What’s the finest PC joystick? Choosing a joystick may be easier than you suppose with solely a handful of key standards to contemplate, and just a few firms even nonetheless making devoted flight sticks. Whether or not you are after a single keep on with get began in air fight video games or desire a full house sim expertise, we have got a joystick for you.
The perfect joystick total is the Turtle Seaside VelocityOne Flight Deck, which brings a large number of features to your fingers with its HOTAS controls. For these with much less to spend, the perfect finances joystick is the Logitech G Excessive 3D Professional, which is unimaginable worth at underneath $35. In the meantime, the perfect house sim joystick is the Thrustmaster Sol-R2 HOSAS. For extra choices, take a look at the checklist beneath. Plus, remember to learn the how to decide on and FAQ sections in the event you in want of some steering on what to search for in a flight stick. In the meantime, in the event you’re after a combat stick joystick, fairly than a flight stick, take a look at our greatest flight stick information.
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Greatest PC joysticks in 2025:
Logitech G Excessive 3D Professional Joystick
Greatest finances PC Joystick
| Buttons | 12 |
| Connection | USB |
| Throttle | Sure |
| Weight | 2.7lbs / 1.2kg |
- Excellent worth for cash
- Surprisingly strong construct high quality
- Throttle management
- Simplistic software program
- Not ambidextrous
- No devoted rudder management
Typically we simply wish to hop in a Boeing 747, flip down the realism of the flight mannequin, and simply benefit from the view. Should you fall into this class then the Logitech G Excessive 3D Professional Joystick provides all the things you might want to have an important informal expertise, which is why it earns our decide as the perfect finances standalone PC joystick.
With 12 customizable buttons, together with an 8-way HAT change, you may discover loads of choices in your controls so long as you are not planning on diving into DCS and beginning up an Apache gunship.
The built-in throttle is all you want for flying about in video games similar to Microsoft Flight Simulator in its simpler settings or Battlefield and the extent of management will probably be much better than a mouse and keyboard or gamepad. Z-axis enjoyers are properly catered for right here too as you possibly can twist the joystick with reckless abandon for rudder controls for correct flying.
At an MSRP of $39.99 (£44.98), it is onerous to fault it, however it might be good to have some additional buttons or for it to be extra ambidextrous or have various fashions in order that lefties aren’t omitted. The joystick is incessantly discounted too – making this selection extra engaging regardless of its few setbacks.
Learn our full Logitech Excessive 3D Professional assessment.
Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS One
Greatest finances HOTAS PC joystick
| Buttons | 15 |
| Connection | USB |
| Throttle | Included |
| Weight | 4.5lbs / 2kg |
- First rate value
- Particularly nice for in-game flight
- Ergonomically designed
- Y button placement a bit off
- May use extra buttons
- Cable might be longer
Whereas it may not be fairly as a lot of a marvel because the Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog listed above, that is nonetheless a top-notch joystick. It’s each snug and ergonomic and isn’t any much less able to enhancing all of your favourite flight simulators.
It has a good array of 15 buttons you can remap as you please (though it’s a bit fiddly), with adjustable pressure ranges that allow you to get it simply the way in which you prefer it. We want the Y button was barely higher positioned, however apart from that, all of it felt very properly designed.
It is a massive piece of {hardware}, for positive, however in the event you’ve obtained the actual property, it stands to be a incredible addition to your setup. Should you additionally get pleasure from gaming through Xbox, you may even be happy to listen to it provides cross-compatibility with each Xbox and PC. You may discover extra buttons, or customization choices on the pricier choices, however for the price, that is fairly incredible.
Learn our Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS One assessment.
How to decide on the perfect PC joystick
Grabbing the perfect joystick for PC totally relies on what video games you prefer to play. Like actual planes, the controls are wildly completely different and the costs may be equally wild. A devoted throttle helps in the event you’re critical in regards to the flight sim scene, which is why a few of our premium alternatives embrace them. Some items, just like the Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS X, embrace a throttle at a really affordable value.
Should you play fight sims, go for one thing a bit extra concerned such because the Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog which options many buttons, hats (a multi-directional change), a devoted throttle, and bombproof development whereas in the event you’re extra of an informal person you could be properly served by the budget-friendly Turtle Seaside VelocityOne.
Thrustmaster’s T-Flight HOTAS One is right in the event you’re cruising among the many stars, whereas its TCA Officer Pack Airbus Version caters extra to simulators. Logitech’s G X56 strikes an important middle-ground, nonetheless, and will go well with most players desirous to take flight.
Should you’re a sim veteran however have not tried your hand at dogfighting but, or vice versa, then it is likely to be price subscribing to Microsoft’s Xbox Sport Move for PC, the place you may have the ability to entry a number of flight sims in a single package deal.
After all, you may not be into flight simulators in any respect. You may as well get joysticks just like the 8BitDo Arcade Stick, particularly designed for arcade video games (particularly combating video games). It would be fairly cumbersome with most flying video games, however in the event you love retro fighters which can be all about these fast button combos, it is evening and day.
Joystick FAQs
Do I would like a joystick for Microsoft Flight Simulator?
Microsoft Flight Simulator would not require using a joystick, with the perfect PC controllers making for an important various, however they do vastly improve the expertise. A joystick merely seems like a extra pure and true to life method to work together with a airplane. What’s extra, the sheer complexity of some controls and features means it may be loads simpler to make use of the devoted features on a joystick than keep in mind all the handfuls of keyboard binds or controller buttons combos wanted to completely take cost of a posh plane.
What joysticks are suitable with Microsoft Flight Simulator?
Microsoft Flight Simulator has extremely large help for many joysticks – it is the one greatest sport of its style so producers wish to guarantee their gear works properly with the sport. The Microsoft Flight Simulator improvement staff maintains an inventory of suitable controllers on its web site, which you’ll find right here.
What does HOTAS imply?
HOTAS is an acronym for “Arms-On Throttle And Stick,” and it primarily describes a joystick setup the place you’ve gotten a devoted second throttle controller in addition to a joystick. So, each your palms are totally occupied being on a throttle and stick.
What’s a Hat change?
A hat change is a multi-directional button just like a d-pad on a controller. Nevertheless, they have a tendency to have a sharp, conical form like a hat. They’re typically located on the highest of a joystick and are sometimes used to regulate the participant’s view – until you are utilizing a VR headset – however can be utilized for different features too.
Do I would like a separate throttle management?
Exact throttle management is a key part of any flight or house sim, with all however essentially the most finances joysticks together with some kind of throttle management. The important thing issue is that, like your joystick motion, a throttle management must be analog, so many controls supply sliders of some kind. As an example, the Logitech G Excessive 3D Professional Joystick has a easy rotating throttle dial simply in entrance of the principle joystick.
Nevertheless, for extra exact management and immersive really feel, a devoted throttle management is a significant improve. Joysticks with separate throttle controls are recognized HOTAS methods and in addition to providing a bigger, extra exact devoted throttle management, these methods typically embrace two throttle controls for controlling left and proper engines, plus they have a tendency to host many extra devoted buttons and switches, enabling you to deliver much more controls to your fingertips. Our greatest joystick total, the Turtle Seaside VelocityOne Flight Deck is a HOTAS management.
What number of buttons do I would like?
True flight sim video games can demand dozens of controls to be interacted with to actually simulate what it is like to regulate are plane. From turning on gas pumps to altering flaps and naturally firing your weapons, you solely have to take a look at footage of the within of a cockpit to grasp how complicated planes may be.
To this finish, many greater finish joysticks embrace a great deal of additional buttons and controls. Among the most necessary to look out for are additional throttle controls, HAT change for controlling your viewpoint, and some other additional analog dials for setting controls similar to flaps to a number of settings. Nevertheless, remember that many controls can nonetheless be enabled through a keyboard, it is simply {that a} joystick could make them faster and simpler to search out and make for a extra immersive really feel.
What joystick do you want for an area sport/sim?
Should you’re enjoying a sport that includes motion in house, fairly than in air and with gravity, the important thing additional characteristic you want for a joystick is a Z-axis management. This will both come within the type of a completely separate second stick, such because the Thrustmaster T.16000M duo or Thrustmaster Sol-R 2 HOSAS Area Sim Duo, or as a single joystick with the flexibility to not simply tilt again/ahead and left/proper however twist as properly. That is why the Logitech G Excessive 3D Professional Joystick is our favourite finances joystick because it provides this additional operate regardless of costing so little.
What’s the perfect controller for flight sims?
Should you aren’t able to spend money on a devoted flight stick simply but, you could wish to take into account a high quality controller as an alternative. Our checklist of the perfect PC controllers has a bunch of nice choices, however a few of our high picks could be these with swappable thumbsticks that permit for including taller, extra exact sticks, similar to on the Scuf Valor Professional. We might additionally suggest searching for out a Corridor Impact controller, as the sort of thumbstick tech eliminates stick drift. Controllers from as low cost as $30, such because the EasySMX X05 supply this characteristic.
Who makes the perfect joysticks?
There are solely a handful of producers that also make flight sticks, with the large three being Logitech, Thrustmaster, and Turtle Seaside. Additionally look out for Honeycomb and VKB choices. Any merchandise by these firms will probably be dependable however there’s appreciable variation between their most cost-effective and most costly choices, so all of it relies upon what options are a precedence for you.
Do joysticks put on out?
Sadly, so. Like all {hardware}, they are often broken by steady use. Should you use the identical joystick for years and years, you could discover that it turns into much less responsive, or that it sometimes misses inputs. Chances are you’ll give you the chance restore sure joysticks however discovering spare elements may be difficult plus, in the event you’re paying another person to do the restore, as with most issues in life, it solely makes financial sense in the event you’re repairing an already costly merchandise. You probably have a comparatively finances joystick, it’ll in all probability be cheaper to only purchase a brand new one.
Are taller joysticks higher?
Sometimes, you may get a better degree of accuracy when utilizing a taller joystick. Moreover, you could discover that the taller choices are extra snug to make use of, particularly in the event you’re an individual with massive palms. After all, the shorter ones nonetheless have their advantages, however in the event you like aggressive gaming specifically, taller ones could also be higher.
Why is my joystick drifting?
You probably have a joystick that is began to float, there are a number of potential causes. It might be that the joystick has grow to be broken via extreme use, and it is also that grime is trapped inside it. Should you really feel snug doing so, you can take it aside and clear the inside. Nevertheless, as opening it like this may void the guarantee, it is in all probability finest to keep away from this until you are very assured with {hardware} upkeep or know it is already out of guarantee.
For extra product suggestions on enhancing your setup, learn our guides on the perfect PC steering wheels and the perfect racing sim cockpit. They have some nice options for followers of racing video games.
