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[BlackTron]

Long ago I got a bunch of Wavebirds and 360 controllers and I guess I'll just never stop using them. I keep amassing other new controllers but keep returning to these same ones from 20 years ago.

I mostly use Series controllers on console because they don't maintain as reliable a connection on PC and well..they just aren't as good. Clair Obscur felt great to play with all the timed presses on 360. So much better than that fakeout press A button on the Series.

Very cool that I can I can use an ancient Wavebird to play GC games on Switch 2 with no unofficial workarounds.

There are many legendary controllers worth mentioning but I think the fact that the only controllers I've used the past few weeks other than Switch Joycon/Pro are 360 and GC, to play actual new releases at that, says something.

 

[TGO]

Features wise it's definitely the Dualsense, but I do miss the way you could grip the original Dualshock & DS2.

 

[Lord Malachite]

DualSense Edge for sure. It really needs a longer battery life but having that locking USB charging cord that stays put an is super long is a nice fallback for really long gaming sessions.

I tend to default to a bootleg SNES controller for old games from the 8 and 16 bit era.

 

[nashman]

Coleco joystick wasnt great just cant keep it down/still while playing.
NES too square, sharp edges and only a and b buttons
SNES first good controller round , smooth and six buttons
Genises 6 button controller had HUGE six buttons - Mid
PS hate DS 1-3, too small no stick resistance, DS 4 was better now love Daulsence
Nintendo post SNES WTF how did i play so much on this shit. Pro switch controller is good thou.
Dreamcast was fine. Even a few games actually made good use of the screen.
Xbox OG Duke was good unless you had small bish hands, then got too small even now controller is great but just 25% too small.


#1 Dual sence
#2 SNES
#3 Duke

 

[ZehDon]

Xbox 360. No contest. I still have my wired Xbox 360 controller for a reason.

Anything else is a distant second.

 

[Kumomeme]

8bitdo controller is the best.

been used few of it. you can use with built in chargeable battery, AA or just plug in wired. im type that prefer symmetry analog which is something that has less variety of option and currently use the Xbox version on PC. the paddle button on back is good replacement for analog button. the controller overall is cheaper than other option too.

they even has product like dongle for use with other console.

the best part is the Ultimate software. you can customize the button setting profile and enable it through a push of button. my controller's left analog has dead spot issue so i fixed it by merely adjust the thresold setting in the software. just like that.

 

[NeoIkaruGAF]

Very hard to say, actually.

SNES, N64 (for its dedicated uses, it was fantastic), original Dual Shock, and WiiU Pro were probably my favorite.

After that, it's become very hard to find a decent D-pad, something that won't give you some ergonomics issues, or something that won't break sooner or later just from regular wear and tear.

 

[SamuraiEdge]

Got both Dual Sense and my Elite 2 White. I do like my Elite 2 so I use this outside Sony/some emulation titles. Switch Pro is nice as well for Nintendo emulation.

 

[RoadHazard]

DualSense is the best one overall. Really good features, the only real downside is battery life.

It can't match the ergonomics of the GameCube controller though, nothing can.

 

[Dacvak]

It'a gotta be the new Pro Controller 2, with the caveat that it's not a good controller for racing games. Other than that, it's essentially perfect.

I'd give the Xbox Elite 2 the second spot (or first spot for racing games) though. The only downside of the Elite controllers is how easily they break. I've replaced four Elite 2s already.

I don't like the PS5 controller, even though it's the best Sony controller. I just don't like the stick position, nor the triggers.

 

[Avid Reading Horse]

 

[onQ123]

PlayStation Move

 

[Critical Hit]

DualSense: gyro, haptic and triggers. Add grip buttons and it would be perfect.

 

[onQ123]

Love this controller and I've tried retiring it a couple times, but nothing else I have tried feels as good as this does. I bought a couple extras (still sealed ) to have when the one I'm currently using eventually fails me or the sticks get drifted, etc. Everything about it is damn near perfect to me. I even bought a dongle so I can use it with any console that has USB ports.

That's the controller I use for my TV

 

[Trilobit]

Without a doubt the Xbox 360 controller. My BIL had one and I just remember enjoying playing on it each time. The weight, the form factor, the stick placement. All just utter perfection.

 

[seething left]

Using Steam Deck as the controller. Perfect size, perfect button placement, touchpads.

 

[SolarFry]

I've recently ordered this thing for my sega games. Anyone has it/used it? How is it?

 

[Kenneth Haight]

Dualsense is pretty nice to be honest

 

[Zuzu]

The Elite Series 2 has the best combination of ergonomics and features (trigger stops, back paddles, stick customisation etc.) which makes it the best controller overall for me.

 

[Alan Wake]

Close call between Xbox Elite 2 and DualSense. I haven't used the Switch 2 Pro Controller yet, though. But the lack of analogue triggers is a bummer for me.

 

[vaibhavpisal]

Power A fusion pro 4

Sticks are very smooth and responsive.
Hall effect.

 

[Rien]

It's still the Xbox 360 pad for me

 

[Hudo]

My current top 5 would be:

1. Xbox Series default controller (It's probably the best controller for 3D games)
2. Sega Saturn Controller (It's probably the best controller for 2D games)
3. Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller (It's really surprising how much of an improvement this one is over the Switch 1 pro controller. Feels good to hold and play with.)
4. NeoGeo AES "controller" (It's probably the best "controller" for arcade games)
5. Original Xbox "Duke" controller (It saved me during a physical fight at an Xbox Link party)

 

[crackajack]

360 wired, without the clumsy battery box, is still the best one

 

[laynelane]

The Dualshock 4. I was initially really doubtful about the touch pad, but wound up liking it quite a bit. As well, although I didn't ever have a problem with the size of the DS3 - I appreciated the size increase of the DS4 - it made the controller much more comfortable, ergonomic. Finally, I have a chronic health condition which can lead to clumsiness. The DS4's durability has been a boon for the times I drop my controller.

 

[keefged4]

If the Switch Pro controller 2 had analogue triggers and TMR sticks, it would win outright.

 

[Paulistano]

Gamesir Cyclone 2.

 

[Team Andromeda]

SEGA's 6 button Mega Drive pad

 

[Filben]

DualSense. Before that it was the Xbox One controller.

The precise haptic feedback, the adjustable weight of the triggers depending on which gun you use (in RE, e.g., shotgun heavier to lift with L2 than a pistol, the pressure point before you shoot, very close to real life ), it feels so good.

Currently playing Star Wars Outlaws, entered a club and the pad rumbles subtlety and rhythmically to the heavy bass of the club music.

I feel just a little more connected to game. And when I decide whether to get a game for PC or PS5 it often depends on the PC version having full 100% DualSense support and same features as the PS5 version.

 

[DragonNCM]

Ergonomic for Xbox controller is unmatched for me.

 

[spons]

With the current Xbox controllers having the loudest buttons in the history of mankind, I'd rather use the Switch 2 Pro Controller.

 

[CuteFaceJay]

Anything with good gyro support.

 

[I Love Rock 'n' Roll]

The king!

.

The japanese SegaSaturn game pad is a great second and DualSense a good third.

 

[PixelatedBeast]

This controller is hands down the key feature to making games feel next gen and different from anything I played before....damn it look sexy, lol.

 

[Insane Metal]

PS.

But I've always loved how sturdy the OG Xbox's controller felt.

 

[GymWolf]

One between

Og xbox controller s
Nacon pro revolution 2
Og x360 with battery pack

Honorable mentions
Gamesir kaleidos or s7 pro

I have big hands so i need bulky, heavy controllers (when i can find them, novadays it seems like they mostly make controllers for midgets)

 

[Salmon Snake]

I find the Dualsense Edge a fantastic controller.

BUT!

The battery life absolutely sucks fucks.

 

[Soodanim]

I have big hands so i need bulky, heavy controllers (when i can find them, novadays it seems like they mostly make controllers for midgets)

This is where I am with it.

In really enjoying the functionality of my 8bitdo Ult 2, but it's built for smaller hands and the shape of it brings your wrists closer together than something like a DS5.

If there was a DS4/5 with the features of an Ultimate 2 it would be an easy answer, but every controller has compromises. Some of the alternatives have rubber grips so I will never get them, and I'm not dropping Hall Effect or extra buttons. Even the charging/auto connect dock is a great upgrade I don't want to lose now.

 

[Emedan]

GameCube controller is the correct answer, with the re-release for Switch 2 that fact was solidified.

 

[cireza]

My favorite controller is the MegaDrive NSO controller. Absolutely perfect, best dpad I have ever used. Too bad you can't make it work with more games...

 

[BeardSpike]

FlyDigi Apex 4. It feels like a better Elite 2, plus it has DualSense features and a bit improved Elite 2 shape, weight distribution is top tier. Adjustable force of joysticks blows my mind.

 

[Hideous Snake]

Since we have this thread, I need to shoutout a controller that I use almost daily.

Great fucking controller!

ROG Raikiri Pro | Gaming controllers｜ROG - Republic of Gamers｜ROG Global

ROG Raikiri Pro PC Controller with built-in OLED display, tri-mode connectivity, four rear buttons, left and right triggers, ESS DAC, and customizable joystick sensitivity and response curves.

rog.asus.com

 

[Doctor Hades]

The DualSense Edge is probably the best controller I've used in terms of comfort, build quality, design and features (touchpad, haptics, adaptive triggers, paddles, speaker, etc) but it is tarnished by a pitiful battery life, which has been a problem with PlayStation controllers since the PS4's DualShock 4 controller. The DualSense and Astro's Playroom is what made the PS5 feel like a new generation of console, offering something different, whereas the Xbox Series X was pretty much just an Xbox One X Plus at launch with basically the same controller, the same user interface and no damn games!

I would have listed the Xbox Elite V2 controller if it wasn't for the extremely poor quality control which has resulted in 3 of the 4 I've owned so far developing faults despite me being very careful with them, never dropping them and no-one else using them.

It is quite bizarre really that I've had fewer problems with the standard Xbox controllers which are also good all-rounders. The Xbox Series X|S controller is the best yet but I've always hated the buzzy feeling rumble in them. They would be third though after to the DualSense Edge and standard DualSense.

 

[MadchesterManc]

The Type-2/Japanese Saturn controller. Was a nice evolution of the Mega Drive 6-button controller and they just don't make smooth DPads like it anymore