The Best PC Joysticks

Since the very beginning, users have been using mouse and keyboards to control a system and play video games. But these are linear input devices and do not provide free degree movement that is necessary for managing any type of plane. For aircraft flying and Microsoft Flight Simulator, the best PC joystick delivers 360-degree rotation on the z-axis. It provides optimum control and immersion, which can not be obtained with any traditional keyboard, mouse, or gamepad. You also get numerous programmable inputs, buttons, and switches in the best capture card for switch to enable sensitive flight controlling options like roll, pitch, throttle, and yaw. This product consists of two things; a throttle and a joystick.

No doubt premium items offer beastly features and design, and the cash you pay is worth it. However, the mid-range best capture card for xbox one is no less in any case. As several companies have launched different ranges of joysticks, the price is no more a hurdle in buying a sturdy one. The construction and framework of the best xbox series s controller are kept strong and a bit heavy so that they do not break easily and provide supreme stability. Manufacturers have also featured advanced technologies like security locks and 3D sensor technology in the best capture card, increasing product usage, and credibility. A few products allow you to detach the throttle from the stick.

Our top picks

Quick Shopping Tips:

Here is a list of factors to consider for purchasing a good joystick.

Quality: The quality of the product you will buy is a matter of deep concern. Strength is the most crucial parameter for a joystick as the users use this equipment to control multiple complex functions. Therefore, you must opt for a base made of good metal and plastic. Otherwise, the item may break under pressure.

Compatibility: Joysticks are primarily compatible with Windows PC; however, some can not support Windows 10. On the other hand, some are adjustable with Playstations 3 and 4 as well. So before selecting any, recall to your mind what type of stick or yoke you are actually looking to buy. Otherwise, you might end up purchasing an item that is not suitable for your setup.

Comfort: We buy a product for its appealing features and compact design. But what if it makes your hands, arms, or back pain. Comfort is not a factor to ignore so quickly, as a stressful journey can spoil the charm you can get from the fantastic specifications of a tool. The manufacturers have engineered these joysticks to keep the factor in consideration and offer thumb and wrist support.

Buttons: You can find several controlling options around and top of the stick and on the resting base. Hat switches that may be 4- directional or 8-directional inputs push buttons, and other programmable inputs are also featured. These inputs help the users gain complete accuracy and control during gaming or flying and also provide more customization options.

The Best PC Joysticks: First look

The Best PC Joysticks: In-depth Review

Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog is a high-class joystick used to control a PC. Here HOTAS stands for Hands on Throttle And Stick, and in this product, you get both the joystick and a separate throttle to have better controls over the system. With four hat switches and three buttons around it, the best PC joystick claims the top spot in the market. Out of these four, two switches are four-way, and you can push one of them, while the other two are eight-way. The base of the joystick comprises a metal plate having holes in its corners. You can fix it at any place with the help of screws.

When playing games or in VR, you do not need to look at the stick to turn these switches as they are highly textured and come with a sturdy design. The functions performed by hotas flight stick are a replica of the A-10 Thunderbolt II fighter with 55 programmable action buttons. You get five programmable LEDs in its control panel for better control and playing games. However, the throttle base is more sturdy and has the same kind of holes for fixing it in a place. It comprises three switches, one button, and two eight-way directionals, which quickly help the throttle move in the left or right direction.

Logitech G X56 HOTAS RGB has an excellent design to enhance the VR gaming experience, flight or space simulators, and aircraft gaming. The games in which you need to jump into a helicopter or plane, this item is handy. The black and gray finished framework of the best joystick adds more value to its appearance, making it a suitable part of your setup. With the help of Microsoft Flight Simulator, you can enjoy your piloting capabilities anywhere on the earth, like cities, buildings, mountains, and traffic. This product is an upgraded version of the previous model and comprises overall upgraded features.

One of the premium features of this product is that it provides you with a mini analog stick both on the joystick and throttle. This stick allows ‘Six Degrees of Freedom’ and thus enables better control over your craft or gaming. These six directions of freedom include up, down, left, right, forwards, and backward. Due to an enormous number of programmable features, more than 189, this gaming joystick is ideal for your Head Mounted Display. Moreover, it provides five hats, out of which the joystick has three full hats while the throttle has two mini hats. The way the company has positioned these hats makes them highly accessible.

Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus Edition is manufactured by getting inspiration from the Airbus A320 family and is the officially-licensed first joystick developed by this brand. This sidestick is entirely plastic, and therefore it is very light that might not be liked by users. The ergonomic and modular design of the best budget PC joystick is imposing and provides swappable modules for the head of the joystick. Pilots and copilots can change the position of these modules as per requirement before and after take-off or landing. They have also equipped it with advanced technology responsible for optimum precision during a flight.

That is HallEffect Accurate Technology, which also works best to provide an unlimited lifespan to this product. Its throttle has a thrust reverser function that ensures a perfectly controlled landing. It also helps you get expertise over related skills. At an affordable price, this best PC joystick flaunts a prominent list of specifications with its theme in line with Civil Aviation. Dozens of programmable inputs and buttons are present on the sidestick, which are easy to access by the user. However, these buttons lack labeling, making it challenging to track down the numbering of buttons. However, the product would not let you down in overall performance.

Raptor Mach 1 Hotas Combo comes with an ergonomically designed combination of separate throttle and a joystick, suitable for any kind of flight simulator or combat, Microsoft Flight Simulator, any Windows platform, and X-Plane. However, the features of the best PC gaming joystick are inclined more towards fighter aircraft. To provide complete control, this product offers 32 different action inputs. This item is quite heavy due to the hefty metal constructed base, which you can mount over any surface with the help of drilled holes at every corner. But it can be placed without fixing due to the presence of a non-skid pad underneath its base.

A USB port is present on the throttle, and two hat switches are present on the stick. One is located at the top and is an 8-way switch, while the second is present on the left side and contains four buttons configured in different directions: left, right, up, and down. In action, the hotas flight stick is very responsive and comfortable. Its handle comprises a built-in thumb rest and a large wrist to make the working time convenient and stress-free. The throttle has five programmable buttons and two rotary controls for valuable functions like angle adjustments and trimming or zooming the scenario.

Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS X proves you do not have to break your budget to get a fantastic joystick. It features a left-handed throttle and a right-handed joystick with many control buttons. Entirely manufactured with plastic, the best affordable PC joystick is light in weight, and some of its buttons are not pretty convincing. Two screws join both the joystick and throttle. But you can separate them, and a cable can be used to join back. When the line is free, a small space is provided underneath to keep it out of the way and place it in the coiled form.

However, the product lacks hats and buttons, and its plastic built-up might not fascinate you, but its affordability is really beyond the compromise you have to make. With 12 programmable action buttons and 5 axes, the gaming joysticks come with a pretty heavy base to provide excellent stability for use. An additional feature the item flaunts is its internal memory. Whatever the task you perform on this sidestick or any programming you do, it saves everything for future use. It is very quick and convenient to use this device, just plug it into the socket and start playing your favorite games.

FR-Tec Raptor Mach 2 Joystick is developed for flight simulations and brings a sense of realism to the flying experience. Its design is awe-inspiring, adding to its looks and maximizing comfort for long flying periods. With the help of button shift modes, the best smooth PC joystick helps you acquire 29 programmable actions allowing a massive range of functions. The best thing is that you can buy the stick alone if it better suits your needs. In addition to providing high accuracy, this stick does not feel breakable and lets you have an easy and comfortable grip with your hand.

Its premium feature is the safety lock, which prevents any accidental mishap. But this lock seems fragile and breakable under stress, and its addition to the item leaves less space for buttons and inputs. Ultimately, you can clearly observe that the best PC joystick is not rich with handy buttons, and it gives a down impression. However, the base covers this issue with many inputs, a button shift, a mode switch option, and two functional modes. These features bring the true potential of this sturdy product, and once you are adopted, you will get the optimum feel and experience.

ThrustMaster Civil Aviation is the first-ever consumer flight simulation officially licensed by Boeing. But remember, this is not an FAA-certified yoke. Yoke comprises buttons sticking out, and from this top point, it measures up to 12 inches in length. The inspiration for the ergonomic and robust design of the best looking PC joystick comes from the Boeing Drealiner. This company has gone some extra miles to make the item sturdy and durable. Its 100 percent metal frame provides a premium feel and optimized stability. The features of this product lean more towards its use in long-haul flights instead of gaming.

You might not like this yoke for lacking z-rotation; instead, the item consists of a trigger button which makes it suitable for gaming. Some of the extra controls offered by this hotas flight stick consist of a right-hand thumb hat, an analogue stick, and two additional axes, all present on yoke. These features add more flexibility, provide you massive control and allow extra freedom while mapping out things. This yoke is highly compatible with PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series XlS. The brand has provided it with 4 adjustable springs, and users can use 2 to 4 at a time to maintain resistance.

Hori PS4 HOTAS Flight Stick comes with a separate throttle and joystick units to provide realistic control that replicates HOTAS. This officially licensed item by SIEA is compatible with Windows PC, Playstation 4, and PlayStation 3 but shows no support from Windows 10. Some of the remarkable features in the best midpriced PC joystick include an integrated headset jack, resistance settings, adjustable joystick sensitivity settings, and reasonable control. These inputs allow a wide range of powers and advanced customization features that copy the action of real fighter jets. Its design is kept simple yet attractive with the solid black-colored framework.

This product is furnished with a completely functional touchpad to deliver a more realistic feeling. It also adds to the accessibility and better control. Vibration feedback is also engraved in these gaming joysticks to offer better immersion. With its vibrant functions and rumble effect in action, this item gives the ultimate experience with flight games. You might not get this plus point in all the joysticks. However, the company has made its rubber base, making the product lack the optimized stability gamers badly demand. There are some buttons and knobs with no specific information given and no use in gaming.

Final Words

Joysticks are innovative devices designed to meet the specific needs of flight simulation and gaming. Engineers of these products get inspiration from high-end manufacturers such as Civil Aviation and AirBus Family and copy their theme and construction style. Therefore, we can expect the best PC joystick to perform fantastic functions and present the ultimate sturdiness. The obvious tasks we want a joystick to perform efficiently are; better control and RGB for VR gaming, quick response, and delivering the most immersive and authentic flying experience. Developers do not settle for this much and come up with further advancements that expand these items' functioning capability.

One such example of gaming joysticks is the ability to store the programs and actions you perform with these tools. Some companies offer yoke instead of a stick, and people considerably like this change. This review has mentioned some top-tier joysticks and yokes that can better suit your needs and pocket. The Logitech G X56 HOTAS RGB is the go-to option for most people. Another ultimate choice of buyers, we must say here, is the Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog. This tool comes with beastly features such as premium quality, 3D magnetic sensors, and an enormous number of action inputs. It also consists of five LEDs and a heavy metal base that provides stability.

Frequently Asked Questions