The 15 best PC games with full controller support

Unlike consoles, most PC users are accustomed to playing with a keyboard and mouse, which is often much more convenient. Additionally, some titles simply do not support gamepads. Nevertheless, there are exceptions where it is recommended to play with a controller. 

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In recent years, the number of such titles has been rapidly growing, mainly due to the porting of former console exclusives to PC. Let’s take a look at 15 great projects of this kind.

The Surge 2

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This is a hardcore action RPG in a sci-fi setting, with a souls-like style. It features a system that allows you to target specific limbs of your enemy. During intense battles, this is much easier to control with a stick. It's crucial for the player to sense each opponent to strike precisely and dodge attacks in time.

Enemies are usually massive robots and cyborgs. Although the main character is human, he significantly modifies himself with implants. Weapons, armor, and modifications physically align the character more closely with his mechanical foes. Vibration enhances immersion, helping players feel every hit and damage taken in battle.

Baldur’s Gate 3

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BG3 can confidently be called one of the best adaptations of Dungeons & Dragons. It's a role-playing game with a turn-based combat system set in the Forgotten Realms. Unlike other titles in this genre, it works excellently with a controller.

Here, you really want to explore under every stone — and there are plenty of stones… Using sticks, exploring the map becomes a more enjoyable and meditative experience. Moving characters and controlling the camera are easy to manage.

Since the combat system is turn-based, fast mouse maneuvers aren’t needed. The question arises: how can one manage the wide variety of abilities, spells, and other options with only a few buttons? This is solved with a radial menu from which any action can be selected. Larian Studios has generally redesigned the interface for convenient gamepad use, making navigation through menus, inventory, and dialogues easy and accessible.

Mortal Kombat 11

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Next in our list is one of the most popular fighting projects, where a gamepad is almost essential for successful combat. Quick and precise combo and super move execution is key to victory in this genre, and a controller helps achieve the necessary level of skill.

Here, precision in combo input is critical. Executing complex movement and attack combinations with the same speed and accuracy on a keyboard is challenging. The cross-shaped buttons and triggers allow for faster reactions to opponents' attacks and lightning-fast activation of special moves.

The Last of Us Part I

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The Last of Us Part I on PC is a re-release of the iconic title that captured players' hearts with its touching story and emotional atmosphere. The plot unfolds in a post-apocalyptic world where smuggler Joel must deliver a valuable cargo from Boston to Jackson, Wyoming. This mission holds the chance to create a vaccine against the zombie virus! However, during the journey, several events will unfold, impacting the characters and the player's perception of the story.

The controls in The Last of Us Part I were initially designed for a gamepad, with mechanics ideally tailored for smooth and responsive handling.

There are numerous melee and ranged combat encounters, and the use of triggers and buttons on a gamepad simplifies weapon switching and enables quicker responses to enemy attacks.

Bayonetta

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Love dynamic action? Then this title is the perfect choice, as it’s a dynamic slasher with incredibly spectacular battles. As a witch, you'll fight angels with guns in both your hands and feet. It sounds strange, but it’s even stranger in practice — and that’s part of its charm. There's a certain aesthetic of Japanese urban mysticism combined with a flair that you can’t help but smile at.

Executing complex combos is much more convenient with a gamepad. It enables faster switching between attacks, jumps, and special moves, which is essential for achieving powerful victories over enemies.

Cuphead

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Looking for a challenge that will test your limits? Then it’s time to install Cuphead — a stylish platformer with unique hand-drawn animation inspired by 1930s cartoons, perfectly setting the mood. This project is known for its high difficulty, especially during boss battles, where quick reactions and precision are essential. The other levels are Run and Gun sections.

Like in most platformers, players need to perform a lot of quick jumps and dodges, making gamepad control significantly easier than keyboard and mouse. It's especially convenient for maneuvering between enemy attacks.

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

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It’s time to dive into the world of superheroes. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is an exciting adventure game based on the world and characters familiar from comics and films. Developers took the lessons from the unsuccessful release of Marvel’s Avengers and made this new project more engaging and of higher quality. The main appeal of this project lies in its memorable characters and humor, making every adventure in their company fascinating.

The main character, Star-Lord, can control the actions of the entire team and use their abilities via a radial menu. With many action scenes, a controller makes it easier to navigate the arena, dodge attacks, and use abilities simultaneously.

Cyberpunk 2077

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Gradually, we move into the world of the future — a vibrant yet merciless place. You’ll immerse yourself in the life of Night City, where, as a mercenary, you’ll complete contracts, build your reputation, and enhance your body with implants.

The leveling system allows for specialization choices. For example, you can be a stealthy hacker, a nimble katana-wielder, or a sniper equipped with Gorilla Arms for close combat. You can also find unique weapons with special abilities.

Cyberpunk 2077 features an excellent storyline and presentation. Stick control adds cinematic quality to the experience, especially helpful while driving vehicles.

Alan Wake 2

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A gripping psychological thriller where an FBI agent arrives in a small town to investigate ritual murders. Meanwhile, missing writer Alan Wake attempts to escape from the Dark Presence — a place that takes the form of settings from Alan’s unfinished novel. This title masterfully blends horror and exploration elements to create a tense atmosphere.

As often in Remedy’s games, supernatural forces weave a complex plot, blurring the lines between reality and distorted perceptions. The link between the Federal Bureau of Control from the title Control and the supernatural phenomena in Alan Wake 2 is especially intriguing. And as for how Max Payne fits in — better to experience it for yourself!

The gamepad enhances immersion, offering tactile feedback during intense moments. For example, vibration conveys the sensation of footsteps or the hero’s heartbeat in particularly frightening scenes. The camera's smoothness also adds to the cinematic quality. Alan Wake 2 features cutscenes filmed with real actors, making the term "cinematic" fitting here.

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Resident Evil 2 Remake

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In this game, players must survive in a place overrun by zombies. The title offers a unique balance between action and horror. The terrifying sound design and constant sense of danger make every second in Raccoon City filled with fear and adrenaline.

With limited ammo and healing supplies, each encounter with a zombie requires a choice: shoot or try to run past without taking damage. Aiming on a gamepad may be less precise, which increases the tension and makes each successful hit feel more significant. This creates a synergy with the protagonist, as if both of you could miss due to shaking hands from fear.

Control

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In this game, the player takes control of an organization studying paranormal phenomena. Sounds tempting — almost a dream job! You can battle enemies using telekinetic abilities and a special pistol. This title combines puzzles, action, and Metroidvania elements.

One of the most interesting aspects of Control is the documents you can find anywhere in the bureau. They contain a variety of information about the organization’s work, presented in an appropriate style with certain secret words blacked out. These range from amusing, like conspiracy theory letters, to deeply unsettling...

The controller allows for more intuitive combinations of standard attacks with telekinesis. The key feature is interaction with the environment — everything can be thrown or destroyed, and debris falls from the ceiling after the chaos. The sensation of using abilities is meant to be as satisfying as possible, which is why the keyboard and mouse are at a disadvantage here.

Dark Souls 3

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Dark Souls 3 is one of the best-known action RPGs with high difficulty and a focus on strategic combat. Here, it’s essential to react to enemy attacks, monitor stamina or mana, and time blocks or dodges carefully.

The storyline is mainly presented indirectly, through item descriptions and hints. Playing Dark Souls is challenging, but understanding its lore without watching several one-and-a-half-hour YouTube videos is even harder. But if you understand the lore of one Hidetaka Miyazaki series, you understand them all—they’re quite similar.

In Dark Souls 3, timing is crucial. A gamepad makes this process smoother and more intuitive than a keyboard and mouse. The sticks make it easy to control the camera and maintain awareness during battles, which is particularly important in dynamic boss fights.

DOOM Eternal

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A fast-paced and furious shooter where the Doom Slayer battles hordes of demons to free Earth. Unfortunately for them, they didn’t know they’d be locked in rooms with the protagonist. The character has prepared over 45 different finishers for them!

While quick reflexes are important, the player's decisions about weapon use and arena movement are even more crucial. Constantly maneuver between enemies using dashes and finishers, switching weapons when necessary for each type of enemy.

There’s no hiding behind cover here — survival requires charging at enemies! Besides shooting, you can throw grenades and use a flamethrower. For quickly pressing all necessary buttons, a gamepad is ideal. Additionally, vibration lets you feel each impact, making the action even more exhilarating.

For a first playthrough, I recommend choosing a difficulty level no higher than medium, as playing DOOM Eternal with a controller adds to the challenge.

Red Dead Redemption 2

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Now, enter the Wild West, where you’ll complete missions, explore nature, and face various adversaries in harsh conditions. The main character, Arthur Morgan, is an outlaw hiding with his gang in an abandoned mining town after a failed heist. The story unfolds with captivating plot twists that shape his personality.

The gamepad provides intuitive and smooth horseback control, which is especially important for exploring the vast open world. Combat is comfortable, especially with the Dead Eye system that lets you slow down time and aim precisely. Triggers make it easy to control the shooting process.

Thanks to vibration, players can feel interactions with the environment, like footsteps on the ground or gunshots. This transforms Red Dead Redemption 2 into a more immersive adventure where every movement resonates through tactile feedback.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

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Our selection concludes with one of the most popular modern fantasy RPGs featuring a vast open world and countless intriguing quests. You help people fight monsters for a good price.

Though Geralt is a well-defined character from Andrzej Sapkowski's books, you can choose his dialogue responses and influence the storyline. The writers worked hard to keep his personality intact, regardless of the player's choices. Quality storytelling is a hallmark of The Witcher 3, where CD PROJEKT RED focuses more on well-directed narratives than on complete freedom of playstyle, unlike Skyrim or Baldur’s Gate 3.

Combat includes sword strikes, magic, and elixirs, which are easily managed with a gamepad thanks to a well-designed button layout. Interacting with dialogues, quests, and inventory becomes smoother and more enjoyable, especially with the intuitive interface control.

These projects reveal new dimensions when played with a controller on PC. This device not only makes gameplay more comfortable but also enhances immersion. This is due to intuitive controls, complex action scenes, and smoother movements, which are much easier to perform with a controller.

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