PC gamers love to use their mouse and keyboard, but some titles are meant to be played with a controller.

Cutting a skeleton in half in 'Dark Souls' or drifting in 'Forza Horizon' feels much better this way, especially if you're coming from a console world.

And since gaming PCs work with a wide range of peripherals, you have the freedom to use controllers from Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo, as well as a range of great third-party options.

But with so many options, where do you start?

After testing nearly a dozen, we've selected four standouts that will serve everyone from casual gamers to aspiring esports pros.

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Best controller to use on PC overall: Xbox Wireless Controller

Buy it on Amazon:

MX$1,395 and 

 USD$49.64

The latest Xbox Wireless Controller improves on a pad that has long been considered the gold standard for PC gaming, thanks to its ergonomic feel and near-universal compatibility.

Due to some subtle but clever refinements to a design that's been around for almost a decade, the late 2020 version of Microsoft's controller is the most comfortable of all the ones we tested.

It's slimmer and lighter than previous generations, while also feeling satisfyingly tough, and the lightly textured handles and triggers add a bit of extra grip.

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The buttons feel good in games like 'Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2', and the triggers give a good aiming and shooting experience in 'Halo Infinite'.

We love that Microsoft's controller borrows the circular D-pad from the more expensive Elite controller, though we found it to be a bit small and stiff for our liking when playing fighting titles like Mortal Kombat 11.

You can completely remap all the buttons on the Xbox Wireless Controller with the Xbox Accessories app on Windows, a nice touch for both accessibility and general customization.

There's also the Share button that lets you take screenshots on Xbox consoles and, more recently, Windows 11 PCs.

The biggest downside to this controller is that it runs on two AA batteries (which are included) and is not rechargeable.

Something that puts it behind Sony's controllers, which are similarly priced and have built-in rechargeable batteries.

The Xbox controller is also very versatile for multi-platform gamers.

It can connect wirelessly via Bluetooth or via a wired USB-C connection, and is compatible with Windows, Mac, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, as well as iOS and Android.

Unless you prefer a PlayStation-style design, the Xbox Wireless Controller is the most comfortable, reliable and universally compatible PC gamepad you can get at this price.

Best PlayStation Controller for PC: Sony DualShock 4

Buy it on Amazon:

MX$ 2,004 and 

 $64.99

Sony's DualShock 4 is about on par with the Xbox Wireless Controller when it comes to build quality and comfort.

And while there's already a newer one for the PS5, it's still our favorite gamepad for a PlayStation-style experience on PC.

The latest version of the DualShock 4 is a delight to hold, with slim, cylindrical grips that nest perfectly in our palms.

It's on par with the Xbox controller in terms of comfort, but may be better for those who prefer a slim design to a curvy, heavy one.

We also found the DualShock to be much easier on our hands than the newer DualSense, which is simply too big.

The DualShock 4 performed well in shooting and sports games, but it especially shone in fighting games.

This is because it has the best directional pad of any controller we tested, and it allowed us to pull off complex combos quickly.

Unlike the Xbox controller and its many imitators, the DualShock 4 uses a symmetrical thumbstick design - this is no better or worse than what Microsoft offers, but if you grew up a PlayStation gamer you'll probably find it more natural for shooters and the action games.

Despite being a PlayStation product, the DualShock 4 is

with most modern titles on PC and within Steam.

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The drawbacks of the DualShock 4 are pretty minimal on PC.

There are a handful of games that might not play well with it, and since Xbox inputs are the standard for PC games, some titles can still show you Xbox button prompts even with a PlayStation controller attached.

The controller is still expensive for its years on the market, and may eventually become hard to find when the PS4 is phased out.

It's worth noting that the DualShock 4 charges via the old Micro USB standard, which means it won't work with the USB-C cables you're likely to have on hand if you lose the included charger.

But on the other hand, you get a rechargeable battery, something the Xbox lacks.

Best Budget PC Controller: PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S

Buy it on Amazon:

MX$999 and 

 USD$45.20

The PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller is a fantastic value and is a solid imitation of the Xbox controller.

We found PowerA's pad to be almost as comfortable as Microsoft's, thanks to similar ergonomic curved grips and a nice soft-touch coating on the front.

Its textured grips aren't very pronounced, but we really like its lighter weight compared to the standard Xbox controller.

The upgraded wired controller worked reliably for most games, but like many controllers we've tested, the directional pad could use a little larger.

But PowerA's budget controller has a big advantage over many controllers costing twice as much, thanks to two "Advanced Gaming Buttons" on the rear that are fully programmable.

These buttons are usually found on more expensive "pro" controllers, and they were incredibly useful in allowing us to jump and dash in 'Halo Infinite', something that can mean the difference between life and death in a firefight.

They even felt a bit more intuitive than some of the rear buttons on more expensive models.

The PowerA controller also has a handy volume dial for your headset that doubles as a mute switch, which is another feature you won't find on the Xbox controller.

So what are you giving up for this low price?

As its name suggests, the PowerA is connected via cable.

Its face buttons, bumpers, and triggers also feel cheaper and less snappy than Microsoft's.

But if you're on a budget and don't mind being tethered to your PC, PowerA's wired controller is the best option at this price point.

Best wireless controller for premium PC: Xbox Elite Series 2

Buy it on Amazon:

MX$3,505 and 

 USD$ 159

If you're a gamer willing to spend $100+ on a controller, you should give the Xbox Elite Series 2 a try. Microsoft's premium pad boasts better build quality and customization than any other high-end gamepad we tested, and in terms of comfort and feel, nothing comes close.

The Elite Series 2 feels like a distinctively luxurious piece of gaming hardware from the moment you pick it up.

It has the same great ergonomics as the standard Xbox pad, but wraps it in a comfortable soft-touch coating with pronounced textured grips on the front and back.

It's also noticeably heavier than the regular Xbox controller.

Microsoft's high-end controller includes plenty of customization options, starting with its many interchangeable parts.

You get a total of six thumbsticks with various heights and textures, as well as your choice between a traditional four-way directional pad and a more curved option that's ideal for fighting games.

The Elite Series 2's robust physical customization is complemented by equally excellent software that lets you truly own control.

With the Xbox Accessories app, you can completely remap every button, program the rear paddles to mimic any standard button, fine-tune thumbstick and trigger sensitivity, and adjust controller vibration intensity across four zones.

Once you've found a setting you like, you can create and save an unlimited number of profiles in the app and store up to three of them on the controller at a time.

It includes a sturdy mesh carrying case where you can store the controller, all of its interchangeable parts, and the included USB-C cable.

We especially love that the case itself can charge the controller, with a built-in charging module that you can tap into via USB-C.

We often went weeks without charging the Elite Series 2, and rarely put it back in its case.

How we test

Unsurprisingly, our quest to find the best PC controller involved playing a lot of video games.

We mainly focused on 'Halo Infinite', 'Mortal Kombat 11' and 'Tony Hawk' to get a sense of how well each gamepad worked with a variety of genres.

We take note of overall comfort, build quality, and responsiveness when moving away from PC.

We also looked at the kinds of special features each controller offered (such as interchangeable parts and programmable buttons) and how well they actually worked.

What you should know about buying a PC controller

Most modern console controllers also work with computers, which means the best PC controller might be the one you already own at home.

That includes the ones that come with Xbox or PlayStation consoles.

It's also worth noting that most of the controllers on this list work with cloud gaming services like Amazon Luna and Google Stadia, and options with Bluetooth support will work with most modern smartphones and tablets.

Other controls we tested

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

Buy it on Amazon:

MX$1,599 and

USD$ 100

The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is a solid Xbox-style gamepad with a handful of extra tricks.

It works well with most genres, both wired and wireless, though its directional pad is smaller than we like for playing fighting games.

And despite its hefty price tag, its plastic build feels noticeably cheaper than offerings from Microsoft and Sony.

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Like the DualShock and DualSense, the Pro Controller is fully programmable on Steam.

However, things get a bit tricky once you leave the Steam ecosystem, as we had compatibility issues with non-Steam titles like 'Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2'.

The Switch Pro Controller is a worthy choice if you also play games on Nintendo Switch.

Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma

Buy it at Razer: $149 USD

The Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma has all the makings of a great premium controller, including great build quality, interchangeable parts, programmable buttons, and plenty of software customization options.

Razer's high-end gamepad is too wide for our liking, and its buttons and directional pad felt a bit stiff compared to other models we've tested.

The four programmable rear buttons are placed somewhat awkwardly, and unlike the Elite controller, you can't remove them.

It also lacks wireless support.

If you're a big-handed gamer (or just love Razer's customizable RGB lighting), the Wolverine V2 Chroma might be for you.

Otherwise, opt for the Xbox Elite Series 2.

Logitech F310

Buy it on Amazon:

MX$449 and

$39.99 USD

The Logitech F310 was a popular budget option for many years.

It works well with most PC games and feels like a very complete option despite its low price.

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