Using a controller is a great way to play many games on the PC, and that's a fact. While we still love our mouse and keyboard setups for shooters, plenty of games are designed primarily with controllers in mind. For any of those, you want a proper PC gaming pad.
The GameSir G7 Pro is currently our choice for the best PC controller. It's the perfect blend of features, build quality, and price, and it manages to beat out the pretty superb Xbox Controller at a similar price. If you're looking to spend as little as possible, then the GameSir Nova Lite is the best budget controller, which offers Hall effect thumbsticks at a very reasonable price.
Naysayers may disagree, but the truth remains: controllers are sometimes the best tool for the job. Elden Ring or The Witcher 3, for example, have a much simpler control system when played with a great PC controller. You can bet that the best gaming mouse and the best gaming keyboard will prevail in almost every PC exclusive ever made, but adding one of these controllers to your inventory will cover the areas where they fall short.
The quick list
The best overall
This little feature-packed beast dethroned the Xbox controller, and for good reason. It offers a great feel, strong connectivity, won't get stick drift, and it's only slightly more expensive than the Microsoft-made controller it beats.
The best budget
You don't need to spend a fortune to have a great controller. The Nova Lite is as affordable as they come, is wireless, and even sports Hall effect thumbsticks.
The best high end
Razer's latest Wolverine is the best version yet, thanks to the Hall effect thumbsticks and triggers, plus some super-clicky face buttons. It's very expensive, but you'll never have to suffer from stick drift ever again.
The best wired
You can really make this controller your own, in a way you just can't with comparable premium controllers. It's pricey, no doubt, but great for colour-matching to your setup.
Dave cut his industry teeth writing guides for PlayStation and Xbox magazines a million years ago, and is as well versed in the world of gamepads as he is in the obviously more accurate keyboard and mouse realm. He's also got a penchant for arcade football games, and two small children, and so knows a thing or two about the need for reliable pads that can take some punishment.
September 15, 2025: We have cut our list down to just four options, and those four options offer the absolute best things a PC gamer playing on a controller can want. Importantly, the GameSir G7 Pro Tri-Mode has dethroned the Xbox controller as the best overall controller, as it's basically an Xbox controller but packed with premium features for almost the same price.
June 11, 2025: We have fixed some links, checked the availability of our recommendations, and updated the review copy. We also added the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 wireless controller to our "Also tested" section, as while it's quite an impressive design, it didn't quite beat out the other contenders on this list. There's some seriously tough competition here, as you'll see below.
May 12, 2025: Besides adjusting a few links, no major changes have been made to this guide. All of the recommendations below have been double-checked to ensure they still represent the best PC controllers you can get your hands on.
The best overall controller
✅ You want a great controller at a great price: The Gamesir G7 Pro stands up to more expensive controllers in many regards. Its comfort, ergonomics, and Bluetooth support mean it feels like a helluva steal for the cash.
❌ You want something flashy: This is a bit of a serious controller in a lot of ways, and it lacks any RGB, which means it won't glow in the dark, but it also won't drain its battery super quickly either.
The best overall controller for the PC is the GameSir G7 Pro. It's exceptionally high quality for the money, comfortable, colorful and manages to emulate the excellent feel of the Xbox controller, without the stick drift.
It is a tad more expensive than the Xbox controller, but you can't say it doesn't earn that price bump. Its asymmetrical sticks are in the same place, so too are the ABXY buttons. It even has a share button and a big Xbox logo on the top. If it weren't for 'GameSir' being written on the bottom of the front plate, you could easily believe this was shipped straight from Microsoft.
However, this pad is much closer to a pro controller than a standard one. You can take the grips, front plate, and pad off it, should you want to mix and match, and it even comes with TMR (Tunnel Magnetoresistance) sticks, which means you can say goodbye to the potential of stick drift.
To work on Xbox, you have to play with this controller wired, but it has both 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth for PC players and comes with around ten hours of charge from a single top-up. Given that it is bundled with a charging stand, you are unlikely to ever have to intentionally charge it.
As well as having TMR sticks, the triggers are Hall effect, which means they won't die on you either. The microwitches on the face button and D-pad are lovely and clicky, and it not only comes with paddle buttons on the bottom but also two claw switches on the top. If you like to preprogram a key for quick access, the G7 Pro really does feel like a competitive controller.
This is all helped by the fact that the G7 Pro is super sturdy despite being a little lighter than the Xbox Wireless Controller. If you like the idea of the Xbox Elite controller, but don't fancy the price (or the stick drift), the G7 Pro does almost everything you would want from it, and for cheaper too. It took a lot to dethrone the Xbox Controller as the best overall choice, but the G7 Pro has earned it after an excellent showing.
Read our full GameSir G7 Pro review.
The best budget controller
✅ You're on a tight budget: The Nova Lite’s central selling point is its excellent price. There are better controllers for more money but you’re unlikely to get a better value choice in the market.
✅ You want to play on multiple devices: This controller has built-in functions for quickly swapping from one device to another. It even outclasses much more expensive controllers in just how easy it is to connect to multiple devices in seconds.
❌ You want super strong battery life: At around 10 hours of battery life, the Nova Lite won’t go dry too early but it's a poor showing compared to some of our other recommendations.
❌ You're looking for pro features: This controller lacks back paddles, a capture button, and an aux jack, and you certainly notice it quite quickly. The Nova Lite is not a flashy controller but it never really tries to be.
The GameSir Nova Lite is the best budget controller for PC gaming, and that's not just because it's cheap. There are plenty of options to choose from in the sub-$30 price range, but few of them have as good a feature set as the Nova Lite.
To start with, you get proper Hall effect thumbsticks so 'stick drift' won't ever be an issue. Plus, it comes with a low-latency 2.4 GHz dongle, which is far more suitable for faster gaming than the standard Bluetooth connection (which it also supports).
Along with a Type-C USB port for wired use, the Nova Lite's firmware is configured for multiple platforms: PC, Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android devices. All of this would be an impressive list in a controller twice the price, so it's especially good to see in something so affordable.
Naturally, some corners have been cut to keep the cost down, so you won't find a 3.5 mm audio jack or any extra buttons, for example. The shoulder buttons are pretty small, and the d-pad is nowhere near as refined as that on the Xbox Wireless controller.
The Nova Lite lives somewhat up to its name, being a little over 200 g in weight, but as a result, it doesn't feel as robust as the Sony DualSense, for example. It's also disappointing to note that the rechargeable battery will only last 10 hours or so, at most. That's roughly the same as the DualSense but far less than the Xbox Elite Series 2.
But these are minor quibbles when you consider the small price tag. There are better quality controllers and ones with more features, but you'll struggle to find anything as good value as the GameSir Nova Lite.
Read our full GameSir Nova Lite review.
The best high end controller
✅ You're a seriously pro gamer: Should you need the very best wireless performance and button responsiveness, and can actually make use of the 1000 Hz polling, the V3 Pro is the pad for you.
✅ You play a wide variety of games across PC and Xbox consoles: The new Wolverine can be the one controller to rule them both. Just not the PS5, unfortunately.
❌ You don't need 1000 Hz polling: It might not have Hall effect sticks, but you can get the mighty Xbox Elite Series 2 for a lot less.
The previous iteration of Razer's Wolverine Pro controller was pretty good, but its very high price, awkward buttons, and lack of modern features such as decent haptics and Hall Effect sensors meant it was never destined for a top spot. Well, enter stage left, the Wolverine V3 Pro.
Razer has clearly acted on the criticisms of the V2 Pro because now you're getting Hall effect thumbsticks (say goodbye to stick drift) and even Hall effect triggers, marketed as Pro HyperTriggers.
With a flick of two, reassuringly chonky switches on the rear, both triggers can be switched independently between long-throw, smooth movements, or quick-reaction clicky ones. Everything about the triggers and bumper buttons feels positive, and that inspires a lot of confidence in those high-pressure gaming moments.
The buttons on the front are all equally clicky, which is great if you want a positive response from your controller, but less so if you want a quiet night of gaming. All of the controllers can be remapped via Razer's software or directly via the device itself, although you get fewer customisation options this way.
Razer obviously felt that it couldn't give gamers absolutely everything because it removed two aspects that gave the old V2 Pro an edge over the competition. The Wolverine V3 Pro no longer sports Chroma RGB lighting, so it's somewhat staid in looks, and PlayStation 5 support has been swapped in favour of Xbox support.
But at least haptics now make an appearance, and although they're not quite as good as those in Sony's DualSense controller, there's enough range and sensitivity to the Wolverine V3 Pro's haptics to suit most. Set it to maximum and the controller will happily give your hands a thorough workout.
Razer's controller can be used wired or wirelessly, and in the case of the latter, the included HyperSpeed dongle allows for a 1,000 Hz polling rate. However, when connected to an Xbox, you'll only get 250 Hz but that's the normal rate for controllers anyway. Unfortunately, there's no Bluetooth option (which the V2 Pro did have) but at least you get an extra-long USB cable for wired mode and a carry case.
At $200, the Wolverine V3 Pro is invariably going to be compared to Microsoft's Elite Series 2. Razer's higher price is justified by the Hall Effect sticks and triggers, but it's still an awful lot of money to throw down on a game controller. Still, it's also one of the best controllers we've used to date, so the choice is yours.
Read our full Razer Wolverine V3 Pro review.
The best wired controller
✅ You want customization options on top of customization options: Whether its the looks of the Scuf Instinct Pro or its buttons, the sheer number of options here are mind-boggling.
✅ You want something built to last: The Scuf offers a solid, reliable chassis, and build quality that inspires confidence. It can really take a thrashing, which is vitally important in any modern controller.
❌ You want something affordable: At $200 before adding the customization options, the Scuf Instinct Pro is a seriously expensive affair. And at that price, it butts heads with the Elite Series 2, which is a formidable competitor, to say the least.
Scuf doesn't mess around with its controllers, offering some of the best premium pads outside of Sony and Microsoft, and the Instinct Pro is the absolute best customisable controller we've tested to date. But when the Elite Series 2 exists in the world, how does anyone else compete in the enthusiast controller space?
Well, for starters, there are more customisation options on offer with the Instinct Pro than with pretty much any other pad you could name. There are tons of cosmetic and physical customisations available from the initial store page. In addition to faceplate and thumbstick-ring options you also get your choice of actual thumbstick length and convex or concave topper.
There's plenty more you can customise, too, including button facades, D-pads, and bumper and trigger styling. You can also remove the rumble motors from inside the controller, which is something pros often end up doing to cut down on distracting hand wobble.
Though that will definitely impact the price—depending on what choices you go with, these customisations could bump the cost up to just shy of $250.
Design-wise, the Instinct Pro sticks to the straight and narrow, being pretty much identical to a standard Xbox Series X/S controller. Apart from the faceplate, rings, and front mute button, that is.
When it comes to quality, the build matches its price tag. The thumbsticks are solid and responsive during gaming sessions, and they're still smooth and accurate when you're in less fast-paced games, too. The triggers feel great—maybe not quite as deep as the Elite, but just as accurate.
The Scuf Instinct Pro requires AA batteries, like standard Xbox pads, but unlike the Elite which houses a rechargeable battery. The ability to swap in a fresh pair of batteries mid-tournament is potentially a selling point, and lithium-ion batteries are meant to have a finite shelf life. Pros and cons, though—different strokes for different folks.
Either way, it's a fantastic device that feels great in the hand, is as responsive as you could wish for, and is the best customisable controller overall. It's just very pricey once you dig into all the different options.
Read our full Scuf Instinct Pro review.
Also tested
Controller FAQ
Can you use a console controller on PC?
The short answer is yes. The slightly longer answer is that you might need to perform a little fiddling the first time you set it up—although after that it will just be a case of plugging it in.
How to set up your controller on PC:
Is PC gaming better with a controller?
This might seem an utterly offensive question to ask in the annals of PC Gamer, but it remains true that certain PC games are far better played with a controller than the classic keyboard and mouse combo.
Sports games are the most obvious, as anyone who has tried to play FIFA using the strange keyboard/mouse control scheme can attest to. But there are other titles, specifically those which were primarily designed for consoles whose control schemes are so unwieldy away from a pad that playing them any other way is a pain.
For example, you could play Elden Ring without a controller, but using a pad on a PC felt far better. Oh and for racing games? You really want one of the options above, although of course you could go all out and get a full-on racing wheel instead.
How we test controllers
Ignore those who seem to think every game is best with a mouse and keyboard. Assassin's Creed Valhalla is not best played with a keyboard. Street Fighter 5 is not best played with a keyboard. True, we play most games with a mouse and keyboard, but for PC gamers with ranging tastes, a good controller is a must.
Soulslikes work particularly well on controller, and we try to test a wide variety of games when we have pads in our hands. Our testing process involves slotting the controller into our day-to-day gaming activities and seeing if it can hold its own against the competition.
This could go from taking a spin around a course in F1, to firing off a couple of bullets in Borderlands, to platforming in Celeste. Testing even involves trying out the controller on games that are generally consider better on mouse and keyboard (the horrors, I know). After all, a good controller doesn't just give a competitive edge in some environments, it adds meaningfully to the way you spend those late nights when you just need to relax and put your feet up.
