Awesome Joysticks

Turtle Beach engineered the Stealth Pivot game controller with rotating button clusters that flip between layouts. One side is ideal for retro games and fighters, and the other is great for FPSes and modern games with its dual analog sticks. It’s compatible with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PCs and offers wireless and wired connectivity.

There are many multi-platform game controllers, but what makes the GameSir Tarantula Pro different is that its button layout can be swapped on the fly. A motorized wheel rotates the positions of its ABXY buttons. It has high-precision analog sticks, a D-pad, nine programmable buttons, a 6-axis gyro sensor, rumble motors, and separate racing + FPS trigger modes.

A follow-up to the Xbox Adaptive Controller, the Xbox Adaptive Joystick is essentially half of a modern gamepad. Its thumbstick’s topper is meant to be easily replaceable to better fit users with limited mobility, with Xbox promising 3D printable toppers. It’s also compatible with Windows 10/11, Android, and iOS. Available early 2025.

My joystick has a first name, it’s O-S-C-A-R; my joystick has a second name, it’s M-A-Y-E-R. Hyperkin teamed up with an unlikely partner to create the wackiest game controller of the year. The hot dog-shaped Bluetooth controller works with Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Android, and iOS and is decorated in shades of bun gold, mustard yellow, and hot dog red.

One of the more entertaining engineering projects we’ve seen is that useless robot that un-flips its switches as soon as they’re flipped. Maker B created a similarly useless machine by fabricating a robotic joystick that records and plays back its user’s movements. The build process is impressive, but if you’re short on time, skip to 16:08 to see it in action.

The first officially-licensed Xbox wireless arcade controller looks like a winner. It has ten arcade-quality buttons and a joystick and is fully programmable. Plus 8BitDo supports modding by using standard button sizes and a Sanwa mounting plate. Compatible with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows 10/11. Pre-orders start shipping on 6.30.2023.

LEDclaw makes all kinds of geeky lights, including this wall light inspired by an Xbox game controller. The 20″ W x 14.5″ H light is made from wood and cast acrylic and is backlit with colorful LEDs. They also make some cool lights based on floppy disks and cassette tapes.

The Backbone adds console-quality thumbsticks, buttons, triggers, and a D-pad to your iPhone. The controller cradles your phone and connects via the Lightning port for lag-free input, and it’s perfect for game streaming services. For a limited time, new members can grab a free 3 mo. subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Italy’s Enth Creations builds these unique handmade game controllers from Iroko wood, a dense African timber. They feature authentic Sanwa arcade joysticks and buttons set into custom-cut plexiglass and 3D-printed PLA bezels. They also make all-button hitboxes for fighting games.

Joystick-based controllers are great for casual gamers, but hardcore players prefer a mouse and keyboard for precise control. Tech Yesterday shows off a custom-made gamepad with a thumb-driven optical sensor to bring mouse-like precision to a handheld controller thanks to a miniature optical circuit. (Thanks, Lambert!)

Powered by an internal Raspberry Pi 3B+, this 2-player gaming system comes with arcade joysticks, buttons, and a trackball, as well as over 100 licensed games from Atari. It includes arcade classics like Asteroids, Centipede, and Missile Command, along with games from the Atari 2600, 5200, and 7800 home consoles.

Like the Phantom Black controller, Microsoft’s latest controller features a semi-translucent shell, which allows you to see the components inside. It has a textured grip, remappable buttons, and wireless connectivity. Compatible with all Xbox One consoles and Windows 10.

Joysticks are one of the most popular and useful computer input devices. But they don’t work without something to hold their base in place. Yuichiro Katsumoto’s innovative joystick design uses servos to provide the same kinetic feedback but in mid-air.

Play today’s latest games in retro style with these awesome Nintendo-inspired game controllers. They work via Bluetooth with Windows, Mac or PS3, and the included Retro Receiver lets you play the original Nintendo and Super Nintendo consoles wirelessly.

Turn any PC or Mac into a retro arcade system with Rec Room Masters‘ Xtension control board. It packs arcade-grade buttons and joysticks for 2 players, a trackball, and 10 LED menu buttons. Preconfigured for MAME. Also available in classic game color schemes.

For those of you who don’t have that awesome poster from Pop Chart Labs, here’s another way to recall some of the greatest – and oddest – video game controllers which have kept us playing our video games since their earliest days, courtesy of Super Deluxe.