
It feels great to use in-game, too, providing you with all the possible control permutations you could need without ever having to go near your keyboard again. I will honestly just sit there idly flipping switches even when the thing's unplugged, so satisfying is the action.Īll that weight means it practically sticks to your desk as you fling your Cobra MkIII around in Elite: Dangerous like a BSG Viper, and if you're so inclined, the drill holes are there if you want to make it a permanent addition too. And not just buttons either extra hat switches adorn the throttle itself, one that can be split in two should you need discrete control, and there are a host of toggles and metal flick switches too.

Its casing is entirely made of metal and festooned with buttons. It is one of the finest pieces of PC peripheral engineering I've ever experienced. That's something to behold, but the throttle is something else. The stick alone weighs a kilo even before it's been screwed down onto the solid, wide metal base. Sure, it's an expensive unit, but you will know your money's been well spent as soon as you lift the lid on the packaging and pull the setup out. So, here's a list of our favourite PC joysticks, ones we've personally tested over the years, and ones we think will make a real difference to the experience of most PC gamers. You can customise your setup to the nth degree with either of those super-premium manufacturers, but you will have to pay through the nose.

Serious flight sims are played best with a HOTAS (Hands-On Throttle and Stick), which can be a bit of an investment, but once you're set up, it's near impossible to even think about playing a flight sim without one.Įasy is the name of the game the joysticks on this list all require minimal setup, though if you're looking for the full cockpit experience, and more importantly, have the finances, by all means check out the likes of VKB and Virpil.


We also recommend a good wireless gaming keyboard and gaming mouse combo since it's a good way to navigate a game's menu during one of your 'flights.' But a joystick is the building block for setting up a home cockpit.
