Flug joystick pc: The best PC joysticks in 2022

The best PC joysticks in 2022

(Image credit: Thrustmaster, Logitech)

The best PC joystick is the key to make piloting a Tie-Fighter in Star Wars: Squadrons or a plane across the globe in Microsoft Flight Simulator the ultimate gaming experience. A great joystick pulls you into the experience and gives you a level of finite control that a gamepad or a keyboard and mouse can’t do. These joysticks help make the experience of flight or other highly-mechanical experiences so much better.

If you think of yourself as a budding virtual pilot, you need to step up your home cockpit game. The most important piece of hardware, more important than any chair, fancy screen, or aviator glasses, is the joystick. For most people tinkering around in a flight sim, any of the joysticks below will make for a good choice because they are easy to set up and use. Consider it the building block for your full cockpit experience. Companies like VKB and Virpil have everything you need for a wildly more advanced cockpit environment if you want something closer to the real deal and have the money to spend.

Even if you decide to set up an entire HOTAS (Hands-On Throttle and Stick) with foot pedals and a special captain’s chair in your study, we still recommend getting an excellent wireless gaming keyboard and gaming mouse for navigating menus and such.

Below are the best PC joysticks that we’ve personally tested. These joysticks can make all the difference in the world in providing the best and most authentic flying experience for PC gamers,

Best PC joysticks

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Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog Throttle and Stick (Image credit: Thrustmaster)Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog Stick (Image credit: Thrustmaster)Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog Stick (Image credit: Thrustmaster)Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog Throttle (Image credit: Thrustmaster)

1. Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog

Simply the best joystick for PC gamers

Specifications

Type: Throttle and stick

Buttons: 36 action buttons

Hats: 7

Weight: 14lbs

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Heavy, durable, and sturdy

+

Impeccable action

+

The best money can buy

Reasons to avoid

—

No Z-rotation on the stick

—

Accompanying software isn’t great

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 feels great to use in-game, too.

It is one of the finest pieces of PC peripheral engineering I’ve ever experienced. Its casing is entirely made of metal and festooned 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 honestly just sit there idly flipping switches even when the thing’s unplugged, so satisfying is the action.

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 to offer rudder control. However, that’s easily mapped onto any number of extra hat switches or even extra analog joysticks.

The Warthog was originally released over ten years ago now and yet 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.

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Logitech G X56 HOTAS RGB Throttle and Stick (Image credit: Logitech)Logitech G X56 HOTAS RGB Throttle and Stick (Image credit: Logitech)

2.

Logitech G X56 HOTAS RGB

The next best joystick

Specifications

Type: Throttle and stick

Buttons: 31 action buttons

Hats: 5

Weight: 5lbs

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Clean design

+

Durable hardware

+

Switches and Knobs!

Reasons to avoid

—

More plastic than you’d think

—

Surprisingly light

An update to the aging 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. 

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 Warthog, but it is a little cheaper. If you’re ready to kick tires and light fires, the X56 is a good way to go.

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Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus edition joystick (Image credit: Thrustmaster)Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus edition throttle (Image credit: Thrustmaster)Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus Edition and throttle accessory (Image credit: Thrustmaster)

3.

Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus edition

Level up your Flight Simulator setup

Specifications

Type: Throttle and stick sold separately

Buttons: 33 action buttons (17 on joystick, 16 on throttle)

Hats: 1

Weight: 1.8kg (3.97lbs)

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

All you need for a solid flight sim experience

+

Additional throttle accessory

+

Nod to real-world Airbus design

+

Ambidextrous

Reasons to avoid

—

Feels a little cheap

—

No button labels

Thrustmaster TCA Officer Pack | Throttle and Stick bundle
Thrustmaster has bundled both the throttle and main flight stick together in the Office Pack, so you don’t have to go searching for the two separately.

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 upgrade for any wannabe long-haul pilot looking to ditch the controller for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

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 at an instant, too; though we wish there were some clear indication which button was which. It can be tough to track down ‘button 14’ in a bind, especially if you have 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 below is a more affordable alternative, but if you can splash out on this more airworthy kit, then the Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus edition won’t let you down.

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(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: FR-Tec)

4. FR-Tec Raptor Mach 1 HOTAS combo

All the buttons, such ergonomics

Specifications

Type: Throttle and stick

Buttons: 32 action buttons

Hats: 2

Weight: 2.3kg (5lbs)

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Durable and sturdy for no mounting

+

Safety lock features are helpful 

+

Lots of thumb accessible hats, triggers and buttons

+

Smooth Z- and Y-axis action

Reasons to avoid

—

Action on the X axis is a little janky

—

Can’t buy separately from the throttle

Coming in as a smart combo buy, the Raptor Mach 1 HOTAS is a sturdy, no-mounting-necessary setup for getting stuck straight into your flight sim of choice. While Microsoft Flight Simulator didn’t suggest any preset button layouts for it, I see this as a plus as it means you can assign buttons that make sense to you as you go through the training process, no need for the arduous process of cleaning up pre-assigned buttons.

The Raptor Mach 1 stick has just enough buttons and hats accessible to the fingers and thumb, two of the triggers even have a safety lock feature so you don’t end up kicked off the squad for accidental friendly fire. 

The throttle is ergonomic, smooth, and has an easy tension resistance adjustment dial on the side.

It comes with the much-appreciated feature of Z-rotation, and the electromagnetic sensor tech also means you get accurate and durable movement from the stick, and action that feels great in hand, although the X action (that’s your roll) isn’t as smooth as the others.

The Mach 1’s base is heavy and features non-slip pads which mean it doesn’t feel necessary to screw it down, though you can go all DIY and mount it if you want with the handy, built-in-but-unobtrusive brackets. The fact it comes with the throttle means you can use the passthrough, meaning fewer USBs connected directly to your PC, though it would be nice to have the option to buy them separately. 

There is the added bonus that they work independently of one another and also don’t come stuck together which can be a pain; if you’re left-handed for example and want to switch them around, or broader and need them further apart

The throttle is ergonomic, smooth, and has an easy tension resistance adjustment dial on the side. It has a couple of thumb-accessible dials and plenty of buttons, bringing the total combined action buttons for the HOTAS up to 32, and making it very versatile indeed. The throttle feels notably less premium built than the stick, but that doesn’t detract from its accuracy and smooth action.

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(Image credit: Thrustmaster)(Image credit: Thrustmaster)(Image credit: Thrustmaster)(Image credit: Thrustmaster)

5. Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS X

The best budget joystick

Specifications

Type: Throttle and stick

Buttons: 12 action buttons

Hats: 1

Weight: 2kg (4. 5lbs)

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Thrust can detach from the joystick

+

Great value for money

Reasons to avoid

—

Limited buttons and hats

—

Can be noisy when pushed

The Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS X is a testament that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a good stick. It’s a much cheaper build and design than the Warthog, but for a tenth of the ticket price, you can forgive the use of plastic and lack of buttons and hats.

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 aren’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 an X56 or Warthog is a sensible purchase.

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(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: FR-Tec)

6. FR-Tec Raptor Mach 2 Joystick

Superbly smooth and professional looking

Specifications

Type: Throttle and stick sold seperately

Buttons: 29 action buttons

Hats: 1

Weight: 1.1kg (2.4lbs)

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Safety lock feature prevents accidental firing

+

Mode switching with two levels

+

Looks like it belongs in a helicopter

+

Smooth action and Z rotation

Reasons to avoid

—

Can’t use throttle passthrough 

—

Difficult to find in the US

—

Stick alone costs as much as the Mach 1 HOTAS

The Raptor Mach 2 is a little harder to get hold of in the US than the UK, but can at least be purchased separately to the throttle for those looking to buy just the stick alone. The issues being, one: you can’t use the throttle passthrough for the stick, and two: the stick alone can cost almost as much as the combined Raptor Mach 1 HOTAS.

That being said, this is a joystick with impeccable accuracy and a premium feel. Not only does it look like it was ripped straight out of a chopper, it’s comfortable in the hand, and doesn’t feel breakable. The least premium thing about it is the flip-up, trigger-cum-safety feature. It’s fragile enough to make you think  it could break under pressure, and while a safety feature is always a welcome addition to any joystick, it leaves only one hat and pinky button accessible.

So there’s not a huge number of handy buttons, but on the base there are not only a great deal to make up for it (including ones dedicated to flaps and throttle), there’s also the option to mode switch up to two levels with two functional modes and button shift. This gives the Raptor Mach 2 an edge, despite the buttons being a little awkward to get to if you’ve got your hands full, achieve 29 programmable actions

There is the potential that all this can get confusing, but once you’ve got yourself all mapped out and are used to it, the Raptor Mach 2 is a dream. It’s a really smooth, sturdy piece of kit despite being not as heavy as it’s sister, the Raptor Mach 1.

Plus, there’s even a dedicated eject button. I mean, that’s the real selling point, right?

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(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)

7. Thrustmaster TCA Yoke Pack Boeing Edition

Basically the real deal

Specifications

Type: Yoke and throttle

Buttons: 35 action buttons

Hats: 2

Weight: 3.6kg (8lbs) yoke, 0.65kg (1.4lb) throttle

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Beautifully smooth action

+

Ergonomic, sturdy and professional

+

Comprehensive but not overcomplicated

+

Swappable levers make it ambidextrous

Reasons to avoid

—

Reverse thrust levers are buttons, not on an axis

—

Costs as much as a go in a real airplane 

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 to 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.

It moves intuitively as you pitch the plane’s nose up or down and is so much nicer than the push-pull motion of many yokes on the market. When you’re flinging the yoke around feeling like a pro, the yoke stays rigidly in place with the built-in mount, which sits sunken between your legs where it should, 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, no drilling necessary, and the throttle quadrant doesn’t even require mounting at all if you don’t feel like it, though the process is also pretty straightforward.  Not only are there detailed instructions on how to set the whole thing up—with control mapping charts and diagrams—there’s even a little instruction leaflet for adjusting the yoke tension with an included spring. That part does require a little faffing, but isn’t too scary.

This makes for a more ambidextrous setup, too.

The obvious drawback to choosing a yoke like this is the lack of z-rotation you’d get with 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. I would have liked to have seen some pressure sensitivity on the triggers, too, especially at this price.

Still, there are more than enough buttons, hats, and a trigger for each hand, yet the design somehow doesn’t feel overly complicated. One of the hats available to the right thumb is actually an analog stick, which gives you more freedom for whatever you feel like mapping it to. On the front of the yoke, at the bottom, there are also two more axes for extra mapping flexibility. There are even detailed instructions on how to adjust the tension with a mounted spring.

It’s pretty awkward to map the non-axial reverse thrust levers on the throttle arms, particularly when tested in Microsoft Flight Simulator, as it picks up the input as a button and doesn’t let you verify until they’re unpressed. Not as useful as I first anticipated, but all 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 of the yoke is actually fixed in place—Blu tack it is then. 

It’s great to see cross-compatibility with the Xbox Series X/S, although the Xbox branding does pull away from the authentic look a little. It’s an easy thing to overlook, but it would be better if it was optional to have your switches marked X, Y, A, and B.

None of that takes away from the professional, satisfying feel of the whole setup. Sure, there are some oddities with the reverse thrust levers being not the most intuitive, but otherwise, there’s hardly a thing about this yoke that feels out of place. Most actual pilots I’ve spotted reviewing this yoke are really impressed with how accurate the design is compared to the real deal.

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 about this yoke that feels out of place. It’s honestly no wonder Boeing wanted their name on it.

Read our full Thrustmaster TCA Yoke Pack Boeing Edition review .

The best joystick FAQ

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 an experience that’s very close but 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 2022, however, so have another look around if you’ve been previously frustrated.

Do I need a separate throttle control?

For serious simulation, you’re going to 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: make sure your stick comes with 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 AV8R, 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 a good level of 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 the 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.

Round up of today’s best deals

Reduced Price

Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog

£249.99

£229.99

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Logitech X56 HOTAS

£235. 28

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See all prices

Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus

£59.99

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See all prices

FR-Tec Raptor Mach 1 HOTAS

£89.99

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See all prices

Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS X

£59.99

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See all prices

FR-Tec Raptor Mach 2 flight stick

£49. 49

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Thrustmaster TCA Yoke Pack Boeing

£399.99

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See all prices

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Dave has been gaming since the days of Zaxxon and Lady Bug on the Colecovision, and code books for the Commodore Vic 20 (Death Race 2000!). He built his first gaming PC at the tender age of 16, and finally finished bug-fixing the Cyrix-based system around a year later. When he dropped it out of the window. He first started writing for Official PlayStation Magazine and Xbox World many decades ago, then moved onto PC Format full-time, then PC Gamer, TechRadar, and T3 among others. Now he’s back, writing about the nightmarish graphics card market, CPUs with more cores than sense, gaming laptops hotter than the sun, and SSDs more capacious than a Cybertruck.

The best joysticks for PC 2022

(Image credit: Future)

The best joystick for your gaming PC could give you a surprising range of variety when it comes to your favorite flight-based games. There was a short while when a joystick was the way to play any game on PC, and while we wouldn’t recommend it for every game today, a joystick could certainly be an entertaining and immersive way to experience your favourite air-based games.

There are so many joysticks on the market these days, and many pack a considerably pricey punch. To ensure you get the right one for you, and the games you’re trying to pilot, we’re rounding up all our the best flight sticks across the full price spectrum. Whether you’re a newbie looking to test the waters skies of Flight Simulator, or you’re a veteran pilot looking for an upgrade, there are plenty of options on the shelves right now.

These PC joysticks give a whole new lease of life to games like Star Wars Squadrons and Elite Dangerous. While some cheaper options consist of a PC joystick by itself, spending a little more will open up the world of HOTAS (hands on throttle and stick). However, these full setups can rack up quite the price tag.

We have five models on this list, three of which are from Thrustmaster, which is the top-dog manufacturer in this department. Along with joysticks and some of the best racing wheels for PC, they also make some of the best PC controllers money can buy.

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(Image credit: Thrustmaster)(Image credit: Thrustmaster)(Image credit: Thrustmaster)

1. Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog

The best joystick for PC overall

Specifications

Connection: USB

Buttons/switches: 55

Weight (Stick/Throttle): 3.4kg/4.2kg (15lbs+ total)

Platforms: PC

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Impeccable build quality

+

Countless inputs

+

Top choice for serious enthusiasts

Reasons to avoid

—

Really just for the specialists

We’re starting off with the biggest and the best. As mentioned above, if you’re a newbie when it comes to the world of flight sticks, chances are you want to skip over the Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog because this is a replica of military-grade equipment that will set you back around $380/£400. Yikes.

That’s where the drawbacks stop though, because if you know you’ll get enough use out of this bad boy, then it’s the absolute best on the market. A warning needs to be had though: Don’t drop this on your toe, or you’ll end up crippled because it weighs over 15lbs in total.

If you’ve no experience with this type of peripheral before then it’ll take some getting used to, but boy oh boy does it excel when it feels natural. It has 55 reprogrammable buttons and switches, which is an astounding amount when you consider the fact a  standard controller has what, less than 20?

The HOTAS Warthog adds so much realism to whichever game you’re playing, whether you’re hurtling through the skies in Ace Combat, shooting TIE Fighters in Star Wars Squadrons, or piloting a jumbo jet airliner in Microsoft Flight Simulator. Thanks to the TARGET software it comes bundled with, you can install optimized and custom profiles too, for games like War Thunder, Star Citizen, Elite Dangerous… there’s a long list. Unfortunately, this impressive bit of kit is only compatible with PC, so console players will need to carry on reading.

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(Image credit: Logitech)(Image credit: Logitech)(Image credit: Logitech)

2. Logitech G Extreme Pro 3D

The best joystick for PC under $40 / £40

Specifications

Connection: USB

Buttons/switches: 12

Weight (Stick/Throttle): 1.2kg (2.7lb)

Platforms: PC

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Super low price point

+

Everything you need for entry level

+

Easier to store

Reasons to avoid

—

Underpowered compared to more expensive options

If you’re not quite ready to commit to the price point of something like the Warthog, the Logitech G Extreme Pro 3D has a much more digestable cost. We regularly see this stick available for well under $40 / £40 and it’s got everything you need to get started in the world of flight sims. 

A one-handed rudder twisting control keeps a small footprint for your setup as a whole, and there’s still plenty of programmable buttons to fiddle with as well. An 8-way hat switch, throttle control, and three-axis movement, there’s an impressive array of features baked in for the price here. Not only that, but it comes with a solid build quality and a smaller footprint — perfect if you don’t want to keep your setup on the desk all the time. 

The G Extreme Pro 3D certainly won’t see more experienced fliers through a long session, but if you’re just testing the waters this is a solid place to start with a taster of everything to come without the much larger price tags. 

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(Image credit: Thrustmaster)(Image credit: Thrustmaster)(Image credit: Thrustmaster)

3. Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus Edition

The best joystick for Flight Simulator

Specifications

Connection: USB

Programmable Controls: 12

Weight (Stick/Throttle): 920g (2lb)

Platforms: PC

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Great price for a single game’s use

+

Flight Simulator-specific features

+

Realistic Airbus design

Reasons to avoid

—

Fewer programmable buttons

If you’re just looking for a joystick to see you through Flight Simulator with a little more realism, you don’t need to spend much. For single-game purposes, the Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus Edition is all you need — and you’re getting FS-specific features and a classy authentic Airbus design to boot. With four swappable heads and a few programmable buttons for good measure, this is a solid piece of kit considering it won’t run you past $70 / £65 on a good day. 

Originally launched as part of the brand’s collaboration with Airbus, the TCA line has gone on to become one of the more popular affordable joystick options on PC. Of course, you can fully kit it out with Quadrant peripherals for an all-ecompassing experience, but the beauty here is you can build to this over time. You’ll have everything you need to take to the skies from day one here, with more impressive add-ons always waiting if you feel you need them. 

What’s more, this stick is a plug and play affair for Flight Simulator. That means you won’t have to exhaust all your excitement simply setting it up — you can dive straight in and get going.  

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(Image credit: Thrustmaster)(Image credit: Thrustmaster)(Image credit: Thrustmaster)

4. Logitech G X56 HOTAS

The best PC joystick for beginners

Specifications

Connection: USB

Weight: 1.8kg (3.9lbs)

Platforms: PS3/PC

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Cheap option for those on a budget

+

Suitable for newbies

+

Lightweight and portable

Reasons to avoid

—

Significant deadzone

Here we have the Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS X. You may notice this looks somewhat similar to the Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS 4 and well, that’s right. The HOTAS X is the predecessor, which means it’s only compatible with PS3 and PC, but for some reason, Thrustmaster is still producing it and it’s often easier to find stock of. This means that if you’re a PC gamer looking for a budget HOTAS, this is the way forward because the lack of current gen console compatibility won’t be an issue, plus it should be slightly cheaper.

If you’re set on getting yourself a flight stick and want to see if they’re a good fit, the Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS X is a great choice

Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS X review

All the above aspects of the HOTAS 4 apply here too; we were impressed by the fact that it has same number of buttons, same design, same weight, etc. The HOTAS X has a red accent compared to the blue on the HOTAS 4, but it’s purely an aesthetic choice. When testing the HOTAS X we found that it does have a somewhat notable deadzone on both the stick and the throttle that can be a pain to work with when it comes to small movements, but it’s unconfirmed whether this has been fixed in the HOTAS 4 or not. At the end of the day, you’ll be able to grab a HOTAS X for prices cheaper than most other joysticks, so it’s a solid choice if you want to simply see what it’s like to use a flight stick for PC.

Read more: Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS X

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(Image credit: Logitech)(Image credit: Logitech)(Image credit: Logitech)

5.

Logitech G X56 HOTAS

The best joystick for customization

Specifications

Connection: USB

Programmable Controls: 189

Weight (Stick/Throttle): 1.1kg/1.2kg (5lbs total)

Platforms: PC

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Reasons to buy

+

Clean, sleek finish

+

189(!) programmable controls

+

Middle-of-the-park price

Reasons to avoid

—

Build quality could be better

Logitech’s premier offering in the flight stick department comes in the form of the X56 HOTAS, a direct successor to the now-defunct X55. A gorgeous looking piece of kit, as Logitech’s G range tends to be, with a matte black finish and stainless steel switches and knobs.

This HOTAS is nowhere near as pricey as the Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog, but it will still set you back over $200/£200. Again, it’s a steep cost for any newcomers to the scene, but the X56 is second on our list for a reason. The extent of the controls and ease-of-use make it a solid choice for any budding pilot.

Having three separate triggers is a huge benefit for the X56 over a lot of other flight sticks. When combined with the plethora of other controls like the thumb slider, numerous dials and switches, buttons… chances are you won’t need to use all of them, but you can remap them at your leisure so you only have the most suitable controls for you at your fingertips.

A few customer reviews have stated that the build quality here is a little lackluster though and that the lightweight nature means it can easily move on your desk when in use. These incidents seem to be few and far between, but it’s worth bearing in mind. Overall, the Logitech G X56 HOTAS is a fantastic choice for those who want to go all out, but can’t afford the astronomically priced Thrustmaster Warthog.

Best joysticks for PC: FAQs

Do I need a joystick for Microsoft Flight Simulator?

A joystick is not needed in order to play Microsoft Flight Simulator however it definitely elevates the experience. Having a joystick allows for another level of immersion whether you are an entry level flier or a seasoned pilot. 

Which joystick is best for PC?

In our opinion we found that the best controller is the Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog — it is a replica of military-grade equipment and much more tailored towards seasoned players. For the best budget option we found that the Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS X is better suited, it is only compatible with PS3 and PC as it is an older model but works very well on PC. The best option for people who want in-depth gameplay with a lot of customisation is the Logitech G X56 HOTAS as it has over 180 programmable controls. 

What controller has the best analog stick?

If you’re not going to pull the trigger on one of the best joysticks for PC, you might want a pro controller with some decent analog sticks, since they’ll be the next best thing. In our opinion, the Thrustmaster eSwap X Pro has great sticks, as does the Turtle Beach React-R.

What joysticks are compatible with Microsoft Flight Simulator?

Microsoft Flight Simulator devs have stated that all joysticks should be compatible with their game. They have a list of top recommendations which can be found on their website but have stated that any joystick should work after some customisation. 

Looking for a substantial upgrade to your gaming setup? Be sure to take a look at our picks for the best gaming PC, or best gaming laptops. We’ve also got you covered for the best gaming mouse or best gaming keyboard. And if you’re treating your eyes, then you’ll be needing our best gaming monitors guide.

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Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog

£249.99

£229. 99

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Logitech Extreme 3D Pro

£47.99

£29.97

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Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus

£59.99

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Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS X

£59.99

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Logitech X56 HOTAS

£235. 28

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Ever since playing Journey at the age of 15, I’ve been desperate to cover video games for a living. After graduating from Edinburgh Napier University with a degree in Journalism, I contributed to the Scottish Games Network and completed an Editorial Internship over at Expert Reviews. Besides that, I’ve been managing my own YouTube channel and Podcast for the last 7 years. It’s been a long road, but all that experience somehow landed me a dream job covering gaming hardware. I’m a self-confessing PlayStation fanboy, but my experience covering the larger business and developer side of the whole industry has given me a strong knowledge of all platforms. When I’m not testing out every peripheral I can get my hands on, I’m probably either playing tennis or dissecting game design for an upcoming video essay. Now, I better stop myself here before I get talking about my favourite games like HUNT: Showdown, Dishonored, and Towerfall Ascension.
Location: UK Remote

Why does the computer not see the gamepad and what should I do?

Many computer gamers prefer an alternative way of gaming to the keyboard and mouse, namely the use of a joystick or other type of gamepad (steering wheel, lever, etc.) for this purpose. Any gaming devices, in fact, are equipment externally connected to a computer, such as a flash drive or printer.

If the computer cannot recognize the connected device, this may indicate a hardware or software problem. Let’s look at the main causes of such problems and provide instructions for resolving them. nine0003

Make sure the controller is working

Before you start any troubleshooting steps with your computer, it’s a good idea to check the functionality of the joystick itself. Even if the joystick power indicator lights up when connected to a PC, this does not mean that the device is working properly — the LED lights up when power is applied. The only way to check the gamepad is to connect it to another computer.

If the joystick is detected, the problem must be looked for in the existing PC, otherwise it will have to be repaired. If there is no test computer nearby, proceed to the next section. nine0003

Make sure the USB ports are working

All modern gamepads connect to the computer via a USB connection. And there can be two options — either wired or wireless connection. In the latter case, the joystick uses a Bluetooth connection. But even a wireless connection will require the computer’s USB ports to work, because. Bluetooth adapter also connects to them.

Checking USB ports is quite simple — just connect any other device to them (a USB flash drive, for example). In the case of desktop computers, there may be a situation where only the front USB ports do not work. Therefore, you need to try connecting the joystick to the ports located on the back of the PC system unit. nine0003

If your controller is wireless, it may be that only the Bluetooth adapter has failed or is not detected by the computer. All wireless joysticks have a USB port in their design, through which not only the battery is charged, but also the device is connected to the computer.

Connect the gamepad to the PC using a USB cable (preferably the original one). If it is detected, the problem should be sought in the Bluetooth adapter.

Reinstall joystick driver

As with any other USB device, a special driver software is required for the operating system to interact with the gamepad. If the joystick is connected to the computer for the first time, you will need to install its driver. Usually it is included with the gamepad on a disk. The driver can also be downloaded from the official website of the device manufacturer or found on the Internet.

If the gamepad stops working all of a sudden, this may indicate a problem with the driver. In this case, it will need to be reinstalled. nine0003

You can determine if there is an installed joystick driver and / or if it is in a working state, as follows (using Windows 10 as an example):

• Go in sequence: «Control Panel», «System and Security», «System».
• In the left part of the window, click on the item «Device Manager».
• In the displayed list of computer devices, expand the «Sound, game and video controllers» section. You just need to see if the name of the gamepad is present in this section. nine0038
• The joystick may also be located under Mice and other pointing devices, HID devices, or USB controllers. These sections should also be checked.
• If there is no joystick name in any of the sections, the joystick driver is probably missing from the system.
• The same applies to the situation when there is a yellow question mark next to the name of the gamepad, which can mean either the absence or inoperability of the driver.

If the computer does not detect the joystick at all, the following can be observed in the Task Manager application:

«Unknown device» can be not only a gamepad, but also any other device. To check this, disconnect the joystick or its Bluetooth adapter from the computer. If the «Unknown device» disappears in the «Device Manager», it means that it was a joystick after all. Next, you will need to find, download and install the driver.

Where can I find the gamepad driver?

If the existing gamepad was released by one of the well-known manufacturers of computer peripherals, then the driver for it can always be found on the official website. For example, Xbox gaming device drivers can be downloaded from https://support.xbox.com. nine0003

In the case of little-known Chinese joysticks, you will have to look for software for them yourself. But that’s not a problem either:

• Open Device Manager again.
• Look for the name of the joystick or «Unknown device» in the list.
• Double click on it with the mouse.
• A small window will open in which you need to go to the «Details» tab.
• From the Property drop-down list, select Hardware ID.
• In the «Value» field, copy the first line:

Next, it remains to open any search engine and search for the previously copied text. In the very first search results, a site page should be displayed where you can download a driver for an existing gamepad or its Bluetooth adapter. Install the downloaded driver, the joystick should work.

If manipulation with the driver does not help

This can be observed in several cases. Basically, these are malfunctions of the operating system or the presence of virus programs on the computer. If it was found that the joystick is 100% working, the problem should be looked for in the computer software. The first step is to check it for viruses. nine0003

If that doesn’t work, you can try a full system reinstall — in most cases this is faster than troubleshooting software problems. But keep in mind that previously saved game records may disappear when you reinstall the OS. Therefore, they should be saved before the process. How exactly to do this can be found on the Internet at one of the many gaming sites.

Gaming peripherals: not just a mouse | PC World

Most games can be played with pleasure using only a mouse and keyboard, but there are also those where special controllers can add a significant amount of realism, which we will talk about today. nine0003

For most games, only a mouse and keyboard is enough, but there are also those in which special controllers help add a significant amount of realism. Of course, these include steering wheels for car simulators, joysticks and steering wheels for flight simulators, gamepads and various other devices, which will be discussed here.

What does a person need now to immerse themselves in the game? By and large, a tablet or smartphone is enough. The main thing is to be fun. However, there are many people who strive to get the maximum experience. It is they who go to IMAX cinemas, and not just watch movies on TV, travel the world, and are not content with photographs, attend concerts, and are not limited to recordings. And finally, they buy powerful computers in the hope of getting the most realistic graphics in games. But there is another level of contact with the game — tactile. nine0003

Fans of first-person shooters, who, perhaps, make up the lion’s share of all gamers, probably noted that the mouse is not the most intuitive control tool. If your hero in the game holds a gun in his hands, then why don’t you control with a gun? This idea was implemented in the form of an unusual controller by Zalman, which presented the FPSGUN FG-1000. This device is, in fact, a mouse, but of a special design, the so-called vertical. At the same time, its shape imitates the handle and trigger of a pistol. Under the index finger are the left and right mouse buttons, and the scroll wheel can be rotated with your thumb. For those who have managed to get used to it, it is more convenient to play with just such a “gun”, however, such manipulators, as well as other vertical mice, have not become a mass phenomenon. nine0003

But light guns will soon celebrate their 70th anniversary. Long before the advent of game consoles and computers, shooting galleries were created in which a photocell acted as targets. A little later, the light gun became a common controller for a variety of game consoles, but these days only a few companies produce them. This is due to the fact that a CRT monitor or TV was needed for the light gun to work, which have almost become a thing of the past. But the idea to give a gamer a dummy of a real weapon is alive to this day. An example of a relatively recent controller of this type is the MAG II Gun Controller. This is a rather large futuristic-looking machine that duplicates the functions of a mouse or joystick for PC and Sony PlayStation 3. Instead of light from the monitor for aiming, this controller uses accelerometers and G-sensors, just like in modern smartphones — just tilt the weapon slightly in different directions to move the character’s gaze and aim. nine0003

But players who prefer first-person shooters are clearly not the main audience for manufacturers of specific gaming peripherals. Much more often you can find devices aimed at fans of fighting games and various simulators. The most versatile of them are gamepads. In fact, they allow you to transfer the experience of a console game to a PC. And to be honest, there are a number of games designed primarily for consoles. The same fighting games, when you need to press buttons fiercely and very, very often, sometimes in unthinkable combinations — which keyboard will withstand such mockery? Yes, and it is more convenient to control virtual cars with the help of sticks located on the gamepad. nine0003

Gamepads are, of course, very different. It would be very reasonable if you like the gamepad of a particular console, get exactly the same for PC. For example, Microsoft sells the Xbox 360 Controller for Windows in both wired and wireless versions. So, in fact, these controllers are no different from the gamepads that come with the Microsoft Xbox 360 game console. Yes, and they have a quality that is traditional for Microsoft peripherals, i.e. high.

If you need a gamepad that is ergonomically close to the Sony PlayStation 3 controller, then in this case there are options, in particular the Logitech F710 wireless controller. The relative position of the analog sticks and buttons is exactly the same as that of the PlayStation 3 joystick. Communication is via a radio channel at a frequency of 2.4 GHz, there are vibration motors that create feedback. The PlayStation 3 wireless controller does not have such motors, for example. nine0003

There are also very interesting devices that use the motion tracking technologies that are now popular in consoles. The Razer Hydra controller, at first glance, does not look like a gamepad at all, as it consists of two wired manipulators, each of which carries buttons and sticks like a classic joystick, as well as from the «magic ball» — the original base station. It generates a magnetic field in which a pair of manipulators work — the deviation of each of them is very accurately recorded and transmitted to the game. Currently, support for more than 150 games released on PC has been announced. Their list is headed by Portal 2, for which, it seems, this controller seems to have been specially created. Several additional levels of Portal 2 even come with a special edition of the Razer Hydra. The controls are quite intuitive, for example, to jump or crouch, you need to move the controller up or down, respectively. So if you want to get a completely new feeling from old games, it makes sense to pay attention to such an experimental model. nine0003

Perhaps most of all, fans of flight simulators “wrap” the computer with all sorts of additional “pieces of iron”. Among gamers, it is they who most often use multi-monitor technologies like AMD Eyefinity, it is they who can find a gaming place equipped with almost more switches and levers than a light private jet. And all this madness usually begins with a joystick, which is a handle mounted on a weighted base. It can be pumped in two planes, and sometimes also rotated around its axis. nine0003

In flight simulators, the joystick imitates the aircraft control stick (RUS for short). Like most other gaming peripherals, joysticks come with a different number of options, and are also capable of transmitting data to a computer via a wired or wireless channel. A typical entry-level model, such as the Logitech Extreme 3D Pro, is equipped with several programmable buttons (12 in this case), triggers, thrust control, and a so-called hat switch — a mini joystick located on top of the main joystick handle. More serious joysticks can already have a wireless data channel, and in addition, they have the ability to adjust the length and inclination of the handle, such as, for example, Mad Catz F.L.Y. nine.

The next step, bringing the control of the flight simulator closer to reality, is the so-called HOTAS (Hands on Throttle-and-Stick, “hands on the throttle and RUS”). It is a set consisting of a joystick and a large engine control lever (THROT), which can be located both in one housing and in the form of two separate blocks. An example of a single-body HOTAS is the compact and inexpensive Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas X, which is equipped with a single engine control lever. A more serious set of Saitek X52 Pro Flight System already has spaced throttles and thrusters, as well as a number of additional features. In addition to numerous buttons, Saitek X52 Pro Flight System is equipped with the so-called MFD, i.e. multifunctional display, which can display various game information. There are other signs of a flight instrument — non-contact Hall sensors that control the position of the RSS (they are more accurate and reliable than conventional resistive sensors), the ability to rotate the RSS around its axis, etc. nine0003

Finally, there are those amateurs for whom virtual piloting is the most important thing. They can enhance the realism by purchasing additional modules and advanced flight simulator kits. Most often, the name of the kit will include Flight System. For example, the Logitech G940 Flight System, in addition to a joystick and a dual throttle (you can control the thrust of each engine separately or together by linking them with a magnet), has a pair of pedals made of metal. Joystick at Logitech G940 is unusual: although it does not please with a huge number of buttons (but there are programmable keys on the throttle), it is still equipped with a feedback system. So when you control the plane, you will literally feel your virtual “car”, and in difficult weather conditions, the handle will simply tear out of your hands. The workmanship of the system is also the highest, most of the parts are made of metal, and not every table will fit such a set. But fans of flight simulators, it seems, are not at all afraid, as is the price of such systems, sometimes costing no less than other computers in the collection. nine0003

Many manufacturers allow users to complete their pilot’s paradise gradually, buying more physical controllers as needed (or when money appears). Saitek, already mentioned above, allows literally piecemeal to recreate the cockpit of a small two-seat Cessna aircraft at home. By the way, licensed 1:1 scale copies of the Pro Flight Cessna Yoke, Pro Flight Cessna Rudder Pedals, and Pro Flight Cessna Trim Wheel can be purchased separately. And it is proposed to supplement such a set with the Saitek Pro Flight Throttle Quadrant unit (throttle and propeller pitch handles), Saitek Pro Flight TPM System (throttle, support and fuel mixture adjustment) and a color LCD screen that displays toolbars (Pro Flight Instrument Panel ) — altimeter, attitude indicator, speed indicator, etc. Few buttons and switches — a special Saitek Pro Flight Switch Panel adds 11 pleasantly clicking toggle switches and a landing gear lowering handle. There is also a special panel that displays the settings of the radio transmitter (Pro Flight Radio Panel). In all these various accessories, only one thing upsets — not too often, and in the flight simulators themselves, there is full support for additional modules. This means that now you can only fully use the panels and indicators in Microsoft Flight Simulator X. But it’s up to you to decide whether it is worth spending money on accessories designed for only one game. nine0003

Racing games and their controllers may be easier to learn than flight simulators, but choosing a good steering wheel is just as important to the realism of the experience as choosing a flight simulator joystick. You should start with the base, the base of the steering wheel, which should be massive and, ideally, attached to the table with clamps. However, the base of the simplest steering wheels is attached to the table using conventional suction cups. This is not very reliable, and besides, it is necessary to periodically reinstall the suction cups on almost all surfaces, except for mirror-smooth ones. With active maneuvers, the suction cups also strive to peel off, spoiling all the fun of the game. nine0003

Another significant feature of computer steering wheels is the presence (or absence) of feedback technology called Feedback (FB). It is of two types. The first is Rumble Feedback, i.e. vibration feedback. To do this, just one or two motors create a feeling of shaking when the car in the game runs into a pit, the type of road surface changes, etc. Vibration feedback is used in inexpensive steering wheels, but even it is better than nothing. However, it will turn out much more realistic if you play with a steering wheel equipped with the so-called force feedback system — Force Feedback (FFB). This second type of technology not only provides vibration, but also resists cornering, over bumps in the road, and just makes you feel like you’re driving a real car. Such steering wheels, with force feedback, are the best, but they are also the most expensive. In most cases, pedals are attached to the steering wheel: two for simple models or three for models that completely imitate work with a manual transmission. nine0003

So, Speedlink DRIFT O.Z. — An example of an affordable computer steering wheel with Rumble Feedback technology. The steering wheel rotates 180 ^about , has additional buttons and a wire 2 m long, and is also equipped with a pair of pedals. The Logitech G27 Racing Wheel is a top-of-the-line model with nearly three full turns of the steering wheel, Force Feedback, steel construction and leather trim, and full simulation of a manual transmission. Such a steering wheel is fixed on the table with a clamp, so that even with a very aggressive game, it will only come off along with a piece of the tabletop. nine0003

A very interesting steering wheel gamepad, called the S1 Simraceway Steering Wheel, was introduced by SteelSeries. It is not attached to anything, you just need to hold it in your hands, and the movement is fixed by the gyroscopic sensors built into it. In this aspect, the device resembles modern gamepads like the same SIXAXIS for Sony PlayStation 3. True, there are much more different buttons and switches on the SteelSeries steering wheel, it is very similar to the steering wheel of a Formula 1 car, it even shifts the gears in the same way — with special “triggers” under the steering wheel. Braking and accelerating are also offered in a similar way, and the sensitivity of the switches and the steering wheel itself to the position in space can be configured in the driver. Unfortunately, there are two major disadvantages of this device. He does not have any feedback, and besides, when playing, his hands get tired, because they have to be kept on weight. However, it is good because it does not clutter up the workspace, since after the game it is easy to put it in a drawer. nine0003

Exotic solutions are also found among gaming accessories. For example, do you know such a game as Dance Dance Revolution, or DDR, which literally swept over Japan at one time? Its essence is to «dance», and in fact — to stomp on a special platform with arrows to the beat of the music. The arrows light up on the screen, and it is important to immediately put your foot on the appropriate pad, since penalty points are awarded for each mistake. And when they reach a certain number, the game stops. It is especially exciting to play DDR together, competing with a live opponent — who will be able to “dance” more accurately in accordance with all the instructions of the game and score the most points? A modern computer controller for DDR is a rug, and in the literal sense. A classic DDR mat (also known as a dance mat) has at least four contact pads (usually a 3×3 matrix) that you step on while playing on your computer or TV. Because DDR is a mobile game, unlike most other PC games, it can even be considered healthy.