The Xbox controller for PC, as well as gamepads from Razer, PlayStation, and Nintendo, as well as a Thrustmaster steering wheel, were all put to the test. Nothing compares to the feeling of holding the best PC controllers in your hands. The benefits of the best gaming keyboard and mouse settings are undeniable, but utilizing keys and mouse to play Dark Souls will make you look for a different PC controller. The best first-person shooters do not require gamepads, while RPGs like Elden Ring demand dexterous fingers and thumbs. Fortunately, connecting your gaming PC to a palm companion has never been simpler, and the majority of options are already Windows 11 compatible.
Naturally, the finest PC controller isn’t limited to Xbox-type gamepads; if you like the greatest racing games, you can also use professional wheels and pedals. Use a flight stick to turn your gaming desk into a cockpit if you’d rather soar to the skies with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2021. Your graphics card fans may even make it sound like you’re about to take off. It’s important to note that most console controllers are now PC compatible, which makes sense given the popularity of Xbox Game Pass and new projects like PlayStation PC.
Best PC controllers in 2022
Are you a PC gamer and want to have the maximum gaming experience? Businesscrunch experts bring you the list of the best PC controllers available right now.
1. Microsoft Xbox Wireless controller
The Microsoft Xbox Wireless is the greatest controller for a computer. Microsoft’s most recent attempt to improve the standard gamepad included with the Xbox Series X and Series S is the Xbox Wireless Controller. Apart from omitting the console-specific branding from its name, it might not look all that different from its predecessors, but four versions after the original Xbox One edition, there have been lots of modifications that have made this the preferred gamepad for gaming PCs. Additionally, it looks excellent when it is positioned next to you on the finest gaming desk.
2. Thrustmaster Eswap Pro X
The Thrustmaster Eswap Pro X is the top thumbstick controller. The Swap Pro X from Thrustmaster is a quality gamepad in and of itself, but its modular construction makes it one of the most adaptable gadgets on this list. Due to the ease of moving the d-pad and thumbstick, it’s also a perfect option for gamers who favor the parallel controller layout of the PlayStation. These magnetic modules are not only of good quality, but if they ever need to be replaced, you won’t need to be a gamepad surgeon.
3. PlayStation 5 Dualsense
The Dualsense from the PlayStation 5 is the best PC controller for immersion. Despite being a relative newbie to the gamepad world, Sony’s Dualshock 4 successor is already demonstrating promise in terms of controller immersion. Adaptive trigger support is available in PC games like Call of Duty: Cold War, Far Cry 6, Metro Exodus, and Deathloop, and as the firm grows its PlayStation PC presence, more are sure to follow.
4. Nintendo Switch Pro controller
The Nintendo Switch Pro is the greatest substitute PC controller. The Nintendo Switch Pro was created just for the little console, but it has its own Steam profile and can be connected to your gaming PC either wirelessly over Bluetooth or, if you want to get set up in Steam, via a USB-C cord. It’s hardly surprising that the Switch Pro controller continues Nintendo’s gamepad tradition since the company invented the d-pad in 1985.
5. Microsoft Xbox One Elite Series 2
The Xbox One Elite Series 2 is the greatest premium controller for PC. Although spending this much money on a joypad may seem absurd, the Elite Series 2 is a stunning controller. Nearly every aspect of it has been created to shout “QUALITY!” in your face. The new Elite contains everything we loved about the original as well as everything the competition has added to their high-end pads to try to compete, so it’s more of an evolution than a revolution.
6. Nacon Revolution Unlimited
The Nacon Revolution Unlimited is the top hybrid PC controller. The Xbox One Elite controller from Microsoft has been imitated by numerous companies, but very few have been able to match its combination of high build quality and extreme customization. The Xbox asymmetrical arrangement is combined with the outstanding PlayStation thumbsticks and touchpad on Nacon’s pad, which is successful in both areas.
7. Razer Wolverine Ultimate
The Razer Wolverine Ultimate is the top paddle controller for computers. If you want additional paddles that let you multitask in games without taking your thumbs off the thumbsticks, such as jumping while aiming in Call of Duty: Black Ops – Cold War, you should consider this Xbox and PC-compatible controller from Razer. It has a pair of customizable paddle switches on the back and triggers with a “hair-trigger mode” to shorten their travel distance before activation.
8. Razer Wolverine Tournament Edition Chroma
The Razer Wolverine Tournament Edition Chroma is the greatest RGB PC controller. Clearly, after taking one glance at the Xbox One Elite controller, the Cult of Razer concluded, “We can do better than that.” Not at all. It kept everything else relatively tidy while adding a few extra microswitch buttons to the Wolverine, some movable hair triggers, and two faux paddle switches that are ideal for first-person shooter games. Although it’s a great pad, it can’t compare to the Elite.
9. EasySMX Wireless
The EasySMX Wireless is the greatest inexpensive PC controller. The EasySMX Wireless is evidence that a high-quality PC gaming controller that you can buy for a reasonable price. It may lack some of the delicacies of other, more costly pads and resemble the Xbox 360 controller more than the Xbox One one of today, but it has a respectable battery life and a reliable wireless connection.
10. Thrustmaster Warthog
The Thrustmaster Warthog is the best flight stick. Thrustmaster’s Warthog flight stick is an exact copy of the controls found on the vintage A-10 Tankbuster, appearing to be crafted from the same high-grade materials that a used aircraft would cost. Yes, the Warthog is a horrifyingly costly purchase, but if you’re already seeking to buy one of the finest PC flight sticks, you definitely have rather specialized tastes, and this is the best way to appease them.
11. Turtle Beach VelocityOne
The Turtle Beach VelocityOne is the best flight yoke. Although Turtle Beach’s Velocity One flying controller was primarily designed with Xbox users in mind, PC gamers can still benefit greatly from it. You would anticipate receiving a lot for your money at this price, and you do. It has ten programmable buttons, swappable lever handles, a genuine 180-degree yoke handle rotation that pushes and pulls for ascending and descending, and a built-in display you can utilize to customize pretty much everything about this gadget.
12. Fanatec Clubsport
The Fanatec Clubsport is the best PC racing wheel. The Fanatec Clubsport setup costs as much as a powerful gaming PC, but it also fulfills gamers’ expectations of the ultimate gaming peripherals. This is due to how exquisitely planned, produced, and finished the Clubsport kit is. You’ll have to build your own package out of a rather extensive list of goodies if you don’t choose one of the premade bundles.
13. Thrustmaster TMX
The Thrustmaster TMX is the ideal low-cost PC racing wheel. Most people won’t spend four figures on a racing wheel; if you do, good for you. Thrustmaster’s TMX wheel is a great price option that nevertheless provides a fairly realistic driving experience. When compared to some budget wheels, which may only have a 180-degree rotation, this wheel offers force feedback and 900 degrees of wheel rotation, which is the same as a genuine car.
Wired vs wireless PC controllers
The latency of wireless pads is practically on par with wired models with the most recent 2.4GHz wireless connections, and you’d force to tell the difference. Additionally, it makes managing cables easier. However, battery life should be important to bring into light because you never know when your controller will run out of power.
Do PC controllers need batteries?
While cord-cutting advantages of wireless gamepads exist, some PC controllers, such as the Xbox Wireless come with batteries. Microsoft now offers a play and charge kit that includes a USB C cord and an authentic Xbox rechargeable battery in addition to the ability to power the pad with two AA batteries.
Can I use PlayStation 5 DualSense on a PC?
Although the PS5 DualSense and Dualshock 4 from Sony don’t have official drivers, you may still use both gamepads on Steam. By choosing “Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library,” you can use a PlayStation controller to play other retail games as well.
Although the DualSense is compatible with Steam, not all games are compatible with its unique capabilities. The fact that Sony is releasing more of its titles to the platform through its PlayStation PC label may cause this to change in the future.
