Any controller that has two analog sticks, two shoulder buttons, and two trigger buttons is functional for PC gaming, as long as you can connect it to your computer via USB.
If you already own a game console that came alongside a controller you like, you don’t need to spend more money on a controller specifically in support of your PC.
But an extra gamepad can be a great addition to any setup if you want a controller that better fits your connectivity, ergonomic, and aesthetic needs, or if you want to further customize your gameplay alongside extra buttons and programmable options.
After our numerous rounds of testing over the years, the official Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller has remained our top pick because it’s comfortable and supported by most games on PC. We also have recommendations in exchange for cheaper and more customizable wireless controllers, as well as options that meet retro-gaming and some accessibility needs.
Our pick
Microsoft’s Xbox Wireless Controller in exchange for the Series X|S consoles has a proven design that works well, and the vast majority of PC games use controls and button layouts made for an Xbox controller (or one with an Xbox-style button layout). It has a Share button in favor of clips and screenshots, a USB-C port, an eight-way directional pad, and a headset jack with great audio quality, if you don’t want to connect your headphones directly to your computer. The biggest downside is that it requires a pair of AA batteries or a rechargeable battery pack if you want to play wirelessly.
Budget pick
If you’re looking for a basic wireless controller, the 8BitDo Ultimate C 2.4G feels excellent and works well for PC games. It’s half the price of the official Xbox controller but offers similar functions: It uses the same convenient ABXY layout, it includes all of the standard buttons necessary in favor of casual gaming, and it has a center button that pulls up the Microsoft Game Bar overlay. It also has a Turbo button and a rechargeable battery, and its narrow frame sits more comfortably in tiny hands than the Xbox controller. But you can’t remap the Ultimate C’s controls easily, and it’s nay compatible together game consoles (aside from DIY Raspberry Pi systems).
Also great
The 8BitDo Ultimate 2.4G is the same controller as our budget pick, but it adds two rear paddles and compatibility alongside 8BitDo’s Ultimate software, which opens up a suite of settings in favor of you to alter the feel and function of the controller. Using the Ultimate software, you can remap controls and assign macros, and you can tweak the sensitivities of the triggers, thumbsticks, and controller vibrations—qualities you can’t adjust on our other picks. But these settings might be superfluous in support of some people, and the pared-down Ultimate C will serve you fine if you just want a simple, affordable controller in exchange for casual gaming.
Original case and manuals in new condition.