What controllers do you like/dislike and why?

[retrospect]

I do not like the Switch 1 Pro Controller. The d-pad is the worst d-pad ever on anything, it has a round gate, all the shoulder buttons are digital, the button names are dumb, with B in the primary spot. The ergonomics are great, but everything else is bad.

I didn't like the Wii U Pro Controller either. It seemed Nintendo just wanted an iconic layout and grabbed the one that no-one else used, even though there was obviously good reason for that.

I didn't like the Steam Controller. Why in the world did they put a trackpad where the d-pad should be? Awful controller for most games.

I didn't like the Z button or the shoulder buttons of the GameCube Controller. Or the d-pad. The rest of the controller was outstanding. So much so that it still has a cult following today. So much good and bad fused together. Very strange.

I did like the Dreamcast's in-controller VMU. Very clever. But the cable coming out the bottom wasn't nice.

I liked the N64 controller a lot. No, you don't need three hands for it. It's designed for analogue stick OR d-pad, not both. The idea being that both can be in the optimal position. It did work well.

But the best layout of all is from the Steam Deck. It's so good. It's probably as good as it gets. It is great. But it means your muscle memory is retrained to the PlayStation layout.

That brings me to the DS4 and DualSense controllers. These are pretty nice, and from this point we need to think about what's missing: Nintendo is already there with the Switch 2 Pro Controller: back-buttons. These are the next essential inputs, just as shoulder buttons were decades ago. I expect the next PlayStation controller will be outstanding.

I haven't commented on the Xbox controllers. They're all fine, except the Duke and the 360 ones with their awful d-pads. Kinda unremarkable. I was impressed by the Xbox One controller initially, but that's still their design today. It's way out of date.

I'm not a fan of the new names for Start and Select on any recent controller. Does anyone even know what they're all called now? Lines and squares? Plus and minus? Options and... Menu maybe? And which is which? Just call the middle buttons 1, 2, 3, 4.

 

[Jayro]

My favorite controllers so far are the DualSense (PS5) and Nintendo's "Official" $70 Pro Controller (Switch).

But the Switch Pro Controller isn't perfect. As OP stated, the D-pad needs work. And I can't stand the stick tops being convex, my thumbs keep slipping off. I put on stick caps made for the Xbox One Elite controller, and then the sticks are perfect. The triggers feel good in the hands, and it's an absolute dream to play Splatoon 2 with. It's also made with large hands like mine in-mind, so it's ergonomically flawless. Most comfortable controller I've ever held in my hands. The battery life is also ridiculously amazing, and it just uses a standard swappable 3DS battery.

The DualSense controller is also fantastic. Good triggers, good sticks with textured grippies around the edge so my thumbs don't slip off, Battery life is decent when paired with my MiSTer FPGA console for PS1 and N64 use. My only criticism would be that the Options and Media (start and Select, essentially) are too flush against the shell, and that makes it difficult to hit them on the first try. A slight bump would be great.

And now for the worst controller of all time... (And I know I'm in the minority here, but IDGAF):
The GameCube controller.

"Ergonomics? Never heard of her." That had to have been the R&D department when developing this dysfunctional piece of shit. ABXY layout? Fucked beyond belief, and for no good reason. Coloring the buttons was fine, and they should have just kept the A and B colors of the N64's Blue and Green. They also put the Z trigger in the DUMBEST place possible, and didn't even give you one for the left side. The L and R triggers are also a sloppy mess; They don't even behave like triggers, they're more of a slider than anything, and that's obnoxious. The 360 did Analog triggers right. The controller is also obnoxiously uncomfortable to hold and use. The D-Pad is the same exact size as the OG GBA's tiny D-pad, killing your thumb in any 2D games or menus. While the N64's D-pad was obnoxiously large, something in-between (like the DMG or NES) would have been great. The A button is so oversized, that games which require you to hit it repeatedly cause the button to stick sometimes, especially noticeable when playing Game Boy games via the Game Boy player. That controller ruins what should be a fun experience, and I'll never for the life of me understand it's popularity when it's so flawed at every angle. Did I mention how hilariously SMALL it is? It's a joke of a controller, and Smash players should be ashamed of themselves. I can never take anyone seriously that defends this trash controller.

As for the pros, well..... It has rumble built-in I guess? That's about it, and that's sad.

 

[Skv0ra]

Sony's split dpad will forever be THE only acceptable controller for fighters since it allows precise and quick inputs. Ergo was great until ds5 as well. Everything else is like a poorly copied homework of each other and rightfully so.

 

[yankii]

The Dualsense controller is a piece of shit that lasts 2-4 hours on the best of days, and the Edge isn't any better. Why does Sony think haptics > battery life? Don't even get me started on the mic and LEDs...

My Switch Pro Controller on the other hand, I've never had to plug in mid-game. Literally the best controller ever.

 

[Skv0ra]

The Dualsense controller is a piece of shit that lasts 2-4 hours on the best of days, and the Edge isn't any better. Why does Sony think haptics > battery life? Don't even get me started on the mic and LEDs...

My Switch Pro Controller on the other hand, I've never had to plug in mid-game. Literally the best controller ever.

Those adaptive triggers are an absolute game-changer in racing games, shit battery or not.

 

[retrospect]

One reason the battery in the DualSense and DualShock 4 doesn't last long is both controllers poll at a much higher rate than their competitors in order to be more responsive for competitive games; and that simply uses more power.

Post automatically merged: Jul 14, 2025

Those adaptive triggers are an absolute game-changer in racing games, shit battery or not.

Really? I haven't really noticed a difference playing on PC. Do you know any PC games that take advantage of the adaptive triggers?

 

[Skv0ra]

One reason the battery in the DualSense and DualShock 4 doesn't last long is both controllers poll at a much higher rate than their competitors in order to be more responsive for competitive games; and that simply uses more power.

Post automatically merged: Jul 14, 2025

Really? I haven't really noticed a difference playing on PC. Do you know any PC games that take advantage of the adaptive triggers?

We just gotta pray to our DS4Windows overlords to implement em....... I finally played GT7 on mate's PS5 and HOLY moley does that feel orgasmic. Otherwise, shamelessly, only really got DS5 controller because of USB-C port since I've been doing my utmost to get all my peripherals on the same port.

 

[retrospect]

We just gotta pray to our DS4Windows overlords to implement em....... I finally played GT7 on mate's PS5 and HOLY moley does that feel orgasmic. Otherwise, shamelessly, only really got DS5 controller because of USB-C port since I've been doing my utmost to get all my peripherals on the same port.

What about Steam Input? I think I might be rocking an ancient version of DS4Windows cos of issues with the versions that followed. I imagine the problems were resolved long ago though (I don't remember what they were).

 

[Skv0ra]

What about Steam Input? I think I might be rocking an ancient version of DS4Windows cos of issues with the versions that followed. I imagine the problems were resolved long ago though (I don't remember what they were).

Steam input disabled since I do NOT believe in Steam, as much as possible. Could be worth a look, but I highly doubt PC racing devs going the extra car length to code using a Sony input device quirks into their software......

 

[yankii]

One reason the battery in the DualSense and DualShock 4 doesn't last long is both controllers poll at a much higher rate than their competitors in order to be more responsive

Really? Both of my DualSense controllers frequently miss button presses and trigger pulls. Switch Pro controller never misses. Same distance from TV and everything.

 

[chandoog]

The Xbox pads, since 360 onward, are my go-to. I love the ergonomics and stick placement.

Dualshock 4 was good but for some reason Dualsense feels too heavy in my hands and using it for more than half an hour feels uncomfortable.

 

[Marc_LFD]

Love using DS5 and Xbox Series controllers, but the problem with these controllers are that they're infected with stick drift way too often. I have a guy who can fix them so that's good, but Sony and M$ are obviously aware of it, yet they don't fix it.

Oh, the Switch Pro Controller is excellent, except one thing I dislike... Digital triggers. Just give me analog triggers.

 

[pustal]

Any modern controllers that use potentiometers, and that include all first party controllers. They are prone to stick drift and soon e-waste to happen in the hands of most people. There is no reason not to use hall effect joysticks at this day an age and at the price point they sell the controllers for. They're bad and they should feel bad.

Post automatically merged: Jul 18, 2025

I didn't like the Steam Controller. Why in the world did they put a trackpad where the d-pad should be?

To be used with mouse input games.

 

[nmagod]

symmetrical controllers > asymmetrical controllers

sorry for having the objectively correct opinion, but I have symmetrical hands

 

[Skv0ra]

symmetrical controllers > asymmetrical controllers

sorry for having the objectively correct opinion, but I have symmetrical hands

But you know, off hand always feels like a whole new world!

 

[Deleted member 753700]

Mobapad M6 HD - for me I was like this all I ever wanted. I might pick up one of their controllers too tbh, so impressed.

 

[Ajbjc]

The Xbox pads, since 360 onward, are my go-to. I love the ergonomics and stick placement.

Dualshock 4 was good but for some reason Dualsense feels too heavy in my hands and using it for more than half an hour feels uncomfortable.

Have never used the original xbox controller or any of the elite series controllers, but Xbox controllers personally have gotten better in terms of design since the Xbox 360. Not really a fan of the way PlayStation lays out their controls on the left side, and at least Xbox lets you easily replace the batteries. As for not so great ones, the analogue stick feels a bit awkward to use on the PSP and the volume buttons are very awkwardly designed with how small they are.

 

[AkiraKurusu]

The Wii U Pro Controller has always been one of my favourites; it's a damn shame I didn't have the foresight to buy 10 of those when they were still being sold. I loved its design; it was so comfortable and easy to use. It's too bad the only one I had stopped working a while back.

Apart from that...the DualSense. Again, super comfortable and easy to use.

What do I dislike? Any controller with unaligned sticks, for one - I grew up with the DualShock 2 (PS2), which had aligned sticks, and so did the next two DualShocks and the Wii U Pro and GamePad. I'm used to that style; I find it really weird not having my thumbs at the same level - that's just not right. That's why I can't stand the Nintendo Switch (and Switch 2) controllers; they switched over to unaligned sticks, which is just horrendous.

Also, because I also grew up with the Nintendo DS Lite, I'm also used to (clockwise from top) XABY, for the lettered buttons - not Xbox's YBAX. That's just backwards and conflicts with my muscle memory.

 

[FunkySnake]

The PS Vita has the worst controller. Hands down.

I’m a girl, so my hands aren’t that big. Yet playing with the Vita’s analog was a pain. And you needed to use them very often, as you couldn’t just ignore them.

The DualSense controller is the best one. The short battery life doesn’t matter when you’re a responsible person and charge the controller as soon as you put it down to do something else. I did this when I was a kid and played my Micro. What’s your excuse?

 

[Skv0ra]

The PS Vita has the worst controller. Hands down.

I’m a girl, so my hands aren’t that big. Yet playing with the Vita’s analog was a pain. And you needed to use them very often, as you couldn’t just ignore them.

The DualSense controller is the best one. The short battery life doesn’t matter when you’re a responsible person and charge the controller as soon as you put it down to do something else. I did this when I was a kid and played my Micro. What’s your excuse?

Like, GB Micro gang? i'm NOT alone here?