The Best PC Controllers for Gaming
Staff
While keyboard and mouse control used to be far and away the most popular option for PC gaming, recent years have seen console-style gamepads taking up a good part of the market. This is most likely due to the increasing build quality and degrees of customization popping up on the current generation of PC controllers. For many genres of games, a controller can offer comparable performance to a keyboard and mouse combo, with many players preferring to use them.
What to Look For
The most obvious aspects of controller selection are the quality of manufacturing, fit, and finish. You want a solid piece of hardware that will provide years of use without jamming buttons or analog sticks drifting off-center. How the device connects to your PC is another factor to look out for. A wired connection to the PC will always offer the fastest response between pressing a button and the command being carried out on-screen, although modern wireless tech has gotten to the point of being fast enough for most players’ needs. Battery life also becomes an issue in the case of wireless controllers.
How We Selected
Popular Mechanics recommends these controllers based on a combination of hands-on time and research gathered from reviewers like Kotaku, Polygon, The Verge, and PC Gamer. We take into account written consumer reviews and average review ratings, to ensure we are selecting the best products available.
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Budget Option
Newest Design
Best Overall Value
Custom triggers
Premium Option
Classic Style
Best for Android/ iPhone
Portable
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