The Best Controllers for Retro Gaming

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Whether you’re playing retro games through an emulator on Windows , Mac, or a custom built Raspberry Pi console , you’ll need a controller. We’ve tested some of the most popular options, from simple Xbox controllers to retro replicas and expensive Bluetooth-enabled gamepads, to find out which ones are worth your money.

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Nothing replaces the feel of the original controller on the original game console, but if you’re building your own retro gaming rig, you still need something better than a keyboard to play these old games. After searching the forums, blog posts, and Amazon reviews, I narrowed it down to different types of controllers, from new and modern to old school counterparts. Here’s what I tested:

There are hundreds of other versatile options available, most of which serve as cues for the SNES, NES, or Genesis, but for most of them the reviews are so sparse that I decided to skip them. Most of the complaints about cheaper controllers come down to build quality and button actuation, which I have also found problematic in regular controllers I’ve used over the years. You get what you pay for, and most options under $ 10 aren’t worth your money. I also decided to skip the NES cues as the location of the two buttons limits what you can play.

How we tested

For testing purposes, I played a bunch of different games for several hours using each controller. I spent most of those hours playing 2D games with Ninja Gaiden III and Super Street Fighter II . I chose Ninja Gaiden because it requires fast response times from the buttons and navigation bar, while Super Street Fighter II is one of the rare games that uses all six buttons on a controller and requires dexterity with a joystick. When it comes to 3D gaming, I spend most of my time with Super Mario 64 for Nintendo 64, Crazy Taxi for Dreamcast, and Quake II on PlayStation 1.

On the software side , I’ve tested all controllers with RetroArch on Windows, OpenEmu on Mac, and RetroPie on Raspberry Pi. Every controller I tested worked with every operating system I tested it on, although I had some customization specifics with some Bluetooth controllers.

In the end, after extensive testing, I decided that there was no perfect universal controller, so I divided my selection into two categories: a 2D game-only controller and a 2D game-only controller. and 3D games.

Our pick for 2D gaming: the classic Buffalo USB gamepad

If you just want to play 2D games from console generations like the NES, SNES, Genesis, or Turbografx-16, I’ve found that less is more, and smaller controllers built for retro gaming look much better than modern dual-analog options. …

In all my tests, there was one controller that not only I liked the best, but also recommended from various sources: the Buffalo Classic USB Gamepad . The Buffalo Classic controller has great reviews on Amazon and is recommended by How-To Geek and Shovel Knight from Yacht Club Games . He also frequently tops lists of companies like NeoGAF , Reddit, and Racketboy .

The Buffalo Classic is an exact replica of the original SNES controller, although it uses a Super Famicom-style face button design. The buttons were flexible and continue to work just like when I first opened the box. Feedback is as good as the original SNES controller, which means the d-pad emits a nice “click” with every movement, and the buttons return to their original position as soon as they are pressed. Since it is USB, it is easy to set up. Just plug it in and you’re done.

This is a huge improvement over the Tomee SNES controller we have recommended in the past. The Tomee controller looks poorly made, and after a couple of hours of use, the buttons started to beep and feel soft. The joystick seems to be held on to the controller by the chewing gum and only responds when you press with great force.

Of course, Super Nintendo-inspired designs aren’t the only option. Yet I tested the controller Hyperkin Genesis . It was the only Genesis inspired controller I could find with decent reviews. The six front buttons are comfortable, but the joystick is stiffer than the original Genesis controller. It also lacks the nice movement that sets the Genesis controller apart from the SNES and makes it perfect for games like Street Fighter II . If you only play Genesis games, the Hyperkin controller does the job, but I found the SNES styling to work a little better for general use, especially when you consider howfew Genesis games actually used all six face buttons .

If you want or need to use wireless, then the 8BitDo Bluetooth gamepad lineup is well-built, albeit a luxury option. While the SNES30 Pro was the gamepad I tested the most here, I also got my hands on a couple of other 8BitDo models , including the NES30 ($ 35) and SNES30 ($ 35), all built the same. Despite their appearance, the controllers are not exact replicas of the original Nintendo controllers. The buttons and d-pad are much more clicky than the original, and they all look more like a modern controller. The entire line of 8BitDo controllers is customizable, includes firmware updates, andeven supports key remapping . Overkill for most of us, but if you need a ton of extra options, then 8BitDo’s extensive line of controllers will suit your needs. In my experience, controller quality extends to all variants.

However, both the SNES30 Pro and NES30 are tiny, about the same size as the original NES controller (which isn’t as big as you remember). If you have large hands, they are uncomfortable to hold. Bluetooth also increases the cost a bit, especially with the SNES30 Pro. If you don’t need a wireless connection, this is overkill, but you can make a high-quality and stylish controller out of 8BitDo if you have small hands and don’t mind paying extra.

I also tried the Nintendo 64-inspired Retrolink controller for regular old NES, SNES and Genesis games, and it’s really awful. The controller itself is well made, but the odd button layout on the Nintendo 64 means it’s nearly impossible to use the controller for anything other than Nintendo 64 games. This includes an awkwardly positioned, oddly sized analog stick that comes back into place with a nice but odd rubber band effect just like on the original controller. The same cannot be said for the joystick, which feels soft at best. The slow response time on the d-pad makes it difficult to beat a single level in a game like Ninja Gaiden .

I’ll cover a lot more in the section below, but after a few hours of testing, I found that modern controllers like the Logitech F310, Xbox One, and DualShock are too bulky to be used exclusively for 2D gaming. That doesn’t mean they don’t work, but they are heavy and the additional analog inputs are unnecessary unless you plan on playing anything other than the SNES generation. To do this, you need a Buffalo Classic USB gamepad for $ 20.

Our pick for 2D and 3D gaming: Sony DualShock 4 wireless controller

If you are looking for a versatile controller for both 2D and 3D gaming, the Sony DualShock 4 is the one for you. The directional panel is good for 2D gaming, and the analog sticks are ideal for 3D gaming as well. This is too cumbersome and expensive to be recommended only for 2D-games, but if you want to play in all of the NES to the PlayStation One, DualShock help you.

The DualShock 4 wins over me for various reasons, but the main one is the D-pad. The buttons are responsive, and the soft click of each individual pad feels more like a classic controller than any other variation I’ve tested. The location, size and style of the buttons on the face also feel natural when playing older games. If you already own a DualShock 4, you’ll probably be happy with it for retro gaming. It is also a favorite among the likes of The Wirecutter and PC Gamer . You will need additional software to pair the DualShock 4 with your PC, although it’s not that difficult to use. On the other hand, it pairs with RetroPie on the Raspberry Pi and OpenEmu on the Mac out of the box. If you prefer the cheaper option, the PS3’s DualShock 3 is just as good as the DualShock 4, but unfortunately doesn’t just work out of the box and requires additional tweaks over the DualShock 4 .

The softer joystick of the PS4 controller is in stark contrast to the clickable joystick of the XBox One controller, which felt terrible in most retro games. Where the D-Pad DualShock softens the click like a classic NES controller, the Xbox One feels and sounds more like pressing a key on your keyboard. While d-pad styling is a matter of preference, if you’re looking for the same feel as older controllers, the Xbox One falls short. In addition, the position of the D-pad in the center of the controller is also inconvenient and not suitable for long-term play. It’s the same with the cheaper Xbox 360 controller, although the d-pad on that controller is mostly unusable for most retro gaming because it doesn’t respond.

The aforementioned SNES30 Pro also fits into this section in the same way as the previous one, but is not suitable for 3D gaming. It is too small for most people to use in games that require dual analog sticks because they are tiny and wedged too close together. Likewise, the four buttons at the top of the controller are awful and difficult to use. Even so, if you’re looking for a gamepad primarily for 2D gaming that can handle casual 3D gaming too, then the SNES30 Pro is fine, just don’t expect it to be comfortable for a long time.

If you’re only planning on playing Nintendo 64 games, the RetroLink controller does a great job of playing the weird Nintendo 64 controller, although the single analog stick makes it completely useless for playing on any other console. This controller should not be recommended for anything other than Nintendo 64 games.

If you’re looking for a cheap option, the Logitech F310 (and its wireless counterpart, the F710 ) are big sellers, but even with the $ 20 F310, it’s hard to recommend. The analog sticks feel tight, the face buttons are a little large, and the input signal is too deep. This means it takes a little too much force to press the button, which causes problems with any game that requires accurate timing. The controller itself also has an odd shape, feeling like a hybrid of an Xbox controller and a DualShock. Most reviewers, including Polygon and The Wirecutter , noted that the F310 is strange to hold in your hand , and I tend to agree. The D-pad on the F310 clicks nicely, but that doesn’t affect late game responsiveness.

A game controller is everyone’s own business, and which one suits you best depends a lot on the size of your hands and what you’ve used in the past. If you are happy with what you have right now, there is no reason to change anything, but if not, there is an option that suits your needs.

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