The Best Game Controller for Every Kind of Player

Jaina Grey Simon Hill

Years ago, third-party game controllers were dirt cheap and notorious for poor craftsmanship--especially the eggshell-plastic MadCatz knockoffs. Every household had one. It was reserved for kid siblings and houseguests you maybe didn't like that much. Those kinds of controllers gave third-party gamepads a bad name--one that persists to this day.

In recent years, though, companies like Scuf and Astro have donned their armor and unfurled their banners on a quest to rebuild the reputation of "off-brand" gamepads, one game controller at a time. We've tried a bunch of them in the past couple of years, and these are our favorites. Here are the best game controllers, official and unofficial, for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox (One and Series X/S), and PC.

Be sure to read our guides to the Best Gaming Headsets, Best Gaming Mouse, and Best Gaming Laptops for more recommendations.

Updated April 2023: We've added controllers from 8BitDo and GameSir, a slide with charging dock recommendations, and updated prices throughout.

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If you have a PlayStation 5, the official DualSense below is absolutely the best controller for you. However, while it's technically compatible with Windows, iOS, and Android, it's a bit of a pain to pair with anything but a PS5. The Scuf Reflex is a PS5-silhouette controller that brings one of our favorite controllers to other platforms, without the pairing headaches.

The Reflex has all the bells and whistles that make the DualSense a great controller (three-dimensional rumble, custom-tensioned triggers), and it includes four removable, re-mappable paddles on the rear of the controller. They lie precisely where your fingertips rest, so you don't need to adjust your grip to use them. It also stores three onboard configuration profiles, so you can swap between different button maps without reconfiguring them every single time. And it just feels great. It's coated in a soft-touch plastic that feels grippy without being sticky; the triggers feel super responsive; and the thumb sticks can be swapped out for taller ones for extra-fine control. These extra features are all must-haves for players who spend a lot of time in competitive online games.

Officially works with PS5, PC, MacOS, iOS, and Android

Years after its release, the PlayStation 5 remained a mythical beast. A cryptid. A scarcely glimpsed and rare creature most folks had only heard tell of. Due to supply chain issues, it was just hard to get your hands on one. But if you've managed to now, you might be looking around for a good third-party controller. Well, there just isn't one that beats Sony's housemade DualSense. This little thing looks slick and futuristic, feels great, and comes packed with features you can't find elsewhere.

These new features include three-dimensional rumble, which gives you haptic feedback in a variety of places on the controller based on what's going on in your game. The same goes for the custom-tensioned trigger buttons. Games can alter how hard it is to pull the triggers, how it feels, and the feedback the controller gives you. It's amazing, and I went on about it in my PS5 review.

Officially works with PS5, PC, Android, and iOS

What's nice about PC gamepads is that they're usually compatible with the Xbox One and Xbox Series X. The Scuf Instinct Pro is no exception. It's a well-built controller, with a matte black finish and grippy underside. It feels premium, and it also has a number of features that set it apart from competitors.

The paddles on the back are my favorite. There are four that can be mapped to 16 different controller functions. The paddles themselves are like hair triggers that rest right underneath your fingers, so you don't need to adjust your grip at all to use them. They come in handy for games like Destiny 2 and Overwatch 2 when you have to juggle class abilities. It's compatible with PC, but the Xbox silhouette doesn't feel quite as nice for PC games as it once did. Thankfully we have another pick for PC players in this guide.

Officially works with PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, MacOS, iOS, and Android

First-party controllers are often quite good. They're usually well-built, feel comfortable, and do everything a controller should do. Still, it's rare for a first-party controller to feel as nearly perfect as the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. This controller might top every category if you could use it as easily with PC, Xbox, and PS4 as you can with the Switch.

There are no other gamepads on the market that feel as comfortable and responsive as the Pro. It is the king of controllers. If you use your Switch in docked mode, you owe it to yourself to invest in one of these gamepads. It'll spoil you for all other controllers. Check out our Nintendo Switch Accessories guide to learn more.

Officially works with Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android

Rachel Fairbank

Louryn Strampe

Brenda Stolyar

Chris Haslam

This feature-packed controller from 8BitDo has lots to offer at a reasonable price. At first glance it looks like an Xbox controller, but it has five central buttons on the front and a pair of rear paddles. It boasts a host of customization options to suit your play style. Using 8BitDo's software, you can remap buttons, tweak the stick and trigger sensitivity, assign macros, and tune the vibration intensity.

It's a compact controller with a grippy texture on the handles, satisfyingly clicky triggers, and a decent D-pad. The Bluetooth support is for Nintendo Switch, making this a solid alternative to the Switch Pro controller, but there's also a 2.4G dongle in the charging dock for PC gaming. Battery life tops 20 hours, but the convenient charging dock keeps it topped up.

Officially works with Nintendo Switch, Windows, SteamOS

There's something comforting about the plain old DualShock silhouette. It's familiar and feels great, but it isn't without flaws--mostly battery life. Those things die in just a couple of hours. Scuf has a solution: the Infinity4PS Pro controller. It has better battery life, and there are a couple of customizable paddles on the back side of the gamepad for fast-twitch performance. This is a controller for anyone who wants to have their cake and eat it too. It works best with PlayStation 4, but it's compatible with PC as well.

It captures what I loved about the original PS4 controller and expands on it. It's weighty without being too heavy, or too light and cheap-feeling. It's the controller Sony should have made for the PS4.

Officially works with PS4, PC, MacOS, iOS, and Android

At first glance, this looks like a standard Xbox controller, but GameSir has packed in high-end features like Hall Effect analog triggers, customizable back paddles, a hair trigger mode, four rumble motors, and swappable faceplates that you can paint (you get a white spare in the box). GameSir also promises a 256-Hz polling rate and 0.004-second input latency.

Cutting through the specs, this controller feels responsive, the joysticks glide smoothly, and the buttons have a satisfying mechanical click. It is lightweight, I don't love the 4-way D-pad, and the USB-C port is weirdly deep, but these are minor complaints. The build quality is impressive for the price, and you can tweak to your heart's content in the GameSir Nexus app (Xbox and Windows).

Officially works with PC, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One

Rachel Fairbank

Louryn Strampe

Brenda Stolyar

Chris Haslam

No, you're not hallucinating. This is a SNES-style controller with joysticks. And Bluetooth. And support for Switch and PC. Functionally, it's not unlike a PS4 controller, with the sticks at the bottom flanked by buttons and a directional pad. But it feels very different. The familiar flat profile of a classic SNES controller makes it a perfect choice for playing retro games, but it's fully functional with modern titles. So if you're looking for a retro gamepad for the classic Nintendo games available on the Switch, or just something to spark some nostalgia, this is it.

If you struggle to get by without handles, the 8BitDo Pro 2 ($50) adds them, along with a couple of handy programmable back buttons. It currently tops our Best Mobile Game Controller guide. Both controllers can also be used with retro consoles like the SNES Classic.

Officially works with Nintendo Switch, PC, MacOS, iOS, and Android

The Xbox Adaptive Controller is designed to offer a wide variety of options for gamers who may not be able to comfortably use a traditional gamepad. It essentially deconstructs all the inputs in a gamepad and lays them out in a way so anyone can create a controller layout that works for them.

Games are for everyone, and this controller offers an easier way for anyone to play Xbox and PC games. The Adaptive Controller is just the base station, though. You can also plug in buttons, switches, or foot pedals to customize your setup.

Officially works with PC, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One

Sometimes you want an extra controller for couch co-op but don't want to spring for an official gamepad. The React-R is the cheapest Xbox controller we've used that wasn't terrible (it will work on PC, too, but we've yet to find one for PS5 that we can recommend). The React-R is corded and feels lightweight, if a little cheap. There are textured handles and shoulder buttons, and it's comfortable to use until you get sweaty hands. Button presses are crisp but hollow, and the D-pad is mushy. The best thing about this controller is the two programmable paddles on the back. Turtle Beach also offers a handy mute mic button, game audio and chat mix controls (Xbox only), and a weird EQ filter designed to amplify certain sounds like enemy footsteps.

An extra $10 gets you the Turtle Beach Recon ($50) which adds mic-monitoring, EQ presets, a focus mode that drops the sensitivity on the right stick for easier aiming, and superior rubber grips on the handles. But you can also snag an official Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller for $48.

Officially works with PC, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One

Rachel Fairbank

Louryn Strampe

Brenda Stolyar

Chris Haslam

Wireless controllers are great, but you do have to remember to charge them. If you don't want to mess with cables, a charging dock is the way. After testing several, we have some recommendations.

For PS5 Controllers: Playstation DualSense Charging Station ($30)
The official Sony charging station is the best for DualSense controllers. It is compact, charges two controllers, and frees up your PS5's ports. Slotting your controllers into place is a breeze, with successful docking marked by a click.

For Xbox Controllers: 8BitDo Dual Charging Dock ($45)
This stylish charging station is for wireless Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One controllers and comes with battery packs and replacement doors. The molded plastic makes it easy to slide your controllers into, and you can tap the top to change the lighting. The only drawback is that it is bulky.

For Nintendo Controllers: PowerA Controller Charging Base ($30)
This charging base can charge a Switch Pro controller and two Joy-Cons. It is simple to use, although you must insert a USB dongle into the Pro controller. I actually slightly prefer Power-A's charging dock, which is more compact than the base, but it is out of stock at the moment. If you only need Joy-Con charging, try the HyperX Chargeplay Quad ($30).

If you tell teammates on Apex Legends that you play with a gamepad, a couple of them will probably quit. There is a huge stigma against using gamepads in online games, particularly on PC. Hardcore gamers cite lack of precision, slow reaction times, and clumsy aim as justification for dumping on gamers who use controllers instead of a mouse and keyboard.

There are two things to unpack here. First, the gamepads on this list are designed to banish that stigma. The Scuf Prestige, specifically, is designed for competitive use even in PC games. Customized correctly, a gamepad isn't going to hold you back. Second, there's a question of accessibility. Not everyone can use a mouse and keyboard, even if they want to. The perception that someone could never perform as well as their mouse-and-keyboard-using compatriots is false. Games are for everyone.

If you're in the market for a new controller or console, or you're getting a controller for a PC for the first time, I want to point a few things out about placement--specifically, your placement, where you are in relation to your TV or monitor. For most of us, when we're playing a console game we sit on the couch. If we're playing a PC game we sit at our desks. But the distance between you and your display can play a huge role in your overall feelings about gaming with a gamepad.

If you're too far away it can feel like you're slow and sluggish, like you're oddly detached from the game. For me, it feels like trying to type with chopsticks. I'm able to hit the same keys and type, but it isn't optimal. You would get the same using a mouse and keyboard far from your PC, but you don't typically use those if you aren't sitting very close to the screen.

So if you're using a gamepad and find yourself feeling less capable than you were with a mouse and keyboard, this hand-eye coordination disconnect could be the culprit. Don't be too proud to sit closer to your TV or monitor, even if that means sitting on the floor like a kid watching Saturday morning cartoons. You might find that you do better with about 5 to 6 feet of distance between you and your TV, or about 3 feet between you and your monitor. Footie pajamas optional.

WIRED Staff

Reece Rogers

Medea Giordano

Reece Rogers

Gear Team

Matt Jancer

Adrienne So

Parker Hall

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