Flight Stick Recommendations

[thedangerine]

So I recently got Star Wars Squadrons and have found it to be the game I didn't realize how bad I wanted. Anyway anyone have any recommendations for flight sticks and throttles, the keyboard and mouse controls are good, but a flight stick and throttle would really make the game, plus if I ever get Microsoft flight sim I could use them for that as well

[trufret]

I'll start off saying with Covid, FS2020, Squadrons etc... the market for Sim peripherals and most tech really is crazy right now. Prices are very inflated if you can find anything in stock at all.

 

Depending on your budget I'd suggest a Thrustmaster T16000M HOTAS kit  (Around $160 USD) as a good entry level setup. It will give you enough buttons to fly anything up to a modern fighter jet although use of modifier buttons to double up the number of inputs will be required for the most complex aircraft.

I wouldn't bother with the kit with the rudder pedals as the stick and throttle both have an axis you can use for that and the included pedals are ok-ish but not great.

Bang for your buck it's probably the best you are going to find right now.  There are cheaper HOTAS setups but the are very lacking in buttons.

 

If you want a better stick ,as the main drawback of the T16000M stick is lack of hats, check out the VKB Gladiator NXT (150 USD) and pair it with the Thrustmaster TWCS Throttle from the T16000M kit ($100 USD ,you can buy it separately). This will give you enough buttons and hats for anything you could want.

 

Beyond that, prices jump to $500-1500+ for any kind of meaningful upgrade over that equipment.

 

If you get into other games besides Squadrons (FS2020, Elite Dangerous, DCS World, IL-2), I'd recommend a head tracker like a Delan Clip or trackhat as a cheaper alternative to Trackir or VR as being able to look around with your head instead of a hat switch or mouse is a game changer.