Other Game Controllers to Consider
There are so many game controllers out there, but not all of them are good enough to make the list above. These are the other controllers we have tested recently.
Photograph: Simon Hill
Nacon Revolution 5 Pro: This highly customizable PS5 controller boasts Hall Effect sticks and triggers, programmable back paddles, and a great D-pad. You can tweak the weight, stick length and grips, and even the trigger actuation. It boasts a 10-hour battery life, and you can connect your headset via Bluetooth or plug-in. Unfortunately, it’s expensive, and you don’t get the haptic feedback or adaptive triggers that you’ll find in Sony’s excellent DualSense controllers.
Courtesy of Logitech
Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel: WIRED editor Parker Hall raved about Logitech’s racing wheel accessory, and racing game fans with deep pockets will love it. It adds a layer of reality to your in-game driving with force feedback and vibrations that help you feel every surface. The gear shift paddles have Hall Effect sensors. There is also an OLED display that enables you to tweak settings without opening the app.
Nacon Revolution X Pro: This wired Xbox and PC controller comes with a long (around 10 feet), detachable, braided USB-C cable. Nacon offers an impressive level of customization, including interchangeable thumbsticks, programmable back buttons, and weights to help you get the feel you want. The Profile button lets you cycle through four presets, a switch toggles configurations, and it has a 3.5-mm headphone jack. You can tweak everything in the flaky Revolution X app for Xbox or PC. While it works well, I don’t love the cheap feel (even with adjusted weight), and the rear triggers are awkward. At full price, the Revolution X Pro is too expensive for a wired controller, but discounts are frequent.
GameSir Cyclone 2: The GameSir Cyclone 2 is super impressive for its price. Its layout is styled like an Xbox controller but with a few extra bells and whistles. It has two rear paddle buttons that can be customized, and hair triggers with a physical switch inside each to swap between short and long actuation points. It also comes programmed with a ton of shortcuts to tweak things like vibration intensity, button layout, and control stick dead zones on the fly. For most gamers, the newer, upgraded G7 Pro will be worth the $25 price difference.
8BitDo Ultimate: This feature-packed controller from 8BitDo has lots to offer at a reasonable price. At first glance, it looks like an Xbox controller, but it has five central buttons on the front and a pair of rear paddles. It boasts a host of customization options to suit your play style. Using 8BitDo’s software, you can remap buttons, tweak the stick and trigger sensitivity, assign macros, and tune the vibration intensity. There’s an updated version of this controller available and we’ll update here when we get a chance to test it.
Charging Accessories
Courtesy of Sony
Wireless controllers are great, but you do have to remember to charge them. If you don’t want to mess with cables, a charging dock is the way. After testing several, we have some recommendations.
The official Sony charging station is the best for DualSense controllers. It is compact, charges two controllers, and frees up your PS5’s ports. Slotting your controllers into place is a breeze, with successful docking marked by a click.
This stylish charging station is for wireless Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One controllers and comes with battery packs and replacement doors. The molded plastic makes it easy to slide your controllers into, and you can tap the top to change the lighting. The only drawback is that it is bulky.
This charging base can charge a Switch Pro controller and two Joy-Cons. It is simple to use, although you must insert a USB dongle into the Pro controller. I actually slightly prefer Power-A’s charging dock, which is more compact than the base, but it is out of stock at the moment. If you only need Joy-Con charging, try the HyperX Chargeplay Quad ($15).
