Which of the Big 4 has the best controller? 🎮

Who has the best controller?

  • Total voters
    345
Dualsense is the best 1st party controller.


There's tons of 3rd party controllers out now though that are better than the 1st party options (and are generally much cheaper as well).

8BitDo Ultimate 2 and FlyDigi Vader 4 Pro in particular are pretty incredible:

OIP.rGA4Ok8_czL97oOke0ETOgHaHa


Flydigi_Wireless_Magnetic_Charger_Stand_Gaming_Controller_2_500x.jpg
 
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Switch 2 pro controller is the best and it's not even close. DualSense is loaded with gimmicks that massacre the battery life and Xbox is the same boring controller they've used for three generations already that you still need to put batteries in for some reason.
 
clarky said:
I don't think there as an actual answer to this. All 3 have their pros and cons and its basically down to what features the user values the most.

None are perfect.

The poll is a little confusing as you have the standard xbox/ps pads then im guessing you mean the Switch 2 pro controller? Because nobody in there right mind would vote Joycon
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Can it be implied that the 2 pro controller is it by default?
As you say, the joycons can be easily dismissed.
 
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The Switch 2 pro controller is damn good just like the first one. It stands toe to toe with the Xbox controller.

Xbox is still the king of comfort and ergonomics. Fits like a glove in the hand. Nothing better.
 
Controller gang, help me out. I'm a PC gamer. Most of what I play on a controller are racing games, with Forza being the most important to me. I've got an Xbox One controller now and it's had almost a decade of service. Still no drift and no problems. I'd like to spice things up. Was thinking about a Dual Sense, but I'm worried the about the triggers. Froza communicates a LOT about how much grip you have with the triggers. I know there are programs that will make the haptics work, but does anyone know if the way they work is fundamentally different in a game where that trigger feedback to crucial to gameplay? I'd ask this same question about SCRUF, Gamesir and Vader. Or any other controller that is fit for the job I'm asking for it. Maybe it's just best to get a regular Xbox Series controller. Let me know what you guys think.
 
Plies said:
Can it be implied that the 2 pro controller is it by default?
As you say, the joycons can be easily dismissed.
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But the Pro controller is a premium extra no? It stands toe to toe with the Edge and the Elite, not the standard controllers.

But hey its your poll, stick a Cumberland sausage in there if you like :)
 
touchfuzzy said:
Switch 2 pro controller is the best and it's not even close. DualSense is loaded with gimmicks that massacre the battery life and Xbox is the same boring controller they've used for three generations already that you still need to put batteries in for some reason.
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Not really. You cant claim to be the best when you have digital triggers. That alone removes the switch 2 controller from the discussion.
 
1. Switch Pro - Super comfortable. Despite dropped inputs, I still love the large cross d-pad. Not the prettiest, but gets the job done.

2. Xbox Series - Good ergonomics. Built like a brick. Refined over several years to be the "default controller" style. A classic. Minus 1 point for clicky d-pad.

3. Dual Sense - Not terrible, but not great either. Uneven button travel across face buttons due to right-side roll-off of body/shell. Segmented d-pad (some people love that. I don't). And the kicker and biggest reason it's not great, THE STUPID FUCKING TRACK PAD THAT'S 8 SQUARE MILES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONTROLLER. Worst fucking decision ever. Gimmick that no dev uses. Takes up insane real estate. Completely crowds the Options and Create buttons (holy hell they're hard to find with your thumb sometimes). And is active at all times, draining the battery.

As others have said, 8BitDo is king.

3rd person shit? BT Ultimate
Turn based JRPG? SN30 Pro
2D shit? M30 or SN30 Pro
 
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Best Premium: Xbox Elite Series 2
Best OOB: DualSense
Best 3rd Party: 8bitdo Ultimate 2

Switch 2 Pro Controller is best that isn't really premium (DS Edge and Elite are both 2x the cost) but it also doesn't come in the box and isn't 3rd party.
 
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Rocky_Balboa said:
Xbox easily.

Symmetrical analog stick placement doesn't make sense. If it would make sense, the original PlayStation controller would look something like this.
ds2.jpg
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Wii U pro controller style style my best. I absolutely hate asymmetrical controllers though. Switch 2 is making me crazy.
 
Haven't tried the Switch 2 Pro Controller, but Xbox controllers are the best by far normally, the Series one falls short compared to Switch 1 Pro Controller tho:
- No gyro
- Sticks are inferior by quite a lot, they feel like rusty inside compared to the buttery smooth ones from Switch 1 Pro Controller
- I'd say analog triggers aren't necessarily an advantage if you don't use them like me, they basically get in the way of comfortability

They're still the most comfortable to hold and don't have that weird reality glitch called symmetrical sticks so I'll go with them.
 
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kevboard said:
as someone who likes shooters and racing games, that's a combo that can't be beat even remotely by the others.
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having haptics and triggers that are ACTIVELY providing you feedback (locked brakes, tire slip) is something that can't be beaten by smooth triggers. Try WRC 10/Generations or Gran Turismo 7 and you'll see what I'm talking about. Also, as a fan of racing games, you should DEFINITELY invest in a wheel ;)
 
poppabk said:
Yeah - both my Series controller (stick drift) and Dualsense (constant issues in 4 player local, shitty battery life) are collecting dust and I have an Ultimate and a 2C and my kids have an Ultimate 2 and a 2C.
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I love the 8bitdo Ultimate and what makes it even better is that it's quite a lot cheaper than the official controllers, yet sports most of the features they have (aside from haptics of course).

I bought my controller the day after Switch 2 released and only got a notification that it was low on battery today. I've dropped roughly 30-40 hours into ToTK and the kids have played a fair bit of Mario Kart, so I'm very impressed. I think it'll be my go to controller for PC too.
 
Tommi84 said:
having haptics and triggers that are ACTIVELY providing you feedback (locked brakes, tire slip) is something that can't be beaten by smooth triggers. Try WRC 10/Generations or Gran Turismo 7 and you'll see what I'm talking about. Also, as a fan of racing games, you should DEFINITELY invest in a wheel ;)
Click to expand...

the xbox impulse triggers are better for feedback in racing games than the Dualsense triggers.

every racing game I played on PS5 feels meh at best, including GT7
 
clarky said:
I do like the Switch 2 pro controller( I have one) however for me personally the 4 back paddles on the Elite are placed perfectly for my hands. Also the Switch doesn't have analog triggers, not an issue so much right now but if they bring Forza Horizion or similar over then it will be.
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Forza Horizon is quite arcadey, not sure it would be a big problem with digital triggers there, but I agree that's one flaw the controller have. Otherwise I think it's perfect. The sticks are so smooooooooth!
 
FalconPunch said:
Not really. You cant claim to be the best when you have digital triggers. That alone removes the switch 2 controller from the discussion.
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I see this sentiment all the time, however when I owned an Elite 2 pad I had the triggers set so that any input registered.

For FPS games, the Switch 2 Pro controller having digital triggers makes it a much better choice than Xbox or Sony's standard offerings.

I don't play racing games so for my use case digital triggers are better.
 
Fess said:
Forza Horizon is quite arcadey, not sure it would be a big problem with digital triggers there, but I agree that's one flaw the controller have. Otherwise I think it's perfect. The sticks are so smooooooooth!
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Yeah its very nice. In a perfect world I'd like it to be about 10% bigger for my hands.

Still a bit odd that they didn't go with the analog triggers. I think there are a few gripes over the D-pad as well but I never use one.
 
Banjo64 said:
I see this sentiment all the time, however when I owned an Elite 2 pad I had the triggers set so that any input registered.

For FPS games, the Switch 2 Pro controller having digital triggers makes it a much better choice than Xbox or Sony's standard offerings.

I don't play racing games so for my use case digital triggers are better.
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The triggers on the Xbox Scuff instinct are god tier. Settings for analog or clicky switches, best of both worlds. Shame its based on the regular Series controller as I personally don't like them.
 
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For me, it's the Series pad because of better ergonomics, better stick placement and better triggers.


-

We get this thread like every second week, lol.

This is from last month.


5ZK0jZW5Y9ERQcAx.png
 
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DualSense if you just use it for the PS5. Xbox if you play on PC and other platforms. Still too many compromises to using a DualSense wirelessly on PCs. USB ports always get stressed over time- the DualSense was not designed to be used wired indefinitely. That's why on wired controllers the connection point is always reinforced.
 
I don't know how anyone can go back to a two handed held controller, compared to what the Switch brings which is a control in ever hand. It's beyond ergonomics, it's freedom.
 
analog_future said:
Dualsense is the best 1st party controller.


There's tons of 3rd party controllers out now though that are better than the 1st party options (and are generally much cheaper as well).

8BitDo Ultimate 2 and FlyDigi Vader 4 Pro in particular are pretty incredible:

OIP.rGA4Ok8_czL97oOke0ETOgHaHa


Flydigi_Wireless_Magnetic_Charger_Stand_Gaming_Controller_2_500x.jpg
Click to expand...

I have the first version of the Ultimate, it's a great controller. As a bonus, there's also the option to buy replacement parts later on if needed. My DualSense is just sitting here unused. The thumbstick caps wore out over time and I had to buy replacements from third-party sellers, since Sony doesn't sell the original parts separately. And the third-party ones are way lower quality. With 8BitDo, if I ever need to, I can buy the original stick caps directly from their site, pretty cool.

I wish more companies did this, I'm not sure if Microsoft or Nintendo offer the same kind of support for their controllers.
 
adamsapple said:
For me, it's the Series pad because of better ergonomics, better stick placement and better triggers.


-

We get this thread like every second week, lol.

This is from last month.


5ZK0jZW5Y9ERQcAx.png
Click to expand...
Thats about the best controller ever though. This thread is about first party controllers, completely different. Honest.
 
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I prefer the Xbox Series controller overall but the Duel Sense is great. I prefer the feel of the Series controller in my hands overall. The loud click clack sound of the dpad is a definite drawback.

Features though the Dual Sense definitely wins.
 
On console I normally use the one made for it. They're not really different enough to me for it to make a difference. I do use 8bitdo ultimate 2 on PC and Switch / Switch 2 and those are my favorite controllers overall.
 
Banjo64 said:
I see this sentiment all the time, however when I owned an Elite 2 pad I had the triggers set so that any input registered.

For FPS games, the Switch 2 Pro controller having digital triggers makes it a much better choice than Xbox or Sony's standard offerings.

I don't play racing games so for my use case digital triggers are better.
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Part of the requirements of being the best is the ability to handle diverse genre's of games.

On a feature's perspective, it cannot be the best. It has less features than Sony's controller and other 3rd party controllers.

In terms of the ability to handle a vast amount of genre's, it's the worst of the big 3 due to digital triggers.

Whether you don't play racing games or not is irrelevant. The title of the thread isn't "what is the best controller based on what you play".

There are objective ways to compare the controllers and the switch 2 pro controller cannot be in the conversation objectively speaking. If you like the controller, good for you.
 
FalconPunch said:
Part of the requirements of being the best is the ability to handle diverse genre's of games.

On a feature's perspective, it cannot be the best. It has less features than Sony's controller and other 3rd party controllers.

In terms of the ability to handle a vast amount of genre's, it's the worst of the big 3 due to digital triggers.

Whether you don't play racing games or not is irrelevant. The title of the thread isn't "what is the best controller based on what you play".

There are objective ways to compare the controllers and the switch 2 pro controller cannot be in the conversation objectively speaking. If you like the controller, good for you.
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I class it as a feature that there's less travel distance on the triggers therefore it is objectively better for all types of none racing games.
 
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Banjo64 said:
I class it as a feature that there's less travel distance on the triggers therefore it is objectively better for all types of none racing games.
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You could say that but it would be wrong since analog triggers can be treated as digital from a software perspective. The reverse cannot be done.
 
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Wtf the switch 2 still has the dpad thing?

I am just kinda considering a switch 2 and good fucking thing the ns1 pro controller works with it because pay $80 *again*, for a controller that I have to immediately crack open and cock around with for hours *again* would tear it.
 
FalconPunch said:
You could say that but it would be wrong since analog triggers can be treated as digital from a software perspective. The reverse cannot be done.
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can you point to a single game that does this? if not its simply an interesting but irrelevant factoid when we're talking about using the controllers in practice.
 
All are garbage. The only controller that is actually good is Razer Wolvarine V3 pro if you can afford it

mouse triggers, mechanical rapid fire buttons. Hall sticks.

even my TMR Gulikit modded PS5 controller isn't as good.

The whole weight and feel of that controller is just out of this world.

a follow up would be 8Bitdo Ultimate 2. which is great. but its size and shape isn't for everyone (but then again, its not 1/4th the price of the Razer controller )
 
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ScHlAuChi said:
Nature is symmetrical, symmetry is an evolutionary advantage.... ....until Rocky_Balboa came along and said otherwise!
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I only used the word assymtrical to describe the stick placement. The problem is not about symmetry, but ergonomics and how game controls evolved. Playstation added analog sticks as an after thought, so that is why the sticks are where they are now.

OG PSone controller had only dpad for movement and it was placed ergonomically to the correct place. After games started using analog stick as the main movement control, the stick should have been placed where dpad was originally.

One could argue that right analog stick should be where the 4 buttons are and they could be right if they only play games where player needs to control the camera constantly (FPS etc.). However in my opinion the current right stick and button placement makes sense for the average player.
 
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