The best controller I arguably thing is the 360 controller. It just feels right to use in fighting games and fps. I like xboxs layout with the analog sticks.
Dualshock comes a close 2nd but was never a fan of the analog layout.
I find the n64 most jarring and I get that it was meant to be used differently for different games, but I still preferred the 3rd party options that took it closer to a standard gamepad.
Your thoughts?



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The PS3 controller was basically perfect for me. Comfortable, sensible configuration, and not ridiculously large for my not-man-sized hands.
Definitely my least favourite PS controller. Those convex shoulder buttons were terrible, and there was genuinely no comfortable way to use them.
The motion controls were used in a handful of early games (and I can only assume Sony forced them to implement them) and swiftly abandoned.
Meanwhile, I find even the “smaller” XBox controllers to be utterly unusable and have/had no troubles at all with the PS3 controller. Would be nice if there were more options for each console so that both you and I could be satisfied, but sadly that is not how it’s done.
Yeah, that would be nice. I know people who lament the loss of the original Xbox Duke controller, and that the only thing closer was the similarly jumbo Dreamcast controller.
Could even unbundle them from the consoles, and just pick the size when you buy them. If they can make them in Hello Kitty pink, or endless CoD camouflage colours, then I’m not convinced it’s uneconomical to provide different size grips.
8BitDo Pro 2. It’s like a Playstation 2/3 and SNES controller did the fusion dance. I use it on my Switch and PC, response is great, tactile feel is amazing.
Just got this thing last week, I love it so far. Still haven’t figured out how to make good use of the back paddles on PC, but even without those it’s a great controller.
Playstation controllers got it right, or at least, their kind of configuration. Doesn’t have to specifically be a controller from PlayStation.
Anything with offset analogue sticks is cancerous to use.
Offset analog sticks was a mistake
8bitdo Pro 2. I LOVE me some 2D platformers, and the D-pad is absolutely amazing for me. I think I have 4 in total now, two wired two wireless?
Only problem is the sticks wear out, but they sell replacements! So no tossing the whole controller :D
They seem nice and not too pricey. Their website said they have Hall effect sticks. Shouldn’t those be more durable and longer lasting than regular sticks?
For how long did you use them before you started having issues with the sticks?
So my sticks still work, but I’ve worn down the rubber on two of the left joysticks so much its crumbling apart. Purchased in 2021 and was my main driver until that happened about 6 months ago, so a fair bit of use. Used that opportunity to try out the PS5 controller and the new Xbox series ones.
And I mean… they’re good?
The resistive triggers were cool and the touchpad is really customizeable. Xbox controller stays solid but boring.
Switch Pro controller feels great but weird to be playing PC games with. Nothing WRONG with it, just feels mentally disconnecting for some reason lol.
Idk. For me the Pro 2 and the wireless SNES sized 8bitdo controllers are perfectly comfy. Have an ultimate in its way to me now actually.
Edit all of my controllers are non hall effect
Agree on the Xbox controller. I even bought an adapter to use the Xbox360 controller on my PS3 :D
Mostly agree, except I’ve never liked the dpad on the 360 controller. An XB1 or Series S|X controller is a noticeable step up IMO!
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I was using Switch Pro on my computer until I got some Dualsense controllers. Loved it. Horrible D-pad compared to the dualsense though!
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I feel it’s more comfy, but YMMV. I DEFINITELY love the triggers and haptics. I wouldn’t play Returnal or Pacific Drive without one, and I’m so happy the computer versions support both!
I like xbox controllers for first person shooters and playstation controllers for just about everything. Some games more intensely than others.
xbox is my top controller design (360 onwards), however the touchpad on ps4/ps5 comes in handy for RTS games (or any mouse required game). it’s a missed opportunity for microsoft, considering they’re bringing Age of Empires to the console
For general purpose, I’d say 8bitdo Ultimate C.
I am a huge fan of the GameCube pad and would use it for everything if I could.
For 2D games, particularly fighting games, I’m very fond of the Saturn pad.
However, if I had to pick a best controller ever, it’s got to be the SNES pad. No question.
I mean, I gotta mention Steel Battalion for the OG Xbox. The experience of playing with that controller is truly saddening when game developers these days won’t do anything similar. Yes, it was expensive back then, and would probably be expensive now. But you know what? It was totally worth that cost. Any person that has played the game will agree.
But for more normal controllers, I like the layout of the WiiU Pro controller, with both sticks at the top. I never owned a WiiU, but I did get a third party Xbox One USB controller that had this configuration. While it was obviously a very cheap controller, I really liked the ergonomics of it.
I have enjoyed my Xbox Elite V2 controller, it has served me well the last few years. The dish shaped Dpad is a nice feature, even though I don’t play games that use it too much I can see where it could be extra beneficial for fighting game players to make circular movements easier.
And a special mention for the Samba de Amigo controllers which I only got to use once because… I thought I would be able to pick a set up after seeing two in GAME (for maybe £99.99 inc. the game?), then ended up selling out and never coming back into stock.
I really like the ps5 controller. It’s comfortable, and the haptic feedback on the shoulder buttons is a really cool feature imo. The resistance is variable on the shoulder buttons so depending on what you’re doing in game, it can be harder or easier to depress the button. I thought that was cool.
The dualsense controller is pretty good.
My issue with it is that the trigger buttons quickly got a bit mushy and loose. Didn’t help to play a ton of Rocket League on it but still it’s not a very durable controller.
Also, the battery was completely fucked up by the fact that I was playing it wired on PC. It was all the time charging when I was playing and then apparently discharging when the computer was off. Support is also pretty poor on PC and you often get games that are not compatible.
I’m interested in replacing it eventually by a good hall effect third party controller. Probably the Gamesir T4 Kaleid or something similar.
I’m still not 100% sold on the shoulder force feedback. Sometimes it works well, but many games do this odd thing where you hold it down and it clicks repeatedly and uncomfortably like you’re breaking it and I’ve no idea what they’re really trying to convey.
Sounds detective to me. But I’ve only played FF7 Rebirth on it so far
I’d think that too, but it does it on both of mine, and it doesn’t get worse over time indicating any kind of damage.
It’s only certain games that trigger it.
For widely available layouts, I prefer XBox. However, I feel like the Wii U pro controller layout was on to something if it could add ABXY paddles but unfortunately it seems like patents have stifled a lot of innovation controllers could be seeing.
The Wii U Pro controller in general was great. Best battery life I have ever seen on a controller. Great dpad thats clicky but still uses membranes so it’s still a bit softer than the one in the DSi or New 3DS systems. The sticks were incredibly smooth too for some reason. I would use it more today if it wasn’t for the lack of gyro, which is a dealbreaker for many games for me.
My description of the perfect controller:
Not sure if there’s one out there that meets all of those. But I have a certain fondness for the GameCube controller. Always felt comfortable, and I actually liked the asymmetric button layout.
N64 is my favorite console of all time, but yeah, the controller is truly batshit insane. I even had a game that intended you to hold the left and right… prongs instead of center right. In a shocking twist, it was… still pretty awkward.
I do like PS5 controllers - mostly play N64 games on them, never even owned a PS. Used a PS4 controller before that.
I really like the DualSense, Xbox Duke and Wii U gamepad. Two oddballs. The Wii U gamepad is nice and large, and the Duke is… nice and large.
ah, a fellow Duke connoisseur!
Finally someone else gets it
LOVE the Duke even though it feels like I’m holding an XL pizza