Gaming

I really liked the wavebird for the gamecube, unfortunately mine went into the aether on my last move, got bluetooth adapters to pair modern controllers with it but the wavebird was really cool at the time, was really amazing to not have to be tethered to the console and it being first party, though at the time the madcatz stuff was decent.

For recent controllers, I've been using a knockoff 360 controller for moonlight recently and after a lot of back and forth I really think MS nailed the controller setup back then (OG Xbox being decent but not a preference, I hated the duke, s controller was solid though), I like the xbone controllers as well, but IMO they're just iterations on the 360 controller, easily my preference as an all rounder controller layout.

I have a steam controller, used it for a while but it's been some time now, had some really great ideas, I'd totally go for an updated steamdeck style layout on that, probably a second for me.

I've had so much drift issues with ds4s that I personally don't reach for a ds4 or dualsense for non playstation games, I like being able to swap batteries and the Xbox/Steam controllers all seem to have way better battery life in general, I keep a stock of rechargeables around so not generating piles of waste.

DualSense is the best right now IMO due to the features. If you don't believe me, actually play Astro's Playroom.

But I love the Steam Deck's layout (so I guess I'd probably like the Steam Controller as well). A lot of that has to do with Steam Input being fucking awesome, but it's also possible to get relatively good at using the touchpads as mouse, and the "touch right stick to enable gyro" is an awesome feature that has made FPS games playable on console for me.

PC game for decades with a recent (5 years?) Switch purchase. I was never a fan of controllers and still aren't for anything to do with aiming, but the Switch Pro Controller impressed me as a real nice piece of hardware. Battery life is phenomenal too.

Keyboard and mouse... but the Steam Controller is cool too.

Other than that, any PS clone. The long thin horns fit my hands better than others.

PS2

• best d-pad ever made
• comfortable to my big hands without being uncomfortable to friends’ regular-sized hands
• pressure sensitivity all over the place, even if that did get underutilized
• versatile design that’s equally comfortable to use for 2D and 3D games and doesn’t specifically favor a small number of genres
• smooth, strong, and yet quiet rumble
• good heft
• uses a cord so no fucking around with batteries
• sensibly named and located Start and Select buttons (Everyone‘s been dropping the ball on that front, lately. Sony most of all.)

I always thought the GameCube controller was ridiculously comfortable and ergonomic, so that's my choice. The C stick might not be for everyone though.

Any Dreamcast fans here? Those controllers had similar ergonomics in the hand, although the lack of a second analog stick was a pretty big drawback in hindsight.

I quite like a good ps4 controller

I'm a big fan of the 8bitdo Ultimate C, but my favourite may well be the GameCube controller

• 8bitdo SN30 Pro
• GameCube controller
• Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
• Super Famicom controller (mainly the face button colors and layout)

Steam controller obviously (for everything other than retro gaming which often requires a dpad).

Not practical with anything else, but the Gamcube controller was so comfy. Def part of the 8bitdo ultimate gang now.

The 8Bitdo Pro+ has been great - works really well with my Steam Deck and Switch. Sounds like the Pro 2 is the superior version with hall effect sticks.

The Switch Pro controller has always been good too. And the DualSense is really neat with the haptics and adaptive triggers - expensive, but not that much more than a Pro controller surprisingly.