The Best Sony PlayStation 5 Controllers for Next-Level Gameplay

This iteration of the popular BackBone One mobile gaming controller is tailor-made for PS Remote Play from an iPhone. The product is officially licensed by Sony. It has been developed in collaboration with the PlayStation team, and it has the same white finish as the DualSense controller that comes bundled with Sony’s latest gaming console.

The controller packs thumbsticks and buttons with exceptional tactility. Thanks to a Lightning connector, it will flawlessly link to any iPhone and deliver instant input responses. In addition to PS Remote Play, the gadget is compatible with countless iOS gaming titles.

My favorite bit about the BackBone One is that it has a standard audio jack, allowing me to use a wired headset throughout my testing as I was gaming. Better yet, the product also has a Lightning input. This will allow you to charge your iPhone while gaming or use the BackBone One as a wired controller by connecting it to an iPad or a Mac via a USB-C to Lightning cable.

The HORI Fighting Commander OCTA wired controller is a must-have for PlayStation fighting game aficionados and a reasonably priced, reliable backup to Sony’s DualSense wireless controller. Its six-button layout includes R1 and R2 buttons sitting diagonally alongside the quartet of standard controls.

The setup mentioned above makes playing PlayStation 5 titles like King of Fighters XV, among many others, considerably more engaging with the accessory. The same goes for its gated analog stick with short-throw action.

The controller also packs a standard audio jack for connecting a wired headset.

More: The Best Accessories for Your PlayStation

The SCUF Reflex wireless gaming controller is a luxurious alternative to Sony’s DualSense controller. The much pricier product stands out by offering infinite visual customization options. You can create your Reflex by choosing a color for its buttons, panels, triggers, and grips, among other bits.

You can tailor the product’s trigger buttons and grips to match your gaming style. For example, you can opt for instant trigger buttons for shorter travel — a must for competitive gameplay where every millisecond counts. The device also packs customizable paddle buttons. I found them to be handy during intense gaming sessions because I could make faster inputs without disrupting my thumbstick controls.

Creating the SCUF Reflex of your dreams is interactive and fun. Getting the PlayStation 5 controller of your dreams is worth the long wait, too.

The Razer Wolverine V2 Pro controller has buttons with amazing tactility, courtesy of the gaming giant’s mecha-tactile technology. Pressing the gamepad’s buttons and d-pad, in addition to instant responses, treated me to satisfactory clicks that make rivals feel more generic in comparison. So does Razer’s app-customizable Chroma RGB lighting.

The Wolverine V2 Pro can deliver uncompromising performance in wired and wireless (via a bundled USB dongle) modes. Its layout includes six additional customizable buttons, adjustable triggers, and swappable thumbsticks. Compared to Sony’s DualSense controller, the V2 Pro has a different d-pad and left thumbstick placement, with the latter sitting above the d-pad instead of alongside its right counterpart.

Still, you should know that the Wolverine V2 Pro is more expensive even than Sony’s range-topping DualSense Edge controller, without offering haptic feedback or a bundled case. Depending on your gameplay preferences, the former’s absence can be a serious dealbreaker.

The Logitech G Driving Force G29 racing wheel is the PlayStation controller to get If you're obsessed with racing games like Gran Turismo 7 or F1 2022, to name a few great ones. The accessory has a duo of motors for in-game force feedback, steel shifter paddles, a leather-wrapped wheel, and LED indicator lights to remind you when to change gears. It comes bundled with a high-quality, three-pedal module for a complete racing simulation setup, and you can add an optional manual gear shifter.

Logitech equipped the Driving Force G29 with easy-to-access PlayStation controls, so you can navigate your console’s interface between racing stints. The racing wheel has sturdy clamps and mounting points, so it’s easy to attach to a table, a desk, or a racing simulator.

Consider this HORI offering if you're looking for a PlayStation racing wheel on a tighter budget.

As its name suggests, HORI’s Fighting Stick Alpha will transform the PlayStation 5 into a legit alternative to the arcade gaming machines from way back in the day. The officially licensed wired accessory features a high-quality joystick and eight oversized buttons, allowing it to deliver a tactile experience that’s a nod to the gaming industry’s glorious past. It’s pricey but worth it for nostalgic gearheads.

The Fighting Stick Alpha weighs more than 3 pounds, so it will stay securely in place during your gameplay sessions. All you have to do is find enough space to place the controller.

A standard audio jack and a top panel easily customizable by artwork round up the product’s noteworthy features.