Awesome Controllers

The NES Classic Edition’s controllers have inexplicably short cables. That’s why 8Bitdo came up with the Retro Receiver, a Bluetooth adapter and wireless NES-style controller for the tiny console. The adapter also works with the Wii Mote, Wii U Pro, PS3 & PS4 controllers.

Create music on the go with this wireless controller which works in conjunction with MIDI music sequencing software on Macs or iOS devices. It has 8 pads, 15 buttons, a touch fader, and a 3D motion sensor, and is the same width and height as an iPhone 6 Plus or 7 Plus.

Mad Catz’ modular new entry-level mouse has three parts: the chassis, the palm rest and the sensor module, i.e. the actual mouse. You can take just the sensor module with you if you want a compact mouse, and soon you’ll be able to 3D print custom palm rests.

A pressure-sensitive multi-touchpad. Using a variety of overlays you can turn Morph into a keyboard, a graphics tablet, a music controller and more. When it launches you’ll be able to design ready-to-print custom overlays.

The Xbox One Wireless Elite Controller is all about customization. It has two d-pads, three pairs of thumbsticks of different lengths and four removable rear paddles. You’ll be able to remap all buttons and save up to two profiles.

A keychain-sized gadget packed with features. The iMpulse controller works with iOS and Android devices. It can be used as a gamepad, a media controller and a locator for your keys. Available in plastic and brushed metal cases.

Logitech’s PowerShell controller has a d-pad, four face buttons and two shoulder buttons. It can also charge your device with its 1500mAh battery. It works with the iPhone 5/5S and 5th gen. iPod Touch. List of compatible games here.

No joysticks. No D-pads. The Valve Steam Controller instead has 2 trackpads augmented by a super-precise haptic feedback system. It also has a touch screen, 16 buttons and, in usual Steam fashion, will be open to hacking.

Put simply, the Cross Plane is a supercharged version of the NVIDIA Shield. It can control and stream games from a PC (regardless of the GPU), Xbox 360, PS3 and Ouya over local Wi-Fi, with Xbox One and PS4 support in the works.

An in-depth look at how the new controller keeps the best of the Xbox 360’s along with numerous refinements, such as improved grip, rumble triggers, internal batteries, Kinect integration, and the ability to go wired for precision FPSing.

The 2012 Red Bull Creation Contest entry from the team that runs Instructables.com is a scandalous pair of pants that make the lights go down and the tunes turn up before helping ignite the flames of passion as they are undone.

It has 6 extra buttons, 2 at the shoulders and 2 switches at the back. Map commands from the face buttons to the extra ones and you never have to take your hands off the analog sticks.

Kitschy name aside, the PhoneJoy Play is a very promising gamepad. It uses Bluetooth, has a variety of control modes and expandable form making it compatible with iOS, Android and PCs.

It’s slimmer, lighter and greener than the stock Xbox 360 controller because of its built-in rechargeable battery. You can also just order the kit and install it on an existing controller.

This awesome looking gun controller for FPSes has motion control and even a kickback effect. Designed by David Kotkin, the man who made the Avenger. Skip to 3:17 in the video for the good part.

Designed to make Angry Birds much more playable on computers, this force-feedback USB controller is the perfect slingshot launcher for birds, and the miniature TNT “button” is priceless.

Maker of custom controllers for the Xbox 360 and PS3. Their range of customizations include both the practical and aesthetic, from modified thumb sticks and buttons to all kinds of paint jobs.

It’s not exactly Real Steel but Tomy’s BattroBorg 2.0 is definitely a step up from Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em. It lets you face a friend (or enemy) with a robot that responds to your ninchaku-style controller.

This clever kit lets you turn everyday objects or drawings into working buttons or keyboards for controlling games and other software. As shown in the video, you can even play with your banana.

Diesel Lace Design sells Xbox 360 controllers with the default ABXY buttons replaced with spent 9mm casings. You can also send in your own controller to be modded, or order just the buttons.

A Bluetooth gaming controller that works with Android, iOS or WinMo to return tactile control to touchscreen devices. No word yet on game compatibility, but it will look good playing them.

While iPads are all the rage with electronic musicians, the Kontrol Surface 1974 is a real pro tool, with a 22-inch multitouch glass screen and software for controlling Windows or Mac MIDI apps.

While it might look like an ordinary controller, the MLG Pro Circuit lets you swap thumbstick and D-Pads, so whether you like PS3 or Xbox 360 layouts, you can play both ways on either console.