You get what you pay for, and most sub-$10 options arent worth your money.
I also decided to skip NES-replicas since the two button layout limits what you’re free to play.
I spent the bulk of those hours for 2D games withNinja Gaiden IIIandSuper Street Fighter II.
For software, I tested all the controllers withRetroArchon Windows,OpenEmuon Mac, andRetroPieon the Raspberry Pi.
It also often tops out lists from the likes ofNeoGAF,Reddit, andRacketboy.
The buttons have been resilient and continue to work just as they did when I first opened the box.
Since its USB, its easy to set up.
Just plug it in and youre ready to go.
Thats a huge step up from theTomee SNES controllerweve recommended in the past.
Of course, the Super Nintendo inspired design isnt your only option.
I also tested theHyperkin Genesiscontroller.
This was the only Genesis-inspired controller I could find with decent reviews.
The six face buttons feel good, but the d-pad is stiffer than the original Genesis controller.
Despite their appearance, the controllers arent exactly replicas of the original Nintendo controllers.
8BitDos entire line of controllers are customizable, include firmware updates, andeven support key remapping.
From my experience the quality of controller extends to all their options.
If you have large hands, these are uncomfortable to hold.
The Bluetooth also adds quite a bit to the cost, especially with the SNES30 Pro.
The same cant be said about the d-pad, which feels mushy at best.
For that, the $20 Buffalo Classic USB gamepad is all you need.
The DualShock 4 wins for me for a variety of reasons, but the main one is the d-pad.
The face button placement, size, and style also feels natural when youre playing older games.
If you already have a DualShock 4, youll likely be happy with it for retro games.
Its also a favorite among the likes ofThe WirecutterandPC Gamer.
On the flipside, it pairs withRetroPie on the Raspberry Piand withOpenEmu on the Macout of the box.
Its impossible to recommend this controller for anything but Nintendo 64 games.
Most reviewers, includingPolygonandThe Wirecutterhave pointed out the F310 feels weird to hold and Im inclined to agree.
Illustration by Sam Woolley.
