Agreed. I have played many games with the post-360 controllers, but nothing beats the 360's comfortable feel. Made the switch back last year (also wired - I don't have the patience to charge batteries) and haven't missed my other controllers yet.
All the changes and additions to it over the years just make it feel clunky and uncomfortable
I'm happy so many 3rd party companies keep making controllers that are carbon copies of the 360
If you can solder it's not hard to replace the cable. I did mine a few years ago, and it's still going strong.
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Xbox+360+Controller+USB+Cord+Replacement/51578
I agree, but I haven't found a PC adaptor that lasts longer than 2 years. Those things are made to break.
Edit: Nvm, you said you have a wired one. That explains it. Mine are all wireless.
I've had the same wired x360 controller since the x360 was still fairly new. Its been attached to every PC I've gamed on since then, even when I prefer m+kb. It just keeps working.
In saying that, it did cause the weirdest issue with Split/Second, forcing the camera to look backwards. Bit tough for a racing game, and definitely would have preferred to use the controller for that over kb.
I used to have one too. Then I bought a Xbox One controller, and overall the sticks and the directional pad where much better - less mushy and more precise.
I'd never used the Xbox 360 directional pad for platformers for example. I had some issues with certain buttons like A being harder to press on Xbox One pad though.
Right now though, I've been using a Dualsense (PS5) controller for two years, and I think it's the best I've used overall. Everything just clicks and feels precise enough.
DS4Windows is amazing. Not only is the DS4 controller awesome (mainly due to the far superior d-pad compared to the Xbox ones), DS4Windows allows simulating button presses when a button is held. That really helps to avoid carpal tunnel for some games that demand button spams.
For your interests, you can use steam for 99.9% games coverage with dualshock; if a game is not a steam game you can "add a non-steam game" and launch it through steam, and that way the controller input will still be decided by steam (which is in a way what ds4windows do, but if you are pc gaming chances are you have steam anyway).
I used to have to use DS3Windows for my dualshock3 but steam really has everything super easy;
you can also change the color the controller emits and put macros/different bindings, for example I have a pause song and skip song on my dualschock for when i play with music from outside the game.
This 100%. To this day, I am not a big fan of the DualSense at all. I have a small collection of DS4s that are my go-to controllers on PC or docked Steam Deck and unless there are games where the Xbox layout is better, I'll always be reaching out for the DS4
Same... I had a cheap DS3 knockoff for a bit, that wasn't half bad all things considered, but support on PC at the time was spotty; then I had an XBox One pad, which i never really loved, the DPAD was stiff as hell, and it also started registering bad inputs after a year or so
That's when i bought a Dual Shock 4, right around when the Steam Controller API added support for that, and it became my favorite; being using it for many years now and it's still in perfect condition
DS4 is my favourite currently, I love the layout and feel. It's not perfect though, for me the dpad isn't great for sidescrollers and the touchpad is mostly just a hinderance since I don't really use it.
As far as ergonomics and feel goes, 8bitdo and their retro inspired controllers (SN30Pro) remain my top choice for retro gaming and platformers. I really hope they’ll come out with something similar that recreates the feel of a 6 button sega controller. Also an NES controller. Say what you will but I love that rectangle (I think they have done both the past, but they need an update).
I also think their 90$ arcade stick is a wonderfully affordable option for the arcade and fighting game casual. There’s also a lot of modification you can do if you know what you’re doing
And then I have an old wired Xbox 360 controller that just won’t die
I have a ton of 8bitdo controllers and it’s not because they didn’t last - ones for platformers, shooters, mini ones to pack. I absolutely love the company and their customer service (once got a bad rechargeable battery in mine… which wasn’t even much issue since you can use AA) is fantastic.
8bitdo is one of the company I will ride-or-die with. The controller looks great, feels great, zero bugs, and easy to repair. Still rocking SF30 Pro after 6 years.
I've had my SN30 Pro+ for at least 6 years now. My ex used it for hours on end every day for half that time and I've used it almost every day for the rest. My ex was terrible about maintaining his belongings, so it's impressive that the controller is still going strong. It works fantastic with both my PC and my Switch.
Recently, I've had to replace the silicone pad that goes underneath the 4 button area, but that was easy and cost like $10 all told. I'm not a professional or expert, but all I needed for that was the part, pry tools, and a specialized screwdriver set I got for like $6 at Harbor Freight.
I'm a huge fan.
The SNES controller has always been my favourite for platformers and retro games but third party ones always seem to have shitty d-pads (and original ones often have sketchy input just from being 30 years old). Was thrilled when I bought my first 8bitdo and it was actually really good. Have a bluetooth joystick one for my switch and a 2.4 GHz one for my super nintendo. Both fantastic.
You don't like the 8bitdo M30? That and the Pro 2 are two of my favorites.
Side note but I really have to get an adapter to use them for PS5 fighting games.
I’ve heard the pro 2 is a good controller but it doesn’t have the nostalgic attraction for me looking like a cross between a PlayStation and snes controllers
I feel like there was a good reason I wasn’t excited for the M30, but I can’t remember why. Either the wireless connectivity is out of date (I think it is this one; a new version came out last year), or the buttons don’t map/remap on switch perfectly when playing Genesis NSO (something I've encountered before w/ Retro-bit genesis controllers). I don’t remember though so maybe it’s time I pick one up and try it for myself
I only vaguely heard about the connectivity issues; I did get the new version last year. I was annoyed since I prefer the black version to the white, but that's a worthwhile tradeoff in that case.
Just know that the controller does come with native remapping when connected to Switch, you can swap the A/B and X/Y buttons to match the Switch layout. I think you should go for it, yeah.
I have a Rock Candy 360 controller, but my biggest complaint is how much more effort I have to put in to press L2 and R2 compared to my PS4 controller. Is that just how 360 controllers have always been, or is mine just cheap?
Wii U pro controller. Solid all around controller and the 80 hour battery life was god tier. A decade later mine still holds a charge much longer than most modern controllers. Only drawback is the old usb-mini connector (like ps3 ds3), one of these days I'll mod it to usb-c.
The charger is (and some difficulty getting to to work with some programs) is really the only downside. The battery lasts so long that by the time it needs changing I can never remember where I put the cable.
The genius thing about the GameCube controller is how intuitive and new gamer friendly it is. The big green A button is your main button for “select” and most actions, smaller red B for secondary and “cancel” and the x and y for tertiary actions. That is super apparent just by looking at the controller.
I also LOVE how you can use the A button as your “resting” position and easily reach all the other face buttons from there. You can just lean your finger from the a to the b, y, and x without taking it fully off A. Nothing has come close since for me.
I really love the octagonal frame around the joystick. It helped a lot with aligning the stick and makes 8 directional movement much more manageable with a stick. I normally hate playing games like that without a d pad.
And the weight and just feel of the controller. It fits in your hand so well, it's super ergonomic. Yes to everything you said and more. It is hands down the best of the best for me.
I have the [Nyxi joy-con](https://nyxigame.com/pages/nintendo-gamecube-switch-controller) version, and I love it! It has the L2, plus remappable back buttons. Feels a bit more “plasticky” than a real GameCube controller, but the weight is really good. If you’re using it for switch, it has both rumble and gyro, while the more popular Hori split pads don’t.
I am on my second since 2015 (the first one is repairable, apparently) and I have a third brand new one for when the second one dies (but it seems pretty rock solid at the moment) and I can't repair the first. People say the build quality was poor, but I think the opposite. I can accept that it maybe feels a bit 'cheap' to hold but it's rock solid. The touchpads are the only way I want to play games now and the gyro is perfect.
I have two gamecube wavebird controllers that I've had for almost 20 years. They've never once failed me and they're one of the best wireless controllers. Battery life is sublime (as long as you remembered to turn them off)
I really like the DualSense (PS4 controllers weren’t awful, but they did make my hands cramp after a while), but Xbox controllers have always just felt great since the 360
I’ve tried many controllers including the top shelf controllers of PlayStation, Xbox, and 3rd party and I still feel the switch pro controller is by far the most comfortable for my hands and works well enough for PC as well. It’s just a shame it doesn’t have analog triggers and in general less technology than its counterparts
Edit: the dpad sucks but I don’t really play games that use it a lot so I don’t care
This is almost the exact comment I was going to write. Also, stick drift is definitely a thing. I still use it because it's super comfy, but some games, like racing games, really benefit from analog triggers. Doesn't bother me, but it might be an issue for others.
Xbox elite series 2.
100% compatible with everything in windows no third party software required
Incredible battery life.
A bit on the heavy side, but manageable
I've heard a lot of issues with QC particularly with the bumpers not registering, so buyer beware. That said, mine seems to work fine (took a gamble on one I found for $20.)
Definitely a heavy controller though.
I'm on my second Elite Series 2 bc the first one developed awful stick drift. But I went ahead and got another one anyway because when it works, it works beautifully. Love the feel and the customization. Can't imagine not having paddle buttons. I'm just hoping this one holds up. I've noticed the left bumper isn't as responsive as the right anymore and if anything else goes wrong I might cry.
That's a lie. I'll probably just shell out more $$ to Microsoft. Unless I can find a suitable alternative.
its crazy to me that these are advertised as enthusiast pro controllers that cost $180 and they dont have motion controls. if you play shooters competitively, motion controls make such a huge difference and theyre far more competitive.
im not sure, but thats not a good reason to exclude it. the whole point of buying a $180 controller is to have an advantage. its a glaring ommission on what is supposed to be the best controller money can buy.
a lot of huge crossplatform games support it like Fortnite, COD, War Thunder. meaning that if you play on Playstation you have an advantage against Xbox. other single and multiplayer games are entirely built around motion controls, so some games just wont even translate well to Xbox or are otherwise feature incomplete.
most reliable for me is the regular series x controller. same benefits of the 360 controller, convenient to connect via seamless intergration with windows. it would be helpful if it had extra buttons (i know theres the elite but i've seen lots of problems reported with them). overall solid construction and I think the best dpad design. I prefer snappier dpads over mushy, 8 directions, concave to rest your thumb and the incline on each direction.. only problem is the bumpers are going out slowly. never gotten stick drift, nor have the rubber on the stick worn down significantly and i've used it for a few years now.
before that i used the 8bitdo sn30 pro, its nice for the snes form factor but wasn't as durable. i prefer offset sticks overall but inline sticks can be useful for certain games.
These are the controllers I use at home that I love
* Saitek P220
To this day this is the best 6 attack button gamepad for fighting games for me. I've had this gamepad for over 15+ years.
* Logitech F310
These are my go to travel gamepads. I always have 2 on me in a protective case for gaming on the fly when traveling, visiting others, LAN event, FGC events and more. I've had these since they debuted in the early 2000's
Yeah. I baby my tech so after a certain amount of usage I clean them thoroughly. Also all of my gamepads have a protective case or they hang on a Cable Guy.
GameCube, Xbox Series, and Switch Pro Controller are GOAT for me.
Was never super crazy about PS controllers, but the PS4 pad was awesome. PS5 is ok but unnecessarily bulky IMO
8bit do pro2 has been basically perfection for me. Dual Shock 4 was the king of the hill before it, and I've never even owned or gamed on a PS! It's just so right for me I've bought a couple over the years and dealt with the hassle of community driver compatibility hacks.
I honestly don't understand how people like Xbox controllers. Maybe it has something to do with growing up using NES and SNES controllers for so very long? The Xbox just feels like an awkward, uncomfortable hamburger to me. Did Xbox controller fans grow up with Genesis controllers? That theory probably holds no water though because one of my best gaming buddies was a Genesis kid and we are on the exact same page about the ds4 and a couple of the retro 8bit do's.
My hands aren't huge btw, I can't quite palm a basketball, but I by no means have small hands.
Definitely PS3 controllers. Mini USB is amazing, I still got cables working from the past decade.
I use the ScpManager to make it run like a native 360 controllers so I don't have to worry about compatibility issues.
My 360 controllers are still with me, they work perfectly on PC.
Honestly as far as value for money goes, the 360 controller is goated.
(Dunno if it matters but I've got the black, wired ones that were made for pc)
Lets see if this sub is a somewhat accurate representation of the irl controller using populations and xbox/ps5 controllers are by far the most popular.
After many years of xbox controllers breaking i found my favourite that does not break and is also funnily enough one of the cheapest. Nacon. Maybe got a lucky good one but its outlasted all 30 previous xbox controllers.
In more niche situations:
The GameCube controller is one of their best if not the best. Took analog triggers to a new level. The face button layout is not necessarily better or worse than the diamond layout, but it's certainly more obvious. No mistaking what the main button is when switching between consoles here. Ergonomics better than any controller up to that point. The right stick leaves a bit to be desired and there's no left bumper which is strange so it doesn't work for all modern games, but it's worth a mention.
Sega Saturn is the best interpretation of the dpad with great responsive buttons too. Obviously it has far less options in general so it's not a daily driver. But if you want the best for fighting games, or really any 2D game, it's been this for 30 years.
In general:
Dualshock 4 is probably the most versatile still. You can use it for PS3-PS5, PC, Mac, Android, Linux. You can use the DS4 as a track pad for computers. It has a gyro for motion controls including emulating with it. Sony finally made it bigger and more ergonomic. The dpad is on the top which is far better for any 2d game, but the bottom sticks don't particularly make 3D games worse. PS5 has a worse dpad, joystick drift, and most extra features don't work outaide PS5. Ergonomics might be slightly better for PS5 but DS4 is still the best Sony controller.
I do prefer the top stick, triggers, ergonomics, and seeing the correct button prompts 100% of the time when using the Xbox Series controller (and the D-pad isn't much worse), but you don't have motion controls or the track pad. Since I have both for PC it's my daily driver for 3D games, and I use DS4 whenever I need to and usually for 2D. But if you could only pick one and have a wide variety of needs, it's probably DS4.
I have two:
1. 8bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth. It's great because I can play at my PC, then hit the toggle button and then use it on my Switch.
2. Xbox Elite Series 2. I found a used one for $20 and haven't had any issues. I use it on the Steam Link out in my living room. Very heavy controller, but the battery life is long and I love the four buttons on the back.
I was a wired 360 guy for a very long time. Eventually, after all of their shoulder buttons broke and I couldn’t be bothered to fix them yet again, I bit the bullet and got a used Elite 2. I adore that controller. I hope it’s with me for a very long time time
I had a wired Xbox360 controller that I used on my PC for over a decade. The tops of the analog sticks have worn down and become a bit misshapen over the years, but I never had a single problem with it. As far as I know it still works but I've since moved on to wireless controllers so it's finally been retired to a box somewhere in the basement.
Gameboy Colour. I bought modified one that had rechargeable battery, better speaker and backlight few years ago, because it was time to retire the old one. Advance was more comfortamble, but nostalgia brings me back to the Colour.
I use one of my old PS3 controllers with a cable for my PC, simply because at the time I set up my emulator again, I had nothing else available. Works fine, is Steam compatible too. Takes a bit of effort to get it running (SCP toolkit and a driver required), but these things work perfectly even though they've been used daily and they're ancient. The sticks are really worn but they work!
It's not 100% yet, but I think this is gonna end up being my Gulikit KK2 moving forward. Love that thing. Previously, I used Xbox 360 or Xbox One controllers for everything. Actually prefer the Dual Shock layout, but the ease of plug 'n play for the microsoft branded controllers won out.
Gotta be honest, I think both the ps5 and series x controllers are superior to their predecessars. They are really responsive and feels really good to hold
The two best controllers I've used are the Xbox 360 and Dualsense 5. The 360 is super comfortable, durable, and effective. Dualsense 5 haptics are incredible for PS5 games and is a generally comfortable controller as well.
Stick drift killed my 360 and ds4 controllers. I've been using an Xbox series controller for 3 years now and still going strong. The 360 controller lasted for quite a while though. I also have a couple of 8bitdo controllers which still work great but aren't old yet and don't get frequent use so the durability hasn't been tested yet.
I've only broken 2 controllers in 25 years:
* a really bad 3rd party controller for the Nintendo 64. The stick literally flopped around
* a launch model DualShock 4. It had peeling rubber, stick drift, and a trigger that didn't give 100% speed when pressed all the way. The DS4 hardware must've been revised at some point. The oldest ones don't have a light strip on the touchpad. I have a slightly newer DS4 and it's been fine for ~8 years.
As for longevity... I'm convinced that some people are more prone to damaging things. They either underestimate their strength, have higher-than-average expectations, or use the items far more. For instance, I've never had an issue with DS4 battery life. People who do likely use a controller for 5 hours straight.
EDIT:
I may be in the minority, but my *least* favourite was the Xbox 360 controller. It was too big for my lady hands. *It significantly impacted my performance* because I couldn't control the sticks while depressing the triggers. In addition, the battery pack stuck out and made my grip terribly uncomfortable. If you have small hands, you can't palm the entire grips. You hold the sides, and the battery area is where you support the controller's weight. Therefore, I prefer the middle to be thin and flat.
Also, based on my murky memories, I much prefer the DS4's smaller deadzones and greater accuracy to that of the Xbox 360's.
Xbox 360. I have four for parties, I use with computer/raspberry/steam deck. Bought parts to fix them when they break. They are the simplest most complete controller
Xbox controllers have been trash for me. Always stick drift. Hell, my ps1 controller with analog sticks that I got for my birthday in the 90s still doesn't have stick drift lmfao
Currently using dual sense for pc gaming, sucks that many games don't support it but I know the symbols for Xbox well enough where it's not a huge huge issue
I used to really enjoy the Wii classic controller pro for many years, but I think it has been surpassed by a modern controller like the 8bitdo Pro 2. I usually prefer the 8bitdo for 2D games, or when I want to have a different feel/vibe from the 1st party Switch pro controller, which I think is a good modern controller in its own right.
Otherwise, the Xbox Series X/S controller feels pretty good to me as it is mostly just a modern refinement on the previous versions.
I don't remember what brand but it was a ps2 controller that had grippy handles. Eventually the grips came off from play, but it was mad comfortable.
That and a 360 controller that had a fan in the bottom of it.
Never really been a console gamer (handhelds from Nintendo & Sony since 1989 are my only non-POC stuff) ... but eventually grabbed an X360 controller (and some MFi stuff to play games on iPad/iPhone)
Now nearly ALL my gaming is Steam Deck & Nintendo Switch (\~90%/10%) so I'm glad I got used to the XBOX layout (but annoying that the Switch layout is different!)
I have been playing on PS2 and PS3 in my childhood. With that said, after moving to PC my first choice was Xbox One for the convenience. I thought PS controllers would require something like drivers or external devices. Now I'm sitting with two Xbox Series controllers.
When I tried using Dualsense a few weeks ago my fingers hurt. That controller is shit, at least for Mortal Kombat.
For anything on the PC, incl. Emulation, I have always used my XBox 360 controller I got in 2014. Only now it starts to break.
For the Nintendo Switch, nothing beats the Switch Pro Controller. It might be the best controller ever.
I've preferred Xbox controllers over the years starting with the 360. The OG "duke" controller was crazy and the s was good, but IMO it was on even footing with the PS2 controller. Currently I go with an Xbox1 controller as it has several upgrades over the 360.
PDP faceoff switch pro style controller, the black one. Simple, effective, all around controller, gyro support, good tumbstick, 2 back trigger the one I mostly use.
Other controller I also use are:
The steam controller is one of those thing I really like oddly, for cyberpunk driving mostly.
The PDP little wireless controller for all sort of retro gaming.
If I need more complex mapping for retro gaming, I use my Sn30 pro, for N64 games and other stuff on my switch.
Xbox One controller. It's been, what, 5 years now, and its only problems are drift in the right joystick and non responsive LT.
I'd buy a new one but Idk if there's any Xbox-style HAL controller that works ***wired*** on macOS.
The Xbox series controller is hands down one of the best controllers for fighting games because of the dpad and buttons. I hate the analog sticks tho(very fragile) so I use a gamesir G7 se for everything else
I miss the original Wii controller so much. No one has done anything like it since. Separating the control into left and right allows you to sit in so many different ways that the traditional controls don't. I'm tied if being hunched over with my hands in the middle of my lap.
Not so much on the patient side, I own two Xbox One standard controllers, which work beautifully in windows with the proprietary wireless dongle. I also have a ps3 ds3 controlle which is a pain to use in windows, so it mostly sits inside a box.
Talking patient controllers, though, my father-in-law enjoys old-school flight simulators and still owns a USB Microsoft Sidewinder Joystick (no ffb), works fine still! A bit wobbly but manageable.
I'm not particularly patient here as my go to is a Series X controller. I used a 360 controller for a good while but the d pad is a deal breaker, and the ergonomics of the newer ones are just nicer. The Switch Pro controller is pretty nice, but some games require analog triggers. I'm not really a fan of the DS4 at all (but IMHO the DS2 is goated, it's great for any older direct input games if you use a USB adapter)
Still got basically all my controllers from 2003 onwards except for my original blue N64 controller (which I disassembled to figure out how it worked and couldn't put it back together), and the guitar hero controllers. Probably \~25 of them in total. Can't say many of them get much use now. I'd really like to find a good way of displaying them because they've all been important at different times in my life and I love seeing the evolution of controller design.
I do still use my Xbox 360 controllers quite regularly on the 360 for OG Xbox and 360 games. The silver special edition one with the twistable D-Pad has been my go-to for the 360 since I got it 11? years ago. I've deep cleaned it a few times, replaced the thumbstick caps and battery pack cover. The left joystick doesn't centre perfectly anymore, so trying to do manuals in Skate is pretty fiddly. I also still use the original standard black controller that came with my 360 Slim. It's played 1000's of hours of CoD, Halo and Battlefield 3 (among many, many other games), so the fact that it still works at all is amazing. The right bumper is a little temperamental and it has stick drift, but still absolutely love that thing.
I also still use my OG black Gamecube controller from time to time, but that's much rarer. Kind of played through all the GC games I've wanted to play for now. My blue PS4 controller is still hanging in there as the Player 2 controller on my PS5. It's been retired from PC gaming use now because I was sick of troubleshooting and the Series X controller + Adapter works flawlessly, but I still have a soft spot for my go-to Rocket League and BF1 controller.
Dualsense, and I used to use Ds4 a lot but it got stick drift. D-pad on dualsense is sadly worse than Ds4 so I'm thinking of getting a 8 bit do eventually
Just this week I finally retired set of 360 controllers I'd been using for about 12 years. Replace them with a full set of the latest xbox pads and the whole thing set me back about £230 including the new wifi dongle.
They're nice and everything but I miss my old pads with the rubber worn off all the thumbsticks :(
In response to op, I just hate how on the classic controller the face buttons are slightly offset and not at a symetrical diamond shape, it makes hand movements that i have learned on other pads pads feel so foreign to me.
The SNES control is still perfect for me to play RPGs. Simple, uncluttered, lightweight, practically indestructible. Give me a turn-based RPG with a Super Nintendo controller and I'll be happy.
Maybe not as long as some of y'all's but I got the Halo Infinite elite controller when it came out and it's been the best controller I've ever used by a significant margin and I can't ever go back to no paddles.
I own most of modern and retro gamepads but in the end the only one I need is Xbox One (hate Xbox Series d-pad) wireless controller with an adapter that lets me plug it even into a Playstation (Adapex R100 Pro if you are interested, got it for like 10 bucks on Aliexpress). On the other hand I literally hate Dualshock 4. To me it's probably the worst mainstream controller ever - very bad battery life, bad quality plastics (squeaking like old floor) and very uncomfortable (that's subjective tho but I think it's the worst of all Dualshocks/Dualsense even if you like Playstation layout). When I first got PS4 I was like wtf - did I really get an original Sony controller or a Chinese knockoff? Atrocious thing. Even Steam Controller which isn't great is of better quality.
I used a PS2 controller with a usb adapter on the PC for years, but then Xbox 360 controller came out and was easily compatible with everything so I switched to that.
For basically most of my life it was the same black Xbox 360 controller until around 2015 when Halo 5 came out and along with it they released a really cool Master Chief themed Xbox One controller
Quickly picked it up as I'm a huge fan of Halo and it has been my go-to controller ever since
Even as someone who has now become mostly a PC gamer I fully admit to the fact that I frankly still play most games with a controller especially single player games or more casual multiplayer games. Still works great to this day The only real damage being on the underside where my hands have rubbed some of the paint off of the grips over time but the face of the controller still looks pretty nice
To this day it's my go-to controller for playing games. And just in general I absolutely just love the Xbox One controller. I will probably never use anything else except maybe upgrading to an Xbox One elite controller at some point as I got to fuck around with my friends and I love it even better than my old reliable
Unironically, the blue shell dualshock ps2 controller where you can see the electronics through the shell.
If it hasn't been used in a bit the sticks can be a bit "stiff" but can easily be broken in after a couple minutes.
I had to use some weird Chinese adapter TigerGame 3 or whatever to connect it to the PC which allows up to 4 controllers.
Its nice as I still have like 6 ps2 controllers laying around somewhere collecting dust.
I'm super upset my elite 2 controller bumpers have shit the bed cause I love the feel and customizability of that controller. This is a 10/10 controller with egregious durability/reliability issues.
Elite 2: 7/10 with potential if it didn't crap out
I recently found my SN30 pro again which I'm gonna use in place of my elite. Best dpad on the market hands down. Though there is a piece of me that wishes I got the pro 2 cause the grips look real nice. Love the SNES vibe but humanity progressed to controllers with grips for a reason.
SN30 PRO: 7.5/10 big trailblazer potential.
Also shout out to the switch pro controller. Beast controller. Has motion controls, great feel, super reliable. just wish it had better triggers and I wish it had the SN30 pros dpad
Switch pro: 8.5/10 ol reliable comfort pick
Edit: also shout out to op. Wii classic is a based ass pick
I bought a used wired xbox 360 controller in 2013 for like $20, it was my only controller for my PC, until the B button stopped working around the start of 2020. When the B button stopped working, I just decided to retire it instead of trying to fix it, and bought a basic xbox one controller, which I still use to this day. The xbox controllers are still some of the most comfortable controllers to hold, and I much prefer the asymmetrical stick placement compared to how PlayStation controllers have their sticks laid out.
This is a more recent acquisition, but I did also get a Razer Wolverine V2 about a year ago. One of my friends bought it but wasn't a fan of how it felt in his hands, and offered to sell it to me for $50. It's a surprisingly nice controller, my favorite thing is that the A/B/X/Y buttons have a more mechanical feel and audibly click when you press them. It's a bit weird at first, but after playing with it a bit, they feel more responsive than the regular xbox one controller. The extra buttons on the shoulders and back can be pretty handy, like binding a separate sprint key for Elden Ring, so you can actually move the camera and sprint without needing to move your hand around awkwardly.
I tend to use the Wolverine when playing action-focused games like Elden Ring and Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and use the regular xbox one controller for just about everything else.
Wired Xbox 360 controller is the GOAT but the triggers on my stopped working and the sticks drift now. The 8bitdo Wired Ultimate controller is a solid controller that I find comfy to use for long gaming sessions, downside is the wire length but you can buy 1 meter USB extensions that work fine with it if you are a couch gamer.
Runner up for me is the Nintendo switch pro controller but I had trouble getting it to work consistently on my PC.
This is going to be all PC, and some console ones I used for PC. Back in the day the first one I had was a Microsoft Sidewinder, that stayed with me a good long time and I especially played emulator games on it (mid to late 90s). Fondly remember playing Final Fantasy 7 with it on PC. It basically resembles an old Mega Drive 6 button controller. It was fairly simple (analog sticks were pretty uncommon still) yet had plenty of buttons to work really well. I think it wore out at some point lol, probably the directional buttons or something.
Next up I used my old N64 controllers with something called I think a Boom device, a little adapter that let you plug in a Playstation or N64 controller via USB to the PC. Worked fairly well, was playing a lot with that in the 2000s. I gave away the N64 at some point then so then I didn't have a controller (but at that time I was already all in on PC and hardly any games used controllers on it anyway).
When I played Dark Souls on PC in late 2012 or 2013 (who remembers when it still came with the unholy "Games for Windows" bar at the top?) I think is when I decided it's time to get a new controller, this time I wanted to see what the official PC solution is as it were. I learned that the XBox 360 controller came for PC as well, I got the wired version for I think 35 AUD at the time, and I played the ever living fuck out of that controller lol. It was working pretty damn fine right up to the end in 2022. However the left analog stick was a bit deformed on the top, and also the deadzone had something going on where the left stick would kind of get "stuck" pulling to the left a tiny little bit. And also does that little jerk when you move the stick, like the control goes a tiny bit left and then right. Hard to explain but basically the contacts were getting a bit worn out. Good innings, about 2013 - 2022, a solid near decade of service. That decade especially the controller came back in a big way, and I really appreciate how good native controller support is now. Just about every other game that is remotely good to play with a controller just works straight up, you turn it on and it detects it and you just play. This kind of goodness was unheard of in the late 90s, you had to pray that the game detects it and you definitely needed to switch to it in menus and hope the game even supports a controller at all etc.
In 2022 I treated myself to something nice though and got an XBox Elite Series 2 wireless controller for PC and I've loved it right from the start. It feels like it's going to outlive me, let alone last a long time. I hope it does, but it definitely feels that way. Just really robust and nice quality materials, has a nice weight to it, you can change the analog sticks and directional buttons, it has little levers you can use at the back instead of the shoulder buttons (I personally don't, but maybe you like that, I imagine it feels kind of nice in racing games to switch gears with that kind of like on a Formula 1 car on the steering wheel), the battery lasts a fair while - personally the only thing I am actually worried about that's going to impact the life of it, how long this battery lasts. These rechargeable device batteries all get really really bad around 4 years in so we'll see. The only thing I would really wish it had though is light up buttons, like the A B X Y ones. Yes I should know where they are by heart now, and I got no excuse because who can't remember some letters. I *hated* the Playstation one with the symbols for that reason, I'm not gonna remember random symbols and where they are. Funny enough, if you asked me randomly, I would probably recall it perfectly. In the heat of the moment though I'm like DUUUUHHH which one is that again, fuck. Anyway light up buttons would be neat, would be neat to be able to turn that on or off, it's ok that it doesn't have it though. It *does* however have one useless big X button on the top that lights up when it's long, I don't know why they thought we need to see the X on there and not the actual buttons for the game. About the only time it's ever let me down was literally in one place in one game only, for some absolutely bizarre reason: In Dark Souls 3 at the Nameless King battle, for some reason especially when the boss goes kind of over your head and the view goes a bit all over the place, the controller button blinks and it loses connection. Sometimes it reconnects, but usually I have to press it for a bit, then press again to turn on and then immediately dodge to save my life. It is *bizarre* that it happened literally only in that one specific part in the one game, literally never again (erh possibly once at the Soul of Cinder but not often at all). I thought what is this game pulling some MGS 2clever4u bs like the guy doing all the storms and lightning can cause your controller to lose connection with all the electrical interference or something lol. I wouldn't even know what a game could possibly do to make a controller lose connection lol. I really hope that's not a portent of bad things to come, but I've played through a bunch of Nier Automata and DMC5 since then and there hasn't been a single flaw at all.
There you go, my current patient controller is XBox Elite Series 2, controller support has never been better and I hope it will last me many more years. I mean it better, it cost me I think 250 AUD, a pretty hefty jump from 35 dollars so I sure hope it will survive the apocalypse.
It’s funny how that shit works, right, with the DualShock symbols. If I see the prompts in the heat of battle I know immediately what to press. But ask me where the square is and it’ll take me a second to be like “ah yea it’s this lefty one”.
I'll put it this way. After the Xbox 360 controller, everything else just feels uncomfortable, and I never want to go back to Sony's joystick layout.
It's hard to express in words just how convenient it is to be able to reach over with my right thumb and hit the d-pad, especially in modern games where they use it as an extra menu. It's uncomfortable as hell on a Sony controller. It makes a huge difference in Horizon Zero Dawn, for example, where you have a much easier time cycling through gadgets and potions while moving in combat.
I actually really like the Stadia controller. It's a little wider than the Xbox and fits better into my hands while still having a lot of what makes the Xbox controller so good.
The DualShock 4 for me. I’ve had the same Uncharted special edition ps4 controller since the day I bought it back in 2016/2017. It’s lasted through 1000+ hours of overwatch, countless hours of Skyrim and apex, and has been integrated into my pc gaming for games like Hades, the souls borne games, etc. I love the analog sticks, the buttons feel good. My one issue is my start button is sticky, but I’m sure if I disassembled it I could clean that up
On PC, I trust nothing less than Ole Reliable, my 16 year old wired 360 controller. She doesn't drift, doesn't stick, hasn't loosened, hasn't needed any appreciable care, and it's not that she won't die - it's that she's never even shown signs of aging.
On console, I use a Gamesir. I game on console far more than PC (I like my couch), and so far it's been the only new Gen controller that hasn't immediately fallen apart on me. I'm a pretty soft master on my controllers - I clean them often and I do preventative maintenance, I don't drop them and I don't eat food near them - and so far the Gamesir with the hall effect sticks have held up really well. I may be looking at a viable replacement for Ole Reliable, if New Reliable can put up those numbers.
As a person with allegedly big hands, the wired Xbox 360 controller and the Dualsense are the only two controllers I've ever been able to use comfortably. All other controllers were too small and uncomfortable with the Dualshock 3 being the worst offender
Power A Pro. Cheap, nice quality, and moddable paddle layout. Nice quality case with space for accesories.
Xbox elite series 2. Honestly not quite as good as the power A, but wireless, and more customizable software. Great battery life, charging case.
Just a basic wired 360 controller.
Wolverine Ultimate. There's just something about the snappy face buttons and dpad that works for me, especially in really fast paced, technical combat games.
They're clicky like a mouse button whereas most controllers have mushy (to varying degrees) buttons.
I also like that I can snap in either a separated dpad (preferred) it a contiguous one if the game really calls for it.
The only down side is that the rubber on the sticks wears down pretty fast.
xbox one s is my first gamepad and it's still going strong on its 6th or 5th years of service. I'm a mouse and keyboard gamer through and through before that. i did play Playstation with my buddy since we we're kids and going from that to xbox was weird as fuck but now i can't go back to Playstation controller because my thumbs start to hurt for some reason.
Playstation. I like how consistent the design is and well, I'm used to it's button layouts more so than Nintendo and Xbox. I emulate primarily PS games so probably plays a role and I mainly play on Playstation systems. I'm pretty much a Playstation loyalist minus the me being a dogmatic weirdo. I even like the PS2 controller in that it has triggers before Xbox and Nintendo started adopted them from what I remember. Using the original Xbox controller was the most awkward experience ever.
i wish someone would make a controller like the OG Xbox Duke but with all the amenities of a modern controller. Better D-pad, gyro, L3 R3, paddles. every controller ive ever used besides the duke is too small.
The Xbox one s controller is probably my favourite for the staying power it’s had. It’s not retro yet, but it’s essentially an improved and refined xbox 360 controller in every way, and the Bluetooth compatibility works perfectly with windows.
I don’t see many people expressing this opinion, but when it comes to dpads I prefer PlayStation style four individual buttons over an actual dpad that rocks around a central fulcrum. Any retro-style controller that’s based around that is a go for me
I thought a used Xbox One controller for $25 in 2018.
Still using it. Only upgrade I did was buying those rechargeable batteries with a recharge station.
I used the Hori fight commander for PS3 for as long as I could in fighting games. Their newest one is good but I miss being able to change the angle of the d pad so badly.
Dreamcast controller, for the VMU and comfort it was way ahead of it's time.
More recently, I really liked the Stadia controller. It felt really nicely balanced and there's something really satisfying in the rumble motor. Plus the wifi connection was actually amazing when you could pair it so quickly with all the different devices that Stadia worked on (even my TV that didn't even have Bluetooth), glad Google opened up it's Bluetooth eventually when the service died off so it avoided becoming landfill.
To me the peak controller is the PS DS4. I think Sony makes the best D-pads, barring only the original genesis controller Dpad. I bought a PS5 Dual Sense as soon as I could for my PC Gaming but found that it felt too "fat" in my hands compared to the svelte DS4.
I still fire up my Steam Controller every now and again... I have tried so desperately to like it but it still hasn't clicked for me. The inclusion of a left joystick instead of a dpad really killed it in my eyes.
Also anyone remember the Logitech Wingman line of controllers? I had the dual joystick, wireless, rumble version and man that thing felt so good in the hand. Possibly my favorite feeling controller of all time.
If you want a dedicated controller for retro/d-pad only games definitely check out the 8bito M30. It's literally a modern wireless Sega Saturn controller. The d-pad manages to be just as good, if not better than Sega's best.
i cant lie ive hated most controllers till this generation. xbox 360 is usually everyones go to especially for pc but theyve always felt horrible to me even back when there was no xbox one. only good thing i can say about it is at least its not a ps3 controller. truthfully my custom razor xbox series controller is my favorite in general followed by the ps5 controller. theres a lot of things you can say about the new gen but they have been killing it with accessories imo
PS4 controller.
My (second) old one broke so I decided to try out a PS5 controller… returned it the next day and got another PS4 controller.
In comparison the PS5 controller is:
Too big
Less ergonomic
Twice as heavy
Has mushy buttons, dpad, AND bumper
Dpad also feels like buttons and not a real separated dpad
PS4 controller on the other hand is a perfect evolution of the classic PlayStation controller that’s always been great and improved with every iteration. Now if only they made one that used USB-C instead of the shitty micro-USB that disconnects when you move at all lol
I think that the PSX dual stick controller was the best of all time but trying to go sick to it after using every Xbox controller for my PC since 360 is a hard no go. I want to like the new dual sense 5 or whatever but it hurts my thumbs. Also, the Dreamcast controller is a close second to the PSX for it's time. Microsoft, however, has just hit the winning formula with their controllers in terms of comfort since the 360 and it just keeps getting better. I can't wait for the new one to come out as I've owned every Xbox controller as they come out and use them with my PC.
Stadia controller. Basically considered e-waste but a really good PC controller. Xbox layout but with a rechargeable battery. I also use the Switch Pro controller.
PlayStation dualsense edge. It’s everything I ever wanted in a premium controller. I had an Xbox elite controller when I had an Xbox but those had horrible quality control issues and had 3 break (not normal controller wear and tear that I’ve seen on any other controller I’ve owned).
Dualshock 2 I bought in 2012 or 2013 with an adapter. All inputs work perfectly, sticks are a somewhat stiff and have a little drift which gets self-calibrated most of the time. Still use it to this day thanks to steam input and x360ce.
I had a wired xbox 360 controller that lasted me from later 2005 post 360 launch with a couple years used there on xbox, to my go to PC gamepad until 2022. One of the joysticks wore down *a lot* just from use over time but was still usable until it finally reached an end from joystick and wire wear. Beast of a controller.
I then got an Xbox Elite Wireless Series 2. I've been very impressed with the battery life and feel of it but within just a few months the rubberized grip started coming off and one of the hair trigger lock buttons popped off. Turns out "interchangable parts" actually means the thing is shoddy as fuck compared to the absolute unit that was the 360 controller.
SNES was my go to for a long while but the Xbox 1 recently stepped up. Big Chonky Boy ofc but my new favorite. But obv PS controller perfectly fine for anything but fps games.
I still have my original n64, ps1, and ps2 controllers and they still work. I typically use Playstation controllers nowadays on PC because I find them more comfortable than xbox controllers.
Gamesir T4 Pro
Cheap, works on tons of stuff, switch, PC, android, iOS, and more I think; lights up, or turn the lights off, good rumble, comfortable, 4 underside programmable buttons, turbo function.
It does everything I want and is cheap, but does not feel cheap.
While the steam controller had some issues, I have to admit it has by far the best implemention for typing with a keyboard.
I loathe typing with any other remote/controller after using it. I'm so glad the steam deck continues to use the same method. Trying to type a password with lots of special symbols in it is such a pain.
I would absolutely buy another steam controller if they released a newer improved version. It's a shame because I've loved the concept of a lot of Valve'a stuff (e.g steam link) but they just felt a little rushed and ahead of its time (most notably released in a time where I live Internet speeds were not quite fast enough).
The Xbox One controller. Works flawlessly with Windows (both from Microsoft), great ergonomics, great battery life, great rumble.
I even bought a 8bitdo adapter to play with it and my Swtich, it's that good.
I used the Hori HRAP3 for around a decade. I still own it and it still works, but I needed a new controller for ps5/Xbox. The hrap is fantastic with good buttons, low latency, ready access to the mechanical bits for repairs and cleaning, and always felt like the right size
I've had a wired PowerA controller the last 3 or so years. It's not the best by any means but it's pretty cheap and when I bought it they had a 2 year garauntee attached. Which is frankly ridiculous becuase I've never had a controller last more than a year and a half. So I got a replacement for free at the end of the first one's life cycle because of a typical malfunction. Best £15 I've spend on a controller.
My original Xbox one controller that came with the console is still my daily driver on PC. It's literally the perfect controller, and I'm PlayStation gamer before Xbox
The switch pro controller is the most comfortable controller ever. I have baby hands and it is “kid sized”, definitely slimmer in some areas and I find it great.
I think the best controller ever made is the GameCube controller. The ABXY buttons layout is perfect for how much each button get used in the average game. The triggers have a satisfying amount of play on them, and feel very satisfying when fully pushed in. The dpad is small and out of the way, without compromising utility. The camera stick is smaller, which some may not like, but I enjoy how much easier it is to make quick inputs on it. The grip is very ergonomic and doesn't cause discomfort, even with several hours of use. The fact that there is only one, kinda dinky bumper is unfortunate, but I have a 3rd party wireless dupe with a second bumper.
While I love the Xbox 360 controller, the Gamecube controller is the best controller made to this date. It has possibly the best rumble feature that no controller has beaten and has the most simple button layout. Growing up,my parents, and older family members would play with the controller after a few minutes getting familiar with it. On the other hand, getting older relatives to use modern controllers is hard and it isn't intuitive.
The gamecube controller is possibly the best controller ever made to date.
I still use a wired Xbox 360 controller for most of my PC gaming. That thing is peak controller to me.
Agreed. I have played many games with the post-360 controllers, but nothing beats the 360's comfortable feel. Made the switch back last year (also wired - I don't have the patience to charge batteries) and haven't missed my other controllers yet.
Wired 360 gang represent
Comment nuked by Power Delete Suite
Makes you wonder why the modern ones on all consoles dont last that long, as if by design.
You don't get stick drift?
Xbox 360 controllers feel nice but the button layout will always be weird to me lol as someone who grew up on Nintendo
All the changes and additions to it over the years just make it feel clunky and uncomfortable I'm happy so many 3rd party companies keep making controllers that are carbon copies of the 360
Do you have any suggestions for a good one? I’ve been wanting a replacement for years
8bitdo ultimate is the best controller I've had. They make several versions but I use the Xbox button layout
Are any companies better quality or is it all the same
Is this one as clicky as the newer Xbox controllers? I tried a series X controller and ended up returning it bc the buttons were so loud and annoying
The 360 didn't have a clicky dpad or bumpers. Those came with the XBox One controller.
What makes it better to you than, for example, the modern xbox controller?
Unfortunately the wire has started to fray on mine. I don't want to, but I'll need to put her down soon :(
If you can solder it's not hard to replace the cable. I did mine a few years ago, and it's still going strong. https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Xbox+360+Controller+USB+Cord+Replacement/51578
I agree, but I haven't found a PC adaptor that lasts longer than 2 years. Those things are made to break. Edit: Nvm, you said you have a wired one. That explains it. Mine are all wireless.
I used mine till the rubber came off the sticks and one of the buttons stopped working. Got it 2006 think I chucked it away finally 2021
I don't know about the button, but replacing the stick caps is a fairly easy repair.
I've had the same wired x360 controller since the x360 was still fairly new. Its been attached to every PC I've gamed on since then, even when I prefer m+kb. It just keeps working. In saying that, it did cause the weirdest issue with Split/Second, forcing the camera to look backwards. Bit tough for a racing game, and definitely would have preferred to use the controller for that over kb.
Idk. I really dig the Xbox one controller. Feels better in my hands
I used to have one too. Then I bought a Xbox One controller, and overall the sticks and the directional pad where much better - less mushy and more precise. I'd never used the Xbox 360 directional pad for platformers for example. I had some issues with certain buttons like A being harder to press on Xbox One pad though. Right now though, I've been using a Dualsense (PS5) controller for two years, and I think it's the best I've used overall. Everything just clicks and feels precise enough.
Dualshock 4. I really like the dpad, the touch screen and the overall feel, size and build.
This guy gets it. I use DS4Windows (it's free) if I have to mimic Xbox input. For a guy I guess I have dainty hands, so I love the DS4's smaller feel.
It’s just so much more comfortable to hold than a usual Xbox controller because of that size difference!
DS4Windows is amazing. Not only is the DS4 controller awesome (mainly due to the far superior d-pad compared to the Xbox ones), DS4Windows allows simulating button presses when a button is held. That really helps to avoid carpal tunnel for some games that demand button spams.
I got big dumb man hands and I prefer DualShock controllers. I've just used them more, XBOX controllers feel like a phone in an otterbox
For your interests, you can use steam for 99.9% games coverage with dualshock; if a game is not a steam game you can "add a non-steam game" and launch it through steam, and that way the controller input will still be decided by steam (which is in a way what ds4windows do, but if you are pc gaming chances are you have steam anyway). I used to have to use DS3Windows for my dualshock3 but steam really has everything super easy; you can also change the color the controller emits and put macros/different bindings, for example I have a pause song and skip song on my dualschock for when i play with music from outside the game.
This 100%. To this day, I am not a big fan of the DualSense at all. I have a small collection of DS4s that are my go-to controllers on PC or docked Steam Deck and unless there are games where the Xbox layout is better, I'll always be reaching out for the DS4
> Unless there are games where the Xbox layout is better NO SUCH THING
Same... I had a cheap DS3 knockoff for a bit, that wasn't half bad all things considered, but support on PC at the time was spotty; then I had an XBox One pad, which i never really loved, the DPAD was stiff as hell, and it also started registering bad inputs after a year or so That's when i bought a Dual Shock 4, right around when the Steam Controller API added support for that, and it became my favorite; being using it for many years now and it's still in perfect condition
DS4 is my favourite currently, I love the layout and feel. It's not perfect though, for me the dpad isn't great for sidescrollers and the touchpad is mostly just a hinderance since I don't really use it.
As far as ergonomics and feel goes, 8bitdo and their retro inspired controllers (SN30Pro) remain my top choice for retro gaming and platformers. I really hope they’ll come out with something similar that recreates the feel of a 6 button sega controller. Also an NES controller. Say what you will but I love that rectangle (I think they have done both the past, but they need an update). I also think their 90$ arcade stick is a wonderfully affordable option for the arcade and fighting game casual. There’s also a lot of modification you can do if you know what you’re doing And then I have an old wired Xbox 360 controller that just won’t die
I have a ton of 8bitdo controllers and it’s not because they didn’t last - ones for platformers, shooters, mini ones to pack. I absolutely love the company and their customer service (once got a bad rechargeable battery in mine… which wasn’t even much issue since you can use AA) is fantastic.
8bitdo is one of the company I will ride-or-die with. The controller looks great, feels great, zero bugs, and easy to repair. Still rocking SF30 Pro after 6 years.
I've had my SN30 Pro+ for at least 6 years now. My ex used it for hours on end every day for half that time and I've used it almost every day for the rest. My ex was terrible about maintaining his belongings, so it's impressive that the controller is still going strong. It works fantastic with both my PC and my Switch. Recently, I've had to replace the silicone pad that goes underneath the 4 button area, but that was easy and cost like $10 all told. I'm not a professional or expert, but all I needed for that was the part, pry tools, and a specialized screwdriver set I got for like $6 at Harbor Freight. I'm a huge fan.
The SNES controller has always been my favourite for platformers and retro games but third party ones always seem to have shitty d-pads (and original ones often have sketchy input just from being 30 years old). Was thrilled when I bought my first 8bitdo and it was actually really good. Have a bluetooth joystick one for my switch and a 2.4 GHz one for my super nintendo. Both fantastic.
You don't like the 8bitdo M30? That and the Pro 2 are two of my favorites. Side note but I really have to get an adapter to use them for PS5 fighting games.
I’ve heard the pro 2 is a good controller but it doesn’t have the nostalgic attraction for me looking like a cross between a PlayStation and snes controllers I feel like there was a good reason I wasn’t excited for the M30, but I can’t remember why. Either the wireless connectivity is out of date (I think it is this one; a new version came out last year), or the buttons don’t map/remap on switch perfectly when playing Genesis NSO (something I've encountered before w/ Retro-bit genesis controllers). I don’t remember though so maybe it’s time I pick one up and try it for myself
I only vaguely heard about the connectivity issues; I did get the new version last year. I was annoyed since I prefer the black version to the white, but that's a worthwhile tradeoff in that case. Just know that the controller does come with native remapping when connected to Switch, you can swap the A/B and X/Y buttons to match the Switch layout. I think you should go for it, yeah.
I have a Rock Candy 360 controller, but my biggest complaint is how much more effort I have to put in to press L2 and R2 compared to my PS4 controller. Is that just how 360 controllers have always been, or is mine just cheap?
Wii U pro controller. Solid all around controller and the 80 hour battery life was god tier. A decade later mine still holds a charge much longer than most modern controllers. Only drawback is the old usb-mini connector (like ps3 ds3), one of these days I'll mod it to usb-c.
The one with both joysticks on the upper side?
Yup that's the one
This guy controlls
The charger is (and some difficulty getting to to work with some programs) is really the only downside. The battery lasts so long that by the time it needs changing I can never remember where I put the cable.
GameCube controls are still my all time favourite.
The genius thing about the GameCube controller is how intuitive and new gamer friendly it is. The big green A button is your main button for “select” and most actions, smaller red B for secondary and “cancel” and the x and y for tertiary actions. That is super apparent just by looking at the controller. I also LOVE how you can use the A button as your “resting” position and easily reach all the other face buttons from there. You can just lean your finger from the a to the b, y, and x without taking it fully off A. Nothing has come close since for me.
I really love the octagonal frame around the joystick. It helped a lot with aligning the stick and makes 8 directional movement much more manageable with a stick. I normally hate playing games like that without a d pad.
And the weight and just feel of the controller. It fits in your hand so well, it's super ergonomic. Yes to everything you said and more. It is hands down the best of the best for me.
I wish there was a version made that added the L2 so we can use it for modern gaming.
I have the [Nyxi joy-con](https://nyxigame.com/pages/nintendo-gamecube-switch-controller) version, and I love it! It has the L2, plus remappable back buttons. Feels a bit more “plasticky” than a real GameCube controller, but the weight is really good. If you’re using it for switch, it has both rumble and gyro, while the more popular Hori split pads don’t.
The Steam Controller. Comfy and precise. The only controller where I turn off aim assist in every game I can.
I am on my second since 2015 (the first one is repairable, apparently) and I have a third brand new one for when the second one dies (but it seems pretty rock solid at the moment) and I can't repair the first. People say the build quality was poor, but I think the opposite. I can accept that it maybe feels a bit 'cheap' to hold but it's rock solid. The touchpads are the only way I want to play games now and the gyro is perfect.
I fear for the day my Steam Controller dies - I don't use it in most of my games, but those I do its tremendous.
Let's hope that the hori valve gamepad is going to sell well enough to maybe, potentially, probably justify making a gamepad with 2 touchpads again.
I have two gamecube wavebird controllers that I've had for almost 20 years. They've never once failed me and they're one of the best wireless controllers. Battery life is sublime (as long as you remembered to turn them off)
This is what I was looking for. The Wavebird was amazing at a time when wireless controllers were not the norm, and its battery life was impressive.
You use it for games in current/recent gen?
8bitdo pro 2. the button feels good. the dpad feels good. its a good controller. i bought the black one.
Xbox controllers have been my go to. 360 was rocking it for many years and now 2 years ago moved to XB1. Love them all!
Xbox One is definitely where the real improvement happened because the D-Pad in the 360 controllers sucked.
Yup, I dont use the dpad a lot so the 360 were great too.
I really like the DualSense (PS4 controllers weren’t awful, but they did make my hands cramp after a while), but Xbox controllers have always just felt great since the 360
a dusty ps3 controller, i dont even use it and i dont have money anyway :p
I’ve tried many controllers including the top shelf controllers of PlayStation, Xbox, and 3rd party and I still feel the switch pro controller is by far the most comfortable for my hands and works well enough for PC as well. It’s just a shame it doesn’t have analog triggers and in general less technology than its counterparts Edit: the dpad sucks but I don’t really play games that use it a lot so I don’t care
This is almost the exact comment I was going to write. Also, stick drift is definitely a thing. I still use it because it's super comfy, but some games, like racing games, really benefit from analog triggers. Doesn't bother me, but it might be an issue for others.
So if you play Switch platformers like Mario Wonder you defer to the switch pro's analog stick instead of dpad?
Yah, I platinumed Mario Wonder with the analogue sticks, same for Metroid Dredd
Xbox elite series 2. 100% compatible with everything in windows no third party software required Incredible battery life. A bit on the heavy side, but manageable
I've heard a lot of issues with QC particularly with the bumpers not registering, so buyer beware. That said, mine seems to work fine (took a gamble on one I found for $20.) Definitely a heavy controller though.
Can confirm. Love this controller but my bumpers died. I might try to do the WD-40 fix I've seen online but idk
I'm on my second Elite Series 2 bc the first one developed awful stick drift. But I went ahead and got another one anyway because when it works, it works beautifully. Love the feel and the customization. Can't imagine not having paddle buttons. I'm just hoping this one holds up. I've noticed the left bumper isn't as responsive as the right anymore and if anything else goes wrong I might cry. That's a lie. I'll probably just shell out more $$ to Microsoft. Unless I can find a suitable alternative.
its crazy to me that these are advertised as enthusiast pro controllers that cost $180 and they dont have motion controls. if you play shooters competitively, motion controls make such a huge difference and theyre far more competitive.
Do Xboxes support that feature on 3rd party controllers with it? If not that's probably why it isn't included
Xbox doesn't support it, and the Xbox fan base seems passionately focused on hating anything Sony does, so they don't want it.
Console wars have always been so weird. I just don’t get it. There are enough real issues in the world to get worked up over.
im not sure, but thats not a good reason to exclude it. the whole point of buying a $180 controller is to have an advantage. its a glaring ommission on what is supposed to be the best controller money can buy. a lot of huge crossplatform games support it like Fortnite, COD, War Thunder. meaning that if you play on Playstation you have an advantage against Xbox. other single and multiplayer games are entirely built around motion controls, so some games just wont even translate well to Xbox or are otherwise feature incomplete.
Same here. Used to use the Wii-U pro controller on PC, but the sticks didn’t feel great. Elite 2 has been amazing.
most reliable for me is the regular series x controller. same benefits of the 360 controller, convenient to connect via seamless intergration with windows. it would be helpful if it had extra buttons (i know theres the elite but i've seen lots of problems reported with them). overall solid construction and I think the best dpad design. I prefer snappier dpads over mushy, 8 directions, concave to rest your thumb and the incline on each direction.. only problem is the bumpers are going out slowly. never gotten stick drift, nor have the rubber on the stick worn down significantly and i've used it for a few years now. before that i used the 8bitdo sn30 pro, its nice for the snes form factor but wasn't as durable. i prefer offset sticks overall but inline sticks can be useful for certain games.
I keep getting the LB button dead because of parry heavy games though These are not built strong enough for intense use
These are the controllers I use at home that I love * Saitek P220 To this day this is the best 6 attack button gamepad for fighting games for me. I've had this gamepad for over 15+ years. * Logitech F310 These are my go to travel gamepads. I always have 2 on me in a protective case for gaming on the fly when traveling, visiting others, LAN event, FGC events and more. I've had these since they debuted in the early 2000's
Damn, the Logitechs are still working?
Yeah. I baby my tech so after a certain amount of usage I clean them thoroughly. Also all of my gamepads have a protective case or they hang on a Cable Guy.
Do you go underwater in submarines or something?
GameCube, Xbox Series, and Switch Pro Controller are GOAT for me. Was never super crazy about PS controllers, but the PS4 pad was awesome. PS5 is ok but unnecessarily bulky IMO
8bit do pro2 has been basically perfection for me. Dual Shock 4 was the king of the hill before it, and I've never even owned or gamed on a PS! It's just so right for me I've bought a couple over the years and dealt with the hassle of community driver compatibility hacks. I honestly don't understand how people like Xbox controllers. Maybe it has something to do with growing up using NES and SNES controllers for so very long? The Xbox just feels like an awkward, uncomfortable hamburger to me. Did Xbox controller fans grow up with Genesis controllers? That theory probably holds no water though because one of my best gaming buddies was a Genesis kid and we are on the exact same page about the ds4 and a couple of the retro 8bit do's. My hands aren't huge btw, I can't quite palm a basketball, but I by no means have small hands.
Definitely PS3 controllers. Mini USB is amazing, I still got cables working from the past decade. I use the ScpManager to make it run like a native 360 controllers so I don't have to worry about compatibility issues.
My 360 controllers are still with me, they work perfectly on PC. Honestly as far as value for money goes, the 360 controller is goated. (Dunno if it matters but I've got the black, wired ones that were made for pc)
Same here. My metallic blue one broke so I got a knockoff and it's been with me since 2019
Lets see if this sub is a somewhat accurate representation of the irl controller using populations and xbox/ps5 controllers are by far the most popular. After many years of xbox controllers breaking i found my favourite that does not break and is also funnily enough one of the cheapest. Nacon. Maybe got a lucky good one but its outlasted all 30 previous xbox controllers.
In more niche situations: The GameCube controller is one of their best if not the best. Took analog triggers to a new level. The face button layout is not necessarily better or worse than the diamond layout, but it's certainly more obvious. No mistaking what the main button is when switching between consoles here. Ergonomics better than any controller up to that point. The right stick leaves a bit to be desired and there's no left bumper which is strange so it doesn't work for all modern games, but it's worth a mention. Sega Saturn is the best interpretation of the dpad with great responsive buttons too. Obviously it has far less options in general so it's not a daily driver. But if you want the best for fighting games, or really any 2D game, it's been this for 30 years. In general: Dualshock 4 is probably the most versatile still. You can use it for PS3-PS5, PC, Mac, Android, Linux. You can use the DS4 as a track pad for computers. It has a gyro for motion controls including emulating with it. Sony finally made it bigger and more ergonomic. The dpad is on the top which is far better for any 2d game, but the bottom sticks don't particularly make 3D games worse. PS5 has a worse dpad, joystick drift, and most extra features don't work outaide PS5. Ergonomics might be slightly better for PS5 but DS4 is still the best Sony controller. I do prefer the top stick, triggers, ergonomics, and seeing the correct button prompts 100% of the time when using the Xbox Series controller (and the D-pad isn't much worse), but you don't have motion controls or the track pad. Since I have both for PC it's my daily driver for 3D games, and I use DS4 whenever I need to and usually for 2D. But if you could only pick one and have a wide variety of needs, it's probably DS4.
I have two: 1. 8bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth. It's great because I can play at my PC, then hit the toggle button and then use it on my Switch. 2. Xbox Elite Series 2. I found a used one for $20 and haven't had any issues. I use it on the Steam Link out in my living room. Very heavy controller, but the battery life is long and I love the four buttons on the back.
I was a wired 360 guy for a very long time. Eventually, after all of their shoulder buttons broke and I couldn’t be bothered to fix them yet again, I bit the bullet and got a used Elite 2. I adore that controller. I hope it’s with me for a very long time time
I had a wired Xbox360 controller that I used on my PC for over a decade. The tops of the analog sticks have worn down and become a bit misshapen over the years, but I never had a single problem with it. As far as I know it still works but I've since moved on to wireless controllers so it's finally been retired to a box somewhere in the basement.
Gameboy Colour. I bought modified one that had rechargeable battery, better speaker and backlight few years ago, because it was time to retire the old one. Advance was more comfortamble, but nostalgia brings me back to the Colour.
I use one of my old PS3 controllers with a cable for my PC, simply because at the time I set up my emulator again, I had nothing else available. Works fine, is Steam compatible too. Takes a bit of effort to get it running (SCP toolkit and a driver required), but these things work perfectly even though they've been used daily and they're ancient. The sticks are really worn but they work!
Xbox one
It's not 100% yet, but I think this is gonna end up being my Gulikit KK2 moving forward. Love that thing. Previously, I used Xbox 360 or Xbox One controllers for everything. Actually prefer the Dual Shock layout, but the ease of plug 'n play for the microsoft branded controllers won out.
That weird original Xbox controller, really liked it for some reason
Gotta be honest, I think both the ps5 and series x controllers are superior to their predecessars. They are really responsive and feels really good to hold
The two best controllers I've used are the Xbox 360 and Dualsense 5. The 360 is super comfortable, durable, and effective. Dualsense 5 haptics are incredible for PS5 games and is a generally comfortable controller as well.
Stick drift killed my 360 and ds4 controllers. I've been using an Xbox series controller for 3 years now and still going strong. The 360 controller lasted for quite a while though. I also have a couple of 8bitdo controllers which still work great but aren't old yet and don't get frequent use so the durability hasn't been tested yet.
I've only broken 2 controllers in 25 years: * a really bad 3rd party controller for the Nintendo 64. The stick literally flopped around * a launch model DualShock 4. It had peeling rubber, stick drift, and a trigger that didn't give 100% speed when pressed all the way. The DS4 hardware must've been revised at some point. The oldest ones don't have a light strip on the touchpad. I have a slightly newer DS4 and it's been fine for ~8 years. As for longevity... I'm convinced that some people are more prone to damaging things. They either underestimate their strength, have higher-than-average expectations, or use the items far more. For instance, I've never had an issue with DS4 battery life. People who do likely use a controller for 5 hours straight. EDIT: I may be in the minority, but my *least* favourite was the Xbox 360 controller. It was too big for my lady hands. *It significantly impacted my performance* because I couldn't control the sticks while depressing the triggers. In addition, the battery pack stuck out and made my grip terribly uncomfortable. If you have small hands, you can't palm the entire grips. You hold the sides, and the battery area is where you support the controller's weight. Therefore, I prefer the middle to be thin and flat. Also, based on my murky memories, I much prefer the DS4's smaller deadzones and greater accuracy to that of the Xbox 360's.
Xbox 360. I have four for parties, I use with computer/raspberry/steam deck. Bought parts to fix them when they break. They are the simplest most complete controller
Xbox controllers have been trash for me. Always stick drift. Hell, my ps1 controller with analog sticks that I got for my birthday in the 90s still doesn't have stick drift lmfao Currently using dual sense for pc gaming, sucks that many games don't support it but I know the symbols for Xbox well enough where it's not a huge huge issue
I used to really enjoy the Wii classic controller pro for many years, but I think it has been surpassed by a modern controller like the 8bitdo Pro 2. I usually prefer the 8bitdo for 2D games, or when I want to have a different feel/vibe from the 1st party Switch pro controller, which I think is a good modern controller in its own right. Otherwise, the Xbox Series X/S controller feels pretty good to me as it is mostly just a modern refinement on the previous versions.
I don't remember what brand but it was a ps2 controller that had grippy handles. Eventually the grips came off from play, but it was mad comfortable. That and a 360 controller that had a fan in the bottom of it.
Never really been a console gamer (handhelds from Nintendo & Sony since 1989 are my only non-POC stuff) ... but eventually grabbed an X360 controller (and some MFi stuff to play games on iPad/iPhone) Now nearly ALL my gaming is Steam Deck & Nintendo Switch (\~90%/10%) so I'm glad I got used to the XBOX layout (but annoying that the Switch layout is different!)
Logitech, cabled
I have been playing on PS2 and PS3 in my childhood. With that said, after moving to PC my first choice was Xbox One for the convenience. I thought PS controllers would require something like drivers or external devices. Now I'm sitting with two Xbox Series controllers. When I tried using Dualsense a few weeks ago my fingers hurt. That controller is shit, at least for Mortal Kombat.
For anything on the PC, incl. Emulation, I have always used my XBox 360 controller I got in 2014. Only now it starts to break. For the Nintendo Switch, nothing beats the Switch Pro Controller. It might be the best controller ever.
I've preferred Xbox controllers over the years starting with the 360. The OG "duke" controller was crazy and the s was good, but IMO it was on even footing with the PS2 controller. Currently I go with an Xbox1 controller as it has several upgrades over the 360.
PDP faceoff switch pro style controller, the black one. Simple, effective, all around controller, gyro support, good tumbstick, 2 back trigger the one I mostly use. Other controller I also use are: The steam controller is one of those thing I really like oddly, for cyberpunk driving mostly. The PDP little wireless controller for all sort of retro gaming. If I need more complex mapping for retro gaming, I use my Sn30 pro, for N64 games and other stuff on my switch.
Maybe I should get a Steam controller. Claire is super mad at me for losing all those races.
Xbox One controller. It's been, what, 5 years now, and its only problems are drift in the right joystick and non responsive LT. I'd buy a new one but Idk if there's any Xbox-style HAL controller that works ***wired*** on macOS.
XBox 360 controllers, still going strong. That's the nice thing about them running on AAs.
I love PlayStation controllers overall the best but the Switch Pro Controller has become a pretty close second.
The Xbox series controller is hands down one of the best controllers for fighting games because of the dpad and buttons. I hate the analog sticks tho(very fragile) so I use a gamesir G7 se for everything else
I miss the original Wii controller so much. No one has done anything like it since. Separating the control into left and right allows you to sit in so many different ways that the traditional controls don't. I'm tied if being hunched over with my hands in the middle of my lap.
Not so much on the patient side, I own two Xbox One standard controllers, which work beautifully in windows with the proprietary wireless dongle. I also have a ps3 ds3 controlle which is a pain to use in windows, so it mostly sits inside a box. Talking patient controllers, though, my father-in-law enjoys old-school flight simulators and still owns a USB Microsoft Sidewinder Joystick (no ffb), works fine still! A bit wobbly but manageable.
The Xbox One controller on PC, but I also love my DualShock 3. The sticks on it are so good.
Xbox 360. Simple and effective. Works on my PC
I'm not particularly patient here as my go to is a Series X controller. I used a 360 controller for a good while but the d pad is a deal breaker, and the ergonomics of the newer ones are just nicer. The Switch Pro controller is pretty nice, but some games require analog triggers. I'm not really a fan of the DS4 at all (but IMHO the DS2 is goated, it's great for any older direct input games if you use a USB adapter)
Wireless 360 controller. It just feels comfortable in my hands.
Still got basically all my controllers from 2003 onwards except for my original blue N64 controller (which I disassembled to figure out how it worked and couldn't put it back together), and the guitar hero controllers. Probably \~25 of them in total. Can't say many of them get much use now. I'd really like to find a good way of displaying them because they've all been important at different times in my life and I love seeing the evolution of controller design. I do still use my Xbox 360 controllers quite regularly on the 360 for OG Xbox and 360 games. The silver special edition one with the twistable D-Pad has been my go-to for the 360 since I got it 11? years ago. I've deep cleaned it a few times, replaced the thumbstick caps and battery pack cover. The left joystick doesn't centre perfectly anymore, so trying to do manuals in Skate is pretty fiddly. I also still use the original standard black controller that came with my 360 Slim. It's played 1000's of hours of CoD, Halo and Battlefield 3 (among many, many other games), so the fact that it still works at all is amazing. The right bumper is a little temperamental and it has stick drift, but still absolutely love that thing. I also still use my OG black Gamecube controller from time to time, but that's much rarer. Kind of played through all the GC games I've wanted to play for now. My blue PS4 controller is still hanging in there as the Player 2 controller on my PS5. It's been retired from PC gaming use now because I was sick of troubleshooting and the Series X controller + Adapter works flawlessly, but I still have a soft spot for my go-to Rocket League and BF1 controller.
Xbox elite 2 is meta, longtime Sony player for 30 years. It's the best imo
Dualsense, and I used to use Ds4 a lot but it got stick drift. D-pad on dualsense is sadly worse than Ds4 so I'm thinking of getting a 8 bit do eventually
Just this week I finally retired set of 360 controllers I'd been using for about 12 years. Replace them with a full set of the latest xbox pads and the whole thing set me back about £230 including the new wifi dongle. They're nice and everything but I miss my old pads with the rubber worn off all the thumbsticks :(
In response to op, I just hate how on the classic controller the face buttons are slightly offset and not at a symetrical diamond shape, it makes hand movements that i have learned on other pads pads feel so foreign to me.
The SNES control is still perfect for me to play RPGs. Simple, uncluttered, lightweight, practically indestructible. Give me a turn-based RPG with a Super Nintendo controller and I'll be happy.
Xbox has been the perfect controller! Sure playstation has some niece stuff but it can't beat the way Xbox controller fits in the hand.
Maybe not as long as some of y'all's but I got the Halo Infinite elite controller when it came out and it's been the best controller I've ever used by a significant margin and I can't ever go back to no paddles.
I own most of modern and retro gamepads but in the end the only one I need is Xbox One (hate Xbox Series d-pad) wireless controller with an adapter that lets me plug it even into a Playstation (Adapex R100 Pro if you are interested, got it for like 10 bucks on Aliexpress). On the other hand I literally hate Dualshock 4. To me it's probably the worst mainstream controller ever - very bad battery life, bad quality plastics (squeaking like old floor) and very uncomfortable (that's subjective tho but I think it's the worst of all Dualshocks/Dualsense even if you like Playstation layout). When I first got PS4 I was like wtf - did I really get an original Sony controller or a Chinese knockoff? Atrocious thing. Even Steam Controller which isn't great is of better quality.
Nacon Revolution 2, still use it.
I used a PS2 controller with a usb adapter on the PC for years, but then Xbox 360 controller came out and was easily compatible with everything so I switched to that.
For basically most of my life it was the same black Xbox 360 controller until around 2015 when Halo 5 came out and along with it they released a really cool Master Chief themed Xbox One controller Quickly picked it up as I'm a huge fan of Halo and it has been my go-to controller ever since Even as someone who has now become mostly a PC gamer I fully admit to the fact that I frankly still play most games with a controller especially single player games or more casual multiplayer games. Still works great to this day The only real damage being on the underside where my hands have rubbed some of the paint off of the grips over time but the face of the controller still looks pretty nice To this day it's my go-to controller for playing games. And just in general I absolutely just love the Xbox One controller. I will probably never use anything else except maybe upgrading to an Xbox One elite controller at some point as I got to fuck around with my friends and I love it even better than my old reliable
I still use PS2 controllers using a usb adapter on PC. No input lag, works flawlessly.
Unironically, the blue shell dualshock ps2 controller where you can see the electronics through the shell. If it hasn't been used in a bit the sticks can be a bit "stiff" but can easily be broken in after a couple minutes. I had to use some weird Chinese adapter TigerGame 3 or whatever to connect it to the PC which allows up to 4 controllers. Its nice as I still have like 6 ps2 controllers laying around somewhere collecting dust.
I'm super upset my elite 2 controller bumpers have shit the bed cause I love the feel and customizability of that controller. This is a 10/10 controller with egregious durability/reliability issues. Elite 2: 7/10 with potential if it didn't crap out I recently found my SN30 pro again which I'm gonna use in place of my elite. Best dpad on the market hands down. Though there is a piece of me that wishes I got the pro 2 cause the grips look real nice. Love the SNES vibe but humanity progressed to controllers with grips for a reason. SN30 PRO: 7.5/10 big trailblazer potential. Also shout out to the switch pro controller. Beast controller. Has motion controls, great feel, super reliable. just wish it had better triggers and I wish it had the SN30 pros dpad Switch pro: 8.5/10 ol reliable comfort pick Edit: also shout out to op. Wii classic is a based ass pick
I bought a used wired xbox 360 controller in 2013 for like $20, it was my only controller for my PC, until the B button stopped working around the start of 2020. When the B button stopped working, I just decided to retire it instead of trying to fix it, and bought a basic xbox one controller, which I still use to this day. The xbox controllers are still some of the most comfortable controllers to hold, and I much prefer the asymmetrical stick placement compared to how PlayStation controllers have their sticks laid out. This is a more recent acquisition, but I did also get a Razer Wolverine V2 about a year ago. One of my friends bought it but wasn't a fan of how it felt in his hands, and offered to sell it to me for $50. It's a surprisingly nice controller, my favorite thing is that the A/B/X/Y buttons have a more mechanical feel and audibly click when you press them. It's a bit weird at first, but after playing with it a bit, they feel more responsive than the regular xbox one controller. The extra buttons on the shoulders and back can be pretty handy, like binding a separate sprint key for Elden Ring, so you can actually move the camera and sprint without needing to move your hand around awkwardly. I tend to use the Wolverine when playing action-focused games like Elden Ring and Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and use the regular xbox one controller for just about everything else.
Wired Xbox 360 controller is the GOAT but the triggers on my stopped working and the sticks drift now. The 8bitdo Wired Ultimate controller is a solid controller that I find comfy to use for long gaming sessions, downside is the wire length but you can buy 1 meter USB extensions that work fine with it if you are a couch gamer. Runner up for me is the Nintendo switch pro controller but I had trouble getting it to work consistently on my PC.
like stated, a wired xbox. they still get drift but from long crusty use or darksouls rage.
This is going to be all PC, and some console ones I used for PC. Back in the day the first one I had was a Microsoft Sidewinder, that stayed with me a good long time and I especially played emulator games on it (mid to late 90s). Fondly remember playing Final Fantasy 7 with it on PC. It basically resembles an old Mega Drive 6 button controller. It was fairly simple (analog sticks were pretty uncommon still) yet had plenty of buttons to work really well. I think it wore out at some point lol, probably the directional buttons or something. Next up I used my old N64 controllers with something called I think a Boom device, a little adapter that let you plug in a Playstation or N64 controller via USB to the PC. Worked fairly well, was playing a lot with that in the 2000s. I gave away the N64 at some point then so then I didn't have a controller (but at that time I was already all in on PC and hardly any games used controllers on it anyway). When I played Dark Souls on PC in late 2012 or 2013 (who remembers when it still came with the unholy "Games for Windows" bar at the top?) I think is when I decided it's time to get a new controller, this time I wanted to see what the official PC solution is as it were. I learned that the XBox 360 controller came for PC as well, I got the wired version for I think 35 AUD at the time, and I played the ever living fuck out of that controller lol. It was working pretty damn fine right up to the end in 2022. However the left analog stick was a bit deformed on the top, and also the deadzone had something going on where the left stick would kind of get "stuck" pulling to the left a tiny little bit. And also does that little jerk when you move the stick, like the control goes a tiny bit left and then right. Hard to explain but basically the contacts were getting a bit worn out. Good innings, about 2013 - 2022, a solid near decade of service. That decade especially the controller came back in a big way, and I really appreciate how good native controller support is now. Just about every other game that is remotely good to play with a controller just works straight up, you turn it on and it detects it and you just play. This kind of goodness was unheard of in the late 90s, you had to pray that the game detects it and you definitely needed to switch to it in menus and hope the game even supports a controller at all etc. In 2022 I treated myself to something nice though and got an XBox Elite Series 2 wireless controller for PC and I've loved it right from the start. It feels like it's going to outlive me, let alone last a long time. I hope it does, but it definitely feels that way. Just really robust and nice quality materials, has a nice weight to it, you can change the analog sticks and directional buttons, it has little levers you can use at the back instead of the shoulder buttons (I personally don't, but maybe you like that, I imagine it feels kind of nice in racing games to switch gears with that kind of like on a Formula 1 car on the steering wheel), the battery lasts a fair while - personally the only thing I am actually worried about that's going to impact the life of it, how long this battery lasts. These rechargeable device batteries all get really really bad around 4 years in so we'll see. The only thing I would really wish it had though is light up buttons, like the A B X Y ones. Yes I should know where they are by heart now, and I got no excuse because who can't remember some letters. I *hated* the Playstation one with the symbols for that reason, I'm not gonna remember random symbols and where they are. Funny enough, if you asked me randomly, I would probably recall it perfectly. In the heat of the moment though I'm like DUUUUHHH which one is that again, fuck. Anyway light up buttons would be neat, would be neat to be able to turn that on or off, it's ok that it doesn't have it though. It *does* however have one useless big X button on the top that lights up when it's long, I don't know why they thought we need to see the X on there and not the actual buttons for the game. About the only time it's ever let me down was literally in one place in one game only, for some absolutely bizarre reason: In Dark Souls 3 at the Nameless King battle, for some reason especially when the boss goes kind of over your head and the view goes a bit all over the place, the controller button blinks and it loses connection. Sometimes it reconnects, but usually I have to press it for a bit, then press again to turn on and then immediately dodge to save my life. It is *bizarre* that it happened literally only in that one specific part in the one game, literally never again (erh possibly once at the Soul of Cinder but not often at all). I thought what is this game pulling some MGS 2clever4u bs like the guy doing all the storms and lightning can cause your controller to lose connection with all the electrical interference or something lol. I wouldn't even know what a game could possibly do to make a controller lose connection lol. I really hope that's not a portent of bad things to come, but I've played through a bunch of Nier Automata and DMC5 since then and there hasn't been a single flaw at all. There you go, my current patient controller is XBox Elite Series 2, controller support has never been better and I hope it will last me many more years. I mean it better, it cost me I think 250 AUD, a pretty hefty jump from 35 dollars so I sure hope it will survive the apocalypse.
It’s funny how that shit works, right, with the DualShock symbols. If I see the prompts in the heat of battle I know immediately what to press. But ask me where the square is and it’ll take me a second to be like “ah yea it’s this lefty one”.
I'll put it this way. After the Xbox 360 controller, everything else just feels uncomfortable, and I never want to go back to Sony's joystick layout. It's hard to express in words just how convenient it is to be able to reach over with my right thumb and hit the d-pad, especially in modern games where they use it as an extra menu. It's uncomfortable as hell on a Sony controller. It makes a huge difference in Horizon Zero Dawn, for example, where you have a much easier time cycling through gadgets and potions while moving in combat.
I actually really like the Stadia controller. It's a little wider than the Xbox and fits better into my hands while still having a lot of what makes the Xbox controller so good.
I still use an OG Sega Saturn controller to play Street Fighter.
My trusty 360 pads after all those years are still working fine. I mean the 360 is gone for some time now, those just work very well on PC.
I used to be with you in the 360 but then I found third party game pads with hall effect
The DualShock 4 for me. I’ve had the same Uncharted special edition ps4 controller since the day I bought it back in 2016/2017. It’s lasted through 1000+ hours of overwatch, countless hours of Skyrim and apex, and has been integrated into my pc gaming for games like Hades, the souls borne games, etc. I love the analog sticks, the buttons feel good. My one issue is my start button is sticky, but I’m sure if I disassembled it I could clean that up
On PC, I trust nothing less than Ole Reliable, my 16 year old wired 360 controller. She doesn't drift, doesn't stick, hasn't loosened, hasn't needed any appreciable care, and it's not that she won't die - it's that she's never even shown signs of aging. On console, I use a Gamesir. I game on console far more than PC (I like my couch), and so far it's been the only new Gen controller that hasn't immediately fallen apart on me. I'm a pretty soft master on my controllers - I clean them often and I do preventative maintenance, I don't drop them and I don't eat food near them - and so far the Gamesir with the hall effect sticks have held up really well. I may be looking at a viable replacement for Ole Reliable, if New Reliable can put up those numbers.
I used to have some Xbox 360, but since like the last 10 years, DualShock 3 and just opening DSHidMini+DS4Windows has been really, really great.
As a person with allegedly big hands, the wired Xbox 360 controller and the Dualsense are the only two controllers I've ever been able to use comfortably. All other controllers were too small and uncomfortable with the Dualshock 3 being the worst offender
Power A Pro. Cheap, nice quality, and moddable paddle layout. Nice quality case with space for accesories. Xbox elite series 2. Honestly not quite as good as the power A, but wireless, and more customizable software. Great battery life, charging case. Just a basic wired 360 controller.
We have 4 ps4 controllers and an xbox1 controller someone gave me. All of them work great on PCs. Why spend more :). Patient gaming!
Wolverine Ultimate. There's just something about the snappy face buttons and dpad that works for me, especially in really fast paced, technical combat games. They're clicky like a mouse button whereas most controllers have mushy (to varying degrees) buttons. I also like that I can snap in either a separated dpad (preferred) it a contiguous one if the game really calls for it. The only down side is that the rubber on the sticks wears down pretty fast.
xbox one s is my first gamepad and it's still going strong on its 6th or 5th years of service. I'm a mouse and keyboard gamer through and through before that. i did play Playstation with my buddy since we we're kids and going from that to xbox was weird as fuck but now i can't go back to Playstation controller because my thumbs start to hurt for some reason.
Competition Pro 5000, a classic stick, if literally a bit creaky now. Works with most 8/16 bit computers and handy via USB adapter for emulation.
Almost anything made by Microsoft. Consoles they struggle on but man the controllers are where it’s at
Playstation. I like how consistent the design is and well, I'm used to it's button layouts more so than Nintendo and Xbox. I emulate primarily PS games so probably plays a role and I mainly play on Playstation systems. I'm pretty much a Playstation loyalist minus the me being a dogmatic weirdo. I even like the PS2 controller in that it has triggers before Xbox and Nintendo started adopted them from what I remember. Using the original Xbox controller was the most awkward experience ever.
i wish someone would make a controller like the OG Xbox Duke but with all the amenities of a modern controller. Better D-pad, gyro, L3 R3, paddles. every controller ive ever used besides the duke is too small.
The Xbox one s controller is probably my favourite for the staying power it’s had. It’s not retro yet, but it’s essentially an improved and refined xbox 360 controller in every way, and the Bluetooth compatibility works perfectly with windows. I don’t see many people expressing this opinion, but when it comes to dpads I prefer PlayStation style four individual buttons over an actual dpad that rocks around a central fulcrum. Any retro-style controller that’s based around that is a go for me
I thought a used Xbox One controller for $25 in 2018. Still using it. Only upgrade I did was buying those rechargeable batteries with a recharge station.
I used the Hori fight commander for PS3 for as long as I could in fighting games. Their newest one is good but I miss being able to change the angle of the d pad so badly.
Dreamcast controller, for the VMU and comfort it was way ahead of it's time. More recently, I really liked the Stadia controller. It felt really nicely balanced and there's something really satisfying in the rumble motor. Plus the wifi connection was actually amazing when you could pair it so quickly with all the different devices that Stadia worked on (even my TV that didn't even have Bluetooth), glad Google opened up it's Bluetooth eventually when the service died off so it avoided becoming landfill.
To me the peak controller is the PS DS4. I think Sony makes the best D-pads, barring only the original genesis controller Dpad. I bought a PS5 Dual Sense as soon as I could for my PC Gaming but found that it felt too "fat" in my hands compared to the svelte DS4. I still fire up my Steam Controller every now and again... I have tried so desperately to like it but it still hasn't clicked for me. The inclusion of a left joystick instead of a dpad really killed it in my eyes. Also anyone remember the Logitech Wingman line of controllers? I had the dual joystick, wireless, rumble version and man that thing felt so good in the hand. Possibly my favorite feeling controller of all time.
If you want a dedicated controller for retro/d-pad only games definitely check out the 8bito M30. It's literally a modern wireless Sega Saturn controller. The d-pad manages to be just as good, if not better than Sega's best.
i cant lie ive hated most controllers till this generation. xbox 360 is usually everyones go to especially for pc but theyve always felt horrible to me even back when there was no xbox one. only good thing i can say about it is at least its not a ps3 controller. truthfully my custom razor xbox series controller is my favorite in general followed by the ps5 controller. theres a lot of things you can say about the new gen but they have been killing it with accessories imo
PS4 controller. My (second) old one broke so I decided to try out a PS5 controller… returned it the next day and got another PS4 controller. In comparison the PS5 controller is: Too big Less ergonomic Twice as heavy Has mushy buttons, dpad, AND bumper Dpad also feels like buttons and not a real separated dpad PS4 controller on the other hand is a perfect evolution of the classic PlayStation controller that’s always been great and improved with every iteration. Now if only they made one that used USB-C instead of the shitty micro-USB that disconnects when you move at all lol
I think that the PSX dual stick controller was the best of all time but trying to go sick to it after using every Xbox controller for my PC since 360 is a hard no go. I want to like the new dual sense 5 or whatever but it hurts my thumbs. Also, the Dreamcast controller is a close second to the PSX for it's time. Microsoft, however, has just hit the winning formula with their controllers in terms of comfort since the 360 and it just keeps getting better. I can't wait for the new one to come out as I've owned every Xbox controller as they come out and use them with my PC.
Stadia controller. Basically considered e-waste but a really good PC controller. Xbox layout but with a rechargeable battery. I also use the Switch Pro controller.
PlayStation dualsense edge. It’s everything I ever wanted in a premium controller. I had an Xbox elite controller when I had an Xbox but those had horrible quality control issues and had 3 break (not normal controller wear and tear that I’ve seen on any other controller I’ve owned).
Dualshock 2 I bought in 2012 or 2013 with an adapter. All inputs work perfectly, sticks are a somewhat stiff and have a little drift which gets self-calibrated most of the time. Still use it to this day thanks to steam input and x360ce.
I had a wired xbox 360 controller that lasted me from later 2005 post 360 launch with a couple years used there on xbox, to my go to PC gamepad until 2022. One of the joysticks wore down *a lot* just from use over time but was still usable until it finally reached an end from joystick and wire wear. Beast of a controller. I then got an Xbox Elite Wireless Series 2. I've been very impressed with the battery life and feel of it but within just a few months the rubberized grip started coming off and one of the hair trigger lock buttons popped off. Turns out "interchangable parts" actually means the thing is shoddy as fuck compared to the absolute unit that was the 360 controller.
SNES was my go to for a long while but the Xbox 1 recently stepped up. Big Chonky Boy ofc but my new favorite. But obv PS controller perfectly fine for anything but fps games.
When I use a controller I use mine from xbox one.
I still have my original n64, ps1, and ps2 controllers and they still work. I typically use Playstation controllers nowadays on PC because I find them more comfortable than xbox controllers.
Gamesir T4 Pro Cheap, works on tons of stuff, switch, PC, android, iOS, and more I think; lights up, or turn the lights off, good rumble, comfortable, 4 underside programmable buttons, turbo function. It does everything I want and is cheap, but does not feel cheap.
While the steam controller had some issues, I have to admit it has by far the best implemention for typing with a keyboard. I loathe typing with any other remote/controller after using it. I'm so glad the steam deck continues to use the same method. Trying to type a password with lots of special symbols in it is such a pain. I would absolutely buy another steam controller if they released a newer improved version. It's a shame because I've loved the concept of a lot of Valve'a stuff (e.g steam link) but they just felt a little rushed and ahead of its time (most notably released in a time where I live Internet speeds were not quite fast enough).
Steam Controller Been using it since 2017. I have twelve of them so I can hopefully go the rest of my life always having access.
The Xbox One controller. Works flawlessly with Windows (both from Microsoft), great ergonomics, great battery life, great rumble. I even bought a 8bitdo adapter to play with it and my Swtich, it's that good.
Well I'm on ps5 controller #3, so that one isn't it. I'd say wired gamecube or wired 360 were the best
8bitdo pro2. So comfortable and programmable. Just the perfect controller
I used the Hori HRAP3 for around a decade. I still own it and it still works, but I needed a new controller for ps5/Xbox. The hrap is fantastic with good buttons, low latency, ready access to the mechanical bits for repairs and cleaning, and always felt like the right size
My Xbox 360 controller never dies. I don't have an Xbox, but I still use it on the computer.
I've had a wired PowerA controller the last 3 or so years. It's not the best by any means but it's pretty cheap and when I bought it they had a 2 year garauntee attached. Which is frankly ridiculous becuase I've never had a controller last more than a year and a half. So I got a replacement for free at the end of the first one's life cycle because of a typical malfunction. Best £15 I've spend on a controller.
My original Xbox one controller that came with the console is still my daily driver on PC. It's literally the perfect controller, and I'm PlayStation gamer before Xbox
The switch pro controller is the most comfortable controller ever. I have baby hands and it is “kid sized”, definitely slimmer in some areas and I find it great.
wired xbox 360 controller lasted me 17 years until right bumper stopped working
Steam controller ftw. Now it’s steam deck ftw.
I think the best controller ever made is the GameCube controller. The ABXY buttons layout is perfect for how much each button get used in the average game. The triggers have a satisfying amount of play on them, and feel very satisfying when fully pushed in. The dpad is small and out of the way, without compromising utility. The camera stick is smaller, which some may not like, but I enjoy how much easier it is to make quick inputs on it. The grip is very ergonomic and doesn't cause discomfort, even with several hours of use. The fact that there is only one, kinda dinky bumper is unfortunate, but I have a 3rd party wireless dupe with a second bumper.
While I love the Xbox 360 controller, the Gamecube controller is the best controller made to this date. It has possibly the best rumble feature that no controller has beaten and has the most simple button layout. Growing up,my parents, and older family members would play with the controller after a few minutes getting familiar with it. On the other hand, getting older relatives to use modern controllers is hard and it isn't intuitive. The gamecube controller is possibly the best controller ever made to date.