The best gaming controllers for PC, Switch, PS5 and Xbox

Other game controllers to consider

there So There are many gaming consoles out there, but not all of them are good enough to make the list above. These are other controllers we’ve tested recently.

Photo: Simon Hill

Nacon Revolution 5 Pro: This highly customizable PS5 controller features Hall Effect sticks and triggers, programmable back paddles, and a cool D-pad. You can adjust the weight, stick length, handles, and even trigger operation. It has a battery life of up to 10 hours, and you can connect your headphone via Bluetooth or plug-ins. Unfortunately, it’s expensive, and you won’t get the haptic feedback or adaptive triggers you’ll find on Sony’s excellent DualSense controllers.

Courtesy of Logitech

Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel: WIRED editor Parker Hall praised Logitech’s racing wheel accessory, and racing game fans with deep pockets will love it. It adds a layer of reality to your in-game driving with powerful feedback and vibrations that help you feel every surface. The transmission paddles have Hall Effect sensors. There’s also an OLED display that lets you tweak settings without opening the app.

Nacon Revolution X Pro: This wired controller for Xbox and PC comes with a long (about 10 feet) and detachable USB-C cable. The Nacon offers an impressive level of customization, including interchangeable joysticks, programmable back buttons, and weights to help you get the feel you want. The profile button lets you cycle through four presets, the switch toggles configurations, and it has a 3.5mm headphone jack. You can tweak everything in the Revolution X unstable app for Xbox or PC. Although it works well, I don’t like the cheap feel (even with the adjusted weight), and the rear triggers are awkward. At full price, the Revolution X Pro is quite expensive for a wired controller, but discounts are frequent.

Jim Sir Hurricane 2: The GameSir Cyclone 2 is very impressive for its price. Its design is designed like an Xbox controller but with a few extra bells and whistles. It has two back buttons that can be assigned, and hair triggers with a physical switch inside each button to switch between short and long trigger points. It also comes programmed with Tons Shortcuts for adjusting things like vibration intensity, button layout, and controlling dead zones on the stick on the fly. For most gamers, the newer, upgraded G7 Pro will be worth the $25 price difference.

8Bitdo in the end: This feature-packed controller from 8BitDo has a lot to offer at a reasonable price. At first glance, it looks like an Xbox controller, but it has five central buttons on the front and a pair of rear paddles. Featuring a range of customization options to suit your playing style. Using 8BitDo software, you can remap buttons, adjust the stick, turn on sensitivity, assign macros, and adjust vibration intensity. There is an updated version of this controller available and we will update here when we have a chance to test it.

Shipping accessories

Courtesy of Sony

Wireless controllers are great, but you have to remember to charge them. If you don’t want to mess with cables, a charging dock is the solution. After testing several of them, we have some recommendations.

This official Sony charging station is the best for DualSense controllers. It’s small, charges two controllers, and frees up your PS5’s ports. Positioning your controllers is easy, with successful docking a single click away.

This stylish charging station is for Xbox Series The molded plastic makes it easy to insert your controllers, and you can tap on the top to change the lighting. The only drawback is that it is huge.

This charging dock can charge a Switch Pro controller and two Joy-Cons. It’s easy to use, although you have to insert a USB dongle into the Pro Controller. I actually slightly prefer the Power-A’s charging dock, which is more compact than the base, but it’s not available at the moment. If you only need to charge the Joy-Con, try the HyperX Chargeplay Quad ($15).