PC Gaming: What is the best controller? (2025) ***Tom's Guide says hall effect sensors are old news***

[jefferz]

I've been playing with an 8bitdo SN30 pro. Super Nintendo style, but dual sticks and 2 triggers. Their xbox style Ultimate looks pretty good. Hall-effect and all.

https://www.8bitdo.com/ultimate-bluetooth-controller/

I've had their Ultimate 2c wireless for a couple of months now, and I have no complaints.

A couple of the Wired Ultimate 2c colors are on sale for $17 on Amazon.

 

[KidBaize]

That's way cheaper than the Azeron.

Azeron Keypad - Joystick Keyboard Gaming!

Ergonomic joystick gaming keypad with fully adjustable towers that fits perfectly to your hand. Joystick for 360 movement, 26 programmable buttons, easy to use Azeron software.

www.azeron.eu

Azeron Cyborg II

My left hand can't even do wasd. No chance with this thing.

 

[Dinkin_Flicka]

That's way cheaper than the Azeron.

Azeron Keypad - Joystick Keyboard Gaming!

Ergonomic joystick gaming keypad with fully adjustable towers that fits perfectly to your hand. Joystick for 360 movement, 26 programmable buttons, easy to use Azeron software.

www.azeron.eu

Azeron Cyborg II

Splurged and ended up picking up the Cyborg II. The MS left stick adaptive controller was neat, but the analog wasn't recognized across all games where the face buttons were. Really it's major down fall is the limited buttons. Even a simple FPS rogue lite with limited inputs, I struggled to find a mapping that I could use.

The Cyborg II showed up yesterday and the thing looks absolutely ridiculous, but feels great. My wife took one look at and and just rolled her eyes and walked away. Spent about 30 min making minor adjustments to the finger and analog locations and left it at that. Hoping to get some time today after work to do some key mappings and give it a spin.

 

[Madmick]

My wife took one look at and and just rolled her eyes and walked away.

 

[Madmick]

Xbox gamers ought to know GameSir. They've had the bestselling third-party Xbox controller on Amazon for years now in the GameSir G7 SE which has been highly popular not only because it comes with hall effect joysticks, but for years sold at the low price of $35.

But the below is their latest and greatest supplanting the Tarantula Pro as the company's flagship. The biggest difference to console gamers is the Tarantula was for the Switch. This one is for the Xbox. The spec sheet is impressive. It boasts both TMR joysticks and hall effect triggers. Unlike Microsoft's in-house controllers, it also has a gyroscope for PC gamers, which can be a nice perk for Wii U or Nintendo Switch emulation.

At $79.99 don't expect it to top those Amazon bestseller lists, though.

GameSir G7 Pro​

• Working Platform: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Android, Steam
• Connection: Wired for Xbox; 2.4G & Wired for PC; Bluetooth for Android
• Sticks: GameSir Mag-Res™ TMR sticks
• Triggers: Hall Effect analog triggers with Micro Switch trigger stops
• Buttons: Optical Micro Switch ABXY, Mechanical Micro Switch D-pad
• Rumble Motors: 4
• Macro Buttons: 4 (R4/L4 back button and R5/L5 mini bumper)
• Back Button Latches: Yes
• 3.5mm Audio Jack: Yes, supported via both wired & 2.4G wireless
• Gyroscope: Yes (PC only)
• Battery: 1200mAh
• Charging Station: Included
• Software: GameSir Nexus
• Faceplate: Three-part magnetic swappable. * Compatible with the previous G7 series faceplates, but other G7 series controllers are not compatible with the G7 Pro’s faceplate.
• Included Accessories: Charging Station*1, Receiver*1, D-pad*2, Cable Retainer*1, 3m Type-C Cable*1
• Product Size: 152*103*58mm/5.98*4.06*2.28in
• Net Weight: 272g/0.60lbs
• Package Size: 177*173*94mm / 6.97*6.81*3.70in
• Gross Weight: 782g / 1.72lbs
• Carton Size: (20pcs/carton): 490*375*380mm / 19.29*14.76*14.96in
• Carton Weight: (20pcs/carton): 17.41kg / 38.39lbs

 

[Fury]

For PC I use an 8bitdo Pro 2 hall effect that I got for $40 during an Amazon scale.

It's not fancy so I don't think the spec sheet is going to impress but it's shaped like a dual shock and has been very reliable.

I use zero software with it and the only adjusting that I did was move the slider on the back to x input.

I'm guessing it's not the best but it works, no drift and I guess it works for switch/Android too if that's your thing.

 

[My Spot]

I just use a Dual Shock 4 still if I'm not using mouse + keyboard. Except for emulating certain PS2 games then I use a Dual Shock 3 since that's the last one that had pressure sensitive face buttons.

 

[Madmick]

I just use a Dual Shock 4 still if I'm not using mouse + keyboard. Except for emulating certain PS2 games then I use a Dual Shock 3 since that's the last one that had pressure sensitive face buttons.

I just did a Google to see if any of these modern controllers support that. Doesn't look like it according to the PC Wiki. This could just be an incomplete list, the PCWiki pages often aren't exhaustive, but they're usually decently maintained:

Category:Controllers with pressure-sensitive buttons - PCGamingWiki PCGW - bugs, fixes, crashes, mods, guides and improvements for every PC game

www.pcgamingwiki.com

A bit wild if no modern controllers do that considering the obsession I've seen lately with haptic triggers. Then again, the list of games that utilized it is very short even it does contain some classics. On PS2:


Your post piqued my curiosity because I've been on an emulation kick, and I was thinking of going back to play a few of the classics from PS2. Specifically I was looking at Resident Evil 4 so I could get a feel for how it has aged comparatively thanks to the modern PC remake. Fortunately it isn't on the pressure-sensitive button list because I don't think I have a functioning controller that old lying around. Not sure, admittedly. I'd have to dig in some attic space.

 

[My Spot]

I just did a Google to see if any of these modern controllers support that. Doesn't look like it according to the PC Wiki. This could just be an incomplete list, the PCWiki pages often aren't exhaustive, but they're usually decently maintained:

Category:Controllers with pressure-sensitive buttons - PCGamingWiki PCGW - bugs, fixes, crashes, mods, guides and improvements for every PC game

www.pcgamingwiki.com

A bit wild if no modern controllers do that considering the obsession I've seen lately with haptic triggers. Then again, the list of games that utilized it is very short even it does contain some classics. On PS2:


Your post piqued my curiosity because I've been on an emulation kick, and I was thinking of going back to play a few of the classics from PS2. Specifically I was looking at Resident Evil 4 so I could get a feel for how it has aged comparatively thanks to the modern PC remake. Fortunately it isn't on the pressure-sensitive button list because I don't think I have a functioning controller that old lying around. Not sure, admittedly. I'd have to dig in some attic space.

I don't think that list is complete because GT3 and Twisted Metal Black both use them. I still play the latter online. The PS2 Ace Combat games do too.
But yeah I remember Sony hyping that feature up when they unveiled the PS2.

 

[Madmick]

I don't think that list is complete because GT3 and Twisted Metal Black both use them. I still play the latter online. The PS2 Ace Combat games do too.
But yeah I remember Sony hyping that feature up when they unveiled the PS2.

Yeah, I noticed mention of games Redditors spotted they thought were missing including some racing games like Burnout and Ace Combat. Not surprised it's not perfect. But I guess it never caught on enough that it survived as a technology.

 

[My Spot]

Also you should stay far away from PS2 RE4. It was rough in 2006 when I played through it.

 

[Madmick]

Also you should stay far away from PS2 RE4. It was rough in 2006 when I played through it.

Really? I though it was considered one of the greatest games on the PS2?

*Edit* Oh, or are you talking about emulation stability? I hadn't looked it up, I know the PS2 emulation still isn't perfect, but the top titles get the most attention, so I'm willing to bet they've got it perfectly emulated now. I just threw out a Google, and PCSX2's Compatibility List is showing 98.4% titles are in the "playable" state.

Compatibility | PCSX2

Find out how well your PlayStation 2 games will run on PCSX2 and if there are any associated issues

pcsx2.net

It's not perfect, but it looks to be in a really good place:

Resident Evil 4 - PCSX2 Wiki

wiki.pcsx2.net

 

[My Spot]

Really? I though it was considered one of the greatest games on the PS2?

I mean it's an incredible feat they were able to replicate much of the GC version on PS2 but the frame rate is horrible. I know it's like 95% on Meta/GameRankings or whatever but those were through 2005 eyes.
I guess I'd compare it to the OG XB ports of Doom 3 and Half Life 2.

 

[Madmick]

I mean it's an incredible feat they were able to replicate much of the GC version on PS2 but the frame rate is horrible. I know it's like 95% on Meta/GameRankings or whatever but those were through 2005 eyes.
I guess I'd compare it to the OG XB ports of Doom 3 and Half Life 2.

You beat me, it took me a sec to figure out what you meant. Yeah, I know, I've been there over the years with some painful attempts, I wish TOTK was in a better place than it is, but it's amazing how far each emulator progresses each year. Twenty years later I think you'd be blown away how smoothly it runs.

 

[My Spot]

You beat me, it took me a sec to figure out what you meant. Yeah, I know, I've been there over the years with some painful attempts, I wish TOTK was in a better place than it is, but it's amazing how far each emulator progresses each year. Twenty years later I think you'd be blown away how smoothly it runs.

Have you tried TOTK on Citron and using the optimizer?

 

[Madmick]

Have you tried TOTK on Citron and using the optimizer?

Not Citron, I use Ryubing (the continuation of the Ryujinx project). Yeah, I've implemented the Optimizer. The other key is to disable Vsync (which I have to turn back on for most other games).

I've gotten it to run reasonably well, but considering how beastly my hardware is, the framerate is disappointing compared to other Switch games on the same emulator. Also, sometimes it crashes. Not always, but sometimes, especially at cutscenes. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't.

Apparently there is a new emulator out there which might be the best for it, I forget the name off the top of my head, but it's apparent that a genuinely stable experience is still a ways away.

 

[Satur9]

In any game that isn’t a 4x or some turn-based strategy game, I use a controller. Just dreadful using kbm when playing anything requiring good reflexes and coordination.The latest Xbox controller is my GOAT. Just feels the best in my hands by far, and I’m a huge proponent of off-set thumb sticks. It lays in my hands much better than sticks that are next to each other.

 

[Madmick]

In any game that isn’t a 4x or some turn-based strategy game, I use a controller. Just dreadful using kbm when playing anything requiring good reflexes and coordination.The latest Xbox controller is my GOAT. Just feels the best in my hands by far, and I’m a huge proponent of off-set thumb sticks. It lays in my hands much better than sticks that are next to each other.

I don't really understand what you mean by that. KBM still has the highest skill ceiling, and the input delay is still better (not that 1 millisecond matters) on the best mice & keyboards compared to the top controllers. At the highest end the input delays don't matter, anymore.

The real downside to KBM in 2025 is that every popular shooter supporting cross-platform inputs in competitive online multiplayer modes has ratcheted up the aim assist mechanics to cheat levels to coddle & swaddle the controller players. Only in a few is it reasonable: even remotely balanced.

 

[Satur9]

I don't really understand what you mean by that. KBM still has the highest skill ceiling, and the input delay is still better (not that 1 millisecond matters) on the best mice & keyboards compared to the top controllers. At the highest end the input delays don't matter, anymore.

The real downside to KBM in 2025 is that every shooter supporting cross-platform inputs in competitive online multiplayer modes has ratcheted up the aim assist mechanics to cheat levels in almost all the most popular games to coddle & swaddle the controller players. Only in a few is it reasonable: even remotely balanced.

No, it’s definitely a personal thing. My memory goes out the window with kbm during hectic gameplay. Can’t remember key bindings, coordination gets all wonky. Just never could get great at using kbm when the action picks up. Doesn’t really happen with a controller though.

 

[Unknown Pleasures]

I have an elite wireless 2 controller that "won" this poll, but sad to say, the right shoulder button works like one out of every three times I try it. Totally disappointed because I do love the weight and feel of the controller.

One of the rare times a controller has failed on me without massive use.