- Best Games For Mac Book Pro
- Best Games For Mac On Steam 2017
- Best Games For Mac On Steam
- Best Fps Games For Mac On Steam
Steam is simply the best place to hunt for new PC games, if you're looking to get into the very best PC games. That's because the platform touts more than 23,000 titles (and counting).
- Here are our picks for the best Mac games of 2018, including titles such as The Banner Saga 3, Fortnite, and Donut County. Digital Trends. Mac App Store Steam.
- Its fan base remains faithful due to its art direction, gameplay, and humor, making Team Fortress 2 one of the top rated games of all time. Plus, find the right team and Team Fortress 2 becomes an excellent cooperative multiplayer game for Mac.
- Mac isn’t a gamer’s go-to platform, due to obvious reasons. But, thanks to some awesome developers and publishing platforms like Steam, Mac users have a decent selection. So, even if you cannot enjoy GTA V on your brand-new MacBook Pro, there are some cool strategy games in Mac.
![Games Games](https://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1538/15385314/2736702-steam+games.png)
It’s more than just availability however. One of the biggest advantages that Steam has is that when you buy a game, you can install it as many times as you like on as many devices as you own. You’ll have access to automatic updates as well, so you won’t need to do the extra work of re-downloading and rechecking to see if everything’s updated.
The only problem is that there’s way too much choice on Steam these days. There are definitely worse problems to have, but it does mean that you can get lost in Steam’s endless labyrinth of games and become tempted by its very frequent sales. And, before you know it, you’ll end up with a stack of games you’ll probably never get around to playing or finishing.
The game is reported to taking over 10 hours for one season in the game, of which their are four season in a year. Which means it can take 40 hours just to get though the first year in the game, of which there can be many. Best Steam games for Mac Even though Macs aren't generally the preferred devices for gamers, there are still some really good video games that you can play on them. In fact, Steam, the largest online distribution platform for video games, includes more than 5,000 titles that will work on Apple's desktops and laptops.
Fortunately for you, we here at TechRadar have got your back. We’ve gathered what we think are the best Steam games, from recent releases to golden oldies. We update this list regularly, so be sure to come back soon for more suggestions.
Kenshi
Some of the best steam games are those that couldn’t really exist anywhere else. Complicated RPGs and strategy games need the unique features of a gaming PC to thrive, and Kenshi is a perfect example.
Taking inspiration from the old Mount & Blade games, Kenshi is a sandbox, squad-based RPG where you’re in charge of your own story. You’re dropped in the middle of a massive world – think Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall huge – and you’re not limited by any of the gameplay systems. You can simply build a home for yourself, or set off on an epic adventure.
You’re going to get hours upon hours upon hours of gameplay out of Kenshi, because the world is the game, not just its setting.
What Remains of Edith Finch
This indie smash arrived on the scene in 2017, but since it’s won a 'best game' BAFTA award, it’s time to give it another plug. What Remains of Edith Finch, one of the first best steam games on our list, is a narrative-led adventure in which you walk, first-person style, around as Edith Finch, exploring the house in which you grew up.
You look over the preserved relics of dead family members and are sucked into vignettes that tell the stories of how various Finches died. We get it, it sounds grim. However, its charming style and magical realism make What Remains of Edith Finch involving and touching rather than depressing.
It plays out a little like an interactive movie. You can’t fail as such, aside from getting lost, and the entire experience lasts 2-3 hours rather than 20.
Don’t buy this if you’re going to feel short-changed by its length, but if you’ve played and loved Firewatch, Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture or Gone Home, you’ll definitely enjoy What Remains of Edith Finch.
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Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdon
Though the first Ni No Kuni game was a collaboration with Japanese animation masters Studio Ghibli, Ni No Kuni II is not. However, it does hold onto the same charming art style.
It also switches up the fighting mechanics. As opposed to training up avatars to fight for you, Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom has a fun real-time battle system. You command three fighters with fast, slow and magic attacks, and the ability to dodge. And, the sequel is a bit more action-packed than the first one.
It’s not all about action, though. While Ni No Kuni II is an action-adventure RPG, you also build up a kingdom, which plays a role in earning bonuses for your characters. This part is surprisingly addicting.
The story is more conventional than that of the first game, which might be down to Studio Ghibli’s limited involvement. However, there’s plenty of fantasy fuel, and it’s more immersive than your average game, deservedly earning it a spot among the best steam games.
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Into the Breach
Not every top Steam game is an epic open world title that will set you back $60 on PS4 and Xbox One. Into the Breach is an elegant sci-fi strategy blast that you can play on your lunch break at work.
It is made by the team behind Faster than Light, still one of our favourite PC games of the last decade. And for the handheld gaming veterans out there, there are shades of Advance Wars to it too.
Earth has been invaded – and almost taken over – by aliens. In Into the Breach, you control groups of mechs sent from the future to reverse this fate. That may sound like a mind-bending premise, but it actually proves that the plot doesn’t matter too much here. We know Earth will come out tops, it’s just a matter of how.
Each encounter takes in an 8x8 block grid, your battlefield. Play unfolds in turns, and your mechs have to stop aliens from destroying too many of the field’s buildings and outposts. It has the tactical purity of chess. As you play, you can upgrade your mechs to improve your chances.
Like FTL, Into the Breach is moreish, smart and deceptively deep.
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Surviving Mars
Some screenshots make Surviving Mars look like The Sims: Red Planet edition. However, this best steam game actually is closer to Sim City meets The Martian. You build an outpost on a barren patch of Mars, and have to keep it running to avoid your colonists from dying on the planet’s harsh surface. And, it’s harder than it sounds.
That is, while mismanaging resources in Sim City or Civilization may make your inhabitants angry or lower your income, in Surviving Mars it can cause a chain reaction that sees life support systems fail. You’ll hear “a colonist has died”, and be left scrambling to fix the problem before other inhabitants start dying like bubbles popping as they touch the ground.
Surviving Mars’s interface leaves something to be desired, but its survivalist approach to “city” building is compelling.
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Final Fantasy XV
After the massively-multiplayer Final Fantasy XIV, Square Enix finally got back to their series’s single player roots with Final Fantasy XV. It came to PS4 in late 2016, but was only ported to PC in March 2018. However, you do get all the DLC released on the consoles and, if your PC is beefy enough, you’ll experience better frame rates.
Final Fantasy XV is slightly different to the FF games of old. You travel around an open world, often by car, packed with Americana-style buildings, all your companions are human and the combat plays out in real time, not as turns. Still, you can tell this is a Final Fantasy game just by catching a 15-second clip of it in action.
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New Indie Notable: Descenders
The PC tends to get associated with the kind of games that sit you down – for hours on end until your eyes are red and part of you start to regret your life choices. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
With Descenders, you can play in quick blasts. If you can drag yourself away from its moreish-ness, anyway. You’re a downhill free rider who has to get down procedurally generated courses with as much style as possible, preferably using a gamepad. It might remind you of the heyday of Tony Hawk games, or snowboard console classic SSX.
The use of generated “tracks” means you can’t master courses, but it’s the mastery of the bike’s physics you’re shooting for anyway. A career mode pits you against a series of courses in the same style of environment, each with objectives. Finish the “boss course,” and you unlock a new terrain. But you have limited lives for the whole run. A mix of mobile game style and unforgiving old-school progression mechanics gives Descenders a fresh feel, just one of the many reasons why it’s made our best steam game list.
American Truck Simulator
Not every game has to be about destroying aliens or gunning down unnamed soldiers, and American Truck Simulator, one of the best steam games to play right now, feels like mindfulness meditation in comparison.
You drive a big 18 wheeler-style truck over the long highways of the US, delivering cargo from A to B. Breaking the traffic codes doesn’t end in a GTA-style police chase, just a fine. This is the sort of game you can put on like cosy slippers after a long day at work.
Yet there’s also a business side to it. You start as a lowly contractor, but can earn enough money to build your own shipping empire.
Pillars of Eternity
PC gamers who have been playing since the ‘90s might remember all the fuss made about the Baldur’s Gate titles. Some of their biggest fans will get teary-eyed reminiscing about the memories of their favorite side characters.
Isometric role-playing games like Baldur’s Gate don’t cut it in the AAA world anymore. However, Pillars of Eternity brings back the essence of those games for the Steam crowd. This is a difficult, slightly retro-flavoured RPG where you control a band of classic fantasy-style adventurers. It’s made by Obsidian, the team behind Fallout: New Vegas. Pillars of Eternity II is on the horizon too.
If you like your RPGs fantasy-themed, also consider Torment: Tides of Numenera.
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Legend of Grimrock II
Another throwback to a style of game that has mostly disappeared, Legend of Grimrock 2 is a dungeon crawler where you move in blocks, instead of freely. Why would you want that? It changes your relationship with the environment, making it feel more like an intricate puzzle rather than just an open world a texture artist had been let loose on.
There are an awful lot of actual puzzles involved here too, in-between the bouts of classic 'Dungeons & Dragons' style combat encounters. Plus, as retro as the play style is, Legend of Grimrock 2 looks fantastic, with many outdoors areas to prevent you from getting bogged down in dimly-lit dungeons.
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds
When it comes to in-vogue games, few titles continue to capture the zeitgeist (and fill it full of bullet holes) the way PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds does. It may have one of the worst acronyms ever, but that hasn’t stopped PUBG from putting the ‘battle royale’ subgenre on the map and making itself into a phenomenon. Sure, there’s a lot of hype still surrounding it, but the game behind all the coverage and Twitch fascination is still one of the most addictive on Steam, not to mention one of the best steam games this 2019.
That simple premise – parachute into a map with no gear, scavenge for weapons and armour, and fight for survival with a single life in a continually shrinking map – is still gripping, even if it has a few too many bugs. Whether you’re teaming up with friends or braving its maps by your lonesome, PUBG remains one of the most fun shooters on the market right now.
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Kingdom Come: Deliverance
One of the most recent releases on our best Steam games list, Kingdom Come: Deliverance offers an experience that’s both comfortingly familiar and deeply alien. Set in a fictional Medieval Europe, it’s a first-person RPG where dialogue choices mold your world as much as your ability to problem solve and your skills in melee combat. It’s a game of incredible freedom, enabling you to carve a path through the Dark Ages however you see fit.
You might get off your face on schnapps and get in a fight with the town drunk. You may start filling your pockets with the gold of unsuspecting townsfolk, Thief-style, or stain your blade with blood in the battlefield. Part Elder Scrolls, part Dark Souls, part something else entirely, it’s an action-RPG that punishes as much as it empowers. It also runs best on PC (with the right specs, obviously) so get it on the download pronto.
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Rainbow Six: Siege
Who knew, way back in 2015, that a Tom Clancy game would become one of the industry’s biggest success stories. But here we are, four years later, with a game that boasts over 25 million registered players and its third year of consecutive content updates as well as premium bells and whistles. Rainbow Six: Siege is one of those success stories that keeps on succeeding, and for one very important yet simple reason: it’s fun as hell to play.
Paring back the Rainbow Six formula to its roots - two teams fight in the same map, one protecting an objective while the other attacking and fighting their way in - no two matches in Siege are ever the same. You’ll be barricading doors, breaching through walls, blasting through ceilings and building an operator that’s attuned to your playstyle. It might not be groundbreaking, but add in the limited time Outbreak mode (think Siege plus zombies), and you’ve got one of Steam’s most complete packages.
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Celeste
From the indie team that gave us TowerFall and TowerFall Ascension comes one of the most rewarding pixel platformers in years. As you climb the titular mountain, flame-haired heroine Madeline will battle her innermost demons as much as the harsh and dangerous conditions around her. In its simplest form, Celeste is a tight, 2D, twitch-style platformer, but in reality it’s one of the most memorable games we’ve come across in many years.
As poignant in narrative as it is unforgiving in gameplay, Celeste has over 700 ‘scenes’ to traverse, countless secrets to uncover and a story that will grip you as much as the muscle-memory building formula of its platforming. For a game built around the simple mechanics of jump, air-dash and climb, there’s an incredible amount of depth to be found as you claw your way to the summit in more ways than one, which is why it deserves a spot on our best steam games list.
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Divinity: Original Sin 2
Best Games For Mac Book Pro
When Divinity: Original Sin 2 arrived in 2017, it had quite the legacy to live up to, that of its predecessor, which just so happened to be one of the most accomplished RPGs of all time. Then what does developer Larian Studios do? It only goes and follows it up with one of the most important additions to the genre in years. Divinity: Original Sin 2 is an enchanting fantasy world with a deep and complicated combat model and one of the most gripping stories you’ll experience outside of a 1,000 page tome.
The big selling point, and the main ingredient of Divinity: Original Sin 2’s secret sauce, is the complexity of its combat. You control a party of characters alongside your own custom avatar, and utilize each one individually in battle. With countless skills and attributes to mix and match, the breadth of tactics available makes this an imposing yet deeply rewarding way to test your RPG abilities.
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Stellaris
The grand and operatic strategy genre has produced some true classics on PC, experiences that consoles have consistently failed to replicate. From Crusader Kings to Europa Universalis, these are games with bucket loads of tactics and guile.
Well, it just so happens the developer of those very games has taken that deeply immersive concept and transported it to the dark ocean of space. Enter Stellaris, an evolution of the genre that takes the space exploration of EVE Online and Mass Effect and hits the hyperdrive button.
You’ll travel through myriad procedural galaxies, filled with thousands of planets and countless alien species, each one possessing unique traits, economies and social strata. Whether it’s the power (and consistent balancing act) of interstellar diplomacy or the deep customisation of starship designs, there’s a wealth of sci-fi lore and mechanics to delve into with Stellaris.
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Dota 2
By far one of the oldest games on the list - well, that is if you consider 2013 old - Valve’s MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena), Dota 2, is still one of the most addictive titles on Steam. It’s also the only game on this list that’s free-to-play, so you don’t even need to have a healthy bank balance to enjoy its addictive battles. Valve has been consistently updating and overhauling the game since launch, making it one of the most evolved MOBAs on the market.
If you’ve never played it before, it’s a simple yet intoxicating setup: two teams of five players face off in a large map. Each one is defending a base with an ‘Ancient’ inside that must be protected at all costs. Find your opponent’s base and raze it to the ground to win. Expect to experience brilliant hero v hero showdowns, brutal ambushes, tactical plays and nonstop action.
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Cuphead
Run and gun platformers have carved a niche out for themselves on mobile, but they’re few and far between on PC. Thankfully, this one was built to be a Microsoft exclusive with Xbox One in mind and the result is one of the most unique gaming experiences you’ll ever come across. Designed to capture the look and atmosphere of 1930s cartoons, Cuphead places you in the shoes of the titular hero and tasks you with battling across three distinct worlds and bosses that will capture your imagination with their ingenuity that crush your resolve with their difficulty.
Recommending a notoriously tough game might sound counter-intuitive, but the steep difficulty curve is part of its charm. With a unique soundtrack and those standout visuals at your side you’ll earn every stage clearance like a piece of territory in a war, each victory feeling that much more rewarding. Brutal and beautiful in equal measure, Cuphead is a must have Steam title.
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Subnautica
Another relatively fresh release on this list, Subnautica is already making waves (pardon the pun) despite having only dropped in January of this year. A survival game set deep in the ocean on an alien world, its unique twist on the classic template makes for a game that’s both captivating to watch and challenging in its many interconnected mechanics. You’ll explore shallow reefs, dangerous trenches on the seabed and everything in between, all the while managing your precious oxygen supply.
Oh, and there’s an entire ecosystem of alien marine life to contend with. Plenty of these fishy and mammalian critters want to add you to their menu, so you’ll need to outsmart and avoid them while searching for resources to build new equipment and tools. Like all the best survival games, the very best materials lie in the most dangerous of places. Do you dare swim deep enough to find them?
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Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
With so many multiplayer shooters getting the limelight in this feature, it seemed high time to pay homage to one of the best single-player FPS games ever made. MachineGames gave Wolfenstein a bloody, alt-history revival in the form of 2014’s The New Order, so it had its work cut out for it when it came to bettering all that visceral Nazi slaying. Then along comes 2017’s The New Colossus, dialing up the violence and the depth of storytelling that it would make most Call Of Duty titles look at the floor with embarrassment.
What makes The New Colossus so essential is how it doesn’t deviate from its formula, but refines and expands on it in almost every way. Bigger and more challenging bosses; intense set-pieces; myriad weapons that spit glorious death; a story that asks far more questions and presents some bold answers. It’s also rock hard, and consistently unforgiving, so lock and load at your peril..
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Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
It’s not often a franchise as historic as Resident Evil gets a new lease of life – especially when you consider the zombie-loving license had descended into a lifeless parody over the past decade – but here we are with a genuinely frightening horror game with the words ‘Resident Evil’ in the title. What a world, eh?
While us PC folk aren’t allowed to scare ourselves half to death in VR yet (RE7 is a PSVR at the moment), that doesn’t mean it’s any less frightening. Dropping the third-person perspective that’s felt tired and rote for awhile now, RE7 embraces the first-person view that’s helped Outlast and the like re-energize the horror genre, and boy does it make for one chilling 8-10 hour scare fest. Best mind mapping app for mac.
With Capcom’s big budget, a creepy swamp setting (honestly, just go with it) and a storyline that feeds back into the series’ winding mythology, you’d be crazy not to add this to your Steam library.
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Sid Meier’s Civilization VI
How could we collect this list of games to play on Steam and not include the latest offering from the master of turn-based strategy and tactical simulation? The Civilization series has been through many forms over the years, but the sixth entry takes all the best bits from those previous incarnations, smooths off the edges and serves up one of the most rewarding turn-based video games ever made.
There’s nothing quite like building a nation from a fledgling settlement and nurturing it into a worldwide powerhouse, and Civilization VI gives you more freedom and control than ever. Removing the pre-set paths that hampered the still stellar Civ V, Civ VI transforms into a landscape that rewards plucky explorers and confident conquerors with the opportunity to expand their budding society with new technologies and alliances. Sid Meier’s name alone is part of PC gaming’s lofty heritage, so owning this little doozy is a no-brainer.
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Undertale
Undertale is one of those games that stays with you. A work of digital art whose charm and creativity never fails to keep its edge, regardless of how many times you play it through. And considering just how many innocuous JRPGs are out there right now, that’s a pretty impressive feat in unto itself.
So why is Undertale so brilliant? It takes all the best elements from the ever-evolving RPG genre and creates a world built on choice, consequence and compassion. As a child dropped into an underground world filled with terrors, you’ll have to face a whole host of monsters to make it home. How you face them, and what choices you make, define your journey.
And its Telltale-esque consequence system doesn’t just extend to dialogue choices – you can spare monsters after a fight, forging potential vital alliances for later in the game. You can even end fights by telling your opponent jokes. It’s a game of such warm and affable quality you’d almost believe it was a JRPG from the earliest heyday of the genre.
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The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
For years, one game sat atop the dark and misty mountain of action-RPGs. Skyrim was its name, and no other franchise, be it Dragon Age or Dark Souls, could even come close to breaking its iron-clad grip upon the genre. Then along came Geralt of Rivia, riding atop The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt with a confident swagger, ready to give The Elder Scrolls a good thrashing.
If you’re looking for a game that strikes a perfect balance between length of play (you could easily spend 100+ hours across its incredibly diverse map – one that’s a good 20% bigger than poor old Skyrim) and sheer quality, then The Witcher 3 is a must. There are just so many virtues The Witcher 3 has to its name. Brilliant writing, unforgettable quests, genuinely challenging beasts and a pair of DLC expansions (Hearts of Stone, and Blood and Wine) make this one of the best games of this or any other generation.
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Inside
Inside will break your heart. Let that be your warning going in. If you don’t see such words as a deterrent, then see it rather as a mystery to be uncovered scene by heart-wrenching scene. Created by the same studio that made the wonderful 2.5D platformer Limbo – you know, the one about a little boy stuck in a nightmare world where a giant spider chases him endlessly – it should come as a huge shock to learn that Inside will leave you just as tearful as its predecessor.
Thing is, Inside is a brilliant piece of art. Without a scrap of dialogue, you’ll explore a world in a similar platforming vein as Limbo, overcoming various ingenious environmental puzzles and evading both the flashlights of an oppressive government and the shadow of a conspiracy that’s clearly not going to end well.
But it’s worth every second. There’s a reason it won many a GOTY award in 2016, so you’d be a fool not to add this to your Steam library. Just remember to pack a few tissues.
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Rocket League
Once upon a time there was a little game on PlayStation 3 called Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars. It was all about using remote control-esque cars to knock a giant football around a makeshift pitch. Thing is, no one played it and the game slowly faded into obscurity.
Then Rocket League came along, which was basically the same thing, albeit with tweaked physics and a larger focus on multiplayer. One trip into PlayStation 4’s PS Plus lineup later and the game went supernova.
And with good reason, too. It’s a simple concept but it just works – it’s a place where skill shines through as you boost your little RC car and hit the motorized equivalent of a bicycle kick. It’s glorious, offering one of the best ways to play online (whether with friends or a bunch of strangers). Come on, who doesn’t want to spend their evening chasing a football with a car? FIFA? Pfft.
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Portal 2
Portal, back in its day, was a game-changer. Sure, it sounds like we’re filling out boots with hyperbole, but back in 2007 all those portals, companion cubes and sociopathic AIs were blowing our minds over and over. Then Portal 2 came along and made the original look like a crossword puzzle in The Sun.
Okay, the first Portal is still amazing, but Portal 2 took a genuinely revolutionary concept and twisted it into something new. Everything in this game works without a hitch - the ebb and flow of its story, the growing complexity of the puzzles and the new ways you’re forced to make your mind think with portals. It’s even got Stephen Merchant and JK Simmons in it!
Portal 2 manages to take a brilliant recipe and somehow make it even more delicious, sprinkling in all new depths of platforming and puzzle flavour. If you haven’t played it, buy it now. If you have, play it again.
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Stardew Valley
The incredibly charming Stardew Valley is an indie farming RPG which sees you moving from the bustling city to your grandfather's old, run-down farm near sleepy Pelican Town. You’ll get to uncover the secrets of the mysterious town while growing a thriving farming empire.
Stardew Valley's pixelated retro graphics, unique soundtrack and kooky characters make for a relaxed and fun game which combines elements such as farming simulation, adventure, dating simulation and crafting.
Get ready to become emotionally attached because once you step foot in Pelican Town, it's hard to ever leave.
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- Want to get the best deals on Steam games? Check out: Steam sales and deals: the best PC game bargains
Your guide
- Andrew Cunningham
After 15 hours of research and testing—in addition to hundreds of hours of gaming in years past—we’ve found that the Sony DualShock 4 Wireless Controller (the one that comes with the PlayStation 4) is the best controller to use with your computer because it feels comfortable and responsive, connects over USB or Bluetooth, and works great with Steam, where most PC gamers get their games.
Our pick
Sony DualShock 4 Wireless Controller
The most comfortable and capable controller, it works great with Steam but might require some setup for other games.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $60.
The DualShock 4 (model CUH-ZCT2, released in late 2016) also has some nice extra features that few other controllers have, such as an internal rechargeable battery and a touchpad that can simulate a mouse cursor. Making it work with non-Steam Windows or macOS games takes some extra effort, and headsets plugged into its audio jack don’t work properly with computers, but those minor shortcomings will be relatively easy for most people to work around.
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Runner-up
Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller
This is an easy-to-set-up alternative for people who prefer Xbox controllers or have large hands.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $60.
You might like Microsoft’s Xbox Wireless Controller if you have larger hands, if you buy most of your games outside of Steam, if you want more color options, or if you simply prefer Xbox controllers. Microsoft has made significant improvements to the third-generation revision of the controller, most notably the addition of Bluetooth so that you can use the controller wirelessly with PCs and Macs without needing to buy a separate dongle. But the taller design makes reaching all the buttons more difficult, its analog sticks aren’t quite as comfortable, and it requires AA batteries unless you spring for the $25 rechargeable battery pack from Microsoft. Or you can spend around $20 on a set of good rechargeable AA batteries and a charger.
Budget pick
AmazonBasics Xbox One Wired Controller
This officially licensed clone feels a bit cheaper than, but surprisingly similar to, Microsoft’s Xbox One gamepad.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $21.
If you want to spend less and you don’t mind a wire, the AmazonBasics Xbox One Wired Controller gives you most of the features of Microsoft’s version for around half the price. Its analog sticks and buttons are comfortable enough for hours-long gaming sessions, and since it’s compatible with the Xbox One, it takes advantage of the great Xbox-controller support built into both Windows and Steam. It does feel a little cheaper than the official version, its vibration isn’t as strong, and the headset jack produces tinny sound, but it feels and works better and has more features than anything else you can get for about $25.
Best Games For Mac On Steam 2017
Also great
Buffalo Classic USB Gamepad
If you like playing old games and want a more authentic experience, this is the best of the many SNES-style controller replicas.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $16.
If you play retro (or retro-throwback) games that don’t need all the extra buttons, sticks, and triggers of modern controllers, a simpler gamepad can provide a better and more authentic experience. It’s not as faithful a replica as the controllers that come with the Super NES Classic Edition, but the Buffalo Classic USB Gamepad is the best of all the SNES-clone controllers out there. Its buttons are comfortable, responsive, and clicky, and it has a Turbo feature to help with repetitive button mashing. But you’ll need to manually configure most games and emulators to work with it (you’ll find no built-in Windows, macOS, or Steam integration to speak of), and it’s a bad fit for most modern games, which require thumbsticks and more buttons than this Buffalo model has.
Everything we recommend
Our pick
Sony DualShock 4 Wireless Controller
The most comfortable and capable controller, it works great with Steam but might require some setup for other games.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $60.
Runner-up
Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller
This is an easy-to-set-up alternative for people who prefer Xbox controllers or have large hands.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $60.
Budget pick
AmazonBasics Xbox One Wired Controller
This officially licensed clone feels a bit cheaper than, but surprisingly similar to, Microsoft’s Xbox One gamepad.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $21.
Also great
Buffalo Classic USB Gamepad
If you like playing old games and want a more authentic experience, this is the best of the many SNES-style controller replicas.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $16.
The research
Why you should trust us
Andrew Cunningham spent more than six years writing about PCs, other gadgets, and games for AnandTech and Ars Technica. He has also been playing with game controllers since he was old enough to hold one, and he has extensive experience with every major controller that has ever shipped with a Nintendo, Sony, or Microsoft console.
Who this is for
Not every PC game is best played with a keyboard and mouse. If you’d rather sit back and play some of your games with a controller instead, you should consider one of our picks. A controller is a highly personal object, and your preferences may differ based on your hand size, gaming style, and operating system. If you already own an an Xbox One or a PlayStation 4 console and you’re happy with the controller that came with it, you probably don’t need to buy a different one.
Most wireless controllers connect to a PC using Bluetooth, just like a wireless keyboard or wireless headphones. All Macs and almost all Windows laptops include Bluetooth, but a gaming desktop might not. If you need to add Bluetooth to your desktop, we recommend an internal PCI Express card with good antennas (you will need an empty PCI Express slot and a free USB header on your motherboard) rather than one of the many cheap USB dongles. In our testing, small USB dongles became laggy and inconsistent after just a few minutes of gaming. Our picks can also work with a Micro-USB cable, if you can’t (or don’t want to) add Bluetooth to your desktop.
How we picked
Picking a “good” game controller is a subjective exercise, one that depends on what you’re already used to, the size of your hands, and the kinds of games you play. But regardless of which specific controllers you like, most people should look for the following features:
- Comfort: Regardless of your hand size, you should be able to hold the controller for a couple of hours without cramping, and it shouldn’t slip around if your hands get sweaty. The controller should also be heavy enough to feel substantial but not so much that it causes arm and wrist fatigue.
- Responsive buttons and triggers: Every button, trigger, and joystick on the controller should do what you want when you want. All the controls should be easy to reach, and the buttons should have enough space between them that you can find them by touch without accidentally pressing multiple buttons.
- Compatibility with Windows, macOS, and Steam: Controllers can be difficult to set up, they aren’t guaranteed to work with every game even if you get yours working on your OS, and remapping can be a pain. It should be relatively easy to get controllers working with Windows and macOS, and they should also play nice with Steam, the biggest platform for PC games.
- A good price: A good wireless controller usually costs somewhere between $40 and $60, and a decent wired controller should cost around half that.
- Wireless controllers should also work when wired: Controllers that use 2.4 GHz wireless or Bluetooth offer convenience and prevent cable clutter, but they can also introduce latency, and their batteries eventually run out. Good wireless controllers should also be able to communicate over USB when you’re playing games where split-second response time is important, while you’re charging the battery, or if you just don’t have Bluetooth.
Other features, such as touchpads, internal rechargeable batteries, or extra customizable buttons and triggers, are nice to have, but a good controller doesn’t need them.
We looked at 48 controllers from major manufacturers such as 8bitdo, Logitech, Microsoft, Nintendo, Razer, ScufGaming, Sony, and Valve, plus a few other controllers from lesser-known companies that are popular on Amazon. We ruled out those with poor owner reviews and others that cost way more than controllers with similar features.
That left us with 14 controllers to test: Sony’s DualShock 4 Wireless Controller, Microsoft’s Xbox Wireless Controller, Nintendo’s Switch Pro Controller, Valve’s Steam Controller, the AmazonBasics Xbox One Wired Controller, the Hori Nintendo Switch Horipad, the GameSir G3w wired gaming controller, the ZD-V+ and ZD-N, the Mygt Game Controller, the 8Bitdo SF30/SN30 Pro, the Buffalo Classic USB Gamepad, the Innext SNES Retro USB controller, and the Razer Wolverine Ultimate.
How we tested
https://kwgpyc.weebly.com/blog/best-hp-64-bit-printer-scanner-for-mac-os-1013. We tested all of our modern controllers on a Windows desktop, a Windows laptop, and an iMac with a variety of 2D and 3D games, including the first-person shooter Bioshock Remastered and the precise and exacting 2D action games Super Meat Boy and Cuphead. This process gave us plenty of time to evaluate the all-important analog sticks, D-pads, and trigger buttons, as well as to consider how the controllers felt in extended play sessions. For the retro controllers, we stuck to classic 2D platformers and action games like Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Metroid, and Mega Man X. We tested each controller for at least an hour, and we played with each of our picks for at least three hours across multiple games.
Our pick: Sony DualShock 4 Wireless Controller
Our pick
Sony DualShock 4 Wireless Controller
The most comfortable and capable controller, it works great with Steam but might require some setup for other games.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $60.
The Sony DualShock 4 Wireless Controller (the newer CUH-ZCT2 model) is the best PC game controller for most people. It’s comfortable to hold for long periods of time, it’s responsive, it works over both Bluetooth and Micro-USB, and it works great with Steam, the place where most PC gamers get their games. It also has some nice extra features that few other controllers have, such as an internal rechargeable battery and a touchpad that can simulate a mouse cursor. Making it work with other Windows or macOS games takes some extra effort, and its headset jack doesn’t work properly with computers, but those minor shortcomings will be relatively easy for most people to work around.
Best Games For Mac On Steam
The DualShock 4’s buttons, triggers, and joysticks are all easy to reach for most people regardless of hand size, and they all feel accurate, responsive, and satisfying. The position of the directional pad—on the left of the controller, rather than toward the bottom center—makes the DualShock 4 more comfortable to use than Xbox-style controllers in retro-style 2D games like Hollow Knight, Cuphead, or Super Meat Boy, and it’s still a great controller for 3D shooters and action games thanks to its smooth analog sticks and easy-to-reach triggers. The rubber on the analog sticks is more comfortable than the surface of the Xbox controller’s sticks, and the shoulder buttons, triggers, and directional pad feel more substantial than the Xbox controller’s hollow-feeling counterparts.
Steam added native support for the DualShock 4 in late 2016, so now it works well with any Steam game that supports a gamepad in the first place. The controller can also navigate Steam’s Big Picture mode, and there are even a few DualShock-specific settings you can tweak: You can configure the controller’s trackpad to work as a mouse cursor, you can turn rumble on and off, and you can customize the color and brightness of the controller’s light bar.
If you don’t play Steam games (or if you just prefer more flexibility) and you’re on Windows, you can still install the DS4Windows app to further customize how the controller works and make it work differently in different games (Mac owners have to manually configure the controller in every game, assuming that’s an option). But the native Steam support should cover most PC gamers, and it finally gives Mac owners an easy, consistent way to use the DualShock 4.
The DualShock 4 is also well-priced; you can almost always get one for less than $50, and you can often find it for $40 or less. You will have to pay a bit more if you want a color other than black, though—while basic colors like red and blue usually aren’t too much more expensive than the black version, newer and more exotic colors run closer to $60 or $65.
You can use the DualShock 4 over Bluetooth or with a Micro-USB cable. To pair it to any computer via Bluetooth, press and hold the PlayStation and Share buttons until the light bar blinks. The Micro-USB connection allows you to use the DualShock 4 on computers without Bluetooth and recharges the controller’s battery while you play. The DualShock 4 doesn’t come with a Micro-USB cable, but if you don’t have one lying around, you can get a great one for just a few dollars.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
Though Steam’s DualShock 4 support now makes it much easier to use Sony’s controller with a PC than it was a few years ago, Xbox controllers still have better integration with Windows overall—plug them in, and you’re ready to go, whether you use Steam or not. And most games still use the letters and colors of the Xbox controller’s face buttons rather than Sony’s × ○ □ △ labels, so if you’re not used to the game’s control scheme, you could more easily push the wrong buttons.
The controller’s headset jack also doesn’t work properly in Windows or macOS. When using a cable, you can hear sound in headphones but can’t chat (in our tests, an attempt to record sound from a headset connected to the DualShock 4 picked up an annoying low-pitched whine). And when paired via Bluetooth, the headset jack doesn’t do anything at all. If you want to use a headset, you’ll need to connect that headset directly to your PC. That isn’t a huge problem if you're gaming at a desk, but it is annoying if you have a living room PC.
Who else likes our pick
Few professional reviewers have evaluated the second-generation revision of the DualShock 4, aside from briefly listing its cosmetic changes in their reviews of the PS4 Slim. But this controller is so similar to the first version that praise for the original version usually applies to both.
Polygon’s review calls the DualShock 4 “the best controller Sony has ever made,” but dings the controller’s seven- to eight-hour battery life. Engadget’s PlayStation 4 review says that “using the DualShock 4 is a delight.” The reviewer continues: “It’s comfy, responsive, sleek and familiar.” One PC Gamer writer prefers the Xbox One controller to the DualShock 4, but calls it “a Pepsi vs. Coke situation” and says that the DualShock 4 “is more customizable and may be a better fit for smaller hands.”
Runner-up: Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller
Runner-up
Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller
This is an easy-to-set-up alternative for people who prefer Xbox controllers or have large hands.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $60.
You might prefer Microsoft’s Xbox Wireless Controller if you have larger hands, if you don’t buy many games through Steam, if you want more color-customization options, or if you simply prefer Xbox controllers. Microsoft has made significant improvements in the third-generation revision of the controller released in August 2016, most notably the addition of Bluetooth so that you can use the controller wirelessly with PCs and Macs without needing to buy a separate dongle. But this controller’s taller design makes reaching all the buttons more difficult, its analog sticks aren’t quite as comfortable, and it requires AA batteries—or a rechargeable battery pack from Microsoft that will run you an extra $25.
The controller’s ABXY buttons are attractive and responsive, the sticks glide smoothly, the lightly textured plastic on the front and back feels good to hold, and the controller has a satisfying heft that won’t fatigue your wrists or hands. But the Xbox One controller’s size makes it just a bit less comfortable to use, even for my larger hands. The shiny plastic shoulder and trigger buttons are responsive but feel less substantial than the DualShock 4’s, and the rubber rim of each analog stick is rougher and less pleasant to touch than the uniformly textured sticks on the DualShock 4. Although the D-pad is nice and clicky, it’s located below and to the right of the main analog stick, making it a bit harder to reach if you’re playing 2D games.
One of the Xbox One controller’s greatest advantages is that, in Windows, it’s dead simple to set up: Just plug it in, and Windows does the rest. While Steam’s native support for both the Xbox One controller and the DualShock 4 renders this moot if you buy and play most of your games in Steam, if you happen to prefer buying games from the Microsoft Store or somewhere else, you may have an easier time with the Xbox controller. Many games (Steam games included) also use the Xbox’s button labels in their interfaces, regardless of which controller you're using, which makes tutorials easier to follow and control schemes easier to learn.
If you own a Mac and get most of your games through Steam, you won’t need any extra software to use the Xbox One controller—the native Steam integration works just fine whether you’re paired via Bluetooth or connected with a USB cable. If you’re not using Steam and a particular game won’t natively work with the Xbox controller, the 360Controller software makes the controller work with macOS and gives you a few other controller-customization options (with one caveat—the software won’t work if you’ve paired the controller via Bluetooth, only over USB or with Microsoft’s proprietary controller dongle).
Like the DualShock 4, the new Xbox One controller can connect to your PC with Bluetooth or a Micro-USB cable; it no longer requires Microsoft’s $25 dongle to connect wirelessly to a PC. To enter Bluetooth-pairing mode, press the Xbox button to turn the controller on, and then hold the sync button on the top of the controller for three seconds. We had no problems playing over Bluetooth during our testing, but there are some caveats: Your PC needs to be running the Windows 10 Anniversary Update or newer, Microsoft says only one Xbox One controller can be connected via Bluetooth at a time, and the controller’s headset jack doesn’t work. Connecting with a Micro-USB cable or using Microsoft’s wireless adapter fixes all those problems.
The Xbox One controller usually costs between $40 and $50 for a white or black version, and between $50 and $70 for more exotic colors. But if you love colorful controllers and don’t mind spending more, the Xbox Design Lab lets you pick out custom colors for nearly every single part of the controller, including the front, back, shoulder buttons, triggers, D-pad, and analog sticks—Microsoft offers a few templates to start from, or you can jump in and start clashing colors right away. Prices start at $80 but can go above $100 if you spring for special options like screen-printed NFL logos.
One reason to choose the Xbox One controller over the DualShock 4 might be its battery life—evidence suggests that it consumes less power than the DualShock 4, and either Microsoft’s Play and Charge kit or a good pair of rechargeable AA batteries will provide more play time than the DualShock 4’s internal battery. But the DualShock 4 will still last eight or 10 hours on a charge, and since its battery is built-in, you don’t have to spend more just to get a rechargeable controller.
Budget pick: AmazonBasics Xbox One Wired Controller
Budget pick
AmazonBasics Xbox One Wired Controller
This officially licensed clone feels a bit cheaper than, but surprisingly similar to, Microsoft’s Xbox One gamepad.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $21.
If you want to spend less and you don’t mind a wire, the AmazonBasics Xbox One Wired Controller gives you most of the features of Microsoft’s version for around half the price. Its analog sticks and buttons are comfortable enough for hours-long gaming sessions, and since it’s compatible with the Xbox One, it takes advantage of the great Xbox-controller support built into both Windows and Steam (and you can use the same tools to make it work well with macOS). It does feel a little cheaper than the official version, its vibration isn’t as strong, and the headset jack produces tinny sound, but overall it’s a solid deal.
The Amazon controller’s design is similar to that of the official Xbox One controller, so if you find that gamepad to be uncomfortably large, you’ll have the same complaint about this one. But all the buttons, shoulder buttons, and triggers are responsive and feel as good as or better than those of all the other budget controllers we tested. The analog sticks and D-pad are as smooth and accurate as Microsoft’s, though Amazon’s controller also uses a rough plastic texture around the analog sticks that makes them less nice than the sticks on the DualShock 4. The shoulder buttons are exceptionally loud and clicky, but probably not enough to bother most people.
Most of the Amazon controller’s shortcomings are the same as what you’ll find on any cheap controller. Compared with the official Microsoft controller, Amazon’s controller feels lighter, and the quilted texture on the back also doesn’t feel as smooth. The vibration motor works fine, but it’s not as strong as Sony’s or Microsoft’s. But we prefer it to the other cheap controllers we tested because it has a headset jack (albeit one that produces tinny sound and a dull, quiet whine anytime you’re not hearing other music or sound effects), because it’s officially licensed with Microsoft’s stamp of approval, and because it works with the Xbox One in addition to PCs. We also like that the USB end of the controller cable—which is around 10 feet long, more than enough for most PC setups and living rooms—has a breakaway segment. It’s a little too eager to separate from the rest of the cord, which might lead to some unintentional disconnections, but you’ll be thankful for it the first time someone trips over your cable.
The Amazon controller behaves exactly the same way as Microsoft’s official controller when plugged into a PC or Mac—Windows and Steam both natively support it, and the 360Controller software will treat it the same way as any official Xbox 360 or Xbox One controller.
Amazon offers the controller in either black or white—most budget controllers don’t give you any color option, so it’s better than nothing—but you don’t get the same number of color choices as with Sony or Microsoft. For less than $25, it’s hard to do better.
Wirecutter senior staff writer Kevin Purdy was hesitant to buy a third-party controller but has been pleasantly surprised by the AmazonBasics gamepad after a few months of use. “I worked this controller through much of The Witcher 3, Bastion, and as much Hyper Light Drifter as I could handle,” he said. “It also connects to quite a few consoles that allow for USB ports, so it’s a good backup player in general.”
For retro gamers: Buffalo Classic USB Gamepad
Also great
Best Fps Games For Mac On Steam
Buffalo Classic USB Gamepad
If you like playing old games and want a more authentic experience, this is the best of the many SNES-style controller replicas.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $16. https://kwgpyc.weebly.com/blog/best-black-board-app-for-mac.
Any of our other controller picks will work just fine for retro games and emulators, but sometimes if you’re chasing nostalgia you want a simpler controller to match. Of all the many Super Nintendo–style replica gamepads we looked at, the Buffalo Classic USB Gamepad stands out as the most comfortable and satisfying. At around $15 per controller, it’s more expensive than most of the SNES knockoffs, but it’s also the closest you can get to the real thing.
The Buffalo gamepad has four face buttons, two shoulder buttons, and Start and Select buttons, as well as a directional pad, plus Turbo buttons that simulate rapid mashing on one of more of the other buttons. All are responsive and easy to reach, and although you might miss the sculpted handles of modern controllers, the Buffalo pad’s rounded edges and simple layout make it comfortable to hold for extended play sessions. The shoulder buttons also have just the right amount of give, whereas the Innext retro controllers we tested felt stiff and mushy. Compared with a real Super Nintendo controller (or the extremely good replicas that ship with the Super NES Classic Edition console), Buffalo’s pad feels a little light in the hand, but the buttons feel nearly identical.
You’ll find no joysticks, vibration motors, or other sensors in the Buffalo gamepad, so it’s a poor fit for modern games; native Windows and Steam integration is also nonexistent. Both Windows and macOS recognize it as a gamepad, but you’ll have to map the buttons manually in each game (or emulator) you want to use it with.
The Buffalo gamepad has held up well over years of use. “I pack the Buffalo Classic USB Gamepad into every Raspberry Pi retro game console I build for friends and family,” said Wirecutter staff writer Thorin Klosowski. “Every single time people tell me how great it is, and I’ve seen them last years of lightweight use.”
What to look forward to
Microsoft released an updated version of its $150 Xbox Elite Wireless Controller in October 2018. Most people don’t need to pay more than $50 for a controller, but we liked the original Elite controller and plan to test the new version in the coming months. We’ll also compare it with other high-end gamepads like Razer’s Wolverine Ultimate and competing controllers from ScufGaming.
The competition
The Steam Controller bridges the gap between games with controller support and games better played on a mouse and keyboard. It has touchpads in place of a D-pad and right analog stick, and its dual-stage triggers and back buttons are designed to give you more control and customization than traditional console controllers provide. But its plasticky body feels cheap and hollow, and its large shape is awkward for smaller hands to hold. The left analog stick and the ABXY buttons are difficult to reach because they sit too far toward the center, the ABXY buttons are tiny and clustered too close together, the bumpers are difficult to press, and most buttons—the bumpers, triggers, back buttons, and touchpads—make a sad, echoing click throughout the cheap plastic controller. It’s also so different from regular controllers that it has a substantial learning curve. Until Valve releases better hardware, we can’t recommend the Steam Controller for most people.
The comfortable and responsive Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is a must-buy if you have a Switch, and if you already own one, it can connect to your PC over Bluetooth and works with Steam’s generic gamepad support. But the Switch Pro Controller doesn’t work as well with a PC or Mac as our top picks—it won’t communicate over USB when you plug it in, its vibration motor doesn’t work, and we had to use Windows to calibrate it before its joysticks would work properly. On top of that, its ABXY buttons aren’t laid out as on an Xbox controller: A and B are reversed, as are X and Y, which could create some confusion in games that expect an Xbox-style button layout. For $20 or so more than a DualShock 4, this controller is worth trying only if you already have one for your Switch.
The GameSir G3w wired gamepad was a close second to our budget pick. It’s a DualShock-style controller that uses Microsoft’s Xbox 360 controller driver, so it integrates well with Windows and Steam, and it’s the only modern controller in our test group that costs less than $20. But it also feels light and cheap in the hand, lacks a headset jack, and isn’t compatible with any actual game consoles, all of which make the AmazonBasics controller a better buy.
The Razer Wolverine Ultimate is a pro-grade wired Xbox One controller intended for competitive use. It was impressively comfortable to use and nice to hold in our tests, and its customizable buttons, extra buttons and triggers, and customizable lighting make it a good fit for its target audience. But at $160, it’s between three and four times the price of our main picks, and most people don’t need its extra features.
8Bitdo’s SF30/SN30 Pro is a neat idea: an SNES-style retro gamepad updated with the joysticks, triggers, and vibration motors that modern controllers include. It’s compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and the Nintendo Switch, and it works well with Steam in Windows mode. But there’s a reason why modern controllers have handles—the SF30/SN30 Pro is uncomfortable to hold for extended periods of time. The buttons and sticks are all pretty close together, increasing the risk of cramping, and people with sweaty hands may have trouble holding on to it.
The SteelSeries Stratus XL (for Windows or Mac/iOS) is comfortable to hold, and all the buttons, triggers, and analog sticks work well and feel good. But it runs on AA batteries and connects only via Bluetooth—there’s no wired option. The controller requires software from SteelSeries to work, but it doesn’t offer any benefits over the DualShock 4 or the Xbox One controller.
Hori’s Nintendo Switch Horipad is similar to the Switch Pro Controller, but it’s wired and costs around half as much. Like the Switch Pro Controller, it works well enough with Steam’s generic gamepad support, but it lacks vibration and the ABXY buttons will be mixed up in most PC games. It’s not quite as comfortable as the Switch Pro Controller, and its mushy removable D-pad is much less satisfying than those on any of our other picks.
The ZD-V+ and ZD-N are both wired gamepads that cost between $20 and $25; the V+ uses a DualShock-style layout, while the N uses an Xbox-style layout. Both are well-reviewed among Amazon customers, and they worked fine in our testing. They use the Xbox-controller driver in Windows, so they both benefit from the same Windows and Steam integration as Microsoft’s gamepads, and they both use Xbox-style ABXY button layouts. But both gamepads (particularly the glossy V+) feel light and cheap in the hand, lack headset jacks, and are incompatible with actual game consoles. Their vibration motors are weak too.
The Mygt Game Controller is the only controller with Bluetooth that we could find for less than $30. It works with Windows, Android, and macOS/iOS, and it has a small clip that can hold your smartphone in landscape mode. But while the controller is mostly comfortable and responsive, Windows mode uses a small 2.4 GHz wireless dongle instead of Bluetooth, and there’s no storage compartment to put the dongle into when you’re not using it. Some of the buttons are also awkwardly hidden away under the phone clip, and the D-pad is mushy and unsatisfying.
At around $15 for a two-pack, the Innext SNES Retro USB controllers are a good value if you want a pair of super-cheap SNES-style controllers that still work. They feel fine, and we had no problems with button responsiveness in our testing. But the plastic doesn’t feel as good as that of the Buffalo gamepad, the shoulder buttons are mushy, the Start and Select buttons aren’t as comfortable to press, and it lacks a Turbo feature, all of which make the Buffalo controller worth the extra money.
At this point, you shouldn’t consider controllers from previous-generation consoles if you’re buying something new; this group includes any Xbox 360 controllers, the Sony DualShock 3, and the Wii U Pro Controller. They can all work with PCs (and the Xbox 360 controllers in particular have excellent support in both Windows 10 and Steam), but their replacements are generally more comfortable, more compatible, and easier to find.
Footnotes
- This is the second-generation version of the DualShock 4, released in late 2016 alongside the PlayStation 4 Slim and PlayStation 4 Pro. It has marginally better battery life than the old model, and it has a thin horizontal light across the top of the touchpad that matches the color of the light bar on the top of the controller; overall it’s nearly identical to the first-generation model.Jump back.
- At least, it doesn’t work properly when you’re using a USB cable or standard Bluetooth. Sony's DualShock 4 USB Wireless Adaptor supposedly fixes the problem, but it’s bulky, otherwise unnecessary, and apparently discontinued.Jump back.
- This version of the controller came out in 2016 alongside the Xbox One S. If you don’t know which one you have, these image comparisons can help you figure it out.Jump back.
- If you can’t get your controller to pair with Windows, Microsoft recommends updating your controller’s firmware.Jump back.
Sources
- Tyler Wilde, Wes Fenlon, James Davenport, The best controller for PC gaming, PC Gamer, October 4, 2017
- PlayStation 4: The Review, Polygon
- Ben Gilbert, PlayStation 4 review: fast, powerful, worth it, Engadget, November 14, 2013
- Xbox One: The Review, Polygon
- Sean Buckley, We hate Valve's Steam Controller because it's different, Engadget, November 10, 2015
- Nathan Grayson, One Month With The Steam Controller, Kotaku, November 10, 2015
- Antti Kukkonen, Clash of controllers: PS4 vs XBOX One battery life, Power Profiler, February 13, 2017