The Best Retro Controllers for PC and Raspberry Pi of 2022

What to Look For in a Retro Controller in 2022

There are such a lot of online game techniques to select from that the “good” controller doesn’t exist. If you’d like an genuine retro gaming expertise, you’ll typically need to go together with a controller that replicates the texture of enjoying retro video games on the older system.

Beginning with the NES technology of consoles, the controller turned comparatively standardized. In case your normal curiosity in retro gaming is from this period onward, shopping for a single gamepad that adequately covers a number of techniques is feasible.

That features the trendy controllers you have already got, however fashionable controllers have a significant flaw that makes them lower than preferrred for retro gaming. Particularly, they have a tendency to have mushy D-pads.

Most retro video games extensively use the D-pad to manage the sport. Trendy video games use the D-pad for duties reminiscent of utilizing gadgets or switching between in-game modes—in order that they don’t should be as correct. Subsequently, a very good retro controller should first have a pointy, correct d-pad with good suggestions.

The following factor to search for is compatibility. Most fashionable retro controllers will work with something that has Bluetooth or USB, however solely a choose few are suitable with authentic {hardware}. On this article, we’re not particularly in search of controllers to make use of with the unique consoles, however some supply this feature as a bonus.

Lastly, button format and high quality are paramount. If you wish to play a recreation designed for a controller with six face buttons, utilizing one with simply 4 might be a problem. Buttons additionally should be comfy sufficient and provides good sharp suggestions. In retro video games, button presses are typically extra frequent and intense, so any controller has to face as much as this.

With a laser deal with making retro video games play as effectively and authentically as attainable, let’s have a look at a few of the finest retro-style controllers you should buy.

Finest Retro Controller Total: 8Bitdo Pro 2

For those who don’t have the price range to purchase a number of retro-style controllers, then the 8Bitdo Pro 2 is the one we’d advocate. It has the entire controls for retro gaming as much as the trendy 3D period, the place analog sticks got here onto the scene.

Though it lacks the six-face buttons Genesis or preventing recreation followers would favor, it does include two extra again buttons, so you may compensate for that when mapping buttons for these titles. These again buttons may also assist in video games which can be arduous in your fingers, however the place you don’t need to resort to a turbo perform that spams keypresses.

Ths 8Bitdo controller doesn’t match any specific retro console in design, sadly, so when you’re in search of a controller that’ll match your console aesthetic, you could be somewhat dissatisfied. Nonetheless, the Professional 2 makes up for it with fashionable grips, which makes it extra comfy than most controllers that adhere strictly to the old-school design.

The Professional 2 is formally suitable with Swap, PC, macOS, Android, Steam, and Raspberry Pi.

Finest Retro Controller Total

8Bitdo Pro 2

The Retro Professional 2 tries to be all issues to all retro avid gamers and by and enormous succeeds at it. For those who want one controller to play video games from a number of retro techniques, that is the one.

Amazon

$49.99
 

Finest Funds Retro Controller: 8Bitdo SN30

The SNES-style 8Bitdo SN30 controller lacks the analog sticks, rumble, and extra shoulder buttons of the SN30 Pro, however it is available in at a considerably lower cost. The SN30 makes use of a proprietary 2.4Ghz wi-fi normal that enables it to work wirelessly with authentic SNES or fashionable SNES reproductions such because the Analog Super NT.

That does imply that this price range retro controller lacks native Bluetooth. If you wish to use the SN30 Professional with a unique system, you’ll need to plug it in with a USB wire. However this does assure compatibility with a variety of gadgets whereas providing a approach to play along with your authentic SNES.

The unique SNES controller design was already nice, however the SN30 manages to take care of what made it particular whereas giving it the correct amount of polish for contemporary avid gamers. The old-school semi-transparent plastic is a pleasant contact.

For those who’re not involved about wi-fi connectivity to the unique SNES or SNES-compatible consoles, then a greater various can be the wired version of the SN30 Pro. It prices the identical worth and provides the entire options of the SN30 Professional, simply and not using a battery or wi-fi perform.

Based on our analysis, the SN30 must be suitable with any gadget that may use controllers through USB.

Finest Funds Retro Controller

8Bitdo Sn30 2.4G Wireless Gamepad for Original SNES

This high-quality controller works with the unique SNES through lag-free 2.4Ghz wi-fi connectivity.

Amazon

$29.99
 

Finest Wired Retro Controller: Retro-Bit Sega Saturn USB Controller

Having a wi-fi controller is a pleasant fashionable comfort, however the perfect latency and responsiveness are nonetheless to be discovered with wired controllers. Most of the wi-fi controllers you should buy additionally allow you to use a wired connection, however when you’re solely going to make use of it in wired mode, why pay for a battery and Bluetooth radio you’ll by no means use?

The Retro-Bit Official Sega Saturn USB controller is a replica of probably the most revered controller designs in historical past. The unique Genesis six-button controller was already well-loved, however the Sega Saturn model refines it into one thing much more comfy. So whether or not you need to play Genesis or Saturn video games, the Saturn controller is your best option total.

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This wired USB model controller clearly gained’t work with an authentic Saturn, however Retro-Bit does make a wireless model with a Saturn connector. If you wish to play on an authentic Genesis, you’ll don’t have any alternative however to go for the Genesis model with the original connector. Whichever mannequin you select, it would with a beneficiant 10-foot cable.

Whereas this can be a high quality duplicate of the Saturn controller, it’s fairly fashionable underneath the pores and skin. Particularly, you may swap the controller between the trendy Xinput and older Dinput standards, so it ought to work with each new and legacy titles on PC.

This controller is formally suitable with the Sega Genesis Mini, Swap, PS3, PC, Mac, Steam, RetroPie, and Raspberry Pi.

Finest Wired Retro Controller

Retro-Bit Official Sega Saturn USB Controller Pad (Model 2)

The Mannequin 2 revision of the Saturn controller is beloved by Sega followers and this wired official duplicate works with nearly something that has a USB port, at a killer worth.

Amazon

$19.99
 

Finest NES-Model Controller: ​​8Bitdo N30 Bluetooth + 8Bitdo Wireless USB Adapter

The unique NES controller was by no means the height of ergonomic design, however there’s nothing just like the genuine rectangular controller to play these basic 8-bit video games. The 8Bitdo N30 Bluetooth gamepad is likely one of the finest fashionable NES controllers, taking the long-lasting design and bettering it. Nonetheless, there’s a little bit of a catch—it’s designed particularly to be used with the Nintendo Swap.

Nonetheless, simply as with every Swap controller, it would work simply high quality with different techniques that assist Bluetooth controllers—however we now have seen reports of mixed results with regards to latency utilizing Bluetooth on a variety of 8Bitdo controllers.

That is solved by additionally buying the 8Bitdo Wireless USB Adapter 1. This works with any 8Bitdo Bluetooth controller and solves any latency and compatibility points. You may even use it with the unique NES when mixed with the 8Bitdo Retro Receiver for the unique NES.

8Bitdo additionally periodically releases new firmware for controllers (together with the N30) to deal with points like lag and disconnections, so it could be value making an attempt the controller with the most recent firmware earlier than assuming that you simply additionally want the receiver to get the perfect out of it.

Extra importantly, why undergo all this bother to transform this Swap-centric controller to work with different techniques? It’s as a result of we expect that is the perfect fashionable rendition of an NES-style controller. The N30 is extra comfy than different NES controllers, provides two shoulder buttons, has two turbo buttons, and has glorious construct high quality.

Aside from needing to buy extra dongles, the opposite foremost draw back is that you could solely use this with NES video games, for the reason that two turbo face buttons can solely be used as turbo buttons, and never as extra buttons wanted for different consoles’ video games.

The N30 ought to work with any Bluetooth gadget that helps Swap controllers, however you’ll want the extra dongle for flawless compatibility with PC and Raspberry Pi.

Finest NES-style controller

8Bitdo N30 Bluetooth Gamepad

Fairly presumably the perfect fashionable tackle the NES controller design. Requires extra dongles to work with completely with PC, Raspberry Pi, or the unique NES.

Amazon

$42.99
 

8Bitdo Wireless USB Adapter 1

A required companion to any 8BItDo Bluetooth controller if you would like good compatibility with Home windows, Mac & Raspberry Pi.

Amazon

 

Finest SNES-Model Controller: 8Bitdo SN30 Pro

The SN30 Professional takes all the pieces the SN30 does proper and improves on it. With analog sticks and 4 shoulder buttons, this controller has all the identical inputs as a contemporary gamepad, making it extremely versatile. You may play your SNES video games with the basic controls or combine issues up by utilizing the sticks.

Better of all, the SN30Professional may also act as a regular fashionable controller, so that you don’t have to make a number of purchases when you’re in search of a PC controller.

The SN30 is suitable with nearly any Bluetooth system however just isn’t suitable with the unique SNES. That may be rectified by buying the 8Bitdo SNES Retro Receiver.

The SN30 Professional is formally suitable with Swap, PC, macOS, Android, Steam, and Raspberry Pi.

Finest SNES-style Controller

8Bitdo Sn30 Pro Bluetooth Gamepad

The SN30 takes the already wonderful SNES controller design and refines it for a contemporary viewers It is broadly suitable, gives glorious high quality, and may even work with an actual SNES when you purchase a separate wi-fi adapter.

Amazon

 

Finest Genesis-Model Controller: Retro-Bit Sega Saturn Wireless Controller

As we talked about underneath the best wired retro controller section, the Sega Saturn controller design is preferable for taking part in Genesis and Saturn video games, because of a extra refined design however related format to the six-button Genesis controller.

Just like the wired Saturn controller we talked about above, this Retro-Bit Official Sega Saturn Controller is an formally licensed product. It features a carry case with two receivers. One suits within the authentic Saturn, and the opposite is USB.

What actually units the Retro-Bit controllers aside from the competitors is the official endorsement from SEGA, exhibiting how critically the corporate took its job when designing these replicas. There are quite a few consumer opinions praising how accurate and authentic the controllers are, with improved fashionable supplies and high quality. Given how a lot punishment Genesis video games might put a controller by means of, that’s excessive reward.

Sadly, when you’ve got an authentic Genesis, this gained’t work with it. In that case, you’re higher off shopping for the Retro-Bit Genesis Wireless Controller. This controller is suitable with any system that works with USB controllers, together with the Genesis Mini.

Finest Megadrive/Genesis Controller

Retro-Bit Official Sega Saturn 2.4 GHz Wireless Controller

An official duplicate of the beloved Saturn controller, that is essentially the most comfy approach to play Genesis video games on something however the authentic Genesis {hardware}.

Amazon

$34.99
 

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