8 Best Game Controllers (2022): PC, Switch, PS5, Xbox, Accessibility
Jaina Grey Simon Hill
Gear
A great gamepad instantly levels up your play. These are our top picks for Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.
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Featured in this article
Best for PC (and Some PS5) Players
Scuf Reflex Controller
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$200 at SCUF
Best PS5 Controller
Sony DualSense Controller
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$69 at Amazon
Best for Xbox One & Series X
Scuf Instinct Pro Controller
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$230 at Amazon
Best for Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
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$70 at Amazon
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4 / 10
Years ago, third-party game controllers were dirt cheap and notorious for poor craftsmanship—especially the eggshell-plastic MadCatz knockoffs. Every household had one. It was reserved for kid siblings and houseguests you maybe didn’t like that much. Those kinds of controllers gave third-party gamepads a bad name—one that persists to this day.
In recent years, though, companies like Scuf and Astro have donned their armor and unfurled their banners on a quest to rebuild the reputation of “off-brand” gamepads, one controller at a time. We’ve tried a bunch of them in the past couple of years, and these are our favorites. Here are the best game controllers, official and unofficial, for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox (One and Series X/S), and PC.
Be sure to read our guides to the Best Gaming Headsets, Best Gaming Mouse, and Best Gaming Laptops for more recommendations.
Updated October 2022: We’ve added controllers from Turtle Beach and 8BitDo, and listed supported platforms for each recommendation.
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Photograph: Scuf
Best for PC (and Some PS5) Players
Scuf Reflex Controller
If you have a PlayStation 5, the official DualSense below is absolutely the best controller for you. However, while it’s technically compatible with Windows, iOS, and Android, it’s a bit of a pain to pair with anything but a PS5. The Scuf Reflex is a PS5-silhouette controller that brings one of our favorite controllers to other platforms, without the pairing headaches.
The Reflex has all the bells and whistles that make the DualSense a great controller (three-dimensional rumble, custom-tensioned triggers), and it includes four removable, re-mappable paddles on the rear of the controller. They lie precisely where your fingertips rest, so you don’t need to adjust your grip to use them. It also stores three onboard configuration profiles, so you can swap between different button maps without reconfiguring them every single time.
And it just feels great. It’s coated in a soft-touch plastic that feels grippy without being sticky; the triggers feel super responsive; and the thumb sticks can be swapped out for taller ones for extra-fine control. These extra features are all must-haves for players who spend a lot of time in competitive online games.Officially works with PS5, PC, MacOS, iOS, and Android
$200 at SCUF
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Photograph: Sony
Best PS5 Controller
Sony DualSense Controller
Years after its release, the PlayStation 5 remained a mythical beast. A cryptid. A scarcely glimpsed and rare creature most folks had only heard tell of. Due to supply chain issues, it was just hard to get your hands on one. But if you’ve managed to now, you might be looking around for a good third-party controller. Well, there just isn’t one that beats Sony’s DualSense controller. This little thing looks slick and futuristic, feels great, and comes packed with features you can’t find elsewhere.
These new features include three-dimensional rumble, which gives you haptic feedback in a variety of places on the controller based on what’s going on in your game. The same goes for the custom-tensioned trigger buttons. Games can alter how hard it is to pull the triggers, how it feels, and the feedback the controller gives you. It’s amazing, and I went on about it in my PS5 review.
Officially works with PS5, PC, Android, and iOS
$69 at Amazon
$75 at Target
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Photograph: SCUF
Best for Xbox One & Series X
Scuf Instinct Pro Controller
What’s nice about PC gamepads is that they’re usually compatible with the Xbox One and Xbox Series X. The Scuf Instinct Pro is no exception. It’s a well-built controller, with a matte black finish and grippy underside. It feels premium, and it also has a number of features that set it apart from competitors.
The paddles on the back are my favorite. There are four that can be mapped to 16 different controller functions.
The paddles themselves are like hair triggers that rest right underneath your fingers, so you don’t need to adjust your grip at all to use them. They come in handy for games like Destiny 2 and Overwatch 2 when you have to juggle class abilities. It’s compatible with PC, but the Xbox silhouette doesn’t feel quite as nice for PC games as it once did. Thankfully we have another pick for PC players in this guide. Officially works with PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, MacOS, iOS, and Android
$230 at Amazon
$210 at Scuf
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Photograph: Nintendo
Best for Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
First-party controllers are often quite good. They’re usually well-built, feel comfortable, and do everything a controller should do. Still, it’s rare for a first-party controller to feel as nearly perfect as the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. This controller might top every category if you could use it as easily with PC, Xbox, and PS4 as you can with the Switch.
There are no other gamepads on the market that feel as comfortable and responsive as the Pro. It is the king of controllers. If you use your Switch in docked mode, you owe it to yourself to invest in one of these gamepads. It’ll spoil you for all other controllers. Check out our Nintendo Switch Accessories guide to learn more.
Officially works with Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android
$70 at Amazon
$70 at Target
Most Popular
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Photograph: Scuf
Best for PS4
Scuf Infinity4PS Pro
There’s something comforting about the plain old DualShock silhouette. It’s familiar and feels great, but it isn’t without flaws—mostly battery life. Those things die in just a couple of hours. Scuf has a solution: the Infinity4PS Pro controller. It has better battery life, and there are a couple of customizable paddles on the back side of the gamepad for fast-twitch performance.
This is a controller for anyone who wants to have their cake and eat it too. It works best with PlayStation 4, but it’s compatible with PC as well.It captures what I loved about the original PS4 controller and expands on it. It’s weighty without being too heavy, or too light and cheap-feeling. It’s the controller Sony should have made for the PS4.
Officially works with PS4, PC, MacOS, iOS, and Android
$200 at Scuf
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Photograph: 8BitDo
Best for Retro Play
8Bitdo SN30 Pro Controller
No, you’re not hallucinating. This is a SNES-style controller with joysticks. And Bluetooth. And support for Switch and PC. Functionally, it’s not unlike a PS4 controller, with the sticks at the bottom flanked by buttons and a directional pad. But it feels very different. The familiar flat profile of a classic SNES controller makes it a perfect choice for playing retro games, but it’s fully functional with modern titles. So if you’re looking for a retro gamepad for the classic Nintendo games available on the Switch, or just something to spark some nostalgia, this is it.
If you struggle to get by without handles, the 8BitDo Pro 2 ($50) adds them, along with a couple of handy programmable back buttons. It currently tops our Best Mobile Game Controller guide. Both controllers can also be used with retro consoles like the SNES Classic.
Officially works with Nintendo Switch, PC, MacOS, iOS, and Android
$45 at Amazon
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Photograph: Microsoft
Best Accessible Controller
Microsoft Xbox Adaptive Controller
The Xbox Adaptive Controller is designed to offer a wide variety of options for gamers who may not be able to comfortably use a traditional gamepad. It essentially deconstructs all the inputs in a gamepad and lays them out in a way so anyone can create a controller layout that works for them.
Games are for everyone, and this controller offers an easier way for anyone to play Xbox and PC games. The Adaptive Controller is just the base station, though. You can also plug in buttons, switches, or foot pedals to customize your setup.
Officially works with PC, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One
$100 at Microsoft
$100 at Best Buy
Most Popular
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Photograph: Amazon
Best Budget Controller
Turtle Beach React-R Controller
Sometimes you want an extra controller for couch co-op but don’t want to spring for an official gamepad. The React-R is the cheapest Xbox controller we’ve used that wasn’t terrible (it will work on PC, too, but we’ve yet to find one for PS5 that we can recommend). The React-R is corded and feels lightweight, if a little cheap. There are textured handles and shoulder buttons, and it’s comfortable to use until you get sweaty hands. Button presses are crisp but hollow, and the D-pad is mushy. The best thing about this controller is the two programmable paddles on the back. Turtle Beach also offers a handy mute mic button, game audio and chat mix controls (Xbox only), and a weird EQ filter designed to amplify certain sounds like enemy footsteps.
An extra $10 gets you the Turtle Beach Recon ($50) which adds mic-monitoring, EQ presets, a focus mode that drops the sensitivity on the right stick for easier aiming, and superior rubber grips on the handles. But you can also snag an official Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller for $48.
Officially works with PC, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One
$40 at Amazon
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Courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment
A Question of Tradition
Mouse vs. Pad
If you tell teammates on Apex Legends that you play with a gamepad, a couple of them will probably quit. There is a huge stigma against using gamepads in online games, particularly on PC. Hardcore gamers cite lack of precision, slow reaction times, and clumsy aim as justification for dumping on gamers who use controllers instead of a mouse and keyboard.
There are two things to unpack here. First, the gamepads on this list are designed to banish that stigma. The Scuf Prestige, specifically, is designed for competitive use even in PC games.
Customized correctly, a gamepad isn’t going to hold you back. Second, there’s a question of accessibility. Not everyone can use a mouse and keyboard, even if they want to. The perception that someone could never perform as well as their mouse-and-keyboard-using compatriots is false. Games are for everyone. -
Photograph: Getty Images
Screen Distancing
How Far to Sit From Your TV or Monitor
If you’re in the market for a new controller or console, or you’re getting a controller for a PC for the first time, I want to point a few things out about placement—specifically, your placement, where you are in relation to your TV or monitor. For most of us, when we’re playing a console game we sit on the couch. If we’re playing a PC game we sit at our desks. But the distance between you and your display can play a huge role in your overall feelings about gaming with a gamepad.
If you’re too far away it can feel like you’re slow and sluggish, like you’re oddly detached from the game.
For me, it feels like trying to type with chopsticks. I’m able to hit the same keys and type, but it isn’t optimal. You would get the same using a mouse and keyboard far from your PC, but you don’t typically use those if you aren’t sitting very close to the screen.So if you’re using a gamepad and find yourself feeling less capable than you were with a mouse and keyboard, this hand-eye coordination disconnect could be the culprit. Don’t be too proud to sit closer to your TV or monitor, even if that means sitting on the floor like a kid watching Saturday morning cartoons. You might find that you do better with about 5 to 6 feet of distance between you and your TV, or about 3 feet between you and your monitor. Footie pajamas optional.
Jaina Grey is a product reviewer at WIRED, covering all those devices that make your life easier—and sometimes much more difficult. Since her first byline in Dragon Magazine to her more recent work at Digital Trends, she’s covered a little bit of everything, from crime, courts, and patent filings to.
.. Read more
Simon Hill has been writing about tech for more than a decade. He is a regular contributor to WIRED, but you can also find his work at Business Insider, Reviewed, TechRadar, Android Authority, USA Today, Digital Trends, and many other places. Before writing, he worked in games development. He lives… Read more
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Where is the control panel located? — Microsoft Support
Windows 10 Windows 8.1 Windows 7 More…Less
You can use the Control Panel to change settings in Windows. Using these options, you can control how Windows looks and works, and you can customize Windows to suit your needs.
Opening the control panel
| nine0002 On Windows 10 |
For more options, type control panel in the search box on the taskbar, and then select Control panel from the list of results. |
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On Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1 |
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On Windows 7 nine0014 |
Click the Start button and select Control Panel . |
Find control panel items
Operation on the control panel:
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Using search . To find the desired setting or task, enter a word or phrase in the search field. For example, type «sound» to find settings for the sound card, system beeps, and the volume icon on the taskbar. nine0003
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Overview of . From the Control Panel, you can select different categories (such as System and Security, Programs, or Accessibility) and view frequently used tasks for each category.
Under View , you can select the category Large Icons or Small Icons to view a list of all control panel items. nine0066
Tips:
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If you are viewing the control panel as icons, you can quickly find an item from a list by typing the first letter of the item’s name. For example, to search for «Keyboard», type K , and the first item in the Control Panel list that starts with «K» is «Keyboard».
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You can also use the arrow keys (UP, DOWN, LEFT, and RIGHT ARROW) to scroll through the list of control panel icons. nine0003
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If you cannot find the setting on the control panel, press the Start button > Settings . Many control panel features are now available in settings .
What is the Windows Control Panel and how do I open it?
Posted in: Filed Under: Windows Setup / 0 Comments
The Windows Control Panel is part of the operating system’s user interface that contains elements for basic Windows setup and important operations.
For example, using the control panel, you connect devices, change the design of the operating system, remove programs, create and delete user accounts, etc. nine0003
When learning how to work with a computer running Windows, novice users are given instructions where you can often find such a thing as «open the control panel» or «open the control panel and select this and that.» In this lesson, we will look at how to open the control panel in the operating system versions 7.8 and 10.
- How to open controls in Windows 7
- How to open Control Panel in Windows 8 and Windows 10
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Other Ways to Open the Control Panel
nine0066 - More on the topic:
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How to open controls in Windows 7
The Windows 7 Control Panel is opened using Main Menu . To do this, left-click on the button Start and select the item « Control Panel » in the right part of the Main Menu .
This will open a window with operating system controls.
Call up Main menu can also be the WIN key, which shows the Windows logo. The WIN key is located on the left and right side of the keyboard, between «Ctrl» and «Alt».
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How to open the control panel in Windows 8 and Windows 10
Opening the control panel in these operating systems is different. To launch it, right-click on the button Start (or press the key combination «Win + X») and select » Control panel «.
back to contents ↑
Other ways to open the control panel
The control panel can be launched using the Run window, to open it, do the following: button Start>All Programs>Accessories>Run or simply press the key combination » Win+R». A dialog box will open, in which type the command «control» and confirm by clicking on the button » OK »
The previous method is certainly not the fastest.
