The 5 Best PC Gaming Controllers Worth Your Money

Listen. We are going to give a lot of great options for freaks and nerds, but if all you need is a PC controller that is going to feel good in your hands and last for years, look no further than the humble Xbox controller. The current controller for Microsoft’s Xbox Series X/S line of consoles is the best the company has ever made. The controller layout that originated with the Xbox 360 has been iterated upon for over a decade to near perfection. With textured thumb sticks, textured triggers, an eight-way D-pad, and an ergonomic shape, this is the platonic ideal of a video game controller. Plus, you’ll be paying 60 bucks for it, at most.

It’s also super easy to connect any Xbox controller from the past three console generations to your PC. The current “Core” model is the best, and it’s the one that’s now being sold new. But if you have a controller from an old Xbox lying around, you can totally connect it to your PC via USB or Bluetooth.

The only downside to this controller is the archaic choice by Xbox to still include AA batteries. If you want a rechargeable one, you will have to pick up a Play and Charge kit on the side. Other than that, it’s just about flawless.

8BitDo broke onto the scene by making high-quality controllers for retro gaming. The company’s latest budget-friendly option is for everyone, but we found it to be especially great for single-player gamers on a budget.

In terms of form factor and feel, the 8BitDo Ultimate C is somewhere between an Xbox controller and the Switch Pro Controller. The triggers aren’t quite as tight and precise as shooter fans might want, but the classic-style D-pad will win over plenty of retro gamers. It’s also lightweight and great for smaller hands. While this controller boasts a longer battery life than previous 8BitDo models, its 25 hours pale in comparison with the Xbox controller’s 40, and those are already generous estimates compared with what you’ll see IRL.

This excellent budget controller comes with both a 2.4G adapter and a direct USB connection for plug-and-play capability. It’s not going to win any awards, but if you need something simple, this is it.

Technically, the Elite Series 2 controller is objectively better than the regular Wireless Xbox Controller. If you can get over the sticker shock of paying $150 for a controller, you’re probably a serious enough gamer to take advantage of the extra features. Opting for the Elite version of our favorite PC gaming controller will give you a more ergonomic and customizable experience.

The Elite Wireless Controller lets you tweak every component to your preference. These goodies include additional thumb sticks, custom paddles, and two types of D-pads you can mix and match. If you don’t have a major in tinkering, don’t worry: Taking the controller apart and replacing different components is made as easy as building Lego. You can even adjust the tension on the triggers on a game-by-game basis. For better or worse, we’d tweak the tension between most matches.

The Xbox Elite controller has a noticeable heft. The weight lends some credence to this controller’s luxury price tag, but it will take some adjusting if you’re used to the regular one. The controller also comes with a preinstalled rechargeable battery and a charging dock, so no need to stock up on AAs. If you go all in on this controller, you probably won’t need to buy another one for your entire life. It’s a worthy investment in our eyes.

If you want to jack directly into the gamer zone, we love the PowerA Advantage wired controller. It’s made to be an Xbox controller, and it’s modeled after the Xbox controller. This budget-friendly option is a great companion for those doing marathon binge-gaming sessions. Personally, I have so many devices I already need to charge that it was a relief to not see one more. Of course, that comes with the downside of being plugged in. One false move and you’ve yanked your controller from your tower, or you’ve dragged your laptop off the desk. This PowerA model gets around this with a ten-foot-long cable.

It may not seem as sleek as a Microsoft-branded Xbox controller, but the buttons and rumble features don’t feel cheap—they only look that way. This controller also offers minor customization options by letting you reconfigure the trigger locks and adjust their sensitivity.

This third-party controller is officially licensed by Xbox, but that doesn’t make it a slouch for PC gamers. In fact, the Scuf Instinct Pro is the most customizable PC gaming controller on the market. It has everything you would want from a $200 controller—a plethora of thumb-stick options, re-mappable paddles, and triggers with adjustable levels of tension.

The Scuf Instinct Pro offers a variety of colors and custom faceplates you can choose, remove, and reuse. There’s even an option to pre-build your controller before you buy it. Know exactly what size thumb sticks you need? Want to make the face buttons look like a garish Halloween party? Scuf has your back and will let you create as sleek or as ugly a controller as you want.