Top 5 Best PC Gaming Controllers 2025

For a wide range of genres, having one of the best PC controllers is a great substitute for a keyboard and mouse. Nothing compares to the satisfaction of relaxing with a top-notch gamepad, particularly if you’d rather recline in your chair than stoop over your desk.

Numerous criteria were taken into consideration when compiling the list of top PC controllers that follows. In addition to taking into account controllers with a range of price points, we also looked at gamepads that are well-suited for particular game genres, like first-person shooters (FPS), racing games, and fighting games.

You can be sure that if you play PC games frequently, there is a controller in the list below that will fit both your needs and your budget.For more console-specific choices, be sure to check out our guides to the best PS5 controllers, best Xbox controllers and best Nintendo Switch controllers, too.

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Last update on 2024-09-23 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Top 5 Best PC Gaming Controllers 2025

1.Xbox Wireless Controller

Last update on 2024-09-23 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Our choice for the finest PC controller overall is the Xbox Wireless Controller. Globally accessible, this workhorse gamepad is distinguished by its sturdy construction, cozy ergonomic design, strategic buttons, and powerful D-pad. Additionally, Windows PCs can easily use the Xbox Wireless Controller, so it’s ready to use straight out of the box.

It is a very adaptable and simple-to-use option that allows for both wired and wireless play. You’re getting a great deal for your money with prices starting (and frequently obtaining discounts in deals). Along with a plethora of color possibilities, the Xbox Design Lab allows you to completely modify the appearance of your controller.

Enhancements to the gameplay experience include haptic textures and enhanced geometry on the Xbox Wireless Controller. We are glad to see Microsoft finally provide a dedicated sharing button, which makes it much simpler to take screenshots and record videos during gameplay.

Furthermore, it appears like Microsoft’s new gamepad is modeled after the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, bringing some of the high-end controller’s exquisite design elements into a more reasonably priced package. The end product is a stylish, reasonably priced, cozy, and easily accessible controller.

The Xbox Wireless Controller doesn’t appear to be a significant upgrade over its predecessor at first glance. It maintains the conventional arrangement of buttons and triggers and has a comparable form. However, if you look more closely, you start to see the small adjustments Microsoft has made.

To begin with, the gamepad’s shell now has a matte finish that closely resembles the designs of the new consoles. Although this appears quite stylish, there are some disadvantages. The Xbox Series X’s black controller is prone to apparent scratches and scuffs.

You might find it difficult to maintain the best potential condition for your controller for many years to come, given the amount of hands-on time they receive. There are additional color options for the controller.

2.Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra

Last update on 2024-09-23 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Although it is costly, the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra is among the most high-end options available. In our testing, we were astonished to find that the futuristic color screen on this eye-catching controller is much more than just a gimmick. With its fast button input remapping feature that eliminates the need for additional software, the screen is the kind of innovation that leaves you wondering how you ever got by without it. Additionally, the grips have bright RGB lighting, which significantly contributes to the nearly sci-fi image.

Similar to the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, the package comes with a sturdy carrying case and a practical charging stand. The color display, whether docked or in use, displays your current battery level which makes it easier to ensure that things always stay topped up. The screen is also perfect for headset users, offering a range of EQ settings and easy access to options to change your current audio levels.

The incredibly pleasant mechanical buttons of the Turtle Beach Ultra are among our favorite features. When pressed, they produce a pleasant click sound, and when the action starts to pick up, they respond incredibly quickly. Four back buttons on the controller can be mapped to various button inputs or unique software functions like the pro aim focus mode, as you might expect from a high-end controller. This is also one of the more robust options on this list because it takes use of Hall effect thumbsticks.

Granted, not everyone will be able to afford its hefty price. The Xbox Wireless Controller or the GameSir T4 Kaleid are better options if you’re on a tight budget; the latter still has some useful capabilities.Few controllers are as eye-catching as the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra, an incredibly luxurious Xbox gamepad with a tiny full-color display for setting preferences, viewing messages, and allocating additional inputs while you play. For people who frequently play online games with pals, it also offers the convenience of instantly adjusting audio levels.

Furthermore enhanced by superior RGB lighting and high-quality materials is the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra. The Hall effect thumbsticks should help keep the controller drift-free for many years to come, and the tactile mechanical switches are a pleasure to use in fighting games and first-person shooter (FPS) titles alike.

While the absence of detachable thumbsticks is a small irritation (the included rubber thumbstick caps don’t offer quite the same versatility) the controller’s biggest shortcoming is the Turtle Beach Control Center 2 software. Buggy and ugly on both PC and mobile, it urgently needs some serious polish.

3.GameSir T4 Kaleid

Last update on 2024-09-23 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Right now, one of the greatest low-cost PC controllers available is the GameSir T4 Kaleid. It combines a number of exclusive features along with a degree of comfort that is on par with some of the more well-known brands on our list. The GameSir T4 Kaleid isn’t your typical low-cost PC controller, as you can see with just one glance. Although this style might not be for everyone, having translucent materials and RGB lighting makes it stand out from the crowd.

During our testing, we were also pleased with the controller’s functionality, noting its pleasant buttons and snappy joysticks. It is to be expected that this controller is limited to wired play only, given its lower price point.Thankfully, however, with a total cable length of 2m / 7ft it shouldn’t be much of a struggle to use this with your existing setup.

In contrast to other controllers within this price range, the GameSir T4 Kaleid also has the advantage of a contemporary USB-C connection and the T4k desktop application, which lets you customize the controller’s button mapping and programming.

Sadly, this has limited compatibility with consoles. Check out the DualSense (for PS5 users) or the Xbox Wireless Controller (for Xbox users) if you wish to play games on a console in addition to a PC.I can state with pleasure that the GameSir T4 Kaleid was a welcome surprise. With its see-through housing and beautiful RGB lights, this gamepad is indeed visually appealing. However, its exceptional customizability and premium buttons and sticks set it apart from other controllers in its price range.

The GameSir T4 Kaleid circumvents the problem of stick drift on the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers by using analog sticks with a hall effect, much like the excellent 8BitDo Ultimate wireless controller. The T4 Kaleid stands alongside the greatest Nintendo Switch controllers available for purchase because to its guaranteed lifetime and general excellent quality.

For its relatively inexpensive price, the GameSir T4 Kaleid is a surprisingly feature-rich controller. And not simply because of its eye-catching RGB lighting and design. Additionally, two mappable back buttons are available, which can be allocated via the T4k desktop application.

If you play on a PC, there is yet another reason why I suggest the T4 Kaleid. With the extremely feature-rich T4k software, you may adjust the RGB pattern, button assignments, and much more.

You may be surprised to learn that the T4 Kaleid offers a hair trigger mode. Since there are no on-board switches, unlike the HyperX Clutch Gladiate and Xbox Elite Series 2, it isn’t immediately obvious. But you may choose between the modes in the app and allows you to activate trigger inputs with just a short press. A bit of a roundabout way of doing things, but it’s likely a way for GameSir to save on components and keep costs down. A pretty smart move, overall.

4.Thrustmaster eSwap X2

Last update on 2024-09-23 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Similar to some other products on this list, the Thrustmaster eSwap X2 has an adaptable modular architecture that lets you swap out pieces as needed. Just taking the modules out of their magnetic connectors allows you to easily configure it in either an asymmetrical or symmetrical layout. The controller has an elegant black and gold look and is filled with high-end parts that are appropriate for the device, such as a D-pad that responds well and a set of tactile buttons that are quite pleasurable.

There are four buttons on the back in addition to trigger locks. Our testing revealed that the spherical shape of these rear buttons made them a little difficult to push at times, but your mileage may vary. The controller connects to your PC in another location.

It weighs 300 grams (10.5 oz), which is somewhat less than the 12.2 oz (345 g) Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2. Naturally, the forms are somewhat different, but the X2 is also marginally smaller than the Elite Series 2 in terms of total measurements: 6.3 in. / 160mm x 4.7 in. / 120mm x 2.4 in. / 60mm (WxDxH). Still, it feels rather bulky, and people with smaller hands will need more time to get used to it. This shouldn’t deter those people, though; even with my little hands, I can operate the controller with ease and happiness. All you need to do is slightly adjust your finger placement when using the controller and make the necessary muscle memory changes.

The original eSwap X Pro gamepad is replaced with the Thrustmaster eSwap X2 controller, which provides the same level of performance with a few minor improvements. Rather than being a complete overhaul, these additions and upgrades are more like tweaks to quality of life.

Nearly all of them are positive changes that impact the kind of wired connectivity, button upgrades, and improved functionality. Still, those are extremely safe movements all at once. A part of me wishes Thrustmaster had taken some chances with this update, but there’s also merit to the adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” In my opinion, the previous eSwap X Pro was great (during my review for our sister publication GamesRadar), and it has also o found a home in the competitive and pro player audiences.

All things considered, though, the X2 is a superb Xbox controller and, by default having replaced its predecessor, now becomes one of the best modular Xbox and PC controllers on the market,But the design standout is still the modular system, which is a great feature for accessibility and versatility. Its versatility in accommodating various game kinds, playstyles, and preferences stems from its easy module swapping feature, which allows the pad to switch from asymmetrical to symmetrical in an instant.

The standard Xbox button layout is there, however it has been enhanced just like on the original eSwap X Pro. There are six front-facing buttons (three for audio controls, three for button profiles), as well as view, menu, share, and Xbox buttons on the front. A switch on the back allows you to adjust the travel distance of both triggers. The A, B, X, and Y face buttons, both shoulder buttons (LB, RB), and the D-pad are all incredibly satisfying to press, with super-short actuation distances that prompt speedy response and input times.

5.DualSense

Last update on 2024-09-23 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Not only is the DualSense a fantastic PS5 controller, but it’s also ideal for PC use. The haptic feedback and adaptive triggers require a USB-C connection to function, but the additional immersion these features bring to compatible games makes them well worth the cost. This should be your first choice if you plan to play PC games released by Sony, such as The Last of Us Part 1, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, and Returnal.

For those accustomed to a symmetrical layout, the DualSense PC controller will be instantly recognizable, unlike the asymmetric Xbox sticks. It has a very ergonomic design and comes with a touchpad that resembles a laptop that can be used in supported titles for added functionality. It’s incredibly easy to use on PC either plugged in or with Bluetooth thanks to the custom controller mapping features of Steam’s Big Picture Mode.

With some amazing capabilities that were absent from earlier iterations, the DualSense is among the best controllers Sony has ever placed its name on, giving users an even more immersive experience with the system. Even after the DualSense Edge was introduced, the controller’s regular model is still among the best.

The DualSense, a pleasantly more robust beast than its predecessor, surpasses the DualShock 4 on the PS4 in every manner, providing PlayStation owners with a controller that can finally compete with Xbox’s offerings. Naturally, discussing the PS5 controller without bringing up its game-changing feature, haptic feedback, would be remiss.

The PS5 controller appears to be nothing more than a slightly futuristic remake of the DualShock 4 at first glance.

The DualSense, which forgoes the all-black, grunge-style design of the PS4 in favor of a sleek white body with matte black analog sticks, is a surprisingly beautiful controller in person. Aside from the rearranged share and start buttons, you’d be mistaken for believing that this was just a larger version of the previous model. It features a new home button embossed with the PlayStation insignia and the previously mentioned built-in microphone (along with a convenient mute button).

But if you look a bit closer, you can see that the DualShock 4’s chassis has been extended in all directions. This time, Sony made the grips of the controller the majority of its length, giving it longer and thicker handles.– and the result is the comfiest PS controller yet. Speaking of the grip, these elongated handles are now textured, too, feeling pleasingly tactile as they rest against your fingers.

How to connect and use controllers on PC

Nowadays, there are a lot of competitors vying to be the finest PC controller, but pairing, connecting, and using them with your setup isn’t always easy. This is particularly true when examining the controllers of other consoles that you may already own or be familiar with. Fortunately, we offer every tool you could possibly require for those powerful console controllers.

For users of PlayStation controllers, we provide instructions on how to use a DualSense or DualShock 4 on PC. For those who prefer asymmetrical controllers, we also provide instructions on how to use an Xbox One controller, an Xbox Series X controller (spoilers alert: it works similarly to the former), and how to to use a Switch Pro controller on PC.

Best PC controllers – FAQs

What controller do pro PC players use?

If a player isn’t already using a keyboard and mouse and wants to level up their game, especially in online multiplayer settings, they can use a controller for additional capabilities. Although they have more functionality, gamepads such as the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra and the Victrix Pro BFG are more expensive. Pro players may also choose more specialized equipment for more specialized demands, such as a racing wheel or a combat stick like the Nacon Daija.

Is it possible to use a Nintendo Switch or PS5 controller on PC?

Yes, is the succinct response! Although Nintendo does not promote the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller’s PC compatibility, you can connect it to your computer because Steam supports the controller. Likewise, the DualSense and DualSense Edge for PS5 are compatible with PCs and can even provide customized haptic feedback and adaptable triggers for games that support them.

How we test the best PC controllers

Several criteria are taken into consideration when we test the top PC controllers. Our primary focus is on overall value for money: what distinguishes a controller in its price range from competitors? For instance, despite its inexpensive price, we adore the GameSir T4 Kaleid because of its superb build quality and extensive feature set. Similar to that, the Victrix Pro BFG has a ton of adjustable accessories that make up for its higher retail price. It is also remarkably adaptable.

We also take controller longevity into account. Longer-lasting controllers will usually have better construction quality and features like thumbsticks with Hall effect to assist avoid the dreaded stick drift. Additionally, owners can further personalize their controllers with specialized software.