Generally speaking, any xbox one or later generation controller. Theyre all relatively the same.
Real shit though, Xbox The Duke is my favorite
i miss the black and white buttons from the mini xbox controller days. still feel like 4 buttons is not enough on the right pad, especially considering how often games use L3/R3 joystick click which i fucking loathe.
8bitdo Pro 2 is very versatile, I'm curious about the Ultimate. I love my SteamController for modern games.
When I played games on my PC I ended up spending more time configuring my Steam controller than I did playing the game.
A classic example of perfect being the enemy of good.
SC is more of a brother to grow up with than a controller
Used to be the Logitech F310. Simple, reliable, used my preferred layout, inexpensive, and durable.
Then I got a PS5 and experienced the DualSense's adaptive triggers and I can't go back.
I had a Dualsense for my computer just because it has the best D-pad
Then I got Returnal and experienced the haptics and triggers and HOLY SHIT. I tried a keyboard and mouse and the game felt FLAT. It really is incredible! Pacific Drive also takes full advantage of it, the brake trigger feels like and actual car brake and the accelerator trigger rumbles and vibrates with the haptics as you go.
Absolutely fuckin dope.
Honestly, it's still the F310 for me. I have mine since the early 2010s and it's still working perfectly. Those things are built like tanks and between XInput and DirectInput are compatible with just about any PC game of the last forty years, no extra software required. Also, they're dirt cheap.
Honorable mention to the F710, the wireless version. While Windows 10's USB stack unfortunately broke compatibility with it (causing randomly dropped inputs), Linux does not have that problem.
I have two and I can't vouch for the "built like a tank" since one of them once in a while decides to drift around.
Still 110% worth it for the price.
I'll controversially say that I really love the Steam controller. Not the steam deck (which is honestly my number 1 if we're including handhelds) but the original controller intended for use with the steam link device.
It really just needs a right analog stick and it would be great. The lack of one takes it from 10/10 to like a 7/10. It's so good otherwise, great weight and size, good design. Sensible layout and the big track pads work really well! It was clearly a prototype for how the Deck layout ended up, though I actually like the controller's big circular pads more than the decks little square ones.
The steam controller is absolutely my favorite shape and feel for the controller.
The one big flaw is the plastic bumper mechanism that has broken on 3 of my units, 1 I was able to send back, 1 replaced with PETG 3D printed part which is less clicky, but more durable, and 1 still intact.
Still, I have exclusively used those for years when not playing on Switch
At the moment, my PS5 controller connected to my Linux PC via USB-C. It has perfect support due to official in kernel drivers from Sony and very little lag when used via USB-C.
I'm switching to Linux when I get set up again. Fuck the Recall bull shit. Straw that broke the camels back. I had not considered controller drivers. Is Xbox One over Bluetooth a thing, or will I need to go with Sony?
The XBOX One controller should be fully bluetooth hid compliant and it should work out of the box for at least all the buttons and axis. There are userspace and kernel drivers for the XBOX controller too (xpad and xboxdrv) but I don't have much experience with them or with bluetooth controller in general.
Me personally, I like the 360 controller the most
Have you tried the Xbox One controllers? If so, what do you like better about the 360?
I have, I had the day one 2013 controller, it was nice but it developed drift quite fast, and also is harder to repair
Steam deck's controls hands down if that counts. If not, surprisingly I'd have to say my stadia controller. Got one for $20 and it's fantastic.
X-Box 360. I have an old official one for my PC. I played Dark Souls with it so it is now ingrained into my body. Also all the years of Halo.
I really dislike the X-Box One controller. Feels too big in my hand and just off.
I fear the day my wired one breaks since they stopped making official wired ones for PC.
Aside from Microsoft selling it as one, there's a reason the 360's contoller design is basically the de facto basis for most PC controllers. It's the most comfortable one I've used for 3D games by far. Everything you need is easy to access. Nintendo lifted essentially the same design for their Wii U and Switch Pro controllers.
There is no perfect controller…
…But I do have a list of features I would want my perfect controller to have based off all the controllers that have ever been made :
If any single controller did even half of this, they’d easily be the GOAT.
Keyboard and mouse :^)
The Playstation controller is pretty great. I have a PS2 and it still feels nice to use
Xbox 360 was/is peak controller design
What made 360 better than series One (i own this one)?
Better ergonomics? It has such negligible difference design wise, and the d-pad looks awful
For fighting games, my own custom built stick. Put this together last year to replace the Hori RAP4 that had served me well for seven years until a button cap broke off. Super happy with how this turned out. It's much lighter, I like having a detachable cable. GP2040-CE supports Switch natively so I no longer need an adapter (and I can feel the difference in latency now), and Sanwa silents mean I can practice late at night without keeping anyone awake. And it just looks good, it's on brand for me.
For everything else that is not fighting games, 8BitDo Pro 2.
I also have a soft spot for the Wii Classic Controller Pro, I miss having gates on the analog sticks. I'd kill for a modern refresh of that with L3/R3, gyro, and USB instead of having to plug it into a Wiimote.
That’s a mighty fine stick you got there. One might even refer to it as lovely.
Switch Pro controller for its asymmetrical layout + gyroscope (it’s so much better for aiming). I’d love to test a PS5 controller but symmetrical layout tend to hurt my hands (it was already the case for the PS3/PS4 controllers, so I have little hope for the PS5 controller).
My favorite layout so far is on the Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma Xbox wired controller. It has x/y up between the shoulder and triggers, back buttons for a/b, so you can keep your right thumb on the thumbstick without moving it to hit face buttons a/b/x/y.
not a separate controller but the steam deck controller.
if that doesn't count then it's the Stadia controller.
8bitdo SN30 pro. Small, lightweight, perfect button placement. SNES controller designers knew their shit, just add two sticks and a pair of triggers and you can play almost anything with it.
I love this little buddy too. So much so I replaced the ABXY silicon contact pad with replacements from their official website. I love that they sell spare parts, I hate that they gouge me on shipping. So I bought 6 ABXY and 6 crosspad and still have 5 each remaining.
I really love the current gen controllers. I was using a Series X controller, which has a fantastic weight and feel, but I started experiencing drift. I decided to get a PS5 controller after that, and it's even better! I use it with my PC, and the touchpad works as a mousepad, which has allowed me to play a LOT of games comfortably on the couch, when I'd normally have to fumble with my mouse and keyboard.
I have been playing videogames since 1992. Went through almost every controller design possible. From the modern ones, I never liked the layout from the playstation so sticked to Xbox. At the moment I'm using a GameSir T4 Kaleid and absolutely loving it. Mechanical buttons and hall effect joystick are very nice. Since I've had it only for a year I can't say anything about reliability. Most reliable Xbox controllers in order are Xbox classic controller S, 360, One. After that every single one is bad IMO. Series controller start to drift pretty fast, same as both elites. So at the moment my most favourite is the Xbox One controller 2nd revision (1708) also known as Xbox one S controller but if the GameSir won't break for the next couple of years it will be the top one for me.
I hope more first party controllers will get a proper higher tier version with real reliable parts like everything hall effect and mechanical buttons...
Right now I’m mostly using the Xbox One controller (on PC). It’s a controller that feels really good to hold. No weird gimmicks like motion control either. I think it’s one of the all time greats.
Runner up is GameCube.
Oh, how long do you have.
First of all, favorite for what? For accesibility reasons if it's not a dual stick game I am defaulting to a fightbox-type device these days. I favor a WASD configuration, rather than a thumb-for-up configuration and I currently favor a tiny, minimalist haute board box with cherry switches (blue for buttons, greys for WASD). It's great, it lies on my desktop and it causes minimal strain even in high APM games.
For dual stick stuff, it again depends. Is this a shooter where aiming is a factor? Because then I'm gonna want some gyro. The DualSense is amazing to hold, just bonkers build quality. It is heavy and ugly as sin, though. It also doesn't work perfectly with every PC game, so it feels like a hassle to use it as my default. There's the KK3, which has gyro in Switch mode and seems to be less fussy than the DualSense. Plus they are trying to sell their hall effect sticks to third parties, so those are very smooth. It is a jack of all trades, though, and I actively hate KK's dumb extra button configuration, with start and select all the way at the top, I keep pressing the screenshot buttons by accident.
If there's no twitch aiming, and thus no major need for gyro, Victrix's Pro BFG is fun. It has modular design where you can put the dpad on either location. The dpad isn't great, but hey, the fightbox's there for that. It does have a six button configuration, too, if you're a controller fighting game guy. The best feature, though? Replaceable eight-way gates for the sticks, Gamecube-style. If you're a Smash guy or emulating Gamecube it's such a no-brainer high end replacement.
But honestly? Honestly?
The JoyCon.
I know people hate the JoyCon, but the idea of a split controller is amazing to me, and everybody else who has tried to do it, Lenovo Legion Go included, gets it wrong. The big handles aren't the answer without a middle segment to hold the controllers. The two little boards are fantastic for 3D action games, the amount of tech in such a small frame is astounding and the button-based dpad is so good I'm using fightboxes on the regular now. It's a shame there are some reliability issues, but I would buy a device just like it for PC tomorrow if they could sort out connectivity reliably.
Switch pro controller previously and Xbox controller lately. I especially like the detachable AA batteries of the Xbox controller as I can charge extra batteries separately.
N64 controller. Obviously it wasn't exactly great to use, but its completely unique look is so iconic and that makes it my fave.
Back in the day, I think it was Logitech or similar who redesigned a PlayStation controller with some minor ergonomic tweaks. It was a masterpiece. This was back in maybe PS2/PS3 era.
Sounds see if any modern versions exist. I'm still a Sony controller purist, having never really fallen in love with Xbox like so many others.
An Xbox one controller. I bought a newer seriesX controller but it developed stick drift almost immediately. My Xbox one controller is going on 6 or 7 years now and is still rock solid. And I play rocket league so you know I am hard on them.
Stadia controller. I switched my old Xbox 360 controllers for stadia controllers. Chargeable, heavy, ergonomic. Win for me.
I haven't tried everything out there, but so far nothing I've tried is true perfection. The controller I use as daily driver for my PC is an Xbox 360 controller, which I find extremely nice - except for the D-pad. It also lacks the fancy tricks of the PS5 controller - a controller I Iike less for ergonomics but love for stuff like haptic feedback.
Although I grew up with Playstation controllers in my hands, ever since I tried an XBox 360 controller I never went back. I've been using XBone controllers on my PC for years now, and I just love the ergonomics of them in my hand, the clicky D-pad, the rounded buttons. I've always hated the PS dpad, it hurts my thumb. Now, I probably won't keep buying "original" XBox controllers, but anything with that shape and feels that comfortable in my hand, will be my choice.
King Kong 3. 1000hz low delay polling rate, great size, good battery life. Hall effect sticks. Good price for a premium controller too.
Though there are a lot of built in shortcuts which are very confusing but I don't use those.
Ducky One 3 TKL + Logitech G305 or the 8BitDo Pro 2, depending on the genre.
Xbox series X Elite controllers. I'll never go back. They have a good weight and feel.
Sorta on topic, what do people use for N64 emulation? I can't find a 6 button controller that I like.
To be specific, the Xbox One Elite controller. I really liked the Series 2 but it fell apart on me. I never had much issue with the original. I'm a glutton for punishment though, and I'd get another Series 2. I don't mind working on them so it isn't the biggest deal
I really love the Switch Pro controller, but I wish it had analog triggers. I also have love for the GameCube controller. I am at home with the N64 controller, but I can't say it's a favorite
It's probably because I have bias, but I've never cared for any of Sony's offerings. Something about the sticks doesn't feel right with both being at the bottom
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