A controller is still the most comfortable way to play racing games, platformers, action games and anything else designed with a gamepad in mind, and there are plenty of strong options in 2026. Drift-resistant TMR (tunnel magnetoresistance) and Hall effect sticks have moved from premium pads into mid-priced ones, and Valve's new Steam Controller has given living-room PCs a proper alternative to a mouse.
Forge PC has not tested these controllers. The picks below come from PC Gamer's guide, last updated on 20 October 2026, and TechRadar's guide, last updated on 26 August 2026, with specifications from the manufacturers where we could check them. We did not verify live UK shelf prices on 13 November 2026, so check UK retailers before you buy, especially with Black Friday on 27 November.
Best overall: GameSir G7 Pro Tri-Mode
PC Gamer's best PC controller is the GameSir G7 Pro. It describes the pad as a blend of features, build quality and price that beats the Xbox Wireless Controller for similar money, with swappable grips, faceplate and D-pad, and a charging stand in the box. Its only real complaint is the lack of RGB lighting, which PC Gamer points out also helps battery life.
GameSir's official specifications list Mag-Res TMR sticks, Hall effect analogue triggers with micro switch trigger stops, two back buttons, a 1,000Hz polling rate and a 1,200mAh battery with a charging dock. It connects by cable to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, by 2.4GHz wireless or cable to PC, and by Bluetooth to Android. GameSir lists the weight as 272g, and PC Gamer rates battery life at about 10 hours.
Best overall alternative: 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless
TechRadar's top pick is the 8BitDo Ultimate 2. It praises the TMR thumbsticks, the extra remappable bumpers and back buttons, the digital trigger locks and the included charging dock. Its main criticisms are battery life, which it puts at around 10 to 15 hours and says is worse than the original Ultimate, and RGB stick rings that it calls "a real battery drain".
8BitDo's official page lists TMR joysticks, triggers that switch between linear Hall effect and tactile modes, two back paddles, two extra bumpers, 6-axis motion control and a 1,000Hz polling rate over 2.4GHz and wired connections. It supports Windows, Android, SteamOS and Apple devices, and 8BitDo lists dimensions of 147 x 103 x 61.3mm and a weight of 246g. TechRadar says a Switch-compatible version is sold separately.
Best budget: GameSir Nova Lite 2 or 8BitDo Pro 3
PC Gamer's best budget controller is the GameSir Nova Lite 2. It has Hall effect thumbsticks, two back buttons, basic trigger stops, a mechanical D-pad and both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth wireless. PC Gamer got a little over eight hours of battery life and says grip and shoulder buttons are the compromises.
TechRadar's budget choice is the 8BitDo Pro 3, which it calls the best budget PC controller it has used. It has TMR sticks, trigger locks, a charging dock and a symmetrical stick layout. TechRadar warns that it has no Xbox or PlayStation compatibility and no 3.5mm headphone jack.
Best high-end: Razer Wolverine V4 Pro
PC Gamer now names the Razer Wolverine V4 Pro as its best high-end controller, at $200 or £200. Razer's official page lists capacitive thumbstick sensors that Razer says prevent the wear behind stick drift, up to 8,000Hz polling on PC over Razer HyperSpeed Wireless, four removable magnetic back buttons, two extra macro bumpers, trigger locks that switch between short and full-range pulls, a removable magnetic faceplate and up to 27 hours of battery life.
PC Gamer found the sticks remarkably accurate and the build quality outstanding, but criticises the lack of a charging stand at this price. TechRadar still prefers the previous Razer Wolverine V3 Pro as its premium pick for its build quality and remappable buttons, while noting the high price and roughly 12-hour battery life. The Wolverine V3 Pro is in our database.
Best for the sofa: Steam Controller (2026)
Valve's new Steam Controller is PC Gamer's best couch gaming controller and TechRadar's best for features. PC Gamer lists TMR thumbsticks, a gyro, two haptic trackpads, four back buttons and battery life of 35 hours or more. It connects through the included Puck wireless receiver, Bluetooth or USB-C. PC Gamer says the trackpads and gyro make it easy to use the Windows desktop or play mouse-driven games from a sofa.
The drawbacks, according to PC Gamer, are membrane face buttons, a 250Hz polling rate and the fact that cheaper pads do the basics just as well. Its customisation runs through Steam, so it suits a Steam-based living-room PC. If you are weighing up a living-room PC against Valve's own hardware, see our Steam Machine vs gaming PC comparison.
Best wired: Scuf Valor Pro or Thrustmaster eSwap X2
If you are happy with a cable, PC Gamer's pick is the Scuf Valor Pro, which has swappable Hall effect thumbsticks, rear paddles, a magnetic faceplate and switchable instant-click or long-throw triggers for $100. TechRadar's wired pick is the Thrustmaster eSwap X2, which it praises for satisfying, accurate buttons.
What to look for
TMR or Hall effect sticks are worth having, because they do not rely on the parts that wear out and cause drift in traditional sticks. Most of these pads use a 2.4GHz USB receiver on PC, with Bluetooth for phones and other devices, so check which connection your pick uses on PC. Back buttons and trigger stops help in shooters. Check platform support as well: the G7 Pro also works with an Xbox over a cable, while TechRadar notes the 8BitDo Pro 3 has no Xbox or PlayStation support.
Our verdict
For most PC players, the GameSir G7 Pro Tri-Mode is the controller to buy: PC Gamer's top pick, with TMR sticks, Hall effect triggers and a charging dock. The 8BitDo Ultimate 2 is an equally strong choice if you want RGB, motion controls and Apple or SteamOS support. If money is no object, the Razer Wolverine V4 Pro has the most advanced feature set but no charging stand, and the Steam Controller is the best fit for a living-room PC. We have not tested these pads; these picks follow PC Gamer's 20 October 2026 and TechRadar's 26 August 2026 guides and the manufacturers' official specifications.
