Best PC controllers: Recommendations for every gamer

It’s hard to find fault with the current-gen Xbox controller, which was released in 2020. Microsoft’s Xbox Series X/S update to the iconic gamepad added several long-overdue features, including Bluetooth connectivity, a USB-C port, and a dedicated share button. It has the standard asymmetrical thumbsticks we see on other Xbox-style gamepads. They’re smooth and accurate in our testing, but 8BitDo’s Hall-effect sticks are likely to last longer.

The Xbox controller retails for $60, but it’s regularly on sale for $50 or less if you don’t demand one of the fancy colors or elaborate skins. That price doesn’t include a battery—this controller still takes two AA batteries. However, that’s enough juice for 25 to 30 hours of gameplay. Microsoft’s add-on battery pack is $25, but third-party versions are as little as $10, and that’s worth the price.

Microsoft’s controller might not have a ton of bells and whistles like the Elite controllers or the 8BitDo Ultimate below, but the matte plastic body is sturdy, and we appreciate the microdot texture on the grips that make it less slippery in the hand. The more tactile, dish-shaped d-pad is a nice upgrade over most other controllers, too.

What really makes the Xbox Controller the best overall PC controller is simply that it works with everything. If a game has controller support on PC, it will understand the Xbox Controller without any coaxing. It also has a huge accessory ecosystem, offering docks, phone mounts, and more.

8BitDo made its name with retro-styled budget gamepads, but its Ultimate series controllers are worthy of even the most intense AAA games. The Ultimate Bluetooth Controller, as the name implies, has Bluetooth for use with smartphones and the Nintendo Switch. There’s a 2.4GHz mode that works better with PCs, and it comes with the necessary 2.4GHz receiver inside the included charging dock. It also has a USB-C port if you don’t have the dock handy or prefer wired gameplay.

The 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller is slightly smaller and lighter than the Xbox controller (with batteries), but it feels very solidly constructed. We also appreciate the Hall-effect thumbsticks, which use contactless magnets instead of the potentiometers in most controllers. Thumbsticks are often the first component to go, causing the input to “drift” during gameplay. This won’t happen with Hall-effect sensors in the 8BitDo Ultimate.

That’s not the only advanced feature—the 8BitDo gamepad also has rear-facing paddle buttons, which you can assign controls or even macros using the 8BitDo Ultimate software. The interface is a little confusing at times, but it gives you full control over button mapping, thumbstick active areas, vibration intensity, and more.

The internal battery is good for at least 18 hours of gameplay (8BitDo claims two hours), so you don’t have to buy a separate battery or burn through AAs like the stock Xbox controller. The only problem for PC gamers will be the ABXY button layout, which follows the Nintendo Switch design. It’ll take some time to adjust if you’re moving from an Xbox controller. 

If Sony’s DualSense controller were fully supported in Windows, it would be the hands-down winner. While we cannot give it a full-throated endorsement—call it an honorable mention—the DualSense has its place in PC gaming. It’s a little more expensive than the Xbox controller, but the $70 DualSense feels great in the hand, looks slick, and it makes Sony games more immersive with myriad high-end features.

The DualSense has a symmetrical layout compared to the Xbox controller, which has one thumbstick higher than the other. The buttons and d-pad don’t exhibit any wobble, and the press is solidly tactile. In our testing, the DualSense layout is more comfortable, but the trademark shape buttons won’t match the controls in non-Sony games. However, functions will map to the same button locations as they would on an Xbox controller.

The PlayStation 5’s controller works as a generic wireless Bluetooth controller in Windows, but you’ll have to connect it over USB for the best experience (we tested USB C-to-C and C-to-A cables successfully). That allows games optimized for the DualSense to access its advanced hardware features. Sony has ported a dozen popular PS5 games on PC so far, and it plans to continue doing so.

When paired with an optimized game, the DualSense can leverage all its awesome custom features, including haptic feedback so precise it can simulate the feeling of raindrops. The tension in the triggers also adjusts based on what’s happening in the game (e.g. firing a bow feels physically different than firing a gun), and it’s used extensively in Sony’s games. There’s even a speaker that plays select game audio to further immersion. If you want to get the most from popular titles like Spider-Man, God of War, and Returnal, the DualSense is a must-have. Altogether, Sony and other developers have enabled DualSense features on about 30 titles, with more on the way.

The DualSense has a built-in battery that’s good for about seven or eight hours. We like the integrated solution versus Microsoft’s continued reliance on AA batteries, but the DualSense goes dead a bit too fast. Still, that only matters if you’re using it in Bluetooth mode.