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Top PC Games Enhanced by Controller Use

Author: Emma Apr 19,2025

PC gaming is often associated with the use of a keyboard and mouse, and for good reason. Genres such as first-person shooters and strategy games thrive on the precision and control these peripherals offer, making it challenging for players to adapt to other control schemes. For years, grand and real-time strategy games largely bypassed consoles due to the complexities of adapting their controls for gamepads. Today, while these games have found their way onto PlayStation and Xbox, they often perform best on a PC.

While most PC games are designed to work seamlessly with a keyboard and mouse, there are exceptions where controllers shine. Games that rely heavily on reflex-based movement or fast-paced melee combat are ideally suited for gamepads. Similarly, certain genres are traditionally associated with controllers, particularly if their flagship titles originated on consoles before transitioning to PC. So, what are some of the best controller games on PC?

Updated January 7, 2025 by Mark Sammut: The end of 2024 saw the launch of several notable titles including Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Infinity Nikki, Marvel Rivals, Path of Exile 2, and Delta Force, all released within a few days of each other. These games generally perform well with a keyboard and mouse, often even better than with a controller. However, Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered might be slightly more enjoyable with a gamepad, though the difference is minimal.

In the coming month, several new PC games are set to launch, which might benefit from controller use, although their performance remains to be seen:

Freedom Wars Remastered – A revival of a PS Vita title that follows the Monster Hunter formula, this game is likely best experienced with a controller.
Tales of Graces f Remastered – The Tales series is known for its superior gameplay with gamepads, and there's no indication that this remaster will deviate from that trend.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth – The remake was better with a controller on PC, and given the similarities in combat systems, Rebirth should follow suit.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 – As another PS5 exclusive making its way to PC, it's expected to offer a controller-first experience, though keyboard and mouse should suffice.

A 2024 Soulslike game has also been added to this article. Click below to jump to this title.