The best PC controller for gaming in 2024

Do you want to get the best PC controller for gaming? You’ve come to the right place. Here we’ve listed the best controllers money can buy to augment your PC gaming experience.

Finding the perfect gaming controller is a must-have accessory for a gamer. Your mileage may vary, but compared to a gaming keyboard and a mouse, a controller offers better ergonomics, and the tactile feedback of a vibration motor adds to the overall gaming experience.

With the plethora of controllers available, including wired, wireless, and 2.4GHz, there is absolutely no excuse for not having a controller paired with your gaming PC.

A gaming controller on your PC can have dedicated keys for specific tasks making it easy to score every time you play an FPS shooter game. Moreover, using a controller also means being able to fully relax in your gaming chair or a comfortable couch after a long day at work.

With a new generation of Pro controllers, differences in D-pads, and an array of button layouts and configurations, there’s a wealth of PC controllers to choose from.

It’s worth exploring the latest recommendations for the best controllers available.

1. 8Bitdo Ultimate Controller

Dexerto

• Connectivity: USB-C, Wireless (Bluetooth), 2.4Ghz
• Battery life: 30 hours
• Weight: 330g
• Price: $69.99
• Features: Hall-sensing analog sticks, back buttons, programmable macro, included charging dock

8BitDo has been around for a while now, and we think that their latest Ultimate Controller is one of the best pads you can buy, namely because it uses hall-sensing analog sticks, and also comes with a charging dock. It works with Nintendo Switch, PCs, and anything that supports 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth, too.

You also get two extra buttons on the back, in addition to heaps of macro functions that will make this controller one of the best ones you can buy. Coming in at around $70, it’s really difficult to beat the 8BitDo Ultimate Controller on value pretty much anywhere else. Be sure to check out our review for more.

2. Nacon Revolution 5 Pro

Dexerto

• Connectivity: USB-C, 2.4 GHz Wireless
• Battery: 10 hours
• Input latency: 6ms (wireless), 4ms (wired)
• Price: $199.90
• Features: Two-stage trigger stop, wireless Bluetooth 5.2, onboard audio mixing, swappable stick caps, additional weights, hall-effect sticks & triggers, included carrying case.

The Nacon Revolution 5 Pro has almost everything you could want out of a controller. It feels fantastic in your hand and oozes a premium build quality. Thanks to everything you get in the box, including a carrying case and cleaning cloth, there’s ample space to store away all of your extras, too.

In our review, we iterated that its long-lasting hall sensor sticks and an avalanche of features make it one of the best controllers we have ever used. The sticks are also fully customizable with additional caps that come in the box, in addition to stick widths, and it all works completely seamlessly.

3. Scuf Envision Pro

Dexerto

• Connectivity: USB-C; 2.4 GHz Wireless
• Price: $179.99 
• Features: hybrid adjustable triggers, exchangeable thumbsticks, reprogrammable paddles, microswitch D-pad, microswitch face buttons, G-key Windows shortcut bar

The Scuf Envision Pro shares design cues from both the Xbox Wireless Controller’s D-pad and face buttons, but opts for an ergonomic shape and similar stick placement to that of the Sony DualSense. While it borrows a lot from other top-end controllers, its performance can easily outclass them all.

In our review, we noted that the microswitch-enabled D-pad and face buttons provided a level of immediacy and precision unlike other controllers we’ve gotten our hands on. The ability to assign dedicated profiles to the controller makes the Scuf Envision Pro perfect for fighting games.

4. GameSir T4 Kaleid

• Connectivity: USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack
• Price: $47.99
• Features: Dual programmable buttons, dual rumble motors, gyroscope, hall-sensing analog sticks, turbo function, dedicated software app

Considering the price of the controller, it’s difficult to go wrong with the GameSir T4 Kaleid. The controller is flush with features, thanks to its back buttons and RGB implementation. You cannot really refute the value that the controller offers.

In our review, we noted that while you will be making a compromise with a wire, the controller itself feels and looks fantastic, and we think that the more high-profile manufacturers should put more effort into creating controllers that are built to stand the test of time, as the T4 Kaleid is built to do.

5. Xbox Wireless Controller

Microsoft

• Connectivity: USB-C
• Weight: 275g
• Price: $59.99
• Features: Textured grip, dedicated share button

Look, you really can’t go wrong with the Xbox wireless controller for use on the PC. While it is the default controller for Xbox X/S consoles, being designed by Microsoft makes it perfect for the PC. It’s no surprise many third-party controllers take after its button placement and overall iconic design.

As the most modern iteration of the Xbox controller, it works well, feels even nicer than the Xbox One controller, and you’ll be able to make it work with just about everything. It’s a no-frills, straightforward experience.

Should you use a controller for PC gaming?

While a keyboard and mouse are more than enough for most PC games, some more console-focused ports and titles feel much better using a controller. Older ports of console titles might also require a controller, so you should use a controller for PC gaming in some titles.

Moreover, thanks to their wireless connectivity, most modern game controllers offer a tangle-free experience. This also allows you to pair these controllers with devices like your phones and tablets.

With native support on Windows, getting a controller is a game changer. Some even have extra customizable options that you might not have even dreamed of yet, like hall-sensing analogs, paddle buttons, and even RGB lighting.

What makes a good game controller?

The main elements to look for when getting yourself a brand-new PC controller are the quality of the buttons, triggers, and sticks. They should be the main things that you look for ahead of anything else. A controller is no good is the buttons are mushy, the triggers don’t feel good and the sticks wobble all over the shop.

You should also look at the controller’s features, does it support X-Input? Does it have support for multiple consoles? Does it have features like additional paddles or macros? These are all important factors that you need to take into consideration when you pick up a brand-new game controller.

Why is my controller drifting?

Usually, most manufacturers use a stick from a company named ALPS. These sticks use something named a potentiometer, which measures and reports a position to your controller.

There is a physical element inside a potentiometer named a wiper that reads the voltage and therefore the position of your stick. The issue arises when these physical elements break down, thus creating the issue of drift. The wiper can alter the voltage readings if damaged, and therefore the reporting becomes inconsistent, making your controller drift. Additionally, other elements like dust or other elements can cause the stick to drift.

The only way around this is to use something named a hall-sensing stick, which relies on magnetism, instead of a physical potentiometer that wears over time, causing drift issues. Every controller, except for the Gulikit King Kong Pro 2 controller, and the Dreamcast controller from twenty years ago can suffer from stick drift.

The only way around this is to replace the stick itself. No amount of software solutions, as we saw in the Nacon Revolution X Pro, will manage to fix it.

Also, make sure to check out our other guides:

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