Best PC joysticks in 2024: fly high with our top picks

The Turtle Seaside VelocityOne Flight Deck isn’t for anybody trying to dip a toe into flight sim gear, with a design that goals to have that 1% further over rivals be it on efficiency or inputs. It has 139 buttons, with extra obtainable by the companion app, and it sports activities extra HAT controls than every other industrial HOTAS controller.

Its worth is premium, there’s no avoiding that, however the worth on supply is extremely aggressive, and you would spend extra and get much less with different controllers. Turtle Seaside has nailed an approachable design that may be intimidating at first, however when you’re deeply immersed in video games like Microsoft Flight Sim or Struggle Thunder, you’ll be shocked at how shortly you adapt.

Its accompanying software program is typically unreliable on account of freezing and crashes, however there isn’t a lot want for it past the firmware updates, and these could deal with stability points sooner or later.

Learn our Turtle Seaside VelocityOne Flight Deck overview for extra.

The Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog is the perfect premium PC joystick for good motive. The Warthog is modeled after the joystick present in the true U.S. Air Pressure’s A-10C plane. The joystick went by many phases of improvement, and the top result’s a product with a incredible steel construct and laser precision. That is the perfect flight simulator joystick in case you can deal with the excessive worth.

The HOTAS Warthog has 55 customizable buttons and hat switches to make sure you could fly any digital plane – be it navy, civilian or spacecraft. This high quality does come at a premium as the total set has an MSRP of $549.99 (£449.99), which is much more than even the Turtle Seaside VelocityOne Flight Deck, nevertheless it recurrently goes on sale for much less.

The HOTAS Warthog has been a flight-simmer favourite for years now. With a weighty and genuine really feel, a nitpick from us digital helicopter and spaceship pilots is the dearth of z-axis rotation constructed into the joystick. Admittedly, pedals can be best for this and there are a selection of inputs out there on the stick. We will’t fault Thrustmaster for staying true to the A-10 although, as this isn’t present in the true factor both. Get the HOTAS Warthog in order for you essentially the most genuine and highest PC joystick that cash should buy.

Thrustmaster isn’t relegated simply to the realm of the extremely high-end – it additionally caters to those that need an ideal flight sim expertise and don’t need to spend a month’s lease doing so. Because of this,  the Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus version is our alternative for the perfect newbie’s PC joystick.

The included throttle ensures you gained’t be lacking out on any main functionalities and regardless of the low price – you’ll really feel like an actual professional while you’re hovering by the skies (or area).

In contrast to the Warthog HOTAS setup – the TCA options an built-in twist rudder which means you’ll be able to freely manoeuvre on the z-axis with out having to achieve for an additional management. It’s lockable too in case you’d desire to have it assigned to a different button or don’t need to by accident use your rudders throughout a long-haul flight.

The paltry quantity of hats does make the TCA much less suited to fight sims however you’ll be able to nonetheless make do with what’s on supply – given its Airbus credentials although you won’t be shocked that it’s most at dwelling within the likes of Microsoft Flight Simulator quite than in DCS. It additionally feels just a little plasticky within the hand and doesn’t supply the tactical realism of the Warthog joystick however at this worth level that’s to be anticipated.

The Thrustmaster TCA Officer Pack Airbus Version isn’t the most affordable on this listing however in case you’re considerably critical about stepping into flight sims you then’ll be nicely served in case you can stretch your finances to this alternative. What’s extra – it’s recurrently discounted so it’s possible you’ll nab your self a candy deal.

The Logitech G Saitek X56 throttle and stick presents the perfect price-to-performance ratio which is why we have now topped it as our best-value PC joystick. The X56 options 31 programmable buttons and 5 hats which means that just about any craft ought to be lined.

You gained’t must shell out for pedals both because the joystick can rotate to have interaction z-axis motion from rudder changes. An adjustable spring tensioning system means you’ll be able to dial in what stage of resistance you need permitting for much more granular management.

The joystick additionally advantages from Corridor impact sensors which allow you to additional regulate the way it feels in order for you an genuine expertise when flying a craft with sluggish controls. The sensors additionally imply that the X56 ought to stay as correct because the day you acquire it because it gained’t be prone to stick-drift.

Having the throttle with impartial sticks means you’ll have rather more management over dual-engined spaceships and planes. All this alternative makes the X56 an ideal setup to develop into because the controls could be as easy or advanced as you want.

Hopefully, the joystick and throttle will final lengthy sufficient although as the development of the unit feels just a little missing as it’s largely comprised of plastic. Which means that it’s fairly light-weight so you’ll positively must make use of the suction cups or connect it extra completely or the unit will slide about your desk.

Whereas it won’t be fairly as a lot of a marvel because the Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog listed above, that is nonetheless a top-notch joystick. It’s each comfy and ergonomic and is not any much less able to enhancing all of your favourite flight simulators.

It has a good array of 15 buttons you could remap as you please (though it’s a bit fiddly), with adjustable rigidity ranges that allow you to get it simply the way in which you prefer it. We want the Y button was barely higher positioned, however aside from that, all of it felt very nicely designed.

It’s an enormous piece of {hardware}, for certain, however in case you’ve acquired the true property, it stands to be a incredible addition to your setup. In the event you additionally get pleasure from gaming through Xbox, you’ll even be happy to listen to it presents cross-compatibility with each Xbox and PC. You may discover extra buttons, or customization choices on the pricier choices, however for the associated fee, that is fairly incredible.

Learn our Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS One overview.

We’ve talked lots about joysticks that are perfect for video games that put you into the cockpit of planes and spacecraft, however that’s not the one kind of recreation you may need to use one with. In the event you’re a fan of retro, arcade, or combating video games, you then’ll respect one thing just like the 8BitDo Retro Arcade Combat Stick.

The joystick itself is comfy to carry, and there’s a plethora of buttons conveniently positioned to the left so that you can get these combos in with. In contrast to standard controllers, this battle stick makes it significantly straightforward so that you can have one hand devoted to express actions, whereas the opposite focuses on all the best button combos. There are such a lot of customization choices that allow you to tweak it to only the best specs for you too.

Many arcade video games had been particularly designed to be performed on this approach, so this joystick could be your getaway to a extra genuine expertise. There are quite a lot of battle sticks on the market, and that is positively a stable all-rounder. Console avid gamers will even be happy to listen to that it presents Nintendo Change compatibility too (although sadly not Xbox or PlayStation).

Turtle Seaside isn’t identified for its flight sim peripherals first. Nonetheless, its first outing into the enterprise has been remarkably profitable and the VelocityOne Flightstick ticks many containers in a really tidy bundle which is why it’s our greatest all-in-one PC joystick.

The throttle controls are constructed instantly into the bottom of the unit which means you don’t must trouble with a number of cables working throughout your desk. There are extra USB-C ports and these can be utilized to connect with different controls akin to pedals and the like.

There are numerous customizable controls too and to assist make sense of what you’re doing – a monochromatic OLED display screen adorns the highest of the joystick which reveals your axis, trim, and a chronograph.

The joystick is superbly constructed too and each time we take a look at it we’re shocked that Turtle Seaside knocked it out of the park on their first try. It even has z-axis controls!

It’s not with out its quirks thoughts you because the throttle controls are bewilderingly not off to at least one facet however flank the joystick. While this will likely help in making it extra ambidextrous – it signifies that anytime it is advisable regulate the throttle on the identical time (which is more often than not) you’ll have to take away your hand from the joystick totally which isn’t best.

The VelocityOne Flightstick can be very light-weight so until you connect it to a set-up, it’s possible you’ll end up knocking it about. These points withstanding, for round $129.99 (£119.99) you’re getting an terrible lot on your cash.

Generally we simply need to hop in a Boeing 747, flip down the realism of the flight mannequin, and simply benefit from the view. In the event you fall into this class then the Logitech G Excessive 3D Professional Joystick presents every thing it is advisable have an ideal informal expertise, which is why it earns our choose as the perfect finances standalone PC joystick.

With 12 customizable buttons, together with an 8-way HAT swap, you’ll discover loads of choices on your controls so long as you’re not planning on diving into DCS and beginning up an Apache gunship.

The built-in throttle is all you want for flying about in video games akin to Microsoft Flight Simulator in its simpler settings or Battlefield and the extent of management will probably be much better than a mouse and keyboard or gamepad. Z-axis enjoyers are nicely catered for right here too as you’ll be able to twist the joystick with reckless abandon for rudder controls for correct flying.

At an MSRP of $39.99 (£44.98), it’s onerous to fault it, however it could be good to have some further buttons or for it to be extra ambidextrous or have various fashions in order that lefties aren’t not noted. The joystick is ceaselessly discounted too – making this feature extra attractive regardless of its few setbacks.

Learn our full Logitech Excessive 3D Professional overview.