The advantages of gaming on PC are obvious -- you get a massive library of games compared to console gamers and the power to pump those graphics up to the highest settings. Keyboard and mouse gaming is the default way to play (and has a lot of advantages), but some games just feel better with a controller. If you're just getting into PC gaming and need a little more controller time, are playing specific titles that operate better with one, or just outright prefer controller gaming, you want to make sure you're getting the best bang for your buck when you pick a PC-compatible gamepad. A high-quality PC controller can make all the difference in the world for the best PC games now and for all the upcoming PC games.
There are quite a few controller options out there for PC gamers, and the best PS5 controller or best Xbox Series X controller might not be the best for PC. Here are the best controllers that take advantage of your PC's power.
The Scuf Instinct Pro controller is absolutely elite when it comes to gaming on PC. Bluetooth connectivity means the controller won't get tangled up in your PC setup, the four remappable paddles on the back give you extra control options in-game, and the grip is out of this world.
The Instinct Pro features three built-in customizable profiles that allow you to quickly swap your settings for specific games on the fly — so no more scrambling to change your button mapping when jumping into drastically different titles.
Some might say controller players are a step behind when it comes to PC gaming, but the Instinct Pro is right on par with a full keyboard and mouse setup.
If you aren't worried about going wireless, the Wolverine V2 Chroma Controller from Razer is the best PC gaming controller on the market. It has arguably superior sticks and buttons than any other controller on the market, is ultra-responsive, and has a great design for comfort during extended gaming sessions.
This model features six extra remappable buttons (four on the back similar to paddles and two extra small shoulder buttons. These bonus buttons come in clutch when you're going up against keyboard-and-mouse players in your favorite shooter. The Wolverine V2 Chroma looks similar to the standard Xbox controller these days, but two slick RGB light strips cut down the sides of the controller for a really cool vibe while you're playing.
The only downside here is that there's no wireless option.
The Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 is everything players could want in a PC gaming controller, with tremendous build quality and customization options to make it exactly what they need for games of all genres. A revised version of the earlier Xbox Elite Controller, the Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 features removable analog sticks with adjustable tension, a removable directional pad that can be replaced with a circular design, hair-trigger stops, and four back paddles that can be programmed to perform any button’s function.
Aside from the customization options letting players tailor the controller to fit their specific needs, it feels wonderful. The analog sticks’ three levels of tension all feel distinct enough to serve different players, and the shoulder buttons have a sturdier feel than the ones on the standard Xbox controller. Still, the biggest upgrade is the directional pad, which provides the perfect amount of clickiness without being difficult to press, so there is little guesswork when performing big combo attacks in fighting games.
Even the case the controller comes in is impressive. It contains slots for all accessories, which include four additional analog sticks, an extra directional pad, and the stick adjustment key, as well as a charging cradle so that players can charge the controller without even removing it from the case. It's certainly pricey, but it will be tough to go back to using anything else after spending time with the Xbox Elite Controller Series 2.
Not much needs to be said about the quality of Sony's PS5 DualSense Edge -- it's a huge step-up from the base unit and it's a lightning-fast controller. It has all the haptics and unique features from the Dualsense, plus back paddles for more customization and the ability to fully customize and replace nearly all the components.
A lot of PC gaming controllers cater to Xbox players because of the obvious Microsoft connection, but Sony's go-to controller is just as valid of a choice for PC gaming.
One of the most common controllers used for PC gaming today, the Xbox core controller is proof that refining a design can be better than radical change. Sporting a similar form factor to the Xbox 360 controller but with more ergonomic angles and a much better directional pad, the Xbox standard controller works well across nearly every PC game, including first-person shooters for those who don’t want to use a mouse and keyboard.
The Xbox core controller supports wireless play through Bluetooth on newer models, and it can switch to wired play by attaching a Micro USB cable. It’s easy to set up in Steam, as there is already a preset configuration in the software, and it runs on AA batteries without eating through them at a ridiculous rate. Should players prefer a rechargeable option, there is also a Play and Charge Kit, and it supports rechargeable AA batteries.
An inexpensive controller that has a remarkably different feel than competitors, the SteelSeries Stratus Duo is a jack-of-all-trades gamepad that can serve as a primary controller for nearly every genre. It functions across Windows, Android, and certain VR devices. On PC, setting it up is as simple as plugging in the included USB dongle and turning it on via a switch on top. From there, it’s recognized like any other controller and also functions in Blizzard’s Battle.net service.
The analog sticks on the Stratus Duo are a little deeper than other controllers we tested, which gives players great grip when playing intense games, and the triggers and shoulder buttons feel similar to the excellent Switch Pro Controller. Though it uses a one-piece design and is a tad chunky, the directional pad is also responsive and easy to use.
The Stratus Duo is fairly light, partially because it lacks a rumble function. This cuts down on price and can be nice for competitive gaming. It also helps extend the charge to around 20 hours. However, players who will be playing first-person shooters may need the haptic feedback that more expensive options offer.
If you're playing retro games on your PC, the 8BitDo Pro 2 controller is an absolute must-have. An update to 8BitDo's successful SN30 Pro+controller, the Pro 2 adds a handful of buttons, feels a bit more natural to hold in your hand, and has an overall sleeker design.
8BitDo's bundled software gives you complete control over how the controller buttons are mapped, bringing advanced customization only found in the most expensive gaming controllers to a cheap, retro gamepad.
As Digital Trends' Gaming evergreen lead, Sam Hill is here to help you find your new favorite game and dive right in. The team he oversees covers everything from Fortnite skin suggestions and Call of Duty perk tips to complex Baldur's Gate 3 builds and starting a fox farm in Minecraft. You can often find him losing all of his hard-earned loot in Rust or spamming the "Nice shot!" quick chat option in Rocket League (in a toxic way).
Before he came on full-time with Digital Trends, Sam spent a few years as a freelancer, writing tech guides for Input and writing for publications like Outside Magazine, Serious Eats, the Outline, Boston Magazine, and more. He also occasionally writes for The Manual about his outdoor adventures in the Pacific Northwest.
He got his start in journalism at the University of Southern Maine where he joined the Free Press, the student newspaper, after figuring out he didn't want to hang out with the serious English majors who genuinely enjoyed reading James Joyce.
Sam currently lives in Portland, Oregon, where he pretends to be a Trailblazers fan until the legendary Boston Celtics come to town.
Jesse Lennox covers all things gaming but has a specific interest in all things PlayStation, JRPGs, and experimental indies. Jesse has been writing about games for over 10 years, starting off as a volunteer and eventually finding his way into doing it full-time. He is constantly striving to push his boundaries in what he covers and finds thought-provoking and important angles to highlight within the games industry.
Originally double-majoring in English and Education, Jesse came into games media as a profession by accident. After an unfortunate layoff, he took his passion for writing about games seriously and was lucky enough to find Digital Trends and other outlets such as Pocket-Lint, Classic Nerd, and Gamepur to write for. He has held numerous writing positions, as well as several editing roles, and is always on the hunt for new opportunities to grow his skillset.
Based in Colorado, Jesse spends at least two hours every morning training in the gym to set his mind straight before a full day of writing and gaming.
The Call of Duty franchise has held a special place in my heart ever since I played my first Black Ops game back in 2010. That game's campaign was something else, with twists and turns that culminated in a mind-blowing finale. We can all admit that compared to those older campaigns, the recent CODs have been lackluster at best, and a complete and utter disappointment at worst. The reboot of Modern Warfare did give me some hope, as the first two installments were actually quite good, but the third game left such a bad taste in my mouth that I wasn’t exactly expecting much from Modern Warfare 4.
After recently finishing the campaign, I can say that this installment is nothing like the recent releases and instead feels closer to the franchise’s roots. For the first time in a long while, the campaign comes across as well-crafted rather than rushed to hit a release date. It arrives three years after MW3, and you can see exactly where all that time went. It seems the studio finally made listening to player feedback a priority.
Epic Games has just announced the 2026 Epic AI MegaJam, which is looking to see how much game development can be squeezed into a very short window. This is running from November 12 through November 15.
Participants can work alone or in teams of up to five people, build in Unreal Engine or Unreal Editor for Fortnite, and bring along “as many AI agents as you want.” Epic explicitly encourages coding agents, AI-generated assets, audio tools, writing tools, and other AI systems. The official event page literally says "Vibe your way to $50k.”
It’s turning into a pretty good time to be a Monster Hunter fan who plays on a phone. Capcom has confirmed that Monster Hunter Outlanders will launch on Android and iOS on October 29, giving the series a new mobile-first game just as Monster Hunter Rise is also preparing to make the jump to smartphones through Netflix.
Outlanders is being developed by Tencent subsidiary TiMi Studio Group under license and supervision from Capcom. Unlike Rise, which appears to be the full console and PC game adapted for mobile, Outlanders is a free-to-play survival hunting game made specifically for phones.