Current Events > My video game controller Tier list

(+) Yeah! (+)

This will include controllers on portable systems

God Tier

SNES Controller: This is perfect for its time AND today. light, round, responsive buttons for years, no sticking, lovely rubber padding. There's a reason Retrolink and Buffalo pretty much emulate everything about the controller.

PS3-4 Controller: The wireless and bluetooth aspects are the main step about the PS2 controller. So much capabilities but still with that just right amount of weight and feel to it. Can you imagine if Sony went through with that silly "boomerang" PS3 controller?

Steam Controller: I've used this with launch and can say after thousands of hours this holds up and then some. Its become a point where I rare if at all use my keyboard in the living room. This controller operates everything on any platform with precision. The only downside is there is no 4-way dpad for speed running retro games, but since I Mostly play old school JRPGs and don't speed run as much anymore, this is not an issue for me.

Tier 2

Xbox One, Dreamcast, Wavebird, Nintendo Pro Controller (various), PS1-2 Controller

Tier 3

NES controller
NES Advantage
PS1 Pre-Dual Shock
Nintendo 3Ds
GameBoy
Sega Genesis

N64 Controller: the only reason its tier 3 was just the innovation at the time. Today I'd put this at Tier 4. No efficiency, the wonkyness of the analog stick over time, the crusti-ness that builds up, and the grooves in the stick aren't pleasant.

Wii Nunchuck
Gameboy
Xbox 360 Controller

Tier 4

Game Gear
Sega Master System
DDR Dance Pad
NES Power Pad
Logitech PC Controller

Garbage Tier

Coleco Vision Controller: The telephone with an analog stick on it that wasn't an analog stick. This thing cramped you up big time.

Atari 2600 Controller

Virtual Boy Controller: 6 AA Batteries weighs this thing down, which hands in the back of the controller!!!! You can use the AC adapter, but the adapter doesn't lock in place. So if you push the controller down too hard on something, the adapter pops out and the VB shuts off. And since very little games had a save feature (Wario Land), you just had to start over.

Coleco Vision Trackball
MadCatz N64 Controller
Xbox Launch Controller

What is your favorite controller?

The xbox elite? The one you use for Smash Bros? :)

lmao, XBOX 360 and N64 on the same tier.
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Hahahahahahahahaha joke topic
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It would be a good list, but the Sony controllers are each a full tier too high. Shapes instead of buttons automatically drops them 2/10 points, because it's such a horrible design choice
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lmao imgagine god tier containing anything other than gamecube, xbox 360, and xbone controllers
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Where's the Saturn?
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Xbox One
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i've never been a particular fan of the PS3/PS4 controller

too small

Used to love the 360 controller but after playing with an Xbone controller for so long, the 360 controller feels a little bulky
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Kerred I have a question about a tabletop card game. Will you answer my PMs?
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Garioshi posted...

gamecube

Lmao

LordFarquad1312 posted...

lmao, XBOX 360 and N64 on the same tier.

The 360 controller I found was tolerable.

Unfortunately the standard 360 controller suffered from the lack of 4-way pads (as a THPS/retro vet this was frustrating playing such games), the triggers had that annoying springy sound, and the boy do the coating on the sticks wear out fast.

I'd rate the N64 lower, but just for its innovation at the time deserves higher credit.

>God Tier
>Steam Controller

I don't know what illegal substance you're on right now, but you might wanna lay off it for a while.

RebelElite791 posted...

Hahahahahahahahaha joke topic

If I posted my true feelings, no one would post. Remember I always lie about what I say so you post in it ;)

Wtf the 360 controller was legit perfect
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Mikablu posted...

>God Tier
>Steam Controller

I don't know what illegal substance you're on right now, but you might wanna lay off it for a while.

Its actually more the Steam platform than the controller. Imagine being able to watch The Grand Budapest Hotel mp4 you have on your external drive, then start up an SNES emulator, then switch to Cuphead , and finally The Gaming Historian on youtube, then fall asleep to your music playlist, all with minimal loading, and never having to touch your TV remote or change inputs!

So far I am ranked Expert on Rocket League, and am halfway through Cuphead using the Steam controller. I also beat Super Meat Boy with the Steam Controller. So I can't blame the controller on not being accurate.

Kerred posted...

LordFarquad1312 posted...

lmao, XBOX 360 and N64 on the same tier.

The 360 controller I found was tolerable.

Unfortunately the standard 360 controller suffered from the lack of 4-way pads (as a THPS/retro vet this was frustrating playing such games), the triggers had that annoying springy sound, and the boy do the coating on the sticks wear out fast.

I'd rate the N64 lower, but just for its innovation at the time deserves higher credit.

The N64 controller, by design, cannot be used in it's entirety in any confortable way.
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GoddessPerry_08 posted...

Wtf the 360 controller was legit perfect

I have owned 7 360 controllers. the dpad... well, look at the Xbox One controller, they knew something was wrong with the 360 controller ;)

The gold chrome 360 controller though was good as it solved most of my gripes with the standard 360 controller.

@Kerred where do you rank the gamecube controller
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SimpleMan posted...

Where's the Saturn?

Sadly I cannot remember much about the Saturn controller.

I finished Panzer Dragon Saga on it. The controller if I recall felt weird, but was fully functional for PDS. But that was a JRPG, so accuracy wasn't a thing for that.

Kerred if I PM you will you answer it?
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Flintlock_Staff posted...

@Kerred where do you rank the gamecube controller

I'm still contemplating that, due to the decades of experience with modern button design.

It felt comfy if I recall, felt very natural for Smash Bros and Monkey Ball. The triggers had the little grooves that felt good if I remember. I don't recall mine breaking or getting as much crap on it or much wear and tear.

The problem is I used the Wavebird controller, and being able to FINALLY have a wireless controller was just wonderful.

DarkChozoGhost posted...

Kerred if I PM you will you answer it?

i'll try :D

idk if I can rate the PS3/4 Controller over the Switch Pro Controller tbh

One has like a 4 hour battery life, the other has like 40
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_KGC_ posted...

idk if I can rate the PS3/4 Controller over the Switch Pro Controller tbh

One has like a 4 hour battery life, the other has like 40

Battery life hasn't been an issue for my personal tastes, as I tend to have docks I just quickly put a controller on. And for the Steam controller I use rechargable AA's. I also don't tend to play super long gaming sessions, so I'm one of the very few that has struggled with battery life.

What the batteries affect for me though is the weight. except for the SNES controller, I prefer a bit of weight.

Keep in mind these are the controllers I played, most likely at least 2,000 hours on each throughout the years.

Wii U pro controller>controllers without 80 hour battery life
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the Ps1/2's L2 and R2 are way better than the ps3's. Dunno about 4

lmfao
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I like the playstation ones tbh
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God Tier

Dualshock 4
360
Gamecube
Xbone
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Saturn controller (the updated one) is the ideal controller for 2D games IMO
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