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If you think you’re just starting out as a virtual pilot, you need to step up your game in the home cockpit. The joystick is the most important piece of hardware. Any of the joysticks below is a good choice for most people who want to play around with a flight simulator because they are easy to set up and use. We’ve put together a list of the Best Joystick for PC, no matter what you’re looking for.
The best joystick for PC could make your favorite flight-based games a whole lot more fun. Most flight-based games, whether they are real flight simulators or games that let you explore space as much as you want, are much more fun with a joystick of some kind. But in this day and age, there are many on the market that have so many features and functions that are just for games.
Best Joystick for PC
Thrustmaster T-Flight Stick X (PC)
Specification
| Product Dimensions | 9.45 x 8.66 x 10.12 inches |
| Type of item | Video Game |
| Language | English, French |
| Item Weight | 2.58 pounds |
| Manufacturer | Thrustmaster VG |
| Country of Origin | China |
The Thrustmaster T-Flight Stick X is proof of that. It has all the basic features you need when you’re in the air, but it doesn’t cost too much. It has a stick, throttle, and all the buttons you need to go beyond a keyboard and mouse. The T-Flight Stick X has been on the market for ten years, but even though its hardware is old, it still works well with the most recent simulators.
With fairly accurate input and controllable resistance, the stick can be used to handle all of the important flight controls. It also has 12 buttons that can be remapped and an integrated throttle slider that lets you control the speed. You even have a switch on your hat that lets you look around the beautiful scenery in Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Pros
- Comfortable to use
- PS3 compatible
- Easy to set-up
Cons
- Can feel quite sluggish
Thrustmaster Hotas Warthog (PC)
Specification
| Product Dimensions | 181.1 x 98.43 x 125.98 inches |
| Item Weight | 13.23 pounds |
| Manufacturer | Thrustmaster VG |
| Language | English, French |
| Operating System | Windows |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. |
| Country of Origin | USA |
That is the Hotas Warthog PC joystick made by Thrustmaster. You won’t find any fake or cheap buttons added to make it look more real. Instead, you will get a 14-pound joystick that is almost entirely made of metal. This thing is a beast, and the Hotas Warthog PC joystick is officially licenced by the US Airforce and modelled after the A-10C Warthog.
So you can be sure it’s real. But, like that military plane, this joystick might take a while to learn how to use well. The Thrustmaster Hotas Warthog PC has a joystick and a two-throttle system. The joystick and two throttles have 55 buttons and controls that are spread out over switches, hats, and triggers.
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Pros
- Feels just like the real thing
- With all the appropriate buttons
- Toggles
- HATs
Cons
- The throttle is surprisingly heavy
Hori PS4 HOTAS Flight Stick
Specification
| Product Dimensions | 14.25 x 10.91 x 11.5 inches; 5.7 Pounds |
| Item Weight | 5.69 pounds |
| Manufacturer | HORI |
| Type of item | Video Game |
| Item model number | PS4-144U |
Hori has everything you need to get deep into your favourite flight simulators or space dogfighting, and it doesn’t charge a great amount to get you there. The Hori HOTAS flight stick is both a joystick and a throttle. For less than $200, you can use both hands to control the action. Also, this Pc controller is much easier to learn how to use than our top pick.
Since it’s made for PlayStation and has all the usual controls spread out between the joystick and throttle, this flight stick is great for games that have been ported from a console. Even a touchpad is built in. Don’t worry, the controller should work with your PC, but you may have to make a few changes.
Pros
- Integrated PS4 touchpad
- Headphone jack built in
- Separate flight stick and thrust control
Cons
- Four times more expensive than the Thrustmaster
Logitech G X56 HOTAS RGB
Specification
| Product Dimensions | 7.28 x 8.86 x 10.43 inches |
| Item Weight | 5.07 pounds |
| Operating System | Windows |
| Power Source | Corded Electric |
| Batteries | Corded Electric1 Lithium Ion batteries require |
| Manufacturer | Logitech |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
The Logitech X56 HOTAS is a lot better than the older Saitek model in almost every way, but it still has a lot of the same great features that made the Saitek model great. The throttle can be unlocked so that the left and right engines can get separate inputs.
The throttle panel also has a bunch of switches and knobs made of metal that look and feel great. we was a little disappointed to find out that the metal top plate on both the flight stick and the throttle doesn’t go all the way to the bottom and that both the stick and the throttle are mostly made of plastic.
Pros
- A nice compromise between function and price
- Great HOTAS for multi-purpose involved sims
- Decent customizable buttons layout
- Precision. Aesthetic. Ergonomic. Craftmanship
Cons
- Throttle issues on arrival
- You MUST use with a powered USB hub
Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus edition
Specification
| Product Dimensions | 8.86 x 8.46 x 10.43 inches; 7.68 Ounces |
| Item Weight | 7.7 ounces |
| Language | English, French |
| Manufacturer | Thrustmaster VG |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Type of item | Video Game |
The Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus edition came out at the right time, but it sold out quickly. But it’s back now, and it’s a good upgrade for any Microsoft Flight Simulator long-haul pilot want tobe who wants to ditch the controller. It can be used in other games, but as an officially licenced Airbus part, it seems to work best with the flight simulator of the moment.
Because of this, it has a smooth and responsive control and a comfortable stick for long-distance flights. The joystick can also be set up in any way you want thanks to its modular design. This makes it especially good for people who are left-handed. There are also a lot of buttons close by that make shortcuts easy to get to.
Pros
- Smooth deadzone-free stick
- Charming throttle based on real Airbus controls
- Solid enough plastic build
- Reasonable price for the central flight stick
- Ready out of the box for Microsoft Flight Simulator
Cons
- All-plastic, fairly light construction
- The cost adds up for a full setup
- Some of the buttons feel a little cheap
Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight Stick
Specification
| Product Dimensions | 6.46 x 8.54 x 9.07 inches |
| Item Weight | 1.81 pounds |
| Type of item | Video Game |
| Language | English |
| Manufacturer | Turtle Beach |
| Country of Origin | China |
Turtle Beach’s first attempt at making a control interface for a flight simulator is more like a flight stick with thruster inputs. The Velocity One’s non-traditional design works, though, thanks to some high-quality building materials and subtle design touches.
It can be used on both PC and Xbox. At 0% and 100% of each thruster, for example, there is an extra input. You’ll feel a click at each extreme, and those clicks are buttons 9–12. The flight stick is hard to move, which can make people disagree. It’s sharp and snappy, but it’s hard to circle around the centre point when it wants to snap back so hard.
Pros
- Huge number of functions
- Feels expensive
- Straightforward button layout
- Customizable RGB lighting via mobile app
Cons
- Base isn’t heavy enough
- The lightweight base is too easy to tip over.
Logitech G Extreme Pro 3D
Specification
| Product Dimensions | 9.2 x 8.8 x 8.4 inches |
| Item Weight | 2.85 pounds |
| Department | Gaming Accessories |
| Manufacturer | Logitech |
| Language | English |
If you’re not ready to spend as much on something like the Warthog, the price of the Logitech G Extreme Pro 3D is much easier to handle. We often see this stick for less than $40/£40, and it has everything you need to start playing flight simulators.
A control that lets you turn the rudder with one hand keeps your whole setup small, and there are still a lot of programmable buttons to play with. There are a lot of features built in for the price, like an 8-way hat switch, throttle control, and movement on three axes.
Pros
- Feels expensive
- Decent customizable buttons layout
- Easy to set-up
Cons
- The cost adds up for a full setup
FAQs
Are joysticks still used?
The analogue stick is a popular type of joystick that is used on many modern video game consoles. Joysticks can also be used to control machines like cranes, trucks, unmanned underwater vehicles, wheelchairs, surveillance cameras, and lawn mowers that can turn in any direction.
What is the best force feedback joystick 2022?
Thrustmaster is still the market leader, and the Thrustmaster T. 16000M FCS HOTAS is our top pick for 2022 because it has the best technology for the price. But people who want to play Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox Series X and Series S need specific hardware, like the Thrustmaster T, that works with those consoles.
Do pilots use joysticks?
On a two-seater flightdeck, the joysticks are put together mechanically so that they can be used by both the pilot and the copilot to control the plane. Most of the time, they come with as many dials, buttons, and switches as possible to help the pilots control the flight accurately.
Is controller better for FPS games?
The most obvious reason why a mouse is better than a controller is that it makes it easier to aim. In a first-person shooter or any other game where accuracy is important, having a mouse is usually a competitive advantage and makes it easier to do things like “flickshots” that are based on quick reactions.