15 PC games you should play with a controller

(Prototype credit: Futurity)

Keyboard and mouse might exist the old standards of the PC platform, only they're past no means the just way to game on a estimator. Native support for Xbox controllers and a wide range of other dual-analog controllers are now commonplace, and sometimes recommended, for PC games. Whether you're swell out that fancy Xbox Ane Elite, or picking from our list of recommended controllers, these are 15 large PC titles y'all should be playing with a gamepad.

Cuphead

Don't permit its cute cartoon visuals fool you — Cuphead is a punishing bullet-hell platformer in which the slightest mistimed move volition go you killed. As such, y'all're going to need the precision of a traditional controller, particularly one with a very expert d-pad. Playing Cuphead with a controller will give you much finer control over your move, and volition make it far easier to jump, shoot and launch special attacks all at once.

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Batman: Arkham Knight

Batman: Arkham Knight is one of those third-person action games that just never quite seem to translate well to a keyboard-and-mouse setup. It's here that a gamepad will offer better camera and character control. Total analog motility should prove useful for the game's various stealth sections as well every bit the versatile Batmobile that's capable of switching into "gainsay mode" with a total 360-degree-turning radius.

Rivals of Aether

Rivals of Aether is a fighting game that models itself very closely on the unique gameplay constitute in the Super Nail Bros. games with a big focus on competitive play. Every bit such, a controller with ii analog sticks will be key for anyone looking to swoop deep into the showtime worthy alternative to Nintendo's venerable fighting serial. And if you're super-serious about it, y'all might want to use these drivers that let you apply a GameCube controller on the Steam version of the game.

Dark Souls III

The entire Night Souls activeness-RPG series is all-time played with a controller, and Nighttime Souls Iii is no exception. If yous've managed to make information technology through Dark Souls and Dark Souls II on a PC without a controller, we're very impressed, but you could exist making it so much easier on yourself! You'll discover many instances where controlling the speed of your walk with the analog stick to exist invaluable for sneaking up on enemies or being able to get through menus in a flash in the middle of gainsay.

Okami HD

Okami HD is a remastered version of one of the PlayStation 2's nearly dearest activity/adventure games, so naturally, it's made to exist played with a controller. This gorgeously cel-shaded experience is essentially Capcom's reply to The Legend of Zelda, and guiding the wolf-goddess Amaterasu through the game'south mix of combat, platforming and puzzle solving will feel best on a traditional gamepad.

final fantasy xiv — (Image credit: Square Enix)

Final Fantasy 14

Square Enix's massively multiplayer online RPG is constantly evolving with new content, and whether you lot're just jumping in or are starting a new character class, information technology'south worth your time to explore this game with a controller. MMOs might not seem like a skillful fit for controllers, but Final Fantasy 14 was built with them in listen. They've made it incredibly like shooting fish in a barrel to use and bandy betwixt the large list of gainsay skills so you can blast that rotation and pump out big harm.

Nier: Automata

Nier: Automata is a game fabricated with consoles in mind, which means it was fabricated for a controller. A lot of the functions that are relatively effortless on a controller can be awkward to pull off with a keyboard and mouse. Dodging requires a double primal press of Due west, A, Due south, or D and camera sensitivity is simply not calibrated for utilise with a mouse. The game also launches into pinnacle-down shooter segments occasionally, where the lack of analog movement can be sorely missed.

Rocket League

Analog control is a serious must for any driving game. The smash hit Rocket League is an online competitive mashup of racing and soccer (or "football game," if you prefer), and then yous'll want whatever edge yous tin can get. Having full control over your steering radius can be a big aid, and and then is more than stable control over the photographic camera in a game where you need to keep splitting your focus between the ball and the other players looking to run yous over.

Nioh

Nioh is a brutally difficult activity-RPG in the vein of Dark Souls, significant that you'll need a controller if you want any take chances of surviving the supernatural demons information technology throws your way. This hellish Samurai romp frequently requires you to slash, contrivance and modify stances within a matter of seconds, and while mouse and keyboard back up was recently patched in, you'll have a much easier time managing all that chaos on a gamepad.

Hollow Knight

Hollow Knight takes after the illustrious "Metroidvania" genre of games that made their mark on consoles like the SNES and PS1. And then if you desire to get those classic Castlevania-like experiences and have already had your fill of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Nighttime, yous tin can come up pretty shut by playing Hollow Knight with a controller. The game doesn't make use of the mouse in whatever manner, so the gamepad is the way to go here.

Bayonetta

Bayonetta is a fairly bones PC port of the original 2010 PS3/Xbox 360 release. Keyboard and mouse back up should be playable with some tinkering with mouse sensitivities, but it should also be clear that this game was designed for a controller. Bayonetta'south pedigree rests with games like Devil May Cry and other stylish action games that accept reward of a gamepad's strong suits, and the developers even note that information technology's "best experienced with a controller" on the Steam store page.

street fighter v — (Image credit: Capcom)

Street Fighter 5

Street Fighter has been the standard bearer of the fighting game genre, and information technology didn't go at that place past being a simple game. Characters have moves that require unique button combos that tin can exist easier to pull off with a diamond-face button layout and a traditional directional-pad (or, if you're more than serious, a defended fight stick). In particular, it would be tricky to input a quarter circle or full 360 rotation using just a keyboard, compared to using a gamepad. If you desire to get competitive in the game's online modes, yous won't want to be stuck with that handicap.

Shovel Knight

Shovel Knight is a dear alphabetic character to old NES and SNES platformers similar Mega Man, Duck Tales and Super Mario Bros. At that place's no ameliorate style to play a throwback like this than with a controller that sports a good directional-pad, just like the games it takes inspiration from. The addition of a local co-op adds to the need to have a way of comfortably supporting two players without needing to exercise something silly like sharing the aforementioned keyboard.

Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons

Brothers - A Tale of 2 Sons is a game that uses a gamepad's two analog sticks to control the titular brothers independently around the world — one stick controls the older brother and the other stick controls the younger blood brother. It'south a fun idea for a puzzle/chance game and one that would be difficult to emulate on a keyboard and mouse. In fact, according to the Steam store page, a controller is required for play.

Andrew Melcon is a freelance writer who specializes in covering games and gaming hardware. He's tackled everything from PC game controllers to Pokémon and PUBG and his piece of work has appeared on sites including Tom's Guide, Tom'southward Hardware, Laptop Mag, and more.