We have individually and independently testing 30 PC controllers over the past two years on PC Gamer.
Using a controller is a great way to play many games on the PCand that's a fact. While we still love our mouse and keyboard setups for shootersplenty of games are designed primarily with controllers in mind. For any of thoseyou want a proper PC gaming pad.
Naysayers may disagreebut the truth remains: controllers are sometimes the best tool for the job. Elden Ring or The Witcher 3for examplehave 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 madebut adding one of these controllers to your inventory will cover the areas where they fall short.
March 92026: I've added in the updated table to the top of the page to allow you to see all of our recommendations in one glance.
October 212025: We have updated our listwith the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro being replaced by (drum roll please) the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC. If you want a high-end controller right nowthis is the one we'd recommend.
October 12025: We've added the Scuf Valor Pro as our new best wired controller pickas it delivers a host of performance-enhancing features wrapped up in a superb chassis for a somewhat reasonable sum. If you don't mind a cableit's the wired controller to beat right now.
Dave cut his industry teeth writing guides for PlayStation and Xbox magazines a million years agoand 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 gamesand two small childrenand so knows a thing or two about the need for reliable pads that can take some punishment.
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 comfortergonomicsand Bluetooth support mean it feels like a helluva steal for the cash.
❌ You want something flashy: This is a serious controller in a lot of waysand it lacks any RGB—which means it won't glow in the darkbut it also won't drain its battery super quickly either.
The best PC controller is the GameSir G7 Pro. It's exceptionally high quality for the moneycomfortablecolorful and manages to emulate the excellent feel of the Xbox controllerwithout any worries of potential stick drift.
It is a tad more expensive than the Xbox controllerbut you can't say it doesn't earn that price bump. Its asymmetrical sticks are in the same placeso 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 plateyou could easily believe this was shipped straight from Microsoft.
Howeverthis pad is much closer to a pro controller than a standard one. You can take the gripsfront plateand dpad off for replacement with other unitsshould you want to mix and matchand it even comes with TMR (Tunnel Magnetoresistance) stickswhich means you can say goodbye to stick drift worries for good.
If you're using the G7 Pro on Xboxyou'll need the wired connectionbut 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's bundled with a charging standkeeping that battery topped up between sessions should be no issue at all.
As well as having TMR sticksthe triggers are Hall effectwhich means they won't die on you either. The microswitches on the face buttons and D-pad are lovely and clickyand it not only comes with paddle buttons on the bottom but also two claw switches on the top. If you like to pre-program a key for quick accessthe G7 Pro really does feel like a competitive controller.
This is all helped by the fact that the G7 Pro is super sturdydespite being a little lighter than the Xbox Wireless Controller. It took a lot to dethrone the Xbox unit as the best overall choicebut the G7 Pro has certainly earned its place at the top of this guide.
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 moneybut 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 models in just how easy it is to connect to multiple devices in seconds.
❌ You want super strong battery life: At around 10 hours on a single chargethe 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 paddlesa capture buttonand an aux jackwhich is a bit of a shame. Stillmoney had to be saved somewhereI guess.
The GameSir Nova Lite is the best budget controller for PC gamingand that's not just because it's cheap. There are plenty of options to choose from in the sub-$30 price rangebut few of them have as good a feature set as the Nova Lite.
To start withyou get proper Hall effect thumbsticksso 'stick drift' won't ever be an issue. Plusit comes with a low-latency 2.4 GHz donglewhich 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 usethe Nova Lite's firmware is configured for multiple platforms: PCSteam DeckNintendo SwitchiOSand Android devices. All of this would be an impressive list in a controller twice the priceso it's especially good to see in something so affordable.
Naturallysome corners have been cut to keep the cost downso you won't find a 3.5 mm audio jack or any extra buttonsfor example. The shoulder buttons are pretty smalland the d-pad is nowhere near as refined as that on the Xbox Wireless controller. Stillit's all very usablecomfortableand instantly familiar. It's budgetsurebut it doesn't feel like it in all the ways that count.
That being saidthe Nova Lite lives somewhat up to its namebeing a little over 200 g in weight—but as a resultit doesn't feel as robust as the Sony DualSensefor example. It's also disappointing to note that the rechargeable battery will only last 10 hours or soat most. That's roughly the same as the DualSense but far less than something like the Xbox Elite Series 2.
But these are minor quibbles when you consider the incredibly small price tag. There are better quality controllers on the marketand ones with more featuresbut 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 responsivenessand can actually make use of the polling ratethe V3 Pro 8K PC is the pad for you.
✅ You want lots of customisation: With trigger locksremappable buttonsand Razer Synapse 4there are plenty of ways to customise the V3 Pro 8K PC
❌ You don't need 8,000 Hz polling: It might not have Hall effect sticksbut you can get the mighty Xbox Elite Series 2 for a lot less.
❌ You want to play on Xbox: The standard V3 Pro works on both Xbox and PCbut the V3 Pro 8K PC only works wirelessly on PC. In exchangethoughyou get TMR sticks and a super high polling rate.
The Razer Wolverine V2 Pro is pretty goodbut its high price pointawkward buttonsand lack of modern features such as TMR thumbsticks and Hall effect sensors meant it was never destined for a top spot. Wellthis was swiftly replaced by the V3 Prowhich has now been replaced by the V3 Pro 8K PC—the current best high-end gaming controller for PCs.
Razer has clearly acted on the criticisms of the V2 Pro because now you're getting TR thumbsticks (say goodbye to stick drift) and even Hall effect triggersmarketed as Pro HyperTriggers.
With a flick of tworeassuringly chonky switches on the rearboth triggers can be switched independently between long-throwsmooth movements or quick-reaction clicky ones. Everything about the triggers and bumper buttons feels positiveand that inspires a lot of confidence in those high-pressure gaming moments.
The buttons on the front are all equally clickywhich is great if you want a positive response from your controllerbut less so if you want a quiet night of gaming. Stillall of the controls can be remapped via Razer's software or directly via the device itselfso there's plenty of opportunity to customise things to your liking.
Razer's controller can be used wired or wirelesslyand in the case of the latterthe included HyperSpeed dongle allows for an 8,000 Hz polling rate. Unfortunatelythere'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. That polling rate is arguably too much for a casual gamerbut it's perfect for getting snappy headshots and making high-level plays.
It helps that the build quality of Razer's latest controller is great. Despite being lighter than the standard V3 Proit's still a super solid controllerand that carry case will help protect it from any bumps while you're on the move.
At $200the Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC is invariably going to be compared to Microsoft's Elite Series 2. Razer's higher price is justified by the TMR sticks and Hall effect triggersbut it's still an awful lot of money to throw down on a peripheral. Stillit's also one of the best controllers we've used to dateso if you've got the cashwe can confirm it's a helluva gaming device.
Read our full Razer Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC review.
The best wired controller
✅ You're not bothered by a cable: It might be an obvious thing to saybut our best wired controller pick iserrwired. For somethat's a big deal; for othersno worries at all.
✅ You want excellent switches and impeccable ergonomics: The Scuf Valor Pro feels great in the handswith superb clicks and clacks in all the right places.
❌ You're on a budget: Given the feature set herea $100 asking price isn't too teeth-clenching. But you can pick up a great wireless controller with fewer doohickeys for muchmuch less.
Yesit's a wired controller in 2026and yesyou can pick up plenty of great wireless controllers for its $100 price point. But the truth isthe Scuf Valor Pro is so darn good at its jobit has to take the best wired controller spot in this guide.
The Valor Pro does not reinvent the wheel. What it doeshoweveris refine the wired asymmetric controller recipe to such a point that it makes much of the competition look a little old-fashioned.
Beyond the programmable paddles on the rear that have become a hallmark of many premiumpro-friendly controllers these daysthe standard configuration of face buttons and at-an-angle sticks is so well-implementedit actually stands up to scrutiny against some of the most expensive wireless controllers we've tested.
The sticksfor exampleare Hall effectwhich means they're immune to stick drift over time. You can also pop the thumbsticks off the top and install differently-sized replacementscomplete with a tall "wiggly stick" (our reviewer Jacob's wordsnot mine) included as part of the package. It's not just the sticks that can be customisedeitheras the magnetic faceplate can be popped straight off the front to be replaced by a differently-colored model of your choosing.
The triggers can also be set to a clicky configurationor a traditional long throwwhich is a feature we've enjoyed on many premium wireless controllers like the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC above. The bumper buttons extend a fair way around the top of the controller itselfwhich means they're easy to press with the middle of an index finger while the tip rests on a trigger. It's all very well thought out—but beyond the excellent ergonomic designit's the feel of the controls that really makes it stand apart.
Those face buttonsfor exampleare wonderfully clicky in their own right. The back paddlestoohave a clacky quality that makes them a joy to press. In factthis controller made such an impression on our Jacobhe found himself playing with its controls as something of a fidget toyeven when it wasn't plugged in.
Yeswe're keeping an eye on him. Anywaythe major disadvantage of the Valor Pro is the lack of wireless connectivitywhich you've probably already guessed by the fact that it's in the wired section. At the time of reviewit was also limited to a 250 Hz wired polling ratebut Scuf has since released a firmware update that boosts it to 1,000 Hzfixing our other major complaint.
Soit's fastbeautifully well-designed and madeand feels great to game with. Should a cable be of no concernthe Scuf Valor Pro is the wired controller to beat right nowand we can't say fairer than that.
Read our full Scuf Valor 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 Gamerbut 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 obviousas anyone who has tried to play FIFA using the strange keyboard/mouse control scheme can attest to. But there are other titlesspecifically 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 exampleyou could play Elden Ring without a controllerbut using a pad on a PC feels far better. Ohand for racing games? You really want one of the options abovealthough of courseyou 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. Truewe play most games with a mouse and keyboardbut for PC gamers with ranging tastesa good controller is a must.
Soulslikes work particularly well on a controllerand 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 25to firing off a few million rounds in Borderlands 4to platforming in Celeste. Testing even involves trying out the controller on games that are generally considered better on mouse and keyboard (the horrorsI know). After alla good controller doesn't just give a competitive edge in some environments; it adds meaningfully to the way you spend those late nightswhen you just need to relax and put your feet up.
