Best Game Controllers 2023: 5 of the greatest pads across all platforms

For the Xbox and PC fans in the audience, the Xbox Elite Controller 2 is a great choice.

Its design picks up where the original Elite Controller left off, with a handful of changes involving small alterations to the controller’s colour scheme, attachments, and button layout. For instance, the strip of plastic nearest the home button is now consistently black as opposed to being a blend of black and silver, while the button layout has been changed ever so slightly so there’s just one profile switch to allow you to flick between different options. As for the attachments, the Elite Controller 2 offers six thumbsticks which now omit the pair of tall options and instead provide just one. What’s more, there’s only a pair of D-Pads to pick from, and the paddles on offer add even more functionality and inputs if you need them.

The Elite Controller 2 also comes with triggers that feature adjustable actuation points, like some properly premium gaming keyboards, to allow you to adjust the point at which an input is recognised and therefore decrease/increase the distance needed before it’s inputted. For FPS games where speed is everything, you’ll be able to fire faster with a shorter travel distance. We also found charging the controller to be a breeze, mainly thanks to the option to use the bundled charging dock the Elite 2 comes with, which also enables you to leave it in the case while it recuperates. The fact there’s also 40 hours of battery life is also simply stunning.

During testing, the Elite Controller 2 proved excellent in virtually every scenario, whether we were playing Forza Horizon 4 or Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Especially in the former, the controller’s revamped vibration motors shined with a level of feedback we hadn’t previously experienced in a controller. Every input felt sharp and precise, while the rubberised grip on the back of the controller also meant it was especially comfortable during extended play sessions. Its Bluetooth connectivity also allowed for more flexibility, given that it meant we could use the Elite 2 with not only Xbox and PC, but also phones and tablets, too – handy if you want to use this controller with Xbox Cloud Gaming on the go.

Reviewer: Jade King

Full review: Xbox Elite Controller 2 review

The DualSense Edge is a fantastic controller developed for the PS5 that also works with PC, and is the most customisable controller Sony has ever released.

It looks almost identical to the vanilla DualSense, only a tad heavier and with a slightly edgier aesthetic (pun intended). Our reviewer really liked the PS branding on the touchpad and the sleek plastic used around the analogue sticks, as it gives the controller a more premium look compared to its matte sibling. The trigger buttons are rubberised for a more precise grip and come with three options in terms of sensitivity, with the short-range option being best for FPS gameplay and the long-range option being better suited for gradual movements, like braking in Gran Turismo 7.

The DualSense Edge is extremely customisable; users have the chance to remap every single button on the controller, aside from the centre-stage PS button. This amount of personalisation means that the possibilities are almost endless, since you can also create four specific profiles that can be accessed by simply clicking the new function button at the bottom of the controller. We thought that these profiles were best used for specific gaming genres, such as FPS, open-world and racing games. Sony included an extra profiles page too, meaning that you can create as many of these set-ups as you want and store them until you need them most.

The Edge features the same haptic feedback as the standard DualSense, and we found that it was equally as responsive. We could feel the Leviathan Axe leave Kratos’ hands in God of War Ragnarök and the purrs of our cat protagonist in Stray, with our reviewer claiming that this feature helps to add a whole new level of immersion to every supported game. The two new back buttons can be equipped with either a dome or lever-style button and allow for precise and accurate control, ideal for games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

The main downside of the DualSense Edge is that its battery is not as expansive as the DualSense, with Sony claiming that all the new features drain its power much quicker. We managed to game for five hours on the PS5 and PC before it died. Thankfully, this issue is somewhat alleviated with the new braided USB-C charging cable, which was more than long enough to accommodate our setup. The new charging lock adaptor also means that there is no possibility of the charger disconnecting during more intensive gaming sessions, which we found massively handy.

While the price of the DualSense Edge may be too high for some, at £209.99/$199.99, it is a must-have for any professional gamers out there. The levels of customisation are unmatched and the new back buttons mean that you can create any number of set-ups that work for you.

Reviewer: Gemma Ryles
Full Review: DualSense Edge

The Nacon Pro Compact Controller is our top pick for the best budget games controller.

At 203g, it is noticeably lighter than the standard Xbox Series X controller and this results in a controller that feels quite narrow in hand, at least in our view. It comes dressed with a black hard plastic construction, like other more affordable controllers, but with a textured back, this aids in making the Pro Compact a decently comfortable option. As this is a smaller controller, some of inputs feel a little more compact compared to the standard Xbox Series controller from Microsoft, such as the dinkier D-Pad, as well as smaller triggers and shoulder buttons.

Even if they were smaller, we felt their button presses felt satisfying with decent tactility. This is a wired controller, and its super-long 3-metre USB-A-ended cable will be particularly handy if you’re a fair distance away from your Xbox.

In testing, the Pro Compact felt good to use, with responsive buttons and triggers that, once you get used to them, don’t feel small. Its vibration is plentiful and responsive, although in our experience offered a load of volume to go with it, which felt a little jarring at first. To go with the responsive and satisfying inputs, the Pro Compact is also programmable with Nacon’s own software. Here you can remap buttons and change the trajectory and sensitivity of analogue sticks to suit which genre or game you’re playing. In testing, this particular function proved to be more than a marketing gimmick, offering a markedly different experience whether you’re indulging in a racing game or FPS title. The trigger inputs can also be adjusted so there can be a shorter degree of travel before input is registered – this is a feature usually present on more premium controllers, which just highlights how much bang for the buck the Pro Compact provides.

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey

Full review: Nacon Pro Compact Controller review

Don’t worry Nintendo Switch fans, we haven’t forgotten about you – the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is just for you.

It offers a more conventional controller as opposed to the rectangular Joy Cons that come with the Switch itself, and borrows some aspects of its design from the comfortable Xbox One Controller. There’s the same stick placement, which provides a degree of familiarity. However, when you pick the Pro Controller up, there are some notable differences. For instance, the triggers are the same size as the normal Joy Cons, and don’t offer much in the way of tactility. On a more positive note, the analogue sticks offered smooth rotation while the action buttons have a satisfying feel to them, and the return of a proper D-Pad on a Nintendo controller brought with it plenty of nostalgia.

During testing, the Pro Controller offered a user experience that takes things up a gear compared to the standard Joy Cons. Our inputs felt a lot more precise and sharp, whether that be for drifting in Mario Kart or for better aiming in Splatoon. It’s worth noting at this juncture though the gains were less apparent in games that were designed to work especially well with Joy Cons such as ARMS. The vibrations offer decent feedback that sits between the HD rumble of the Joy Cons and the now antiquated feel of older controllers. With all this in mind though, our user experience was marred by persistent connectivity issues that came and went as they pleased, causing functions such as the controller’s vibrate function to not work as they should. A simple restart of the Switch solved the issue, but it’s just a pain that such issues were present anyway.

Reviewer: Thomas Deehan

Full review: Nintendo Switch Pro Controller review

If it’s extensive customisation you want from a controller, the Scuf Instinct Pro Controller should be right up your alley.

We found it to offer the complete package when it comes to design, providing a generally comfortable experience, especially thanks to the rubberised back that felt great to hold. The real appeal of the Instinct Pro centres around how customisable it is, and it wouldn’t be much of a stretch to suggest that you can make it totally unique. Our sample was customised in a fetching purple and orange combination with a customised faceplate and orange buttons to match. You get a myriad of different features to customise, with regards to the faceplate, buttons, triggers, and thumbsticks. Having such a vast set of customisation aids in making the controller feel personable and unique, which not only makes it look good, but also makes it feel like it’s your own.

During testing, the Instinct Pro offered a fantastic experience overall, with a familiar button layout, responsive triggers and paddles and some especially strong vibrations with the rumbles inside.

The paddles unlock all manner of customisation and can be set to have up to 16 functions at the same time. In racing games for instance, they can be remapped to work as a paddle shift, which proved especially responsive. It’s with extra functionality like this where the Instinct Pro wins against a standard controller.

To go with its extensive button functionality, the Instinct Pro also offers two means of connectivity – Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth. Both of these felt responsive with no noticeable latency between my Xbox and the Instinct Pro. In addition, we also found the battery life here to be pretty good. While it isn’t able to match the 40 hours outputted by the Xbox Elite 2, the Instinct Pro still provides great endurance – it’s 30 hours in total – which should be enough to last for a few days’ worth of gaming.

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey

Full review: Scuf Instinct Pro Controller review