advanced controller would be complete without rear paddles, which the Kaleid duly sports. Better yet, all of this comes for just $49, making the Kaleid a fantastic choice for Xbox and/or PC users on a budget.
The Kaleid is only stressed, so you want to connect it directly to your PC or console. It’s also very lightweight, which is possibly not your preference. However, these are minor insects and don’t do much to ruin this fantastic controller.
Read our full Gamesir Kaleid review.
Our opinion:
Unlike a console, when you play on your PC, you’re probably sitting at your desk. For this reason, many PC gamers prefer stressed controllers over wireless controllers. A stressed controller will have less latency and you may not have to worry about charging it. The HyperX Clutch Gladiate is the newest PC controller from PC accessory maker HyperX and packs plenty of pro-grade features for just $35.
On the backside of the HyperX Clutch Gladiate, you’ll find two remappable back buttons along with trigger locks. The back buttons are easy to program and you can configure what they do on the controller itself instead of having to download yet another app. The trigger locks may not have as many settings as the Elite Series 2 or other Pro-style controllers but they let you reduce how far you have to push the triggers down by half. The HyperX Clutch Gladiate is lightweight, and comfortable to hold and it also works on Xbox Series X/S.
Read our full review of the HyperX Clutch Gladiate.
Our opinion:
The Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra is a pro controller you will likely use for years. This is due to its anti-drift thumbsticks, microswitch buttons and the included hard-shell case for safer charging and storage.At $200, the Turtle Beach Steal Ultra is expensive. However, it’s in a league of its own among other pro controllers as it’s the only one that can connect to the Xbox Series X/S wirelessly, albeit with a dongle. While the Command Display in its center may seem like a gimmick, you can use it to fully customize the controller’s functionality, RGB lighting and fine-tune the audio coming from your headset, unlike with the OLED screen on the Asus ROG Rakiri Pro.
Based on our experience using the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra on both Xbox and PC, we wouldn’t be surprised if its release has pushed forward Microsoft’s plans for the inevitable Elite Series 3 controller. This controller may be expensive but you get what you pay for and then some. The Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra has earned its place among the best Xbox controllers as well as the best PC controllers and it will be interesting to see other controller manufacturers try to top it.
Read our full Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra review.
Our expert review:
At $100, the PowerA Ops V3 Pro is the perfect pro controller for PC gamers on a budget. It comes equipped with rubber grips, textured bumpers and triggers, tactical mechanical face buttons, six remappable buttons (four on the back, two on the top) and most importantly, Hall Effect thumbsticks and triggers to prevent stick drift and wear over time.
Like the TurtleBeach Steal Ultra which costs twice as much, the OPS V3 Pro comes with a magnetic charging stand that you can use on its own but it also has an extra USB slot for the included 2.4 GHz adapter. It also supports Bluetooth but many gamers prefer the low latency that you get when using a USB dongle instead. To keep the price down though, the OPS v3 Pro doesn’t come with a carrying case.
Another thing PowerA is known for is their Lumectra RGB lighting. These integrated RGB lighting fixtures wrap around the OPS V3 Pro and, as with the back buttons and two more remappable buttons on the top, you can configure the ler’s RGB lighting. using the LED button under the program on the back. Although there is also an application for your PC. You also get a 3-way cause lock on the back, but in our testing we found that it didn’t work consistently when set to the highest setting. Still, you get a lot of features in a sleek, pro-style computer for just $100 with the PowerA OPS v3 Pro.
Read our full PowerA Ops V3 Pro feature.
Our expert review:
The Victrix Pro BFG manages to deliver granular hardware-based customization for both PlayStation and PC, and will specifically appeal to competitive gamers for whom a lack of pleasant, if superfluous, touch and noise is possibly not a factor. of the DualSense Edge, but offers a more “professional” appeal than Sony’s premium PS5 controller.
Although most aspects of the Pro BFG are removable, it is not possible to purchase replacement analog sticks at the time of writing, unlike the DualSense Edge. Time will tell if the Pro BFG’s analog sticks are as prone to drift as the DualSense’s, but the lack of replacement parts turns out to be a missed opportunity.
The Victrix Pro BFG faces a tougher fest in the PC market, opposing recent heavyweights like the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra, which benefits from more tactile microswitches and drift-free Hall-effect analog sticks. But the Victrix Pro BFG’s battlefield and modularity will likely prove more useful to some players.
Overall, the Pro BFG’s appeal will vary by platform: for PC, it’s a more specialized tip that exclusively addresses its modularity. For the PS5, its long battery life, paddles, and modularity make it a much warmer tip.
Read our complete of the Victrix Pro BFG PDP.
Our expert review:
The Razer Wolverine V3 Pro is the ultimate premium controller for Xbox and PC. Just as comfortable and capable, Wolverine offers everything for players of other skill levels, with plenty of features you can customize. This is for other people who need another design of the popular Xbox controller that maintains the most productive aspects of this device.
The Wolverine V3 Pro features Hall effect triggers and joysticks, ensuring maximum functionality and durability. The premium construction, with its textured plastic and grippy texture on the back, not only looks wonderful, but also feels wonderful in your hands. Wolverine strikes the best balance between lightness and quality, especially compared to other third-party controllers we’ve tested.
The responsive switches work like a dream no matter what game you’re playing. In a fighting game like Guilty Gear Strive, we noticed an increased performance boost which gave us an edge in matches. The switches make you feel confident you’re hitting the right inputs for combos, making you feel more in control.
There are some drawbacks, however. Holding the controller might take some time to get used to due to the prominent back buttons that force you to hold the controller in a specific (and perhaps unnatural) way. The hefty $200 asking price is pretty extreme, even compared to other expensive “Pro” controllers.
But if the asking price doesn’t put you off, the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro is one of the most productive premium PC controllers on the market.
Read our full Razer Wolverine V3 Pro review.
8BitDo Pro 2: $34 at Amazon The 8BitDo Pro 2 is a wonderful pick if you’re coming from the PS5 or PS4 and need a PC gaming controller with symmetrical joysticks. However, it is also suitable for old-fashioned platforms and titles, as its D-pad and buttons are aligned.
GameSir G7 SE: $44 @ AmazonThe G7 SE is a great controller, featuring Hall Effect analog triggers and thumbsticks for a vital accuracy boost. Nifty back paddles and an impressive level of customization within the companion app put the gamepad ahead of first-party controllers. Keep in mind, though, that the controller is wired only, which is one of the few downsides versus the competition.
GameSir Tarantula Pro: $69 @ Amazon Featuring the newest TMR controller sensors, with a single rotary knob that literally works like a clock, GameSir Tarantula Pro leads the way when it comes to controllers for PC and Switch. The only thing holding the controller back is its smoothness. appearance, somewhat poor construction and confusing shortcuts than usability.
Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller – Core (White): $114 now $110 at Amazon All the great features of the original Xbox Elite Series 2 controller, without such a hefty price tag. You can skip all the extra components, but the Xbox Elite Series 2 Core Controller brings the same level of customization and adaptability, with an internal battery and rubber grip. All in a surprising two-tone design.
When it comes to picking the best PC game controller for you, a lot of factors come into play and there are a few questions you need to ask yourself first.
To begin with, do you surely want a wireless controller or would a worn-out controller be suitable?Similarly, do you prefer an official Microsoft driver, or are you willing to try a third-party driver?Finally, is an inventory controller right for you, or do you prefer a controller with “professional” features that you can customize?Whether or not you want back buttons or back paddles is another thing to consider. And two will be enough or do you want four to be able to remap all the buttons on your Controller’s face to them?
Once you’ve answered those questions and thought carefully about what type of controller is most productive for you, the next thing to consider is price. Controllers like the Xbox Series Elite 2 or DualSense Edge are much more expensive than the popular Xbox Wireless Controller, as well as third-party controllers from corporations like 8BitDo, GameSir, and HyperX.
At the same time, if joystick drift has been a challenge for you in the past, then you’ll want a controller with Hall effect joysticks like the GameSir T4 Kaleid or the 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth. Connectivity is another main concern, especially if you prefer a wireless controller. While Bluetooth would arguably be more convenient, it introduces a bit more lag than employing a controller that comes with a 2. 4 GHz USB dongle. However, if delay is something you’re really worried about, then wireframe will be your most productive bet.
Fortunately, there are plenty of other controllers on this list for all types of PC players and all types of budgets. We’re also reviewing new models and looking for other types of controllers to expand this list even further, so stay tuned.
When it comes to testing PC gaming controllers, we take a two-step approach.
First, we play with them ourselves and test them with a variety of games from other genres. This helps us figure out how each controller will hold up over time and whether a specific controller is more likely to stick. or other problems later. We also check all of its other connection features and see how well they work using a wireless or stressed connection or a USB dongle, if one exists.
From there, we used Hardware Tester’s controller tester to check for errors with the joysticks and buttons. If a controller manufacturer has its own customization software, we load it on one of the gaming PCs and see how intuitive it is to use. button remapping and other types of customization, such as turning dead zones into a controller’s joysticks. If there is no customization software available, we use systems like reWASD to check and do it ourselves.
To learn more, visit our How We Test Tom’s Guide page.
Tony is a computer editor at Tom’s Guide, covering laptops, tablets, Windows and iOS. In his free time, Tony enjoys reading comics, gambling on video games, reading speculative fiction novels, and spending way too much time on X/Twitter. His non-nerd activities include attending Hard Rock/Heavy Metal concerts and going to bars in New York with friends and painting buddies. His works have appeared in publications such as Laptop Mag, PC Mag, and indie gaming sites.
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