The best game controllers, according to hackers
6 game controllers were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 2 earn the Hacker Approved badge.
Top picks
The two most recommended game controllers with the badge. Each figure is 2 people. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Works well on PCs and Steam
Recommended for comfort, solid build and easy PC and Steam use. Common caveat: some PCs need a dongle or adapter.
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Good value for the price
People recommend 8BitDo controllers as strong, inexpensive gamepads that pair easily and work across many platforms. Some buttons and controls need special software or remapping.
We may earn a commission. It never changes the order.
We may earn a commission. It never changes the order.
All 6 game controllers, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steam Controller | 74 | 44 | 63% | 10 | — | — |
| 2 | Xbox Wireless Controller | 18 | 9 | 67% | 11 | — | Approved |
| 3 | 8BitDo controller | 13 | 3 | 81% | 6 | — | Approved |
| 4 | PS5 DualSense controller | 10 | 6 | 63% | 6 | — | — |
| Tied 5 | Sony PS5 controller | 7 | 2 | 78% | 5 | — | — |
| Tied 5 | Nintendo Switch Pro Controller | 7 | 5 | 58% | 4 | — | — |
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same game controller in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to game controllers that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
Rankings are never for sale. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes the order.