I currently use keyboard and mouse or a Dualshock 4 controller for most games, but i’m tired of so many games being really terrible with my controller. For example, Cemu swaps the two triggers with the two axes of the right stick. So i’m considering just buying a new controller that will hopefully be easier to make work.
I was thinking about getting an Xbox controller, but i’ve never been an Xbox guy so i have no idea what controller is good for gaming on Linux. I assume most of them are good for Windows, but i don’t use that. While looking up some differences between 360 and One, Reddit reminded me that other controllers than PlayStation/Xbox/Nintendo exist, like the ones from 8BitDo.
What i’m looking for in a controller is:
- I usually prefer using the Dpad to the sticks, but something that won’t easily develop drift problems is still important to me.
- I like being able to use my controller over a wire instead of just wireless, so bluetooth or a dongle is nice but a wired connection is essential.
- Generic cords are more convenient than ones that are proprietary or just weird (it took me so long to figure out my Wii U pro controller uses mini-USB), though i understand that what’s still common changes with the times and i can’t expect an old controller to use USB-C. Something that’s easy to replace if it breaks is really what i want for the cord.
- And i also have a Wii U, so something that can connect to that as a Wii U pro controller, Wii classic, or GameCube (natively or via Bloopair/Koopair) is nice but not essential.
- I have Steam, AntiMicroX, and Input Remapper and i can use them to fix inputs for some games, but not all games.
So what controllers do you all use? What’s good and will actually work for most games that have controller support at all?
I just bought an 8bitdo Ultimate 2C with hall effect sticks, and it’s been amazing! Highly recommend, and the D-Pad is great
can confirm, great controller for its price. Using it on arch linux with the 2.4 usb dongle and its plug and play
Are you able to check the battery life? I’m also on Arch (Endeavour).
For the others looking for a gamepad, I’m blown away by how good this is. I bought a cheap logitech gamepad because I didn’t want to give Microsoft money even though the logitech one doesn’t even have a vibrating motor. My hands would hurt after using this thing. The 8bitdo feels great, the joysticks are accurate and sensitive, the rumble and wireless is great, the triggers require less force to squeeze. There’s a feature where you can set buttons to repeat when held or constantly repeat on the fly. I’ve already been making good use of this. There’s also 2 extra programmable shoulder buttons. Honestly the only thing I don’t like about it is the light that’s on when charging, but that’s easily fixed.
I’ve only been able to check the battery when connected to my android phone via Bluetooth. I don’t really mind not knowing the exact percentage as the red light that indicates low battery is good enough for me. But otherwise I agree on it being an excellent choice for its price. Not having to worry about drifting is great, puts all of my previous ds4 I’ve had to shame
Just bought one, thanks!
Don’t waste money on an xbox controller. Get a Dual Sense or an 8bitDo
Hard disagree. Xbox uses Xinput.
It literally “just works”
Dual Sense is Dinput which is why it’s a pain in the ass
Although I like using dualsense, it doesn’t work well on all games, so I got the 8bitdo Ultimate, no issues. It has both x-input and d input modes.
The 8bitdo controllers are nice. I would also check out the Flydigi Vader 4 Pro. I use the Vader 3 Pro and like it a lot. Very nice tech for a good price.
Overall I would stick to 3rd Party. The console manufacturers offer outdated tech for high prices. Most people still think of 3rd party controllers as the inferior cheap ones the little sibling had to use as kids.
I can vouch for the Vader 4. One caveat is that you currently need Steam running to get full functionality but that should be fixed relatively soon.
Madcatz ruined the idea of 3rd party controllers for me. MY mind refuses to believe that 3rd party controllers could ever be good enough to use in pinch much less good overall.
8bitdo are about as good as it gets when it comes to modern third party controllers, but my experience has been that it’s always worth spending a little bit more to get the first party controllers.
Yeah, these days they can be expensive as fuck. But the way I see it, I’m going to be using this thing for hundreds, if not thousands, of hours, so it’s worth it.
Kind of like what people say about mattresses…
Yeah considering the total amount of time I’ll spend with a controller in my han it’s fractions a cent per hour, money well spent to not end up with the little sibling controller.
Lucky for Nintendo & Co. Their Brand seems to be enough to outsell better competitors.
Controllers I’ve had (all of which should work on Linux easily, some with minor adjustments needed) in the order I think you should consider them:
- 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless
- PS5 Controller
- Xbox One controller
- PS4 controller
- PS3 controller
- Xbox 360 controller (only connects through dongle)
- Steam Controller (doesn’t have d-pad)
Most controllers should work wired, but I haven’t tested any of them like that because I like my controllers wireless.
- 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless
I have two of these, they work fine with my steam deck and my PC which is running Mint, in all 3 modes, wired, BT, 4G.
The face buttons have a bit of wiggle room horizontally, which does feel a bit cheap unfortunately. It’s just that though, they do work flawlessly.
I got an 8bitdo pro 3 for now after the birds destroyed my old one but I’m really just waiting for steam controller 2. I got used to having the trackpad grids and extra buttons to map every single input, but the deck just isnt powerful enough for some of the games I want more expensive visuals on.
XBox One controller is my current favourite:
Well built
Long lasting
Decent prices secondhand
Always worked first time on every OS I’ve tried it on
USB C as long as you get the newer generation version for wired play
Most comfortable size and layout IMO
I have a series x/s controller. The joystick drifted after 6 months. My second one, for no reason what so ever, the right trigger started to stick when it was pressed in. Months later it seems to have sorted itself out.
Other than that I do like the controllers and they do work well with Linux.
I haven’t ever tried a series X/S controller but I had a couple of 360 controllers that lasted through many many years of abuse then moved on to the ‘one’ controllers and the only issue I have had with those is an older micro USB version that I dropped with the cable plugged in and it smash the port off the board inside.
That issue was my fault so in general I have had very good experiences with them all.
I recommend getting the “wireless” packs. You just drop the controller on the charger and pick it up when you’re done. There are so many.
They even sell them with extra batteries so you can hot swap if you truly use up the 8 hours up.
Had the same issue with the ports with Micro UsB. Shite durability but that goes for basically ALL micro UsB all devices
I did consider it when I broke that port as I used batteries on that controller for a short while but as weird as it sounds I like using it wired.
Micro USB is utter trash for sure but now with USB C I’m happy. I only had that one time when my own clumsiness ruined that one controller.
Appreciate the recommendation though :)
If you have problems with the controller mapping to a specific game, try adding it as a “non-Steam game” to Steam so that you can use Steam Input. You can do a LOT with Steam Input.
Also I just got the GCUltimate from https://handheldlegend.com/ and I think it matches what you are looking for. You might also look at their “ProGCC”.
Basically they are Nintendo-style controllers, work great with the Switch, but also are designed to work great with PC. Charge or connect wired via USBC or connect via Bluetooth. Hall effect joysticks that won’t drift. Can also be used as a GameCube controller if you buy their USBC to GameCube cable (note that this cable only works with their controllers; it won’t convert any USBC controller to GameCube).
Steam Input is incredible, and it’s integration with the Steam Deck, and the availability of community created presets, is such an underrated, overlooked feature.
You can create friggin on screen menus and shit. The amount of stuff you can do with it is truly impressive.
The one you use while playing a game you love.
Yes, pretty much this. I have the 8bitdo’s Pro controllers (the first one and the 2) and I’m pretty happy with them. But that’s me.
I will +1 all the 8bitdo recommendations. They make great, reliable and sturdy hardware.
DS4 was the last good controller to come out IMO.
Just get another one, they will last longer and function better than anything made since.
You can map the controls to whatever buttons you want in the Cemu settings
Cemu isn’t the only game that breaks with this controller, and if i could just set right stick right to C stick right, i wouldn’t have ever noticed this issue for Cemu. I’ll bear this in mind though if every Linux build of every game i’m interested in playing announces support for DS4 though.
Is xbox360 emulator a thing on linux? Last time I used it only a windows machine it was pretty much a “just works”, and i was using some random ass Chinese controller.
Xinput is native to the vast vast majority of games. That’s why they all “just work”
It is Dinput that causes issues. Though Steam has done a lot to massage that paint point.
Dinput these days is basically just Dual Sense.
Back in the day you had to place an Xinput mapper inside every single game install directory, and use black magic to get it to work.
I’ve been using a GameSir Cyclone 2 for about a year. Have the occasional issue where a game doesn’t detect it properly, but is great when it works.
I have been using a Nintendo ProController since 2017 for all my gaming needs. It’s a solid controller and can be use any USB-C cable to connect to your PC. Solid battery life if you ever need to go wireless. I am monster though and just deal with the buttons being mapped to Xbox layouts so ‘X’ and ‘Y’ are always mapped backwards. I now know that Steam has a feature for mapping buttons now.
With all of that said, I also am looking for a new controller. My palms have been hurting as of late when I use the ProController.I will always recommend this controller but my hands are hurting more during longer play sessions. It never used to feel like this so I think I need to start stretching these old hands prior to playing.
If anyone has any input on comparing 8bitDuo’s Pro 2 or Gulikit’s KingKong 2 Pro Controller to Nintendo’s ProController, I’d like to read your thoughts :)
Are you connecting the pro controller to Linux? Which distro version etc?
Yes I have been connecting my ProController to my Linux machine via USB-C. I’m using the Bazzite image from Universal Blue. Here’s my output from the
fastfetch --format jsoncommand:{ "type": "OS", "result": { "buildID": "Stable (F42.20251002)", "codename": "Kinoite", "id": "bazzite", "idLike": "fedora", "name": "Bazzite", "prettyName": "Bazzite", "variant": "Kinoite", "variantID": "bazzite-nvidia-open", "version": "42.20251002.0 (Kinoite)", "versionID": "42" } },
I have the Xbox elite series 2 controller and nothing to compare it to, but I do like it very much.
The adjustable tension on the Analog stick is a literal game changer.
Idk if I am a mongoloid, or have dumb fingers but I could never hold the stick where it needed to be to walk slowly. It would take me so many lives to do any “walk slowly challenge”. Now it is super easy to hold it anywhere between 0 and 100.
I wish other controllers had that. I need a player 2 controller but I ain’t got Xbox Elite controller money.
I have a Gamesir Tarantula Pro. It’s gimmick is that it has a physical switch that let’s it switch between an Xbox, PS4, or switch controller. Using it in Xbox mode worked out of the box for me on arch. I have no idea if it would be able to connect to a Wii U. And, as with the 8bitdo being suggested, it’s hall effect so it won’t develop stick drift
