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

The Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog is one of the best premium PC joystick for good purpose. The Warthog is modeled after the joystick present in the true U.S. Air Power’s A-10C plane. The joystick went by many phases of growth, and the tip result’s a product with a incredible steel construct and laser precision. That is one of the best flight simulator joystick in the event you can deal with the excessive value.

The HOTAS Warthog has 55 customizable buttons and hat switches to make sure which you could fly any digital plane – be it navy, civilian or spacecraft. This high quality does come at a premium as the complete set has an MSRP of $549.99 (£449.99), however it usually 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 shortage of z-axis rotation constructed into the joystick. Admittedly, pedals can be ideally suited for this and there are a selection of inputs accessible 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 if you need essentially the most genuine and absolute best PC joystick that cash should buy.

Thrustmaster isn’t relegated simply to the realm of the extremely high-end – it additionally caters for many who need an important flight sim expertise and don’t need to spend a month’s hire doing so. Because of this,  the Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus version is our selection for one of the best freshmen PC joystick.

The included throttle ensures you received’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 possibly can freely manoeuvre on the z-axis with out having to succeed in for an additional management. It’s lockable too in the event you’d choose to have it assigned to a different button or don’t need to by chance 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 possibly can 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 moderately than in DCS. It additionally feels somewhat plasticky within the hand and doesn’t supply the tactical realism of the Warthog joystick however at this value level that’s to be anticipated.

The Thrustmaster TCA Officer Pack Airbus Version isn’t the most cost effective on this record however in the event you’re considerably severe about stepping into flight sims then you definitely’ll be effectively served in the event you can stretch your finances to this selection. What’s extra – it’s usually discounted so you might nab your self a candy deal.

The Logitech G Saitek X56 throttle and stick provides one of the best price-to-performance ratio which is why we’ve got 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 coated.

You received’t have to shell out for pedals both because the joystick can rotate to interact z-axis motion from rudder changes. An adjustable spring tensioning system means you possibly can dial in what degree of resistance you need permitting for much more granular management.

The joystick additionally advantages from Corridor impact sensors which allow you to additional modify the way it feels if you need 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 to procure it because it received’t be vulnerable to stick-drift.

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

Hopefully, the joystick and throttle will final lengthy sufficient although as the development of the unit feels somewhat missing as it’s principally comprised of plastic. Because of this it’s fairly light-weight so you’ll positively have to 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 snug and ergonomic, and is not any much less able to enhancing all of your favorite flight simulators.

It has an honest array of 15 buttons which you could remap as you please (though it’s a bit fiddly), with adjustable stress 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 apart from that, all of it felt very effectively designed.

It’s a giant piece of {hardware}, for positive, however in the event you’ve received the true property, it stands to be a incredible addition to your setup. For those who additionally take pleasure in gaming through Xbox, you’ll even be happy to listen to it provides cross-compatibility with each Xbox and PC. You may discover extra buttons, or customization choices on the pricier choices, however for the fee, that is fairly incredible.

Learn our Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS One evaluation.

We’ve talked rather a lot about joysticks that are perfect for video games that put you into the cockpit of planes and spacecraft, however that’s not the one sort of sport you may need to use one with. For those who’re a fan of retro, arcade, or preventing video games, then you definitely’ll admire one thing just like the 8BitDo Retro Arcade Combat Stick.

The joystick itself is snug 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 typical controllers, this combat stick makes it significantly simple so that you can have one hand devoted to specific actions, whereas the opposite focuses on all the precise button combos. There are such a lot of customization choices that allow you to tweak it to simply the precise specs for you too.

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

Turtle Seashore 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 further USB-C ports and these can be utilized to connect with different controls akin to pedals and the like.

There are a lot of 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 fantastically constructed too and each time we have a look at it we’re shocked that Turtle Seashore 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 1 aspect however flank the joystick. While this will likely assist in making it extra ambidextrous – it signifies that anytime it’s good to modify the throttle on the identical time (which is more often than not) you’ll have to take away your hand from the joystick fully which isn’t ideally suited.

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

Typically we simply need to hop in a Boeing 747, flip down the realism of the flight mannequin, and simply benefit from the view. For those who fall into this class then the Logitech G Excessive 3D PRO Joystick provides all the pieces it’s good to have an important informal expertise, which is why it earns our decide as one of the best finances standalone PC joystick.

With 12 customizable buttons together with an 8-way hat change – you’ll discover loads of choices to 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 can be much better than a mouse and keyboard or gamepad. Z-axis enjoyers are effectively catered for right here too as you possibly can twist the joystick with reckless abandon for rudder controls for correct flying.

At an MSRP of $39.99 (£44.98), it’s exhausting to fault it, however it might be good to have some additional buttons or for it to be extra ambidextrous or have different fashions in order that lefties aren’t neglected. The joystick is incessantly discounted too – making this feature extra engaging regardless of its few setbacks.