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PC Games That Play Better With A Controller

by Connor Jan 12,2025

Generally, PC gaming is synonymous with keyboard and mouse control, and for good reason. Genres like first-person shooters and strategy games benefit significantly from the precision these input devices offer. Adapting to alternative controls in these genres can be challenging. Indeed, grand strategy and real-time strategy games spent years ignoring consoles, as adapting their controls to gamepads seemed impractical. However, these genres now frequently appear on PlayStation and Xbox, though they often excel on PC.

While many PC releases strive for robust keyboard and mouse support, some games are better suited to controllers. Games emphasizing reflex-based movement or fast-paced melee combat often pair perfectly with gamepads. Similar to keyboard and mouse, certain genres are strongly associated with controllers, especially those originating on consoles and later ported to PC. So, what are the best controller-friendly games on PC?

Updated January 7, 2025 by Mark Sammut: 2024 concluded with several notable releases, including Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Infinity Nikki, Marvel Rivals, Path of Exile 2, and Delta Force, all launching within a short timeframe. Most of these titles not only support keyboard and mouse but arguably play better with them than a controller. That said, Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered might be slightly better with a gamepad, though the difference is minimal.

Several upcoming PC games, releasing within the next month, appear well-suited for controller play, though their actual performance remains to be seen:

Freedom Wars Remastered: A PS Vita revival echoing the Monster Hunter formula, ideally played with a controller.
Tales of Graces f Remastered: Tales games consistently perform better with gamepads, and this remaster is expected to follow suit.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: The remake's predecessor played better with a controller on PC, and Rebirth's combat system is very similar.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2: Another PS5 exclusive transitioning to PC, typically suggesting a controller-centric experience. However, keyboard and mouse should still be functional.

A 2024 Soulslike game has also been added to this list. Click below to jump to that entry.