Two years later, it's still proving to be an epic undertaking to secure a PlayStation 5. But sooner or later, when we get our hands on one, we'll want to celebrate the occasion by making sure it's decked out with the best controllers. Sony’s own DualSense is pretty great, but there are a plethora of other options offering customization opportunities or more enjoyable playing experiences in specific games.
We’ve concocted a list of the best controller choices out there, so whether you're taking your PlayStation 5 to the track, the skies, or combat, you’ll have the ideal controller for the job. Even if you’re using it as yet another streaming device for Netflix because you're tired and don't want to do anything to stress out your last remaining brain cell, we’ve got you covered. Check out our favorite PS5 controllers below – and click here to find them in the UK.
TL;DR – These are the Best PS5 Controllers:
- DualSense Controller
- Scuf Reflex Pro
- Victrix Pro BFG
- DualSense Edge
- HexGaming Rival
- Thrustmaster T248 Racing Wheel
- Victrix Pro Arcade FS Fight Stick
- Hori PS4 HOTAS Flight Stick
- DualSense Charging Station
- PlayStation 5 Media Remote
DualSense Controller
Best PS5 Controller
The DualSense controller is a highly-capable gamepad made for PS5 that happens to be relatively affordable at $70. And you don't get just another simple wireless controller with a couple of rumble motors to let you feel when action is happening in the game but an actual haptic device that does a much more compelling job simulating the action.
The PS5 DualSense Controller will feel similar in the hand to the DualShock 4, making a comfortable adjustment for many gamers. The chassis is large, with a textured grip and responsive buttons. But, when games take advantage of the pad’s capabilities, it’ll go beyond being a simple input device. The haptic feedback is part of that, though there are also adaptive triggers that can adjust resistance on the fly. You might find it easier to pull the trigger when your character is holding a pistol and a lot harder to pull the trigger when you’re wielding a long bow. All of this can serve to pull you further into the game. The only major fault of Sony’s device is the less-than-stellar battery life, which gives you about 10 to 13 hours of juice between charges.
Scuf Reflex Pro
Best Third-Party PS5 Controller
The DualSense controller is great and all, but maybe you want to step out of the Sony bubble and try something new. That’s where the Scuf Reflex Pro comes in. This gamepad offers everything you love about Sony’s DualSense, like adaptive triggers that adjust based on the game you’re playing and a super accurate rumble. However, there are a few additional features and customizations to further improve gameplay. Just be prepared to shell out a bit more cash for this controller.
From the front, the Reflex Pro looks almost identical to our top pick, with virtually the same buttons, D-pad, touchpad, and triggers. But with this option, you can swap out the convex analog sticks for concave, giving you a slightly different feel. The back is where things get shaken up further, as there are four manually programmable paddles that are easy to reach and removable. These paddles are perfect for everything from shifting in racing games to swapping weapons in FPS. You also get a rear bumper with a button that lets you switch between three configuration profiles, optimizing the controller for those games along with sports. Unfortunately, you don’t get any software to make further customizations, like adjusting trigger sensitivity or remapping all the buttons. This gamepad also offers slightly more textured grips than the DualSense to ensure the remote stays in hand during the more heated moments in your games.
Victrix Pro BFG
Best Tunable PS5 Controller
Do you want a controller that you can easily tune to best fit your gaming preferences? Then the Victrix Pro BFG is the gamepad for you, as it features a modular design that lets you go for the traditional DualSense layout, or using the included screwdriver, you can switch it around to have offset joysticks. It doesn’t stop there either, thanks to the inclusion of a fight pad module to swap in if you prefer mashing six microswitch buttons, while there are also two additional D-pads, analog sticks, and octagonal gates to find your ideal feel.
The Victrix Pro BFG is much more modular than the DualSense, but you lose some functionality with its lack of rumble and adaptive triggers. To help remedy this slight flaw, the triggers have a switch allowing you to choose five different stopping points for actuation, including a simple tap, which is handy for shooters. You’ll also find this "officially licensed by Sony" controller seamlessly connects with the PS5 wirelessly and can store three profiles for button mapping and audio preferences.
DualSense Edge
Best High-End PS5 Controller
Sony’s pro-level controller, the DualSense Edge, has a familiar design to the original DualSense, only it’s packing loads of additional features that may just be worth the $200 splurge. To start, handy Function buttons just below the analog sticks allow you to swap profiles or adjust audio on the fly, so you miss barely a moment of the action. You create these profiles using intuitive software where every single button is remappable, but it doesn’t stop there as you can adjust the sensitivity and dead zones of analog sticks, the dead zones of analog triggers, along with adaptive trigger intensity, and a whole lot more.
Of course, the DualSense Edge is full of other customizations, including interchangeable back buttons featuring a traditional lever or unique half-dome shape that feel like a natural extension of the controller. If you’re not a fan of the default sticks, there are two other convex stick heights to help with performance in certain games, while the whole analog stick module is easily replaceable when drifting becomes an issue. And while playing FPS games, the flip of a switch adjusts the analog trigger actuation, ensuring near-instantaneous gunfire if that’s what you’re after.
HexGaming Rival
Best Custom PS5 Controller
If you want to take the DualSense controller to the next level without managing the customizations yourself, the HexGaming Rival gets it done. It’s a highly altered DualSense controller, coming with major aesthetic changes as well as some performance changes to give you a leg up on the competition. The final product exudes quality, but with all that greatness comes a high cost, so be prepared to shell out a good chunk of change for these mods.
Although it’s expensive, the upgrades that HexGaming makes to the DualSense may just be worth the splurge. To start, you’ll get a ton of different skin options to find a style that suits you, and a more pronounced rubberized grip makes the gamepad easier to hold. Each controller also comes with different thumbsticks that offer varying height and shape options, so you can change them depending on the feel you’re going for. You’ll be first to shoot in competitive gaming with the hair triggers available on the HexGaming Rival, though you lose the haptic feedback that’s enjoyed in single-player experiences. You can also keep your thumbs on the analog sticks more often with the remappable paddle buttons on the back of the controller. Even with all the changes made to the buttons, triggers, and bumpers, everything still remains tactile.
Thrustmaster T248 Racing Wheel
Best PS5 Racing Wheel
When you want to floor it in your favorite racing games, pulling a trigger just isn’t going to cut it, and that’s where the Thrustmaster T248 Racing Wheel comes in. This racing wheel doesn’t come cheap, but you’ll get a versatile, precise, high-performance system for your money. It offers full support for the PS5 and provides all the handy controls that line up with those displayed in the game. And setup is simple, so you’ll be hitting the pavement in no time.
Once you’re on the road, you can enjoy the leather-wrapped wheel, and you’ll have to hold on tightly because the force feedback system combines a belt and gear mechanism for realistic, powerful feedback. You can even switch between three different force feedback modes on the wheel, letting you feel a bit more oomph if you want to. Helping to keep your car under control, you’ll find highly sensitive magnetic paddle shifters and a variety of extra easy-to-reach buttons—25 in total. There’s even a built-in display at the center of the wheel to show in-game stats like your engine’s RPM or speed. To complete the kit, you get a quality magnetic three-pedal set with four different pressure modes from the brake.
Victrix Pro Arcade FS Arcade Fight Stick
Best PS5 Fight Stick
There’s a lot to be said for playing certain games on an old-school fight stick. Games with a ton of taps and ultimate combos, like Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter, really benefit from this type of controller. For PS5, the Victrix Pro FS is the best option, giving you the feel of playing on an arcade cabinet. It’s insanely responsive with minimum input lag, so you shouldn’t notice any delay in the heat of a tense battle round.
The Victrix Pro FS is stylish as hell, with this iteration offering a sturdy metal chassis that immediately makes it stand out from the crowd—not to mention the purple glow that comes out on each side. The simple face buttons fit well with the overall aesthetics of the PS5 and can hold up to my manic, demon-like button mashing, as it totes all quality Sanwa parts from the eight front buttons to the stick. Tinkering with components is relatively easy with a door that opens so you can get the ultimate feel for this fight stick.
Hori PS4 HOTAS Flight Stick
Best PS5 Flight Stick
If you’re looking to get deep into your favorite flight sims or space dogfighting on the PS5, Hori's PS4 HOTAS Flight Stick is ready. Sony officially licenses it, so you know this bad boy will work with your PS4—or PS4 games on your PS5. The controller totes all the controls you'll need for the system, including a touchpad. You don’t just get a joystick but also a throttle, letting you get both hands in on the action for under $200.
You’ll be up in the air in no time, as the Hori PS4 HOTAS Flight Stick is simple to get the hang of and provides flexibility for your flying setup. The throttle and stick are on two separate bases, so you can space them out as needed. The bases include suction cups to hold them in place on your desk, table, or custom cockpit. You can also customize the sensitivity of both the throttle and joystick, letting you dial in the responsiveness you want for your aircraft—or spacecraft. The flight stick will also encourage you to perform your best, as it includes a vibration motor, so you’ll feel it when you're under fire.
DualSense Charging Station
Best PS5 Controller Charger
This product is definitely a purchase of convenience more than anything else, as plugging in multiple DualSense controllers can be a bit of a hassle. And if it’s similar to the DualShock 4, it could actually prevent damages, as setting the DualShock 4 down for a long time on a hard surface with the USB charge cord plugged in would sometimes bend the charging port and more or less brick the controller. With DualSense Charging Station, this is a non-issue.
You can rest two DualSense pads in a sturdy, streamlined little trough that uses the same shapes and colors as the console itself, so it blends right in. The controllers should be fully juiced up in about three hours, though it doesn’t charge faster than its USB-C cord. This station is handy if you pick up an extra DualSense, so you can enjoy uninterrupted gaming by hot-swapping one controller while the other is charging. But if you’ve only got one controller, the DualSense Charging Station probably isn't a necessity.
PlayStation 5 Media Remote
Best PS5 Remote
Your PlayStation 5 is a fantastic gaming machine, but it can do even more sitting at the heart of your entertainment setup. Beyond games, the PlayStation 5 offers access to a host of streaming media and even can serve as a 4K UHD Blu-Ray player (assuming you have the PS5 version with a disc drive). You can navigate all of this with the DualSense controller, but it’s not labeled for that, so the PlayStation 5 Media Remote can serve as a better comrade when you’re done gaming and just want some passive entertainment.
The PlayStation 5 Media Remote gets you streaming in no time with dedicated buttons to launch Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube—or even Spotify if you want some jams. It totes media playback controls clearly labeled as well, so no more guessing which button on your controller pauses the movie. This controller can even do something your DualSense can’t: adjust your TV’s volume, as it has a built-in IR transmitter to control the volume on compatible TVs.
Where to Get the Best PS5 Controllers in the UK
Leana Hafer is an avid PC gamer. Talk action-RPGs, strategy games, and more with her on Twitter at @TilFolkvang.
Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.
