Top Ten Video Game Controllers

From the very first home video game console until today, nothing has defined a system more than its controller. The original Atari 2600 was well-known for its joy-stick controller, and Nintendo has made a name for itself as a controller innovator. Today, we’re taking a look at the ten best video game controllers of all time and what they did for the industry. After all, you’ve got to have a bridge between yourself and the game world that works well!

Top Ten Video Game Controllers

10. NES

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The original NES controller is truly a thing of beauty. The first of its kind, the NES controller defined what a home console controller could look like. The cross-shaped D-Pad was much more comfortable and easier-to-use than the joy sticks that had been common before it. The buttons are clicky, the design is solid, and the build is sturdy. All-in-all, this controller serves as a blueprint for every innovation that comes after it.

9. SNES

Photo Credit: SNES Controller

A huge leap from the NES Controller, the SNES controller featured a rounded dog-bone shape and shoulder buttons. It also included two more face buttons, X and Y, solidifying the cross-shaped face button alignment. This excellent controller paved the way for ever more to follow.

8. Original PlayStation

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Largely a take-off on the Super Nintendo controller, the original PlayStation controller adds two more shoulder buttons and ergonomic grips. That ergonomic design is largely to thank for the design of nearly every controller that followed! It wouldn’t be until the DualShock released that Sony really defined modern controllers, though!

7. N64

Photo Credit: Stone Age Gamer

The N64 controller’s trident-like shape is truly awful at a glance, and this controller hasn’t held up at all over time. However, it was highly influential at the time. Namely, this controller is remembered for its analog stick. The analog stick was critical for games like Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time to function properly. Navigating a 3D space in a video game wouldn’t have been nearly as fun without the analog stick!

6. Wiimote

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Speaking of innovative Nintendo controllers, let’s not forget the Wiimote. The Wii was one of the highest-selling consoles of all time, due in large part to its controller. Utilizing motion-controls and a unique remote-style build, the controller appealed to non-gamers. It could be augmented with add-ons like the Nunchuck and Pro Controller for more intense games. Mainly, though, it’s for waggling at your TV.

5. Mouse and Keyboard

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This one might seem like a cop-out but bear with us. Some of the greatest video games of all time have been made for PC first and foremost. After all, games have to be made on computers, too! Try playing a MOBA or real-time strategy game on a controller, for instance! In fact, many will argue that first-person shooters are immensely easier to control with mouse and keyboard. There are plenty of people who would use this tried-and-true setup over any gamepad.

4. Xbox 360

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Long considered a golden standard in game controllers, the Xbox 360 controller was a big deal. While other game systems had experimented with wireless controllers, the 360 came out of the box with one. The 360 controller is largely a synthesis of what worked in the DualShock 2 and Xbox controllers. Then, add a dash of wireless control and responsive, analog triggers and you’ve got a fantastic controller. Pretty much every system released after 2005 has had a controller like this available.

3. DualShock

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After the success of the PlayStation and introduction of 3D games to the system, it was time for a new controller. Sony introduced the DualShock as a follow-up to their original gamepad, and it was a hit. The dual-stick setup and rumble function were both revolutionary. In the modern world, it’s impossible to think of controllers without the influence of this excellent gamepad. After all, Sony’s still using pretty much the same controller two decades later for the PS4.

2. Joy Cons

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The Nintendo Switch has a pretty incredible suit of technology at its disposable. Chief among the system’s innovations are the Joy Cons. These controllers allow for a modular, shifting style of play that makes the system tick. Whether hooked into the sides for handheld play or detached, these motion-sensitive controllers blow us away. You can even use one on its side if you want to share them with a friend for 2-player! If you’re a fan of more traditional controllers, you can even snap them into the Joy Con Grip.

The Best Controller: GameCube

Photo Credit: Video Game Wizards

The GameCube controller is the longest-running controller in history. Originally debuting in 2001, the controller is a class-act in ergonomics. The C-Stick is a little small and awkward, and the D-Pad is adorably tiny, to be fair. However, the analog triggers and satisfying buttons have stood the test of time. After all, Nintendo is still producing these controllers, and you can even use them on the Nintendo Switch. That’s some serious staying power!