PC Games That Are Better With A Controller

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Generally speaking, PC gaming is synonymous with a keyboard and mouse, and for good reason. Genres like first-person shooters and strategy benefit greatly from the improved accuracy provided by this control scheme, and it can be difficult to grow accustomed to using anything else for games that fall within these categories. Grand and real-time strategy projects spent decades ignoring consoles since the thought of adapting their controls for gamepads seemed futile; nowadays, this genre is no stranger to PlayStation and Xbox ports, although its representatives tend to be at their best on PC.

While most releases try to include proper support for keyboard and mouse setups, a few PC Games are better with controllers. Titles that focus on reflex-based movement or high-octane melee action tend to be perfect fits for gamepads. Similar to keyboard and mouse, a few genres are associated with controllers, especially if their main franchises started on consoles and eventually made their way to computers. What are the best controller games on PC?

Updated October 14, 2024 by Mark Sammut: The last few weeks included quite a few major releases, most of which support both keyboard + mouse and controller. While one title warrants a separate discussion, the following deserve quick mentions:

While Dragon Ball games are relatively common, Sparking! Zero is different. The 2024 release is set within the Budokai Tenkaichi series, which produced three PS2 titles that are still highly regarded among fans of the franchise. There have been quite a few great DB games since 2007, but none quite managed to scratch the same itch as BT3. Sparking! Zero reached that promised land, presenting a modern evolution that very much preserves the classic trilogy's appeal.

The combat in Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero isn't overly challenging, there are still some key moves that every player must master.

Sparking! Zero had a very successful Steam launch, so a lot of PC players have added the project to their libraries. While statistics are not available, there have to be thousands of people who are sticking to a keyboard and have to overcome a learning curve since 3D arena fighters are pretty much always designed with controllers in mind. However, if someone has decades of keyboard experience behind them, they still might feel more comfortable taking on the game's challenges without a gamepad, even if it might put them at a disadvantage in both the multiplayer and some of the harder AI fights. Also, make no mistake, Sparking! Zero can be quite difficult as it throws a lot of mechanics at players.

Generally speaking, shooters are better with a keyboard and mouse; however, like with everything, exceptions exist. Now, to be fair, Space Marine 2 is not purely a third-person shooter. During the campaign, players are likely to spend more time engaging in melee combat over ranged warfare, and the latter comes with a pretty generous aim assist that reduces the requirement for pinpoint accuracy.

Beyond that, Space Marine 2's default K+M setup is fairly awkward and requires some adjusting (either through practice or rebinding keys). The controller is more straightforward and accessible right out of the box, provided it works.

At launch, Space Marine 2 on Steam had some issues recognizing gamepads. Anyone experiencing these issues should try disabling Steam Input.

A few exceptions aside, most Soulslikes should be played with a controller. In recent years, the subgenre's offerings have gradually started to do a better job of catering to keyboard + mouse purists, reaching the point where most projects are more than playable in this state. The same extends to Lords of the Fallen, which does not treat the traditional PC control scheme as an afterthought. Players can rebind their keys as they like, allowing them to craft an experience that suits their fancy. And, they will likely need to do some tweaking since the default setup can be overwhelming.

In comparison, Lords of the Fallen's controller setup should be ready to go right out of the gate. Everything makes sense and feels perfectly optimized for the combat system, ensuring players do not have to waste too much time trying to find something that works for them.

Most racing games generally play better with a controller than a keyboard or mouse. For racing sims, a quality wheel is the way to go, but the same doesn't always hold true for arcade racers. When driving the fastest cars in Forza Horizon 5, players might find themselves most comfortable with a controller as the vehicles tend to be easier to direct.

Here are a variety of options for the best co-op games that can be experienced in an open world setting.

Forza Horizon 5 is a relaxing game with quite a bit of downtime as players will spend a significant amount of time driving through Mexico while admiring the vistas. A controller fits the tone and pacing of the game well since it allows users to sit back and chill more readily.

A stand-in for basically every Musou project, Fate/Samurai Remnant is clearly designed with controllers in mind. Now, to be clear, the game is perfectly playable using a keyboard + mouse setup, and players can remap key bindings as needed. Therefore, die-hard Fate fans who are interested in trying this very good entry in the franchise should be fine even if they don't own a gamepad; however, that does not mean both control schemes are equal. Switching stances or picking arts/special attacks are more intuitive on a controller, which is usually the case for these types of releases.

Fate/Samurai Remnant is arguably the most ambitious game in the license so far. Featuring a surprisingly large (albeit segmented) open-world, the title casts players as Miyamoto Iori, a ronin who suddenly finds himself in a Holy Grail War. Alongside his servant, Saber, he must defeat six other masters, which involves building connections with other competitors and rogue warriors.

Black Myth: Wukong's Steam page contains a message from the developer recommending the use of a controller, and it is difficult to argue against this point of view. The 2024 RPG implements ideas from Soulslikes and character action games, two genres that are typically associated with gamepads; that said, Black Myth: Wukong is mostly fine with a keyboard and mouse. That's not to say they are equal or superior to a controller, but they are usable and (naturally) provide more wiggle room for customization. Therefore, people who tend to prefer K+M should try that control scheme rather than automatically default to a controller.

Still, Black Myth: Wukong was very obviously created with a gamepad in mind, and the combat feels particularly at home when bound to that peripheral. The game nearly follows a boss rush format, guiding players from one epic fight to the next; consequently, the campaign maintains a fairly high level of difficulty that presents little room for error. As such, the controller should minimize the learning curve.

The best way to play a beat 'em up that is a clear throwback to the '90s arcade scene is to get a fight stick, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge is no exception. However, it is not worth buying a new peripheral for just one game, so most players will likely make do with either a controller or keyboard. The latter's bindings can be remapped, but there is a reason keyboards are not typically associated with beat 'em ups – they don't quite feel right.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have starred in many games, and some are much better than others.

Shredder's Revenge is at home on a controller, especially if the game's local co-op feature is utilized. The game really comes alive when more than one player is participating, and this process will almost certainly require a few people to pick up gamepads.

FuturLab's Velocity Ultra is an innovative shoot 'em up puzzle game that emphasizes movement over gunplay, although the latter works fine as well. Players control a ship that can teleport with the click of a button, and this mechanic serves as the gameplay's core. Essentially, levels feature plenty of dead ends that can only be overcome by shifting through a wall, and FuturLab finds plenty of fun and challenging ways to incorporate and expand this concept. And, speed is a big part of the experience.

While supporting a keyboard and mouse, Velocity Ultra is not a natural fit for the peripherals, and players will likely need to tweak the key bindings to find one that suits them. Alternatively, they can just pick up a controller and cut out all the guesswork. The combat also requires players to fire bombs in all directions, which is easier to accomplish with thumbsticks.

Velocity 2X is even better than its predecessor, but the game is hard to come by on PC.

Yakuza 0 doesn't hide the fact that it is meant to be experienced with a controller as one of the first things the game does is throw out a disclaimer suggesting as much. A keyboard and mouse set-up should work fine for exploration and most of the mini-games, but controllers are better suited to the beat-'em-up combat.

Yakuza 0 is a delightfully quirky open-world game with a gripping storyline that serves as a strong introduction to this long-running series. So, pick up a controller and step into Kiryu and Majima's shoes.

Psychonauts 2 can be seen as a stand-in for platformers in general, particularly 3D ones. For the most part, these games benefit from the more precise movement provided by an analog stick, while they are usually designed to utilize a controller's buttons as intuitively as possible.

Those looking to jump into the platforming world of Psychonauts 2 as Raz will need these simple beginner tips to help them on their journey.

Psychonauts 2 goes one step further by including a combat system that requires quick reflexes and the incorporation of a Psi-Powers wheel, both things that feel better through a controller.

Castle Crashers debuted in 2008 on the Xbox 360, and it did not come to PC until more than four years later. Unsurprisingly, the game's console origins can be seen in its controls as they are more intuitive with a controller. That's not to say that a keyboard and mouse cannot get the job done, but it will take some getting used to; meanwhile, Castle Crashers just feels right on a gamepad.

Castle Crashers casts players as knights who are tasked with saving four princesses. While enjoyable solo, the side-scroller also supports co-op; in fact, it is arguably the ideal way to experience the title. Although playing out like a hack and slash beat 'em up, Castle Crashers is also a light RPG that allows players to level up their characters, unlocking new attacks along the way.

As somebody who grew up with the PS1 and Crash Bandicoot, the thought of playing a game in the series with anything but a controller sounds wrong. That said, that is simply nostalgia and not an indictment of the franchise's modern attempts to integrate keyboard and mouse controls. Honestly, the N. Sane Trilogy works quite well on a keyboard, especially since the original games were designed with a d-pad in mind. They might take some adjusting, but they are not too bad. The sequels are also quite easy as long as the player is not a completionist.

Crash Bandicoot 4 is a slightly different case. Firstly, the long-awaited successor was designed from the ground up to fit modern sensibilities, which means a more natural implementation of analog controls. That said, the d-pad can still be useful on occasion, especially since It's About Time might just be the hardest entry in the franchise. Even putting aside all the relics and trophy runs, the base content ramps up the difficulty a lot by the end of the campaign.

Released on PC in December 2021, Final Fantasy 7 Remake is a polarizing port. Putting aside its other issues, the JRPG works well enough with a keyboard and mouse, in the sense that there isn't input delay and the characters feel responsive. However, reaching this level requires remapping the keyboard and mouse layout since the default settings are quite unusual. Permitting someone is willing to take a few minutes to remap the buttons, FF7 Remake is entirely manageable without a controller.

That said, it is still slightly better with a controller. The action RPG was designed for the PS4, and it shows. The combat is tailor-made for a controller's button layout, and it just feels "right." Most JRPGs that are ported to PC are usually better with a controller.

When someone boots up Sheepy: A Short Adventure, they will be greeted with a message stating that the game is meant to be played with a controller. Platformers are, obviously, not impossible to play with a keyboard and mouse, and the same can be said for this title; however, if achievable, projects should be experienced as intended by their creators.

More importantly, Sheepy: A Short Adventure is fantastic, and it comes with a level of polish and charm that is impressive for a free-to-play project. While only lasting roughly an hour, the game accomplishes a lot in this period, delivering a surprisingly effective story (and lore) along with gameplay that evolves quite a bit throughout the journey. The visuals are stunning, and they help bring to life a strange and fascinating world that has seen better days.

At launch on Steam, Sheepy: A Short Adventure had an issue where the gamepad would not work for some users. The developer has acknowledged the issue and released patches to address it.

Kingdom Hearts has been on PC for quite a long time, but the franchise got a significant boost in exposure by debuting the HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX compilation package and Kingdom Hearts 3 on Steam in June 2024. That ecosystem's players now have access to essentially the full story, and completing Kingdom Hearts requires investing hundreds upon hundreds of hours. As the games support a keyboard and mouse, the controls can be learned if someone is willing to put in the time and effort; after a while, they will feel second nature, even if each entry introduces a few mechanics that shake up the scheme that needs to be memorized. Except for the first game, most of the entries' main campaigns are fairly forgiving, with usually only a few genuinely challenging boss fights. Kingdom Hearts 2 and 3 are particularly easy.

Still, all the games are tailor-made for gamepads, demonstrating the IP's PlayStation 2 origins. While not particularly difficult, Kingdom Hearts loves to stack mechanics on top of each other, particularly in sequels like Birth by Sleep. These systems are well-tuned for controllers, making it simple to manage everything and utilize all the available options. They are just a bit more cumbersome on a keyboard and mouse.

PC players got the short end of the stick when it came to EA's Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. While not unplayable, the Soulslike title launched with performance and optimization issues that soured what was otherwise a strong core experience. Also, Survivor dropped the ball in terms of keyboard and mouse support by not including the option to rebind the WASD arrow keys, something that was possible in its predecessor, Fallen Order. The omission of this feature was a strange backward step, especially since the game otherwise had decent accessibility options.

Cal Kestis sets out on another epic journey across the galaxy in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor --use this hub page to check out all of our guides.

Jedi: Survivor encourages the use of a controller, and most PC people will likely have to turn to that option or utilize mods. These types of games tend to be intended for gamepads, but a keyboard and mouse setup should still be a valid alternative that does not come across as an afterthought.

Deck13 has spent the last decade specializing in action RPGs with Soulslike combat. Unsurprisingly, both The Surge games are better fits for controllers, and the same could be said for 2014's Lords of the Fallen, although that release is difficult to recommend in any form. Although not a massive departure from the developer's previous projects, 2023's Atlas Fallen still covers new territory, offering a combat system that is closer to the hack and slash genre than Dark Souls. However, the game retains some elements from Deck13's previous releases, including an emphasis on reading the enemy's moveset and loadout variety in the form of a momentum system that allows players to unlock new abilities and skills as a reward for performing well in battle.

Atlas Fallen is a mixed bag. The story has potential but is let down by a bland presentation. While quite beautiful at times, the semi-open-world gets repetitive since most of the areas are deserts. The enemies are generally fun to fight, but they are recycled a bit too often during the second half of the campaign. The combat is fast-paced and satisfying, and the momentum system adds a lot of replay value; however, the camera can get in the way during battles. Atlas Fallen has plenty of good ideas that do not fully come together, creating a whole that is decent rather than great. Still, this title could hit the spot with anyone looking for a hack and slash AA game, although PC players should ideally have a controller available.

Hollow Knight is a masterpiece that should be played in any form. If someone is hesitant to try the game because they don't have access to a controller, they should consider taking the plunge anyway since it is perfectly playable with a keyboard and mouse. It is just not ideal, as tends to be the case with most 2D Metroidvanias that prioritize platforming and reflex-based combat.

Hollow Knight is fairly difficult at its easiest, and the lengthy campaign is packed with aggressive bosses who punish even the slightest of mistakes. A controller can make these sections slightly more manageable, and these moments add up over the long, long campaign.

Tango Gameworks' Hi-Fi Rush came out of literal nowhere, and the third-person action game instantly cemented itself as one of 2023's nicest surprises. Blending hack and slash combat with a sense of rhythm, Hi-Fi Rush's brilliance lies in its clever implementation of music. If players are rewarded for moving along with the beat in the form of more attack damage or even an additional combo. Even enemies strike to match the soundtrack, so someone could genuinely master the combat by growing familiar with the music. It is a great system that complements the game's story, visual style, and sense of humor.

The best special abilities in Hi-Fi Rush are the ones that are easy to use, and dish out massive damage.

Now, third-person melee action games tend to be great fits for controllers, even if quite a few of them are perfectly fine with a keyboard and mouse. Although certainly playable using the latter, Hi-Fi Rush receives some unique benefits from the former. As such, a controller is the way to go if someone plans to play Tango's delightful title.

Frankly, every Team Ninja game is better with a controller. Ninja Gaiden? PC versions launched with no keyboard and mouse support. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty? Playable with keyboard and mouse, but not superior. Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin? A better attempt to implement non-gamepad support, even if the combat feels more natural on a controller. Finally, there are the Nioh games. Now, these two are a bit of a unique case since the first entry has, by far, weaker K+M support than its sequel. It is not particularly well-implemented and comes across as an afterthought. Like with most games, if the heart is willing, most players will be able to teach themselves the controls; however, it will be a more laborious project than it should be.

In comparison, Nioh 2 is at a better place nowadays when it comes to catering K+M users, even if it took a few updates for the game to get there. Still, this Souls-like throws a lot of mechanics at players. Besides the standard attacks and dodges, they have to learn to master Guardian Spirits, Soul Core attacks, Onmyo Magic, Ninjutsu Skills, and Burst Counters, all of which can have tight timings that allow enemies to seriously punish any delays. That is before going into the many weapon types that play fairly differently from each other, and players are encouraged to swap between two equipped items on the fly. Unsurprisingly, Nioh 2 is very difficult, with the combat being more aggressive than most other entries in the genre. Just to be clear, these things combine to create a fantastic and deep experience; however, it can be overwhelming.

While mostly better with a controller, Nioh 2's guns and bows are far more enjoyable with a mouse. As ranged enemies are also aggressive, the extra second it takes players to aim a headshot with a gamepad will frequently result in a hit.

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