Bagging the best PC joystick is a great way to pilot a Tie-Fighter in Star Wars: Squadrons or fly a plane across the globe in Microsoft Flight Simulator for the ultimate flight sim experience. The best PC joysticks will pull you into the experience and give you a level of finite control that a gamepad or a keyboard and mouse simply can't replicate.
Right now, the best PC joystick is the Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog. It's sturdy and feels good in your hands, and it's also easy to use as a building block for your whole cockpit experience. The best budget joystick is the Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS X, a very affordable solution that still feels plenty sturdy enough to take to the skies.
Even if you decide to set up an entire HOTAS (Hands-On Throttle and Stick) with foot pedals and an exceptional captain's chair, we still recommend getting an excellent wireless gaming keyboard and gaming mouse for navigating menus and such. Still, joysticks are tons of fun, and below are the best PC joysticks that we've personally tested, from proper flight sim sticks to more casual controllers for aerial japes.
Dave has had his pick of flight controllers, joysticks and yokes over the years, and as a result, has seen everything from the very high-end flight sim solutions right down to the cheapest models you can buy. Whether you're looking to spend a little or a lot, he's well qualified to tell you which will let you soar, and which send you crashing back down to Earth.
The Quick list
The best overall
The Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog is a stunningly well-made and well-featured flight control system, with superb action and a reassuring weight that makes it feel like it was taken straight from a real plane.
The best budget
It might be budget-priced, but with a detachable thrust controller and full Z-axis rotation for rudder control, the T.Flight HOTAS X offers a lot of flexibility and solid build quality for the money.
The best mid range
A brilliantly professional and clean design, durable controls, and more switches and knobs than you can shake a stick at make the G X56 HOTAS a fantastic mid-way point between budget and premium joysticks. And it's got pretty RGB lights!
The best high-end
With a bewildering array of options and add-on components, along with an immensely complex software package, the VKB Gladiator NXT Evo isn't for the casual player or the faint-hearted. But if you want the absolute best, the VKB is where it's at.
The best for Microsoft Flight Simulator
With some nice nods to real Airbus design and an ambidextrous setup, the TCA Sidestick Airbus edition is an affordable upgrade over a traditional controller for MSFS, with the option to buy a matching throttle control for more immersion, too.
The best yoke
If you're looking for a yoke that mimics the sort of thing you'd find in a real plane, look no further. This officially Boeing-licensed yoke feels beautifully smooth, remarkably sturdy, and professional to boot.
Recent updates
Updated October 22, 2024 to ensure all our picks are up-to-date and represent the best PC joysticks on the market, as well as add the Thrustmaster AVA F/A-18 Super Hornet to the Also Tested section.
The best PC gaming joystick
✅ If you want something incredibly well-built: The HOTAS Warthog feels like it was taken directly from a real plane, and it doesn't get much better than that.
✅ If you want silky smooth action: It's not just the tank-like build that lends a heavy dose of realism to these controls, but the impeccable action of the stick, too.
❌ If you want Z-rotation: About the only thing the HOTAS Warthog can't do is stick-twisting rudder control, although that's easily remapped to one of the other options provided.
❌ If you're on a budget: With an MSRP of $450, all that build quality and stupendous realism does not come cheap.
The Thrustmaster Warthog is hands-down the best PC joystick you can buy. It's beautifully made, looks like it was ripped straight out of an A-10, and comes with an industrial strength that means the only thing left in our post-apocalyptic future will be a bunch of cockroaches trying to figure out how to use these sticks.
Sure, it's an expensive unit, but you will know your money's been well spent as soon as you lift the lid on the packaging and pull the setup out. The stick alone weighs a kilo even before it's been screwed down onto the solid, wide metal base. That's something to behold, but the throttle is something else.
It is one of the finest pieces of PC peripheral engineering I've ever experienced. Its casing is entirely made of metal and adorned with buttons. And not just buttons either; extra hat switches adorn the throttle itself, one that can be split in two should you need discrete control, and there are a host of toggles and metal flick switches too. I will sit there idly flipping switches even when the thing's unplugged; the action is so satisfying.
All that weight means it practically sticks to your desk as you fling your Cobra MkIII around in Elite: Dangerous like a BSG Viper, and if you're so inclined, the drill holes are there if you want to make it a permanent addition too. It feels great to use in-game, too, providing you with all the possible control permutations you could need without ever having to go near your keyboard again.
The only slight miss, and one that owes to its A-10C Warthog replica status, is the lack of Z-rotation on the stick offering rudder control. However, that's easily mapped onto any number of extra hat switches or even extra analog joysticks.
Downsides? Well, at around $450, it's expensive. And if that's a little rich for your blood, the Logitech G X56 HOTAS RGB below might better serve your needs for less cash. This is serious gear, and as a result, it's got a serious price tag to match.
The Warthog was originally released over ten years ago and is still the best you can buy. This explains why the price has steadily crept up since then too. But trust me, if you're serious about the best PC joystick, this is it, and once you pick it up, you'll never think about its price again.
The best budget joystick
✅ If you want value for money: While this stick and throttle combo is definitely cheap, you're getting a decently robust HOTAS system for the money.
✅ If you want detachable thrust controls for less: Given the budget nature of this setup, the fact you can split the controls is a nice bonus.
❌ If you want lots of features and buttons: It's a little barebones, the T.Flight HOTAS X, and you may find yourself wanting more control options.
❌ If you value silence: While it feels reasonably sturdy, it can creak and graunch a bit under heavy usage.
The Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS X is a testament to the fact that you don't have to spend a fortune to get a good stick, and as a result, it's our best budget joystick. It's a much cheaper build and design than the Warthog, but you can forgive the use of plastic and the lack of buttons and hats for a tenth of the ticket price.
The key elements are there. The detachable throttle is probably the neatest feature: given that you're going to need easy access to your keyboard for its extra buttons, being able to split these components around it is a definite advantage.
It's also got the much-needed Z-axis rotation for rudder control, although the press of a switch will enable you to operate the rudder via a rocker on the front of the throttle grip. You get plenty of programmable buttons too, but they feel very much the sort you'd expect to find on a budget controller.
The action on the stick and throttle isn't great either, and you'll likely notice some graunching plastic noises as you push and pull the controller around. But it's still robust and feels solid on the desk. This is an excellent value pick if you can't convince yourself that the Logitech G X56 HOTAS RGB or Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog is a sensible purchase, although you do get a lot more quality and options if you do decide to open your pocketbook a little further.
Still, you won't find any better for cheaper, and that's why the Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS X is our top pick as a bargain option. It's great for the money, and you can't say fairer than that.
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The best mid-range joystick
✅ If you like a clean design: The G X56 is a good-looking object with plenty of great feeling switches and a quality aesthetic that matches the durability of the controls.
✅ If you like a bit of RGB: It glows in a pleasing fashion and looks great in a low-lit room.
❌ If you'd prefer something heavy duty: While it feels plenty durable in usage, it's also surprisingly light. While the suction cups should keep it pinned to a desk, if you want heavy metal you should look elsewhere.
An update to the ageing X55, the Logitech X56 HOTAS improves nearly every aspect of the older Saitek design, but it still has many of the same features that made its predecessor great. The throttle can be unlocked to provide inputs for left and right engines individually. The throttle panel also hosts an entire series of metal switches and knobs that look and feel absolutely awesome, making it the best mid-range joystick by far.
I was a bit disappointed to find out that the metal top plate on both the flight stick and throttle doesn't extend to the base and that both the stick and throttle are composed mostly of plastic. The hardware still feels sturdy, but the seam running along the joystick handle is a bit jarring given the quality present on the rest of the build.
The entire setup for the X56 is deceptively light. While it does come with suction cups that can be attached to the base for increased stability, without them, I found the stick and throttle far too eager to slip around on my desk. However, for those inclined to make this indulgence a more permanent part of their setup, the X56 has holes present in its bases to allow you to affix it to nearly any surface with the appropriate hardware.
Featuring adjustable stick tension and over 180 programmable controls, this throttle and joystick combo is a quality setup. It's not quite in the same league as the Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog, but it is a fair bit cheaper. If you're ready to kick tires and light fires, the X56 is a good way to go.
The best high-end joystick
✅ You want to get serious about flight sims: The VKBs are not for the faint of heart. That being said, they provide so many options, you'll likely never need another flight-control system again.
✅ You want excellent feeling controls: Both the throttle action and stick feel are superb, along with most of the switchgear and buttons, too.
❌ You're just looking for some casual fun: Be prepared to break out the screwdrivers and spend a few hours pouring over forums to get the most out of these brilliant, but fussy controllers.
❌ You're on a budget: While I'd say they're well-priced for what you end up receiving, if you just want some quick thrills for cheap this is likely to be more than you need to spend.
Let's be clear from the start here: the VKB Gladiator NXT Evo F-14 Combat Edition is the best high-end joystick you can buy right now but you certainly won't be buying just the joystick and it's absolutely not for casual players.
If you're looking for something wonderfully premium but simpler than this VKB, the Thrustmaster AVA F/A-18 Super Hornet might be a better bet. It's easy to set up, but more expensive and lacks this VKB stick's customisability.
But if you're happy to let the hunt for the perfect flight sim setup become a burning passion (and a burning hole in your pocket), then by all means step into the incredibly complex world of VKB joysticks, throttles, mounts, and numerous other accessories.
The Gladiator NXT Evo F-14 Combat Edition is actually a bundle, comprising a Gladiator NXT Base Module and an F14 Tomcat Grip, for around $175/€181 (not including shipping). While the base of the Gladiator does have a throttle wheel, you'll certainly want to pick up one of VKB's STECS throttle systems and the standard model costs $279/€286.
So you're looking at the best part of $450 for the best sim experience but what an experience it will be.
Yes, the fiddly and protracted construction and setup process will make you feel like a genuine flight engineer but once you've got through all of that, you'll be treated to some of the finest quality components, triggers, buttons, wheels, etc around.
The action of the stick itself is outstanding—smooth and lightly weighted—making it easy to flick around, with a perfect centring motion, thanks to a fibre-glass reinforced internal gimbal and replaceable springs. VKB's throttle systems are equally luxurious and it's not hard to see where all that money has been spent.
VKB has a wide range of sticks and grips, so if the Gladiator NXT Evo doesn't quite serve your needs (for example, you want more hats), then there are plenty of others to choose from. They're all extremely high quality (and priced to match) and very complex, but you'll struggle to find anything better in the market right now.
Read our full VKB Gladiator NXT EVO F-14 Combat Edition + STECS Throttle System review.
The best joystick for Microsoft Flight Simulator
✅ If you want some real-world credentials: The TCA Sidestick is a replica of a real Airbus A320 stick control, which is impressive given the price.
✅ If you want a stick for MSFS without paying too much: Good flight sticks often don't come cheap, but this is a great way of making the switch without breaking the bank.
❌ If you want something premium: It's a decent stick for control, but it doesn't look or feel like a particularly premium option.
❌ If you'd like labelled buttons: Searching around for the right button can be a pain, so you'll have to do a bit of memorisation to get the most out of these controls.
With the arrival of Microsoft Flight Simulator and Star Wars: Squadrons, we saw a sonic boom in interest for compatible flight sticks. The Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus edition arrived just in time... and swiftly sold out. But it's back now and a solid pick for any wannabe long-haul pilot looking to ditch the controller for Microsoft Flight Simulator. The best, in fact, if you just want to jump in without spending a ton.
It's good for other games, of course, but as a piece of officially licensed Airbus kit, it feels best suited to the flight sim of the moment. With that in mind, it features a fluid and responsive control with a comfortable stick bolted on for long-haul flights. The joystick can also be reconfigured to your liking with a modular design, making this stick particularly friendly to lefties.
There are a heap of buttons within reach to keep shortcuts accessible in an instant, too, though we wish there were some clear indication of which button was which. It can be tough to track down 'button 14' in a bind, especially if your flying skills are a little rusty.
But kick in for the full kit, and you can divvy up even more shortcuts to the throttle quadrant module ripped right out of an A320—they got the color spot on, anyways. Baby blue isn't my first choice for gaming PC accessories, but I suppose it's a change from the standard black garb.
The Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas X above is a slightly more affordable alternative, it's true. Still, if you can splash out just a little more on this airworthy piece of kit, then the Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus edition is unlikely to disappoint.
The best flight simulator yoke
✅ If you want a fantastic action: This yoke has a supremely smooth and high-quality feel to its movements, which ups the immersion factor considerably.
✅ If you want something ergonomic, well-built and sturdy: A lot of thought has gone into the design and the construction here, and you can tell from the moment you use one.
❌ If a regular joystick would do: This ups the "sim-factor" to a level where many might be better off spending less on one of the options above if you're not too concerned with the realism aspect.
While officially Boeing-licensed, the Thrustmaster Boeing Edition Yoke is not an FAA-certified piece of kit. Touting the same tilting, pendular movement you'd expect from a real Boeing aircraft, the yoke swings back and forth intuitively as you pitch up and down. It's a much more pleasant experience than the push-pull motion you'd find on the majority of yokes on the market, even at the higher end. It really makes a difference to the immersion—I can almost feel the g-force as I pull back on the control column.
When you're flinging the yoke around feeling like a pro, the controls stay rigidly in place with the built-in mount, which sits sunken between your legs and doesn't knock the throttle even when mounted directly beside it.
Mounting the yoke itself is as simple as slipping it over the edge of your desk and doing it up, with no drilling necessary.
The obvious drawback is the lack of z-rotation you'd get compared to many of the best joysticks around, but this is easily circumvented with the use of the trigger buttons. That does mean you can't map your guns to the triggers, but the TCA yoke is designed more for long-haul flights, as opposed to games involving intense dogfight action.
The throttle arms are interchangeable and even come with extra tops specifically stating 'flaps' or 'speed brake.' Oh, and this makes for a more ambidextrous setup, too. There's even space on the front for a chart or checklist, though what looks to be a clamp on the front is actually fixed in place—Blu tack it is then.
Sure, there are some oddities with the reverse thrust levers being not the most intuitive, but otherwise, this is about as realistic a flight setup as you're going to get. Most actual pilots I've spotted reviewing this yoke are really impressed with how accurate the design is compared to the real deal.
If you're looking for a HOTAS setup with similar credentials, then I'd also highly recommend checking out the Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog, sitting pretty at the top of this list as our best joystick overall. It's not the same form factor, of course, but it's got a similar feel of something that could genuinely be used in a real plane, with similar quality to boot.
Sure it's not as highly modular as some, but this is a really professional-feeling yoke. For half a grand, this is a super-premium price, but there's hardly a thing here that feels out of place.
Read our full Thrustmaster TCA Yoke Pack Boeing Edition review.
Also tested
Q&A
Aren't there any cheap joysticks?
You can spend the sort of money generally reserved for a new graphics card on a decent stick. But it can be possible to get a very close experience for a fraction of the price. However, it can be tricky at times.
Prices of joysticks increased dramatically at the end of 2020, which meant even the cheaper end of the market got pricey as stock disappeared. The market has pretty much returned to normal in 2024, however, so have another look around if you've been previously frustrated.
Do I need a separate throttle control?
For serious simulation, you'll need some level of throttle control. This is the biggest thing that separates the joypad from a flight stick setup, and the granularity of speed it delivers when dogfighting can mean the difference between virtual life and virtual death. So that's number one: ensure your stick has a decent throttle.
But that doesn't mean you need a separate one, no. However, the best and most respected flight controllers have entirely separate control for the throttle, with extra toggle switches and LEDs. Others, such as the Thrustmaster T.Flight, have the throttle control built onto the base of the stick itself. So long as there's a decent amount of travel in the throttle, you'll have good control in-game.
How many buttons do I need?
Some of the controllers in this test have gone overboard on that front. But sims do demand many different controls, and having them all directly to hand can be beneficial. Just don't forget that your trusty keyboard can make up for any buttons lacking on your controller. You will need at least four buttons arrayed around the stick itself and, ideally, a hat switch on top of it.
What should I watch out for a space flightstick?
Maybe it's time we spoke about the Z-axis. Traditional joysticks have pitch and roll control—forward, back, left, and right—but some are configured for 3D movement. That means as well as controlling the X and Y axis, you can also twist the stick clockwise or anti-clockwise to control the Z-axis. Generally, this is used to control yaw and replicate the rudder controls of an aircraft.
In space, that three-dimensional control can be vital for accuracy, especially when you're zeroing in behind an escaping Sidewinder in an Elite dogfight. It is sorely missed on a stick with other controls that can mimic the rudder but on budget sticks that allow no such added control.
What does HOTAS stand for?
This exciting acronym stands for the rather mundane-sounding 'Hands-On Throttle And Stick' and denotes a dual controller where one hand rests permanently on the throttle, and the other remains on the stick.
What is a Hat Switch on a joystick?
A hat switch is a multi-directional button akin to the d-pad on a controller. However, on a flight stick, the d-pad has a hat on top, which the thumb can easily push to activate the switches. They come in 4-way or 8-way flavors.
