Which controller is best for PC gaming

[Giganizer300PRO]

I'm gonna buy a controller to play games on my PC, but I'm not sure which one.

There's so many options. but which one is the "best"?

I think I like the PS4 controller the most and I like the FPS aim/fire and equipment sceme L1, L2... But other than that there's not much. My friend owns a PS3, but I doubt I'll ever be taking my controller down to his place and play there. 

Do all controllers even work on PC? Once I tried plugging in my friend's XBOX 360 controller and it didn't work so... And are all equally compatible? Surely the Nvidia controller is compatible with a ton of games, but what about others?

These are the games I play:

• GTA V (a big reason why I'm buying a controller in the first place, has to work here)
• Minecraft (would be nice if it works)
• War Thunder (would be very nice if it works, I would actually start playing again)
• Warface (would be nice if it works, but since it's a FPS I won't be using it until I am as good with a controller as I am with the keyboard/mouse
• Garry's mod (it's very desirable if it works)

 

Also, I'm not really planning on using it with a smartphone, so it doesn't even have to work with it.

So, which one is the right/best one to buy?

 

[EdwinX]

I have a normal Xbox 360 controller for PC, and I've used it for GTA (mainly flying). It's worked perfectly for me. My controller is wired tho, but you can get one without a wire.

[App4that]

The Steam controller is meant to be used with a PC, I'd get that.

[Overkilled]

Probably razers Xbox one controller

[App4that]

Oh, and using a controller for War Thunder put you at a disadvantage just so you know. I used the same tag with Gaijin when I worked for them as I do here.

[LIGISTX]

I love the 360 controller, that is what I use for my PC.

[OAcesync]

I'm gonna buy a controller to play games on my PC, but I'm not sure which one.

There's so many options. but which one is the "best"?

I think I like the PS4 controller the most and I like the FPS aim/fire and equipment sceme L1, L2... But other than that there's not much. My friend owns a PS3, but I doubt I'll ever be taking my controller down to his place and play there. 

Do all controllers even work on PC? Once I tried plugging in my friend's XBOX 360 controller and it didn't work so... And are all equally compatible? Surely the Nvidia controller is compatible with a ton of games, but what about others?

These are the games I play:

• GTA V (a big reason why I'm buying a controller in the first place, has to work here)
• Minecraft (would be nice if it works)
• War Thunder (would be very nice if it works, I would actually start playing again)
• Warface (would be nice if it works, but since it's a FPS I won't be using it until I am as good with a controller as I am with the keyboard/mouse
• Garry's mod (it's very desirable if it works)

 

Also, I'm not really planning on using it with a smartphone, so it doesn't even have to work with it.

So, which one is the right/best one to buy?

It's all a matter of preference but controller on MC would hold you back a lot

[Majestic]

Probably razers Xbox one controller

 

Too expensive, just get a regular xbox 360 pad from ebay or something.

[c0d0ps]

I'm gonna buy a controller to play games on my PC, but I'm not sure which one.

There's so many options. but which one is the "best"?

I think I like the PS4 controller the most and I like the FPS aim/fire and equipment sceme L1, L2... But other than that there's not much. My friend owns a PS3, but I doubt I'll ever be taking my controller down to his place and play there. 

Do all controllers even work on PC? Once I tried plugging in my friend's XBOX 360 controller and it didn't work so... And are all equally compatible? Surely the Nvidia controller is compatible with a ton of games, but what about others?

These are the games I play:

• GTA V (a big reason why I'm buying a controller in the first place, has to work here)
• Minecraft (would be nice if it works)
• War Thunder (would be very nice if it works, I would actually start playing again)
• Warface (would be nice if it works, but since it's a FPS I won't be using it until I am as good with a controller as I am with the keyboard/mouse
• Garry's mod (it's very desirable if it works)

 

Also, I'm not really planning on using it with a smartphone, so it doesn't even have to work with it.

So, which one is the right/best one to buy?

I think wired controllers are the easiest ones to install.

I have a 360 wired controller.

 

Just plug it in and it should be ready to go.

If not, then you should install the drivers for it which can easily be found with a quick Google search.

 

I am guessing that Playstation controllers works in the same way.

[No Nrg]

I use a Xbox One for windows controller, plug and play, great controller.

 

You can use a PS3/PS4 controller, but you have to donwload DS4tool to make it work. It tricks your PC into thinking it's an xbox controller. I didn't like it, none of the on-screen prompts matched (showed xbox buttons for quicktime events).

[jkraghify]

Xbox 360 or Xbox 1 controller is commonly supported if there's controller support at all. Some people use PS3/4 controllers, but some games won't support it and you'll need a program running in the background to emulate an XBOX controller. I always reccomend XBOX, no matter what, for this reason - it's the most commonly supported PC controller, cheap, and versatile.

[EChondo]

These are the games I play:

• GTA V (a big reason why I'm buying a controller in the first place, has to work here)
• Minecraft (would be nice if it works)
• War Thunder (would be very nice if it works, I would actually start playing again)
• Warface (would be nice if it works, but since it's a FPS I won't be using it until I am as good with a controller as I am with the keyboard/mouse
• Garry's mod (it's very desirable if it works)

• GTA V on a Xbox 360 controller should work natively. It works for me.
• Minecraft on PC, last time I checked, doesn't support any controllers natively, you'll need mods for the game.
• War Thunder I believe has controller support on PC.
• Warface does not support controllers from I've seen.
• Garry's Mod I believe has a gamepad/joypad option in the settings, so it'll more than likely work with any controller, probably wired will work best.

I have a Xbox 360 wired controller, it works natively on a lot of games, the only games it has issues with are either older games or games that don't support controllers at all. I also have a Logitech F310, which has more of a Playstation layout, which works on the same games the 360 controller works on.

 

I recommend a Xbox 360 wired controller.

[leelaa14]

I have xbox one and 360. For me xbox one is best....by a mile. Personal preference though.

[MattBoxer]

I use a Xbox One for windows controller, plug and play, great controller.

 

You can use a PS3/PS4 controller, but you have to donwload DS4tool to make it work. It tricks your PC into thinking it's an xbox controller. I didn't like it, none of the on-screen prompts matched (showed xbox buttons for quicktime events).

I agree with this and if your on Windows 10 i found out that using DS4/DS3 does't work anymore so i got an xbox one controller and have been loving it since.

[Totalimus]

xbox 360 or xbox one controller.

If you got a wireless xbox 360 controller then you need an adapter for the computer.

I myself am using a wired 360 controller, works like a charm and I love it.

[Shinrin_Cole]

I use a PS4 controller with inputmapper. The PS4 controller works for some games without it, but not all games support it out of the box, but if you get inputmapper it'll emulate the controller as a xbox360 controller.

[typographie]

Xbox controllers usually work seamlessly. Not sure what was wrong with yours, but chances are you can get it working. I've heard Playstation pads can be made to work too, but with some more configuration needed.

 

I use an Xbox One pad, and after a quick driver install (when I had Windows 7; that driver is built into Windows 10 I think), it instantly works when plugged in with no tweaking needed.

[Sharkyx1]

Dualshock 4 ez win, the touch pad basically makes every other controller pointless in PC

[Klefth]

Dualshock 4 hands down. It's a pretty comfortable controller, supports wireless connectivity out of the box without dumb proprietary drivers nor AA batteries, and with inputmapper it has tons more functionality than any other controller out there. Plus, like the guy above me says, the touchpad alone leaves every other controller on the dust for PC use; it's really handy.

[Totallycasual]

Good old wired x-box 360 controller here. 

[EpicAdom]

I use wireless Xbox 360 controllers and they work great. Xbox One controllers would work too.

 

Keep in mind that, if you're using wireless controllers, you need a USB dongle to be able to connect to the controller(s).

[Columbo]

I use an XBOX 360 wireless controller. You can get a generic wireless USB receiver for around $8 on ebay.

[Giganizer300PRO]

Dualshock 4 ez win, the touch pad basically makes every other controller pointless in PC

 

 

Dualshock 4 hands down. It's a pretty comfortable controller, supports wireless connectivity out of the box without dumb proprietary drivers nor AA batteries, and with inputmapper it has tons more functionality than any other controller out there. Plus, like the guy above me says, the touchpad alone leaves every other controller on the dust for PC use; it's really handy.

 

Is there a difference between Dualshock and PS4 sontrollers?

Looks the same and my friend has a Dualshock controller that cam included with the PS3.

 

So does the Dualshock have the same support or lack there of as the PS4? 

 

I really like the controller, but I want to avoid emulators and such software if possible (except if the game doesn't have controller support, obviously).

[Sharkyx1]

Is there a difference between Dualshock and PS4 sontrollers?

Looks the same and my friend has a Dualshock controller that cam included with the PS3.

So does the Dualshock have the same support or lack there of as the PS4?

I really like the controller, but I want to avoid emulators and such software if possible (except if the game doesn't have controller support, obviously).

Dual shock is the branding for Playstation controllers, referring to the dual rumble motors

The ps4 controller is the dual shock 4, it does require a software package called "input mapper" to function on PC, after which it acts directly like an Xbox 360 controller, but with what is effectively a laptop track pad, very convenient for navigating menus

Both the Xbox One and 360 controllers are plug and play with windows, no separate software, but I think the ps4 controller is more ergonomic

[Klefth]

Is there a difference between Dualshock and PS4 sontrollers?

Looks the same and my friend has a Dualshock controller that cam included with the PS3.

 

So does the Dualshock have the same support or lack there of as the PS4? 

 

I really like the controller, but I want to avoid emulators and such software if possible (except if the game doesn't have controller support, obviously).

That's just how Sony names their controllers. The PS3's controller is the Dualshock 3, the PS4's is the Dualshock 4.

And some games actually do have native support for the DS4; Farcry 4 and Mad Max even show PS4 button prompts when you use it. Problem is, the controller only uses DirectInput, and most devs these days seem to prefer Xinput for some reason I cannot comprehend. InputMapper or DS4Windows solve that issue, though; they emulate an Xbox controller, give you a lot of extra options, and neither one requires any additional set up unlike stuff like x360ce, unless you want to start customizing stuff.