Support NeoGAF

[CLW]

Looking for some recommendations for a PC controller

 

[Melon Husk]

|OT| Community Hardware  Thread 'Controllers |OT| It's the Hall-Effect Life!'

Nov 3, 2025

​

0. Introduction

The market has recently seen an explosion of high-quality game controllers from third-party, often unlicensed manufacturers based in China. These brands gained traction by innovating with technologies like Hall-Effect analog sticks and now release new models at an incredible rate. This has left many consumers feeling overwhelmed, as choosing the right option requires significant research. Furthermore, the rapid pace and fragmentation of discussions make it hard for community knowledge to accumulate...

• BeardSpike
• Replies: 541
• Forum: Gaming Discussion

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

 

[Sakura]

Dual Sense or 8bitdo.
Some games will use the Dual Sense's haptics like Stellar Blade.

 

[Lokaum D+]

Gamesir or 8Bitdo

Anyone of those two you cant go wrong

 

[alf717]

I use an 8BitDo adapter. My only gripe is every controller you setup shows up as an Xbox controller. So if you use a WiiU Pro controller or Switch Pro you are stuck with "Microsoft's lazy patented copy pasta just flip the face buttons™" layout.

 

[Sand Dan Glokta]

8bitdo or Elite V2.

 

[Sticks]

Xbox controller

 

[vaibhavpisal]

Get the pro model from any of the brands

Gamesir
PowerA
8bitdo

Others I haven't tried.

 

[draliko]

went with 8bitdo ultimate 2 after xbox, bigbigwon gale hall and machenike g6v2, for now it's the better option at that price point

 

[winjer]

8bit do Ultimate 2C

 

[MMaRsu]

Dualsense is good

 

[SilentSpecter]

8bitdo ultimate 2

 

[Edgelord79]

Manba Pro is excellent one you get used to the buttons.

 

[DarkShadowXI]

8bitdo Ultimate 2. I absolutely love this thing.

 

[SupaComputa]

The 8bitdo Ultimate 2 is great however the dpad is useless for anything else than menus. The m30 has the best dpad, I am thinking of getting the gulikit TT for a good in-between.

 

[DarkShadowXI]

The 8bitdo Ultimate 2 is great however the dpad is useless for anything else than menus. The m30 has the best dpad, I am thinking of getting the gulikit TT for a good in-between.

I've had good experiences with fighting games using the D-pad. Haven't really played many platformers. Seems like YMMV.

 

[RafterXL]

DualSense sucks shit on PC. If you get a Dualsense get the Edge, and even then it's not a great PC controller. The amount of games that still don't work natively is huge, the amount of games that use it's features are almost non-existent. Hell, Resident Evil Requiem just came out and you don't even get the basic ass rumble stuff with it. If you do go DS, also buy DSX, because you'll be emulating Xbox controllers a bunch, either to get the game to recognize the controller or to enable features through mods.

If you want a no nonsense, works with everything controller, buy a variation of the Xbox controller because everything on PC is still made with them in mind.

 

[StereoVsn]

Dualsense is good

Yeah, I like Dualsense as it's perhaps the most comfortable controller (for me).

You can also use Xbox Series ones.

I also like Gamesir's PC controllers. 8bitdo is good but for me generally Gamesir produces more comfortable ones. 8bitdo is usually on the smaller side.

 

[Rambone]

Good:
Gamesir: SuperNova or Cyclone 2
8bitdo Ultimate 2C
Better:
8bitdo: Ultimate 2 Wireless
Flydigi Vader 5 pro
Best:
Flydigi Apex 4
Flydigi Apex 5

Personal comment: Flydigi Apex 5 is expensive but you get what you pay for and is a huge jump in quality/performance over 8bitdo.

 

[SupaComputa]

I've had good experiences with fighting games using the D-pad. Haven't really played many platformers. Seems like YMMV.

I have no clue how you do it, mine's super low travel and stiff, there's almost no way to hit the diagonals. Couldn't play shmups at all on it, I was moving at 90 degree angles.

 

[vaibhavpisal]

Good:
Gamesir: SuperNova or Cyclone 2
8bitdo Ultimate 2C
Better:
8bitdo: Ultimate 2 Wireless
Flydigi Vader 5 pro
Best:
Flydigi Apex 4
Flydigi Apex 5

Personal comment: Flydigi Apex 5 is expensive but you get what you pay for and is a huge jump in quality/performance over 8bitdo.

8bitdo Ultimate 2C is crappy.

Plasticky build quality, sticks that don't do modern games justice. Felt like I was using duelshock 3. Sold it pretty quickly.

Don't buy anything below pro class controllers from 3rd parties. Cheap and pretty good, better than standard console controllers.

 

[DirtyBast8rd]

Gamesir G7 Pro is really good

 

[Topher]

Dualsense is good

Yeah, I like Dualsense as it's perhaps the most comfortable controller (for me).

You can also use Xbox Series ones.

I also like Gamesir's PC controllers. 8bitdo is good but for me generally Gamesir produces more comfortable ones. 8bitdo is usually on the smaller side.

That battery tho. Only real downside to the dualsense, imo, but it is a big one

 

[Spukc]

Xbox controller

This the old one..
without the fucking Bt and the wireless dongle

 

[Holammer]

Dualsense gets my vote, the D-pad is perfectly placed for retro gaming and it feels great, sticks are good and it fits like a glove in your hand. I *really* enjoy the gyro, playing BotW without it is awful.
It shines even brighter whenever games use Haptics, even if that's mostly Sony games, right now anyway.

Maybe save the money and wait for Steam Controller 2. It looks pretty damn feature complete with haptics, gyro, back buttons, grip sensors & touch pads.

Steam Controller

Your games at your fingertips

store.steampowered.com

 

[Celcius]

Dualsense or even DualShock 4. EZ.

 

[Rambone]

8bitdo Ultimate 2C is crappy.

Plasticky build quality, sticks that don't do modern games justice. Felt like I was using duelshock 3. Sold it pretty quickly.

Don't buy anything below pro class controllers from 3rd parties. Cheap and pretty good, better than standard console controllers.

It's a cheap but genuinely reliable controller that often drops to around $20, yet still includes Hall Effect joysticks, Hall triggers, and wear‑resistant metal rings. I'd be remiss not to include a strong budget pick like this for anyone who can't afford the other controllers I recommended.

 

[Honey Bunny]

I looked through a pc controller website that polled latency for every controller and the ps4 controller had like the second lowest latency over Bluetooth of any controller so i just stick with that

 

[OmegaSupreme]

8bitdo Ultimate 2. I absolutely love this thing.

Yup. Get this.

 

[DarkShadowXI]

I have no clue how you do it, mine's super low travel and stiff, there's almost no way to hit the diagonals. Couldn't play shmups at all on it, I was moving at 90 degree angles.

Dang! I'm pretty sure I've played shmups with it. I'll try it later today, but I'm also not really sensitive to stuff like this.

Sorry it's been a poor experience for you

 

[DarkShadowXI]

That battery tho. Only real downside to the dualsense, imo, but it is a big one

Yeah, if you go Dualsense, then you need 2 of them, along with the charging dock to make it work out.

 

[Buggy Loop]

Dualsense gets my vote, the D-pad is perfectly placed for retro gaming and it feels great, sticks are good and it fits like a glove in your hand. I *really* enjoy the gyro, playing BotW without it is awful.
It shines even brighter whenever games use Haptics, even if that's mostly Sony games, right now anyway.

Maybe save the money and wait for Steam Controller 2. It looks pretty damn feature complete with haptics, gyro, back buttons, grip sensors & touch pads.

Steam Controller

Your games at your fingertips

store.steampowered.com

Still own the first steam controller and will jump on the new one day 0. Can't wait

 

[vaibhavpisal]

It's a cheap but genuinely reliable controller that often drops to around $20, yet still includes Hall Effect joysticks, Hall triggers, and wear‑resistant metal rings. I'd be remiss not to include a strong budget pick like this for anyone who can't afford the other controllers I recommended.

True. Its affordable and has pretty good D pad. I think its not a proper all use controller. In online shooters its usually a disadvantage.

Good as a second controller for games such as side scrollers or action adventure titles.

 

[Dirk Benedict]

8bitdo Ultimate 2. I absolutely love this thing.

This controller>Dualshock4, Switch Pro Controller
1 controller lasting longer than multiple Dualshock 4s within the same time frame of ownership.

 

[KiteGr]

8bitdo Ultimate 2 (not to be confused with 8bitdo Ultimate 2c)

Alternatively, wait for the new Steam controller.

 

[delishcaek]

I've been very happy with a Wolverine v3 TE (used the v2 before that), it's wired, though. Never thought I'd use razer products again but never had any issues with them (outside of the v3 not being properly recognized as a Series gamepad when it came out, so the screenshot button didn't work).

If DualSense support was better (like games showing symbols) then I'd prolly use that instead of the Series gamepad.

 

[Polaris]

XBOX controller, be it a wired 360 or a wireless ONE.
Every other answer is just being a contrarian.

 

[Bojji]

Xbox Series controller is super universal.

Dual Sense is very good but you only get full functionality using it wired (or something changed in this aspect?).

 

[MMaRsu]

You can also try the Novint Falcon

 

[Rambone]

True. Its affordable and has pretty good D pad. I think its not a proper all use controller. In online shooters its usually a disadvantage.

Good as a second controller for games such as side scrollers or action adventure titles.

If you can find a truly all‑purpose controller in the $20–25 range that's brand new, competitive in online shooters, wireless, and built with Hall Effect or TMR internals, then you'd be doing this entire thread a massive service by pointing it out. The Ultimate 2C exists for the player on a tight budget who's willing to accept a few compromises, especially competitive e‑sports titles, most of which he's probably playing with a mouse and keyboard anyway. It's not meant to dethrone premium controllers; it's meant to give people a reliable, feature‑rich option at a price point where that usually doesn't exist.

 

[Kacho]

8bitdo Ultimate 2 is the best all-rounder for a good price. Comes with a charging dock, good battery life.

 

[Dirk Benedict]

You can also try the Novint Falcon

Now you can control the game with your anus muscles!
Gamefan 1997.

 

[Magic Carpet]

Another vote for the 8bitdo Ultimate 2. I still think it's a tad too small if your used to 'normal' sized controllers like the Dual Sense and the Series.
I want an 8bitdo Ultimate 2 that is the same size and shape as those 'normal' controllers like the Dual Sense and the Series.

The 8bitdo Ultimate 2 comes with a really nice charging dock that includes the dongle built in. Really smart elegant design.
But it does feel a bit on the cheap side with its materials. (But it's also not that expensive)

 

[violence]

Gamesir Cyclone 2

8bitdo Ultimate I returned cause of the bad feel/ergonomics.

 

[StereoVsn]

That battery tho. Only real downside to the dualsense, imo, but it is a big one

Yeah, if you go Dualsense, then you need 2 of them, along with the charging dock to make it work out.

Honestly on PC side I don't really have this issue. For console, I do have couple controllers that are hooked up to a charging station.

On PC, I don't normally play controller games long enough to run out of charge (3-4 hours). And heck, if I do I have a USB dock on my desk. Can charge and play if needed since I am sitting 3' away from it.

 

[Randall365]

I love the Razer Wolverine v3 - only downside is it gives me pins and needles in my third and fourth fingers after a while - not sure why - but the sticks, buttons and triggers feel awesome. Have an Elite 2 as well, but to be honest it's too buggy to enjoy - with the y button not registering from time to time.

 

[DarkShadowXI]

Honestly on PC side I don't really have this issue. For console, I do have couple controllers that are hooked up to a charging station.

On PC, I don't normally play controller games long enough to run out of charge (3-4 hours). And heck, if I do I have a USB dock on my desk. Can charge and play if needed since I am sitting 3' away from it.

Ah right on! My PC and PS5 are connected to the living room TV, so I like to keep the controllers sitting out for convenience

 

[Esca]

8bitdo Ultimate 2 or the Switch 2 Pro